Category Archives: Entertainment

CHAMBER PREPARES FOR ANNUAL DINNER & AWARDS CELEBRATION TO BE HELD THURSDAY, APRIL 24th

 

The Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce will hold the 2025 Annual Dinner & Awards Celebration Thursday, April 24th at The River Room, 3 W. Oak St. The evening will be a “70’s Disco” themed event with a message of “We Are Family, Come Together and Celebrate Community”.  All are welcome to attend as Chamber members, guests, and the community come together to recognize businesses, organizations, and individuals who contribute greatly in different ways to benefit Fort Scott and Bourbon County.

The Chamber is now accepting nominations for awards to be presented that evening.  Links to both online and printable nomination forms may be found on fortscott.com on the event link.  Hard copy forms may be picked up at the Chamber.  Nominations are due by Thursday, April 10th.

Awards to be presented include Large Business of the Year, Small Business of the Year, New Business of the Year, Agri-Business of the Year, Businessperson of the Year, Community Spirit, and Young Professional of the Year.  Additional awards to be presented include the Keystone award, selected by the Chamber Board of Directors, the Mayor’s Citizenship Award selected by the Mayor and City of Fort Scott.

The Annual Dinner is one of the primary fundraisers for the Chamber to fulfill their mission to serve members and the community, and donations of silent or live auction items would be greatly appreciated.  Chamber members are also invited to decorate a table at the event in coordination with the theme which is great advertising and promotion for the business or organization.  One of the fun awards presented at the event is for the best decorated table.

The Annual Dinner event will start with the social hour and silent auction at 5:30pm, followed by dinner, awards, and a live auction at 6:30pm.  Reservations are $40 for individuals, and table pricing and sponsorships are available.  Those wanting to attend may contact the Chamber at 620-223-3566 or email rsvp@fortscott.com. by Friday, April 18th.

***

Fort Scott Swim Pass Scholarship Applications Are Available

The Bourbon County Coalition would like to announce that the 2025 Family Swim Pass Scholarship Applications are ready to pick up. They are located at the Beacon and Buck Run Community Center. They can be filled out and returned to either location. Any questions can be pointed to our email, bourboncountycoalition@gmail.com.

Submitted by Travis Wilcoxen

To apply:

Swim Pass Application(1)

Pike Creek Reservoir To Be Funded By Wind Power

In response to local concern that the Pike Creek Reservoir couldn’t be properly paid for by the proposed funding mechanism, state leaders have come up with a contingency plan that should alleviate all concerns.

Artist conception of what the Pike Creek Reservoir will look like with the integrated wind turbines.

As an additional source of income to fund the project, large wind turbines will be built in the lake which will produce power that can be sold to the local power companies in order to fund development at the lake.  If there are extra funds, the state has some exciting ideas for additional amenities for the area.

“We’d really like to build an alligator petting zoo to help promote tourism,” said an official who asked not to be named because he only exists one day each year. “Neighboring states are seeing a massive increase in tourism with these petting zoos, and there is no reason Bourbon County couldn’t do the same.” The official also noted that most of the places that have built these tourist attractions have also seen a massive increase in the sustainability of their local emergency rooms. “In some places, they have gone from a five-bed facility to 50 beds to meet the increased demand. The growth in scale has made a lot of them able to operate profitably in areas where they have been losing money for years.”

Architectural drawing of proposed alligator petting zoo. (Alligators not to scale.)

Asked about what might might be the link between alligator petting zoos and an increase in the ER visits the official said he wasn’t sure. “I think it might have something to do with people spending more time in the area, so instead of going back home to deal with an emergency, they choose to do it near the place where their family can enjoy petting their reptile friends.”

The official said that the idea for the petting zoo came to him when reading about the snake pit in Gunn Park that was announced exactly one year ago on April 1st. “It just made me realize how important it is to people to be up close and personal with reptiles.”

He also said other potential ideas include a cannon that will launch tourists across the lake into a net on the other side, a “build-a-sub” attraction where you can try your hand at making a functioning sub to test on the deepest part of the lake, and adventure hang-gliding where you can try your skills at flying through the blades of the wind turbines.

