Poinsettias Delivered: Around December 6th, depending on weather
**Poinsettias are sent directly to us from Parks Brothers Farm, Inc.
The pies are homemade using fresh pumpkins purchased from the Care to Share fundraiser, farm fresh eggs from Foster 4 Farm in Hiattville (operated by four 4H’ers) and fresh apples.
Orders will be taken now until November 20th.
The pie selections are Pumpkin, Pecan, Apple, and Caramel Apple Pecan.
Prices are $15 each or 2 for $25 mix and match.
For example, 1 pie and 1 poinsettia for $25.
Pies will be delivered Wednesday, November 27th and poinsettias the first week in December.
Money raised will go towards team equipment, fees, and skills clinicians.
The wayfinder map of Riverfront Park, North National Avenue.
Lights for the Bell Town Walking Trail at Riverfront Park on Fort Scott’s north entrance will soon be installed.
“They are LED downlights to light the trail at dusk for more safety,” Jerry Witt, chairman of the Fort Scott Bourbon County Riverfront Authority, said.
The Healthy Bourbon County Action Team is providing funds for the lighting.
The City of Fort Scott Streets Department is pouring concrete for the pedestals for the 27 pole lights which will stand about 12 feet high, similar to the poles in the historic downtown district. The streets crew has also done the trenching for the electrical pipe for the poles.
Fort Scott Maintenance II Employee Kyle Knight, left, and Fort Scott Streets Supervisor Jerry Morgan tell about the pedestals that were poured today for the new LED lighting in Riverfront Park.
“Max Fanning is doing the electrical work labor,” Witt said. “We are paying for that.”
Also slated for a 2019 completion date is paving and striping of the parking area, west of the park pavilion at the entrance. Also, a handicapped accessible wheelchair ramp will be built to the pavilion.
The Riverfront Park Pavillion had its ribbon-cutting in May 2018.
Last week, the Fort Scott Area Community Foundation granted the Riverfront Authority a $2,317 award to purchase metal picnic tables and benches for the pavilion, Witt said.
New Trails
Witt said the Riverfront Authority has applied for a Kansas Department of Transportation Grant to create additional trails on the south side of the Marmaton River, along the River Front Road.
“When we built the road in 2015, the grant was for road and trails,” Witt said. “But the cost of the road construction was higher than expected, so the trails were put on hold.”
Agricultural Engineering, Uniontown, is working with the Riverfront Authority in designing the 2, 953 feet of trails, which will be eight-foot-wide and have an asphalt surface, Witt said.
Overlook Moving
Flooding this past spring moved the recently built wooden overlook off its’ foundation and the Riverfront Authority is planning to move the structure to higher ground, Witt said.
Members
Members of the Riverfront Authority, from left Allen Warren, Arnold Schofield, Danny Magee, Jerry Witt, Dean Mann and Betty Boyko. File photo. Not pictured: Jeff Sweetser, Bob Love, and Penny Barnes.
Members of the Fort Scott Bourbon County Riverfront Authority are Witt, Allen Warren, Jeff Sweetser, Bob Love, Betty Boyko, Danny Magee, Arnold Schofield, Penny Barnes and Dean Mann.
The annual Gunn Park race, the Tri-Yak-A-Thon, scheduled for tomorrow, Oct. 12 has been moved to the next day, Oct. 13 This move is to allow a dry-out of the trails that have been inundated with rainwater lately.
The race has been postponed to Sunday, October 13 and will begin at 2:00 PM and on-site registration will begin at 12:00 PM.
“The Tri-Yak-A-Thon is a race where participants run on Gunn Park’s beautiful trails, kayak up and down the Marmaton River, and then tackle the trails again on a bike,” said event coordinator Penny Pollack-Barnes. “The trail run is a 5K, the kayak portion is another 5K, and the bike portion is a 10K. You may participate as a relay team, or if you are tough enough you can do the entire race as a solo participant. You must bring your own kayak, life jacket, helmet, and mountain bike. Riders must wear a helmet.”
The event is located in Gunn Park, on the west side of Fort Scott.
“We will have a tent in the open field in the northwest corner of the park,” Barnes said. “The race will begin on the road at the back of the park near the spillway.”
Currently, there are 20 entrants, “but most will enter the day of the race,” Barnes said.
“We do this to have fun and to raise money for a local charity,” she said. “This year the net proceeds will go to Fort Scott Paws and Claws Animal Shelter.
