Category Archives: Entertainment

Southeast Kansas Library System Newsletter

The SEKnFind Newsletter
March 2024

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

Listen for the lie
by Amy Tintera

When Lucy’s friend Savvy is murdered, anyone could be the killer, even Lucy, and soon enough a true-crime podcast comes investigating.

The mystery writer : a novel
by Sulari Gentill

When he is accused of murdering his sister Theo’s literary mentor and lover, Gus, after Theo disappears, leaving behind clues in the form of a story, soon discovers that in order to protect the carefully constructed deceit, Theo, and everyone who ever looked for her, must die. Simultaneous.

A step past darkness
by Vera Kurian

Twenty years after a group of misfit kids working on a capstone project in 1995 uncovered sinister secrets within their local mines, one of them turns up dead sending the others racing back to finish what they started.

Redwood court : fiction
by DâeLana R. A. Dameron

Mika Tabor, the baby of the family, learns important lessons from the people who raise her: her hardworking parents, her older sister, her retired grandparents and the community on Redwood Court, who are committed to fostering joy and love in an America so insistent on seeing Black people stumble and fall.

The great divide : a novel
by Cristina Henrâiquez

An epic novel of the construction of the Panama Canal casts light on the unsung people who lived, loved and labored there.

Kilt trip
by Alexandra Kiley

In Scotland, one woman discovers more than the just the magic of the heartland’s lochs and landscapes—but not before clashing with the proud Scotsman she’s forced to work with. Original.

The angel of Indian Lake
by Stephen Graham Jones

Jade returns to Proofrock, Idaho, to build a life after the years of sacrifice—only to find the Lake Witch is waiting for her.

The tainted cup : a novel
by Robert Jackson Bennett

“An eccentric detective and her long-suffering assistant untangle a web of magic, deceit, and murder in fantasy reimagining of the classic crime novel”

Annie bot : a novel
by Sierra Greer

Looks at the relationship between a female robot and her human owner, exploring questions of intimacy, power, autonomy and control.

The county line : a novel
by Steve Weddle

During the Great Depression, Cottonmouth Tomlin, after the death of his uncle, returns home to Columbia County to the broken-down outlaw camp—the sum of his family legacy, but soon pushes the boundaries of the community’s forgiving nature as he is faced with hard choices. Original.

American spirits
by Russell Banks

Three interlocking tales about the locals in a rural New York town, including two criminals who kidnap an elderly couple to blackmail their grandson and a man who is hounded on social media after selling his property to a stranger.

The Forty-Niners : a novel of the Gold Rush
by William W Johnstone

In 1848, Cord Bennett, leaving his family behind to stake his claim in California, arrives in the gold-rich canyon of Rio Oro, controlled by deadly and ruthless criminals, where he discovers in a land of opportunity, not all that glitters is gold. Original.

New Audiobooks

The Hunter
by Tana French

Moving to rural Ireland, Cal Hooper, who took early retirement from Chicago PD, has built a relationship with Lena and is gradually turning teenager Trey Reddy into a good kid, but when Trey’s long-absent father reappears with an English millionaire and a get-rich-quick scheme, Trey wants revenge.

Come & get it : a novel
by Kiley Reid

A senior resident assistant at the University of Arkansas accepts an easy yet unusual opportunity offered by a visiting professor and things get messy when her new side-hustle is jeopardized by strange new friends and illicit and vengeful dorm antics.

Wandering Stars
by Tommy Orange

Colorado, 1864. Star, a young survivor of the Sand Creek Massacre, is brought to the Fort Marion Prison Castle, where he is forced to learn English and practice Christianity. Oakland, 2018. Opal Viola Victoria Bear Shield is barely holding her family together after the shooting that nearly took the life of her nephew Orvil. Now adrift, Opal searches for a way to heal her wounded family.

New Nonfiction

Tough broad : from boogie boarding to wing walking–how outdoor adventure improves our lives as we age
by Caroline Paul

From the New York Times best-selling author of The Gutsy Girl comes a humorous, inspiring, deeply researched exploration into the science and psychology of the outdoors and our place in it as we age.

Witchcraft : a history in thirteen trials
by Marion Gibson

Taking readers across Europe, Africa and the Americas, this dramatic journey through 13 witch trials, some famous, some lesser-known, empowers the people who were and are victimized and marginalized, giving a voice to those who were silenced by history. Illustrations.

