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Category Archives: Fort Scott
Fort Scott Lake Advisory Board Canceled For June 17
The Lake Advisory Board Meeting scheduled for Saturday, June 17TH, 9:00AM at City Hall has been canceled. The new date will be announced in the near future.
Race Across America Stops at Fort Scott From June 18-22
The 42nd annual bicycle “Race Across America” will pass through Fort Scott this week, according to a press release.
The bicyclists will cross the length of the American continent, over 3000 miles from Pacific Ocean to Atlantic Ocean, stopping to sleep only when necessary. The average sleep time for a solo is 2-3 hours per day.
Along the route, they pass 54 time stations, spaced approximately 50 miles apart, where their crew must call RAAM headquarters to report the rider’s or team’s arrival time and any other important news.
The Fort Scott Time Station 30 is the 1,778.6 Mile mark.
“Our family runs the time station (Time Station 30) for Race Across America,” said Kristi Hudecek-Ashwill. “We’ve been doing it since 2015 and have entertained hundreds of cyclists and crews from all over the world.”
The family runs the time station from their house at 21 N. Caldwell, Fort Scott.
“We provide a place for the racers and crews to rest, get some food and water, use the bathroom, and we provide escort service to any stores they might want to go to and to Buck Run (Community Center)for showers,” Kristi said. We also fly their nation’s flag on Wall Street and cheer for them as they approach. It is a festive atmosphere and many racers and crew members have said this is the best time station on the route.”
The community provides for the visitors as well.
“Walgreens provides water, Fort Cinema provides popcorn, Taco Bell provides tacos, Dominos provides pizza, and the refrigerator is provided by Rent-A-Center, 4-States Sanitation provides trash bins,” she said. “In addition, Buck Run lets racers and crew members take showers there.”
“Martin also has a small repair shop here where he fixes their bicycles if they need him to,” she said. “He’s a bike mechanic and has an array of tools that the bike mechanic on the team may not have.”
“Race Across America is an annual international 3000+ mile bicycle race that starts in Oceanside, California and ends in Annapolis, Maryland and runs right through Fort Scott,” she said. “The solos have to make it in 12 days while the teams have to make it in 9 days. There are various times for women and older riders and teams, but the finish times are all around the numbers given.”
This year their are 31 solos and 16 teams.
“One of the teams is a four-man team from Germany in the age category of 80-84,” she said. “They have nine days, 12 hours provided they leave with the solos.”
“The race starts on June 13 and we expect the first rider to arrive on June 18 or 19, depending on how things go in the desert.”
By June 22, all riders should be through the area.
“It gets so hot out there (in the desert) that sometimes the riders succumb to the heat and end up not finishing the race. The forecast for this year is that it’s supposed to be cooler and, if that’s the case, there won’t be as many DNF’s and this time station will be very busy. We are every year, but this will make it even more so.”
“DNF means Did Not Finish,” she said. “Nobody wants that, but it does happen often during this race.”
The time station in Fort Scott will be staffed with enthusiastic volunteers and provide a festival-like atmosphere for spectators of all ages and the traveling group of racers and crews as they pass through the community, according to the press release from Ashwill.
The manned time station is located at 21 N. Caldwell and is an open house to all racers and crew, she said.
“Race officials are invited to take their sleep at the Time Station 30 house instead of spending money at a hotel or sleeping in their cars, which is the majority case,” Ashwill said. “In 2015 we opened our house for the event and the racers and crew loved it. It is the first time that the Race Across America actually had a house opened up to them.”
“This is the only time station that has been in RAAM movies, one of which was shown at the AMC Theater in Olathe,” Kristi said. “The movies have been on airlines and have been shown all over the world.”
To learn more:
Facebook Page
https://www.facebook.com/
https://www.facebook.com/
You can track the racers LIVE by going to: https://www.raamrace.org/live-tracking
Gordon Parks Museum: Free Photography Workshops
Free Photography Workshops Sponsored by
Kansas State University Art Department
Fort Scott, Kan. June. 14, 2023 – Shreepad Joglekar, Associate Professor of Photography at Kansas State University and Professional Photographer, Veretta Cobler will provide free workshops series on working with film and digital photography.