Our sponsors are UMB Bank, Briggs Auto, Peerless, Ft. Scott Veterinary Clinic, Landmark National Bank, City State Bank, Smallville Crossfit, Mid-Continental, Brock Electric, Key for Business and the City of Fort Scott.
From left: Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Lindsay Madison, Aaron Watts, and Lindsey Watts, Bourbon County E-Community loan recipients, Bill Michaud, Geoff Southwell and Darcy Smith, Chamber members.
Aaron and Lindsey Watts, who own Smallville Crossfit, are the recipients of the first Bourbon County E-Community loan in the amount of $40,000.
The loan is a locally controlled loan fund for business entrepreneurs.
“What’s good about the loan is it’s working capital,” Lindsey Watts said. The Watts will be using the money for new equipment for the fitness business, and new services, she said.
Workers work on the air-conditioned room and rentable office space, which are very close to being finished, Lindsey Watts aid. Submitted photos.
Additionally, they are doing some updates to the new facility they purchased, the former Fort Scott Lumber, 1905 S. Judson.
New air conditioning, flooring, and heating will be part of the remodel of the former warehouse space, which they hope to have complete in November, she said.
The second workday at the new facility, shelves are being torn down in the middle room. Photos submitted by Lindsey Watts.
One of the new services offered at the new facility will be dance fitness, Watts said.
In addition, the Watts are working with Kansas Works to hire an intern in the future, Watts said.
Smallville Crossfit is currently located at 15 S. National and can be reached at 620.644.5124.
The Gunn Park Trails volunteers would like to invite everyone to enjoy the fall weather and join us for the 7th annual Tri-yak-a-thon.
This year’s proceeds will benefit Fort Scott Paws & Claws Animal Shelter.
The event will take place October 12 at 10:00 AM in Gunn Park.
The Tri-yak-a-thon is a race where participants run on Gunn Park’s beautiful trails, kayak up and down the Marmaton River, and then tackle the trails again on a bike.
The goal of the event is to have fun and raise money to support the animal shelter.
The trail run is a 5K, the kayak portion is another 5K, and the bike portion is a 10K.
Participate as a relay team, or if you are tough enough you can do the entire race as a solo participant.
You must bring your own kayak, life jacket, helmet, and mountain bike.
Riders must wear a helmet.
Onsite registration and packet pickup will be from 8:00 to 9:45 AM at Shelter House 6.
The race will begin at 10:00 AM. Whether you enter the race or just come and cheer, please join us and support our park, our trails, and our animal shelter.
Amy Bockerstette from Phoenix Arizona is a golfer and a Special Olympian, who will be the special guest this weekend of the Bourbon County Sheriff’s Office. Submitted photo.
The Bourbon County Sheriff’s Office is partnering with Kansas Law Enforcement Torch Run to fundraise for Special Olympics of Kansas.
Special Olympics Of Kansas has a mission statement of providing individuals with intellectual disabilities opportunities to thrive in sports, health, and leadership, according to its’ Facebook page.
“Torch Run leaves it up to the agency as to what (that agency) wants to do to help,” Cole said. “It was my decision to put on a golf tournament with the help of Steve Anthony. With ALL funds going to Special Olympics Kansas.”
“The special guest for this year’s tournament is Amy Bockerstette, from Phoenix, Arizona,” Ben Cole, Bourbon County’s Undersheriff, said. “Amy is 20 years old with Downs Syndrome. She is the first special needs athlete to receive a full-ride scholarship to a junior college to play golf.”
The tournament is September 28, 2019, and
Sheriff Bill Martin, Cole and several of the other staff members volunteer their time for the event.
“We encourage the community to come out and meet Amy, enjoy the day with us, maybe eat lunch and participate in the raffle items,” Cole said.
The opening ceremony starts at 8 a.m. with Sheriff Martin deputizing Amy as an honorary BBSO deputy.
Tee off begins approximately 9 a.m.
“The event is open to the public we have several items up for raffle,” Cole said. “We are selling chances for a golf cart that will be given away, selling chances for a gun that will be given away, as well as we are having a live auction for approximately 6-10 items.”
Doug Guns, Woodland Hill Golf Course Superintendent started his job Sept. 16, 2019.
Woodland Hills Golf Course Superintendent Doug Guns is 42 years old and has been in the golf business since he was 19.
“So that’s 23 years,” Guns said. “I was going to college and needed a summer job. A local golf club needed help at the clubhouse. I learned all about the maintenance of the greens.”
He attended West Virginia University at Parkersburg and Pennsylvania State University.