Slow productivity : the lost art of accomplishment without burnout
by Cal Newport

“The author of Digital Minimalism and Deep Work offers a philosophy for pursuing meaningful accomplishment while avoiding overload. History’s most creative and impactful philosophers, scientists, artists, and writers mastered the art of producing valuable work with staying power. In this book, Cal Newport harnesses the wisdom of these traditional knowledge workers to transform modern jobs. Drawing from research on the habits and mindsets of a varied cast of thinkers from Galileo and Isaac Newton to Jane Austen and Georgia O’Keefe, Newport lays out the key principles of “slow productivity” and provides step-by-step advice for workers to replace the standard notion of productivity with a slower, more humane alternative”

How to find a four-leaf clover : what Autism can teach us about difference, connection, and belonging
by Jodi Rodgers

A special-education teacher with thirty years of experience working with autistic people gives readers a deeper understanding of and appreciation for the neurodiverse community and looks at ways we can develop more meaningful connections with others. 60,000 first printing.

How to win friends and influence fungi : collected quirks of science, tech, engineering, and math from nerd nite
by Chris Balakrishnan

The co-founders of the global science organization Nerd Nite present a quirky, illustrated collection of narratives and infographics centered around STEM, such as the importance of microbes and how the Webb telescope has influenced movie special effects. 150,000 first printing. Illustrations.

The hunger habit : why we eat when we’re not hungry and how to stop
by Judson Brewer

An internationally renowned addiction psychiatrist offers a proven step-by-step program, grounded in cutting-edge neuroscience, that will help us understand what’s going on in our brains so we can heal the guilt and frustration we experience around eating—and heal our relationship with food and our bodies.

The ultimate wildlife habitat garden : attract and support birds, bees, and butterflies
by Stacy Tornio

This visually stunning guide to creating an earth-friendly garden provides essential information for attracting birds, bees and butterflies to your yard by sharing details about which plants attract specific creatures. Original. Illustrations.

How was Life at Fort Scott During the Civil War

 

Experience it Without Needing to Enlist!

 

Fort Scott, Kan. – Fort Scott National Historic Site is hosting its Annual Civil War Encampment, April 20 and 21, 2024.  Join us each day to experience artillery, cavalry, and infantry troops drilling, preparing for battle, and firing their weapons, talk to a blacksmith as he brings raw metal to life with his hammer, and learn about the process of tintype photography.

 

“We are grateful to have the generous support and participation from the Holmes Brigade, Friends of Fort Scott, Inc., Fort Smith National Historic Site’s Cavalry Troop, and plenty of new and returning Fort Scott National Historic Site volunteers alike,” said Superintendent Jill Jaworski. “We encourage everyone to step back in time and smell, hear, see, and experience life at the fort.”

 

On Saturday: hear the true story of abolitionist James Montgomery and his war on slavery in the authors discussion of his book Abolitionist of the Most Dangerous Kind, by Todd Mildfelt and David D. Schafer, learn about Jennison’s Jayhawkers 7th Kansas Cavalry from historian Arnold Schofield, smell bread baking, learn about Civil War medicine and the evolution of weapons, and be serenaded by the Prairie Sunflower Strings!

 

On Sunday: learn about tintype photography and its process, discuss Civil War medicine, and join a guided tour of the fort. The weekend is full of fun and games for the whole family straight from the 1800’s!

 

Encampment Schedule:

 

SATURDAY, APRIL 20

Interpreters will be at the firing range with historic weapons and doing demonstrations around the site throughout the day.

  • 9 a.m.         Raising the Colors (Garrison Flagpole)
  • 9:30 a.m.   Infantry Drill and Weapons Demonstration (Black Powder Area)
  • 10 a.m.       Ranger Guided Tour of the Fort (Meet at Visitor Center)
  • 10:30 a.m.  Cavalry Program (Next to Stables)
  • 11 a.m.       Authors David Schafer and Todd Mildfelt: Abolitionists of the Most Dangerous Kind (Infantry Barracks Theater)
  • Noon          Infantry Drill and Weapons Demonstration (Black Powder Area)
  • 1 p.m.         Prairie Sunflowers Strings Musical Performance (Hospital Porch)
  • 1:30 p.m.    Lunette Blair Discussion (Meet at the Lunette Blair on Skubitz Plaza)
  • 2 p.m.         Cavalry Program (Next to Stables)
  • 3 p.m.         Arnold Schofield: Jennison’s Jayhawkers 7th Kansas Cavalry
  • 4 p.m.         Flag Retreat with Infantry (Garrison Flagpole)
  • 4:30 p.m.    Artillery Drill and Weapons Demonstration (Black Powder Area)
  • 6 p.m.         Camp Dance (Memorial Hall)

 

SUNDAY, APRIL 21

Interpreters will be at the firing range with historic weapons and doing demonstrations around the site throughout the day.