 

Fort Scott High School Hosts Annual Talent Show Awards

Zoe Scott won first place in the Fort Scott High School Talent Show. Submitted photo.

The annual FSHS Talent Show and Minute to Win It was held on March 28th. The event, sponsored by FSHS Thespian Troupe #7635 and emceed by Molly Hoyt and Emma Bin, awarded cash prizes to the top three competitors.

 

Junior Zoe Scott won the $100 grand prize. She sang “At Last” by Etta James. Sophomore Allie Wards took second and $75 with her violin solo of “Adoration” by Felix Borowski. Third place and $50 went to junior Junie Fisher and freshman Gianna Gorman for their duet of “What is This Feeling” from Wicked.

Allie Ward won second place. Submitted photo.

A new Minute to Win It competition was held between clubs and organizations. The Minute to Win It winners were Blaiton Terry and Gracin Pitts for FFA. They win $200 sponsored by Thespians and National Speech and Debate Association toward their club or favorite charity.

Gracin Pitts and Blaiton Terry

The next Thespian event is the annual Rummage Sale to be held from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Apr. 18 and from 8 a.m. to noon on Apr. 19 at FSHS. Enter the school through the NW doors. Prices for the sale are a free will donation. Thespians is now accepting donations at the high school or contact Angie Bin at angela.bin@usd234.org or 620-719-9622 for pick up.

Gianna Gorman and Junie Fisher. Submitted photo.

 

Southeast Kansas Library Newsletter March 2025

View Online
The SEKnFind Newsletter
March 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

The antidote
by Karen Russell

“A gripping Dust Bowl epic about five characters whose fates become entangled after a storm ravages their small Nebraska town.”

Saltwater : a novel
by Katy Hays

Thirty years after Sarah Lingate’s mysterious death on Capri, her daughter Helen returns with the family for their annual retreat, only to uncover a buried necklace, renewed suspicions, and dangerous secrets, as betrayal and paranoia threaten to rupture the family and claim more lives.

Close your eyes and count to 10
by Lisa Unger

A single mother joins a deadly island game set up by a charismatic daredevil and extreme adventurer, but a monstrous storm and an unseen menace transform the social media stunt into a ruthless fight for survival. 100,000 first printing.

All the other mothers hate me : a novel
by Sarah Harman

When single mom Florence Grimes’ son is accused of causing the mysterious disappearance of a bully classmate, she must manage her disdain of the other moms, her own self-doubts and unexpected truths to prove his innocence.

Count my lies : a novel
by Sophie Stava

When Sloane lies about being a nurse to meet an attractive single father, she becomes his children’s nanny, entering a seemingly perfect world that hides dangerous secrets and forces her to confront the consequences of her deceptions.

Book boyfriend
by Emily Wibberley

Romantasy fan Jennifer escapes to a convention celebrating her favorite series, only to encounter her work nemesis Scott, whose surprising charm and“book boyfriend” transformation spark an unexpected, real-life enemies-to-lovers romance. Original.

The buffalo hunter hunter
by Stephen Graham Jones

In 1912, a Lutheran pastor documents the chilling confessions of Good Stab, a Blackfeet vampire seeking justice for a historical massacre, intertwining themes of revenge, survival and haunting truths on the Blackfeet reservation.

Galaphile
by Terry Brooks

Galaphile, an orphan turned master mage, builds the legendary Druid citadel Paranor while experience love, loss and battling an ancient evil who threatens the Four Lands, in the new series by the author of The Last Druid.

When the Moon hits your eye
by John Scalzi

When the Moon inexplicably turns to cheese, humanity grapples with the absurd transformation through the perspectives of astronauts, billionaires, professors, and everyday people, confronting faith, science and survival over a single surreal lunar cycle.

The Trouble Up North
by Travis Mulhauser

The fractured Sawbrook family, once master smugglers on Michigan’s lakes, is forced to confront their painful past and dwindling legacy when youngest daughter Jewell’s misguided crime threatens them all, pushing them to navigate their deepest rifts and one final dangerous mission together.

The Titanic Survivors Book Club : a novel
by Timothy Schaffert

Paris bookshop owner Yorick, joining a secret society of other Titanic ticket holders who didn’t board the ship, forms a book club where they can grapple with their good fortune and anxieties through heated discussions of literature, but when one of them unexpectedly dies, he wonders what fate has in store.