“I started as an art major and when I got into golf, I switched majors to plant-soil sciences,” Guns said. “The last two courses have been business management classes online from Penn State.”
He started as Woodland Hills Golf Course Superintendent on Sept. 16, after being at Girard’s golf course for four seasons.
Doug Guns sits in one of the 30 golf carts available for rent to the public.
His duties include equipment maintenance, irrigation maintenance, supervising personnel, public relations and “Keeping the greens healthy,” he said.
“It’s like an ecosystem, each part of the course has different soil qualities,” Guns said.
Jon Kindlesparger, the current superintendent, is staying on until the end of the year to help the transition, he will then retire.
“It’s nice having his knowledge and experience here,” Guns said.
Guns lives in Girard.
The bulletin board at the Woodland Hills Club House lists the costs of playing golf at the club.
Golf carts that can be rented are lined up near the entrance to the Woodland Hills Golf Clubhouse.
Busy Season at Woodland Hills
The next few weeks are busy on the course:
The Kruger Golf Classic is Sept. 21, with registration at 7 a.m. It is a four-person scramble. Contact James Wood, 224-9687 or Les Russell, 215-3199.
The Special Olympics of Kansas Benefit Golf Scramble is Sept. 28. The cost is $50 person and is a four-person scramble, sponsored by the Bourbon County Sheriff’s Office. Contact Steve Anthony at 215-2392 or Ben Cole at 223-1440.
The Elks Lodge Benefit Tournament is Oct. 5 with an 11 a.m. registration. This is to benefit the Christmas baskets the lodge distributes each year. Cost is $60 per person. Contact the lodge at 223-5821.
The Fort Scott High School, Uniontown High School, and Fort Scott Community College golf teams use the course daily, Shannon O’Neil, clubhouse manager said.
On Oct. 14-15, regional high school tournaments will be held at the course, with the outcome deciding who goes to state in golf, he said.
O’Neil offers lessons in an annual junior golf camp in June and July.
He also does private lessons for both adults and children.
There have been two major updates at Woodland Hills in the last few years: a new clubhouse was built in 2015-16, and a new golf cart barn built in 2018.
For people who want to improve flexibility and strength fitness, Up Dog Yoga begins classes at 12B North Main (just north of Country Cupboard) on Oct. 1.
Regina Casner stands in front of her new fitness center site, 12B North Main Street, north of the Country Cupboard store. Casner has a degree in fitness management and is a certified yoga teacher.
Regina Casner of Mound City has started yoga classes and cardio classes in Fort Scott.
The name Up Dog Yoga comes from “a yoga pose where your heart is open,” Casner said. “It’s a fun name, yoga should be fun.”
Up Dog Yoga offers both yoga and cardio workout classes every day except Friday and Sunday each week.
Classes cost $45 per month for unlimited classes, until Oct. 1, then it will go to $55 per month.
“You can get a class package or membership,” she said.
Classes offered are:
B Strong
“In B Strong, every class begins slowly, awakening all the major muscle groups while focusing on breath awareness,” she said. “You will move through a series of sweat-producing cardio and strength intervals timed to music. As your heart rate rises and falls you will surpass your physical and mental limits, revealing a new and empowered mind-body connection. Modifications are given so this is an all levels (of fitness) class.”
Power Basics
“Everyone needs to start somewhere,” she said. ” Whether you are new to yoga or just need some time to ease back into your practice, this class is for you!”
Power Stretch
“This class is for all runners, cyclers, all-day sitters, cross-fitters and never-quitters,” Casner said. “Whether you are training for a big event or sit behind a desk all-day this class if for you! These classes emphasize floor postures to stretch, open and release the major muscle groups of the entire body. Benefits of this style of classes include fewer injuries, improved sleep, and reduced aches and pains.”
Journey to Power
“Baptiste Power Vinyasa: Sweat. Flow. Transform. A dynamic practice that is the perfect blend of sweat, strength and power.”
Fitness Class Teaching for Over 25 Years
Casner has a bachelors in science degree from Pittsburg State University, majoring in recreation therapy and fitness management.
“I started teaching fitness classes my junior year in college, so around 1994,” Casner said.
“I am a Registered Yoga Teacher, certified Baptiste Power Yoga Teacher, certified American Council on Exercise Group Exercise, and Spin certification,” she said.
She just completed a tenure at Kansas University’s Recreation and Fitness Center as the Fitness and Wellness Coordinator.