  • 9 a.m.         Raising the Colors (Garrison Flagpole)
  • 9:30 am      Historic Church Service (Dragoon Barracks)
  • 10 a.m.       Ranger Guided Tour of the Fort (Meet at Visitor Center)
  • 10:30 a.m.  Artillery Drill and Weapons Demonstration (Black Powder Area)
  • 11 a.m.       Infantry Weapons Demonstration (Black Powder Area)
  • Noon          Cavalry Program (Next to Stables)
  • 1 p.m.         Guided Tour of the Fort (Meet at Visitor Center)
  • 1:30 p.m.    Lunette Blair Discussion (Meet at the Lunette Blair on Skubitz Plaza)
  • 2:00 p.m.    1st Kansas Program (Infantry Barracks Theater)
  • 3 p.m.         Artillery Drill and Weapons Demonstration (Black Powder Area)
  • 3:30 p.m.    Infantry Weapons Demonstration (Black Powder Area)
  • 4 p.m.         Flag Retreat (Garrison Flagpole)

 

Fort Scott National Historic Site, a unit of the National Park Service, exhibit areas and visitor center are currently open Friday through Tuesday from 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Park grounds are open daily from a half hour before sunrise until a half hour after sunset. To find out more or become involved in activities at the Fort, please contact the park at 620-223-0310 or visit our website at www.nps.gov/fosc.

 

-NPS-

 

Live Jazz Performance Tonight at Ellis Center at Fort Scott Community College

Sending on behalf of Chamber Member Gordon Parks Museum…

Live Jazz Performance!

Join the Gordon Parks Museum, TONIGHT, for a night of character and story of Gordon Parks expressed through LIVE Jazz Performance!

The Honorary Gordon Parks Quintet Featuring:

Nate McClendon – Saxophone

Paul Hunt – Trombone

Desmond Mason – Piano

Nsiko Dieu-aime – Bass

Robert Rodriguez – Drums

Free and Open to the Public

TONIGHT, Thursday, March 21st, 2024

Danny & Willa Ellis Family Fine Arts Center

7:30pm

For more information contact the Gordon Parks Museum at 620.223.2700 ext. 5857

Thank you to our Chamber Champion members below!
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Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce | 231 E. Wall Street, Fort Scott, KS 66701

Easter Egg Hunters Are Invited To Gunn Park This Saturday

Egg hunters begin their search at the Fort Scott Kiwanis Easter Egg Hunt, on April 1, 2023. Submitted photo.

The Fort Scott Kiwanis Easter Egg Hunt is this Saturday, March 23 at 11 a.m. sharp at Gunn Park Shelter #2. The event is for children preschool through fifth grade, with participants bringing their own Easter baskets to gather the goodies in.

The Kiwanis-sponsored event is always the Saturday before the Easter weekend.

“We recommend people get there at 10:30 a.m.,” Kiwanis President John Crain said. There is always a crowd and it may take a while to get to the child’s age-designated area.

“It’s over at 11:07,” said event coordinator Bob Eckles with a chuckle.

The Easter bunny in the 2009 egg hunt.

The Easter Bunny will be there, so parents can get a snapshot of their children with him.

“Kiwanis packs the goodies on Thursday at 6 p.m. before the event,” Eckles said. “We get help from the Key Club at the high school.”

They usually spend several hundred dollars on candy, but this year “Candy is more expensive, especially chocolate,” Eckles said.

In some of the eggs are coupons from local businesses: Hedgehog Book Store, Dairy Queen Restaurant, McDonalds Restaurant, NuGrille and Flowers By Leanna.

Cash donations for the event are from: R and R Equipment; Diehl, Fletcher and Banwart CPA;Don’s Spirits and Wines; Merle Humphrey Insurance and Photography; Iron Star Antiques; Big Sugar Lumber; Bids and Dibs Consignment and Walmart.

 

Harley Race World League Wrestling returns to Memorial Hall in Fort Scott on April 13

Sending on behalf of Chamber Member Advance Bourbon County…

WLW Returns!

Harley Race World League Wrestling returns to Memorial Hall in Fort Scott on April 13th, 2024. Live wrestling offers a unique experience compared to what you see on TV. Among all our events, this one has been a favorite among both kids and adults alike. These wrestlers are not just athletes; they’re entertainers, and seeing the joy on the faces of the audience, especially the kids, is truly something special.

We’re seeking $200 sponsorships from businesses to ensure that this event is free for everyone. In return for their support, we’ll provide tickets for businesses to distribute to their employees and their families or to members of the local community. We’re grateful for the support we’ve received so far, and we’re still looking for 10-13 more businesses to help us make this event accessible to all. Thank you to everyone who has reached out for sponsorships.