Dead broke, Colorado
by William W. Johnstone

When the silver boomtown of Dead Broke collapses into chaos, Mayor Nugget enlists gunslinger Mick MacMicking to restore order, facing off against gambler Connor Boyle and his hired guns in a desperate fight to save the town from complete destruction. Original.

New Audiobooks

The Secrets of Flowers
by Sally Page

As Hollywood prepares for its most glamorous evening, five actresses compete to see who will claim the top prize. Peeling back the layers of women who are in the business of being perceived, these five women work to push their careers forward and maintain the public’s goodwill, and all five are forced to confront truths about themselves that they would rather ignore.

Broken Country
by Clare Leslie Hall

Beth and her husband Frank are happily married, but their relationship relies on the past staying buried. When Beth’s brother-in-law shoots a dog going after their sheep, it alters the course of their lives because the dog belonged to Gabriel Wolfe, the man Beth loved as a teenager. Gabriel has returned to the village with his young son Leo, a boy who reminds Beth very much of her own son, who died in a tragic accident. As Beth is pulled back into Gabriel’s life, tensions around the village rise and dangerous secrets and jealousies from the past resurface, this time with deadly consequences. Beth is forced to make a choice between the woman she once was and the woman she has become.

Hang on St. Christopher
by Adrian McKinty

Rain slicked streets, riots, murder, chaos. It’s July 1992 and the Troubles in Northern Ireland are still grinding on. Based on true events, Detective Inspector Sean Duffy must unentangle parallel operations by the CIA, MI5, and Special Branch. Duffy attempts to bring a killer to justice while trying to keep himself and his team alive as everything unravels around them.

New Nonfiction

Expect great things! : how the Katharine Gibbs School revolutionized the American workplace for women
by Vanda Krefft

A social history of the Katharine Gibbs School, revealing how it trained women for secretarial roles while empowering them to challenge sexism and achieve groundbreaking success across various fields from the 1910s to the 1960s. 12,000 first printing. Illustrations.

The next conversation : argue less, talk more
by Jefferson Fisher

“From communication expert Jefferson Fisher, the definitive book on making your next conversation the one that changes everything. No matter who you’re talking to, The Next Conversation gives you immediately actionable strategies and phrases that will forever change how you communicate. Jefferson Fisher, trial lawyer and one of the leading voices on real-world communication, offers a tried-and-true framework that will show you how to transform your life and your relationships by improving your next conversation”

The lost and the found : a true story of homelessness, found family, and second chances
by Kevin Fagan

An empathetic exploration of homelessness in San Francisco through the stories of Rita and Tyson, two individuals battling addiction and striving to escape their circumstances, as well as a commentary on the broader societal issues of housing inequality and addiction, shaped by the author’s personal experiences and journalistic background.

Phenomena : An Infographic Guide to Almost Everything
by Camille Juzeau

This fabulous infographics book is packed with fascinating facts about nature, science, culture, and more. Vibrant visuals break down 124 need-to-know topics, one per page, from the structure of the atom to the makeup of the stars, animal tracks to the inner working of the brain, and echolocation to feats of human engineering. Anyone curious about life on Earth (and beyond) will relish this delightful dip into a vast ocean of knowledge.

The cure for women : Dr. Mary Putnam Jacobi and the challenge to Victorian medicine that changed women’s lives forever
by Lydia Reeder

“How Victorian male doctors used false science to argue that women were unfit for anything but motherhood-and the brilliant doctor who defied them After Elizabeth Blackwell became the first woman to graduate from medical school, more women demanded a chance to study medicine. Barred entrance to universities like Harvard, women built their own first-rate medical schools and hospitals. Their success spurred a chilling backlash from elite, white male physicians who were obsessed with eugenics and the propagation of the white race. Distorting Darwin’s evolution theory, these haughty physicians proclaimed in bestselling books that women should never be allowed to attend college or enter a profession because their menstrual cycles made them perpetually sick. Motherhood was their constitution and duty. Into the midst of this turmoil marched tiny, dynamic Mary Putnam Jacobi, daughter of New York publisher George Palmer Putnam and the first woman to be accepted into the world-renowned Sorbonne medical school in Paris. As one of the best-educated doctors in the world, she returned to New York for the fight of her life. Aided by other prominent women physicians and suffragists, Jacobi conducted the first-ever data-backed, scientific research on women’s reproductive biology. The results of her studies shook the foundations of medical science and higher education. Full of larger than life characters and cinematically written, The Cure for Women documents the birth of a sexist science still haunting us today as the fight for control of women’s bodies and lives continues”