“Yoga is an amazing tool that improves your strength, your flexibility and the way you move and feel in your body,” she said. “Yoga also can be a tool to help you experience more calm and focus. I am passionate about sharing yoga with others and Fort Scott is close to home and full of amazing people—so why not start classes?”
Currently, she is meeting at I Am Rehab but is moving to the new space on Oct. 1.
Casner also offers faith-based health coaching online for an 8-week course called “Journey into Balance.”
“We cover eight health habits to restore health and hormones to help balance hormones, sleep better, decrease negative stress and get rid of cravings,” Casner said.
A corn maze is coming in October, so add this to the family bucket list of fun things to do this fall.
Rinehart Christian Church is having a corn maze every Saturday in October (5,12,19, and 26) from 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
“Other activities include: hayrides, corn pit, inflatables, fire pits, pumpkin painting, and games,” said Rinehart Church Youth Pastor Elijah Pierson. “This is a free event for the whole community, including a hot dog lunch from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. each Saturday.”
The address is 9443 S 900 Rd Richards, MO 64778.
Here are directions from Fort Scott: Take 69 Hwy. north to the Hammond exit. Then go east two miles on Soldier Rd. The road turns to the north; follow the blacktop (245th St.) to the stop sign (Valley Road); then go east. This becomes Hwy. D in Missouri. Continue on Hwy. D through Stotesbury to 900 Rd. Go South 0.5 miles to the church.
The design of the corn maze is by Precision Mazes, he said.
“We believe families are important, so we want to provide an event in the community that can be shared and enjoyed by the whole family,” Pierson said. “We know that one of the best ways we can serve God is by serving families.”
“Rinehart exists to ‘Love God, Live Like Jesus, and Lift Others’,” Pierson said “Our church is full of people of all ages and backgrounds and our members belong to many different communities including Nevada, Fort Scott, Butler, Sheldon, and many more. We welcome anyone who wishes to come worship with us at our 10:30 AM service.”
Momentum Indoor Training’s Youth Development Programs has chosen Girls’ Youth Softball to be the first program.
This program is open to any girl aged 7 to high school who would like to play softball at competitive tournaments in the Spring and Summer 2020.
This development program will be focused on creating a positive environment where players can learn not only the skills of the game but the strategy that is involved also.
Team training will begin in November with competitive tournaments beginning in the Spring.
High School aged players will begin their competitive season in June.
Practices will be one to two times a week, depending on the time of year.
Fundraising will be made available to help cover the cost of team membership.
Teams will be determined by the number of athletes who try-out in each age group.
Try-outs will be held Saturday, September 28th at 9 am, 10:30 am, and 12 pm.
Please register by e-mailing [email protected] or messaging @mitrainingfs on Facebook.
USD 235 has a fitness center for its students and patrons.
A new shower, restroom and water container replenisher have been added to the USD 235 Fitness Center located at the Uniontown Junior/High School.
In May 2018 then Kansas Governor Jeff Colyer and Jake Steinfeld, Chairman of the National Foundation for Governors’ Fitness Councils, announced three Kansas schools that were selected to each receive a $100,000 DON’T QUIT! Fitness Center.
Uniontown was one of those schools.
The USD 235 fitness center opened in October 2018 and is not only for use by students during the day, but evening and weekend, patrons of USD235 may use the center.
A bathroom and shower room were added to the center from an unused storage area nearby.
In July of this year, work began on the additions to the fitness center, with help from a Healthy Bourbon County Action Team Grant, funded by Pathways to a Healthy Kansas (A Blue Cross/Blue Shield iniative).
The grant covered nearly two-thirds of the total cost of the additions- $12,500, with the total cost once completed-$17,000.
The center is for patrons of the school district only, which serves the western rural part of Bourbon County.
The shower with changing room was added to the fitness center with a grant from Healthy Bourbon County.A storage area was converted to a restroom in the facility.
The doors leading from the fitness center to the school will be locked. To gain entrance to the center from the outside door, a key must be purchased from West Bourbon Elementary School Principal Vance Eden, for $10.
Eden said community members will need to come to the office of WBE to pay and get their card for the fitness center from him.
Fitness center users now have access to a water fountain with which to fill a water container to use while working out.
The fitness center will have the following hours for the 2019-20 school year: Monday – Friday: 5:00-7:00 AM and 5:30-9:30 PM. Saturday and Sunday: 7:00 AM – 7:00 PM.
Some rules for use.The junior high section of the school is where the location of the fitness center is, in the former library. Seen here is the door that patrons must use during fitness center hours.