If you or your business would like to donate reach out to Josh Jones via email [email protected], call or text 620.215.3680, or stop by Bourbon County Cars located at 1810 S. Main.

Thank you to our Chamber Champion members below!
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Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce | 231 E. Wall Street, Fort Scott, KS 66701

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Live Jazz Performance at Gordon Parks Museum on March 21

Sending on behalf of Chamber Member Gordon Parks Museum…

Live Jazz Performance!

Join the Gordon Parks Museum for a night of character and story of Gordon Parks expressed through LIVE Jazz Performance!

The Honorary Gordon Parks Quintet Featuring:

Nate McClendon – Saxophone

Paul Hunt – Trombone

Desmond Mason – Piano

Nsiko Dieu-aime – Bass

Robert Rodriguez – Drums

Free and Open to the Public

Thursday, March 21st, 2024

Danny & Willa Ellis Family Fine Arts Center

7:30pm

For more information contact the Gordon Parks Museum at 620.223.2700 ext. 5857

Thank you to our Chamber Champion members below!
Facebook Share This Email
Twitter Share This Email
LinkedIn Share This Email
Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce | 231 E. Wall Street, Fort Scott, KS 66701

Gordon Parks Self Portrait  “Live Jazz Event” Is March 21: Free and Open To The Public

Gordon Parks: Self Potrait  “Live Jazz Event”

 

Fort Scott, Kan. Friday. March 14, 2024 – 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 Gordon Parks: Self Portrait in music and narration with a live jazz band. The performance starts at 7:30p.m. and doors open at 7:00p.m. This is a free community event.

 

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 Gordon Parks: Self Portrait Live Jazz event, contact Kirk Sharp, executive director, (620) 223-2700, ext. 5850, or at [email protected].

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Par Tee Girls Start Their Third Golf Season

Some of the Par Tee Girls. Submitted photo.
The Par Tee Girls Golf League is a group of women who look forward to getting together regularly, enjoying companionship, and playing a little golf while they are at it, said organizer Diane Striler.
Diane Striler. Submitted photo.
“This will be the third year for the Par Tee Girl league at Woodland Hills,” Striler said. “Last year we had roughly 55 women sign up for the league from Fort Scott, Nevada, and the Mound City area.”
“We are a very casual league encompassing women of all skill levels,” she said.  “I encourage women to come out and play, even if they have never played before. A lot of our members are beginners. I always tell women if they want to learn to play, this is a great way to start.  If you don’t set the time aside to play regularly, it’s hard to improve.”
Submitted graphic.
Striler has golf lessons scheduled for April, before the league starting.
“So women can get a little more comfortable before hitting the course,”  she said.  “The lessons are only $20 each and are perfect for beginners and a great refresher for avid players.”
Their season goes from May 1 to July 31.
“Each week we have a different game that we participate in, whether it’s for the longest drive, straightest drive or longest putt, etc. Women can keep track of their scores if they want, but that is not required. I ask members to keep track of their putts though.”
“At the end of the night, we tally our putts and pay ten cents for each,” she said. “The winner of the game that night receives half of the putt money, and I save the rest for our banquet tournament on July 31.”
On July 31 there is a four-person best ball scramble.
“Afterward, we have a catered dinner and give out prizes for the top three teams, for games on each hole and we each receive a league gift.”
Submitted graphic.
“This year our league will also host three different dates when a restaurant or food truck will serve dinner at Woodland Hills,” she said. “Along with our league, the community will be invited to join us at the course for a night of good company, food, and some music.”
The dates scheduled are:  May 8th – Brickstreet BBQ,  June 5th – Taco Azul,  and July 10th- Aunt Toadies.
Striler will post more information as the dates get closer.
Some of the Par-Tee Girls. Submitted photo.

Blane Howard Will Perform at Fort Scott Good ‘Ol Days

 Ft. Scott’s Good Ol’ Days welcomes back Nashville recording artist Blane Howard for a performance on Friday, May 31st on Skubitz Plaza. Howard is a three-time Male Vocalist of the Year winner at the Arkansas CMAs, and is nominated again in 2024 for Male Vocalist of the Year, as well as Video of the Year for “Boot N Rally.”
  Born in KS, raised in AR, and living in Nashville, TN, as an independent artist he has released three full albums, and EP, and two, 2-song CDs. His biggest success is with a song he wrote for his wife as a wedding gift, “Promise To Love Her,” which has over 150 million streams; however, many new fans are finding him through his songs and parodies he writes and creates for the Kansas City Chiefs. He has three original Chiefs songs, which have all been hits with Chiefs Kingdom, but his playoff parodies are continually having the fan base asking for more.  This playoff season, his Chiefs playoff parodies, which included songs from Luke Combs, Garth Brooks, Brooks & Dunn, Willie Nelson, and Toby Keith, raked in over 20 Million views across social media platforms in about a four-week period.
Howard has eight new songs coming out this spring and summer; his show will include some of the new songs, his country originals, some country covers, a little classic rock, and of course a little Chiefs section for the die-hard fans in the area! You can check out Blane’s music on your favorite music site, or head over to his website www.blanehoward.com, to connect with all of his social sites, and to check out his music and videos.
Sent from my iPhone