Survival gardening : grow your own emergency food supply from seed to root cellar
by Sam Coffman

“Learn how to grow your own food supply with advice from a survival skills expert. This essential guide includes how to choose and grow the most nutrient-dense crops without store-bought amendments or fertilizers, how to plan for a nonstop supply, how tostore food, and how to create your own seed bank”

There’s always room at the table : farmhouse recipes from my family to yours
by Kaleb Wyse

“When Kaleb Wyse started documenting his daily life on his farm in Iowa, he didn’t think many people would take notice or even care. After all, his way of life is simple, guided by the seasons–he spends his days gardening, preserving, baking, and cooking, a rhythm not all that different from that of his parents, grandparents, and even great-grandparents who worked the land before him. But it turns out that people from all over the country (and even the world) connected with Kaleb’s simple, back-to-basics way of living, and fell in love with his hearty, homestyle cooking. From casseroles to biscuits, his recipes hit the sweet spot of nostalgia for some–and are a breath of fresh air for others”

Making practical backyard projects in wood : beautiful things to make in a weekend, including ready-to-use plans & patterns.
by Inc. Fox Chapel Publishing Company

Offers detailed plans for creating 20 functional backyard items, from birdhouses and herb boxes to Adirondack chairs and tool sheds, featuring expert tips and designs to enhance outdoor living spaces for DIY enthusiasts of all skill levels. Original.

Jane Austen’s bookshelf : a rare book collector’s quest to find the women writers who shaped a legend
by Rebecca Romney

“Jane Austen’s Bookshelf investigates the disappearance of Austen’s heroes-women writers who were erased from the Western canon-to reveal who they were, what they meant to Austen, and how they were forgotten. Each chapter profiles a different writer including Frances Burney, Ann Radcliffe, Charlotte Lennox, Charlotte Smith, Hannah More, Elizabeth Inchbald, Hester Lynch Thrale Piozzi, and Maria Edgeworth-and recounts Romney’s experience reading them, finding rare copies of their works, and drawing on connections between their words and Austen’s. Romney collects the once-famed works of these forgotten writers, physically recreating Austen’s bookshelf and making a convincing case for why these books should be placed back on the to-be-read pile of all book lovers today. Jane Austen’s Bookshelf will encourage you to look beyond assigned reading lists, question who decides what belongs there, and build your very own collection of favorite novels”

The woman who knew everyone : the power of Perle Mesta, Washington’s most famous hostess
by Meryl Gordon

An extensively researched account of the life of a wealthy and influential Washington socialite of the mid-20th century, who inspired a Broadway musical with her extravagant parties, her close relationships with U.S. presidents, and her pioneering support for the Equal Rights Amendment.

Even more reading suggestions

NextReads Sneak Peek
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Newsletters are divided into genres and topics. Get recommendations tailored to your interests sent directly to your inbox.
If we don’t yet own a suggested title, make a purchase suggestion or ask your library about interlibrary loan. Here’s a sneak peek of titles from the latest issue:
Mystery

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

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

NextReads Sneak Peek
Looking for something else to read? Try NextReads!
Newsletters are divided into genres and topics. Get recommendations tailored to your interests sent directly to your inbox.
If we don’t yet own a suggested title, make a purchase suggestion or ask your library about interlibrary loan. Here’s a sneak peek of titles from the latest issue:
Biography

More Newsletters…

If you would like to unsubscribe to this newsletter, use the “Manage Subscriptions or Unsubscribe” link at the bottom of this message.
Want even more book suggestions? Subscribe to this and other newsletters using the “Subscribe here!” button below:
See something we don’t have? Make a purchase suggestion.

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.

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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

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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.

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