Preparing for prom: Fairy Godmother Boutique set for March 16

PITTSBURG — Thanks to generous donors and the Fairy Godmother Boutique, area high school students can pick out new and gently used dresses. Many don’t look forward to prom
because they can’t afford to purchase a dress and accessories.

“The Fairy Godmother Boutique was created to help these students get the prom experience we all dream of — the perfect dress, the hair, the shoes,” Patient Education & Support Manager
Julie Laverack says.

The pop-up boutique is set for Saturday, March 16, at CHC/SEK in Pittsburg, at 3011 N. Michigan (Pittsburg). To shop for a free dress, prom goers must book an appointment by calling 620-231-
9873 and ask for a Family Resource Specialist.

Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas staff and community recently gathered their lightly used and nearly new prom dresses to give to the Fairy Godmother Boutique. Additionally,
sponsor Sara Loree’s Bridal and Formal, donated many dresses as well.

“We’ve had tremendous community support,” Laverack says. “Thank you all for donating these beautiful dresses. Another huge thank you to those who signed up to be volunteer stylists during the event.”

There will be dresses sizes 0-20 in a variety of styles. Personal stylists, makeup consultants and private dressing rooms will be available.
There are still opportunities to sign up and volunteer by reaching Laverack at 620-231-9873.
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Bourbon County Arts Council 32nd Annual Fine Arts Exhibit is Feburary 29-March 9

 

 

The Bourbon County Arts Council will present its 32nd Annual Fine Arts Exhibit from February 29th through March 9th, at the Danny and Willa Ellis Family Fine Arts Center, on the Campus of Fort Scott Community College, 2108 S. Horton.

The Arts Council will host the Chamber Coffee at 8:00 am on Thursday, February 29th, at the Ellis Center.

The Exhibit will be open to the public beginning Thursday, February 29th through Saturday, March 9th, on weekdays from 12:00 pm to 7:00 pm, and on Saturdays, from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm.  A reception to honor this year’s Juror and artists will be held on Thursday the 29th from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm; the public is invited to attend and enjoy the opportunity to meet and visit with them about the art.

Artists will have their work on display and for sale in this multi-media exhibit, in categories including Ceramics, Drawing & Graphics, Fiber Arts, Glasswork, Jewelry, Mixed Media, Painting, Pastel, Photography, Printmaking, Sculpture, and Watercolor.

A “themed” category was added to the Exhibit, with this year’s theme being “Art of Everyday Life”.

An artist may create a piece in any of the above categories, in relation to the theme.

This year, artists from Kansas, Missouri, and Oklahoma will participate in the Fine Art Exhibit.

Local artists entered include Kathryn Allen, Maggie Brenner, Rylee Coulter, Jewel Endicott, Steve Floyd, Kate Freeman, Lucy Gladbach, Bobbi Kemna, Millie Karleskint, Julie Kibble, Steve Kibble, Terry Koester, Connie Neil, Kadra Nevitt, Eri Popp, Susan Porter, Elisabeth Ross, Kaitlynn Sampson, and Addison Smith.

Cash prizes awarded for category winners are given by the Bourbon County Arts Council in memory of E.C. Gordon, and by the generous sponsorship from these local businesses:  the Artificers, Buerge Art Studio, Citizens Bank, City State Bank, Edward Jones-Jamie Armstrong ,  H&H Realty, Landmark Bank, Lyons Realty, Mid-Continental Restoration, Osage Timber LLC, State Farm Insurance, Union State Bank, and Ward Kraft.

Bill Wilson will serve as this year’s Juror. He is a retired art educator with more than forty years of experience encompassing early elementary through college-level instruction. Most recently having taught visual art for Marmaton Valley, he also spent some time teaching at Allen County Community College. Mr. Wilson states “as an artist, I choose to work in a wide range of media that will allow me to best express my thoughts and ideas”.  He is currently exploring metal forging techniques and creating primitive-fired ceramic jewelry.

There is no admission charge for this event, and all are encouraged to come and enjoy an exciting collection of original artwork.