These in-depth workshops are designed to help any beginner, student, novice and the professional learn how to get the most out of their film or digital cameras, or even cell phones. More experience photographers will learn some techniques to help them improve and enhance their work.
Interested participants are encouraged to attend the whole series to benefit the most.
These workshops will also help to prepare photographers to be part of the Back to Fort Scott, Now project in taking photos with the reimaging of Gordon Parks photographs that he had taken in 1950 for a LIFE magazine assignment.
The workshops will be held on Friday, June 23, 2023, Friday, July 7, 2023 and Friday, August 11, 2023. The times for each of the workshops will be 10:00a.m. – 12:00p.m
The workshops are free to attend, but registration to attend each the workshops is required. Registration is available either online at http//www.gordonparkscenter.org/events, or by phone 620-223-2700 ext. 5850 or by email at [email protected]
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U234 Board Met On June 12
Unified School District 234
424 South Main
Fort Scott, KS 66701-2697
620-223-0800 Fax 620-223-2760
DESTRY BROWN Superintendent
BOARD OF EDUCATION REGULAR MEETING
NEWS RELEASE
Monday, June 12, 2023
Members of the USD 234 Board of Education met at 5:30 p.m. on Monday, June 12, 2023, for their regular monthly meeting at the board office.
President Danny Brown opened the meeting.
The board approved the official agenda with removal of 8.9 KERMP insurance and the consent agenda as follows:
- Board Minutes from the May 8, 2023, regular board meeting and May 19, 2023, special board meeting
- Financials-Cash Flow Report
- Check Register
- Payroll – May 19, 2023 – $1,663,532.16
- Activity Fund accounts
- Extended Trip Applications, Fundraising Applications, Gifts & Donations
- Resolution 22-14 Banking Resolution
Licensed Tiger Team Member – Superintendent Destry Brown recognized Jannah Farrington as the Licensed Tiger Team Member of the Month.
- Farrington is a Special Education teacher at Fort Scott Middle School. Mrs. Farrington organizes the Special Olympics held for students and coordinates going to Pitt State for participation. She is always positive and trying to find what is the best for kids. Mrs. Farrington has taught for USD 234 for 12 years.
Classified Tiger Team Member – Superintendent Destry Brown recognized Cheryl Marsh as the Classified Tiger Team Member of the Month.
- Marsh is a Kitchen Manager at Fort Scott High School. Cheryl is gracious and kind to everyone. She has a can-do attitude and does what is best for schools. Mrs. Marsh has been with USD 234 for 25 years.
Superintendent Destry Brown recognized Bill Michaud as the Volunteer of the Year. Mr. Michaud is the coordinator of the Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce mentoring program that matches local leaders with Fort Scott High School students.
Board Members shared comments.
Superintendent Destry Brown provided an update to the board on services provided by the school nurses in the district, shared information regarding the Core Community program, discussed a June 27th special board meeting for the purposes of closing down the budget and other end of year items. He also noted two grants that had been applied for: Safe and Secure Grant and Mental Health Grant.
Assistant Superintendent Dalaina Smith updated the board on end of year data, highlighting celebrations, curricular and assessment team progress, Science Resources, the new assessment program, and Summer Enrichment.
Gina Shelton, Finance Director, updated the board on new employee orientation, USD 234 job fair to be held on July 11th & 12th at the FSMS Community space, and final categorical aid numbers for Special Education.
The board approved changing the regular July board meeting from July 10th to July 17th, still to be held at the Board of Education, 424 S. Main Street, at 5:30 p.m.
Superintendent Brown shared information with the board in regard to adoption of a policy related to out-of-district student enrollment.
The board approved the following items:
- Workers Compensation Renewal 2023-24 – KASB Workers Comp
- Trash Bid & Recommendation – 5-year bid to 4 State Sanitation
- Audit Contract for the year ending June 30, 2023, with Diehl, Banwart, Bolton, CPAs
- Ratification of Negotiated Agreement for 2023-24, including changes to Supplemental Salary Schedule
- Curriculum Associates – iReady – K-8 Assessment & Intervention
- Approval of Personnel Report
- Approval of ESSER Premium Pay for 2023-24
- Approval of Classified Raises for 2023-24
- Approval of Special Services Raises for 2023-24
- Approval of Director Raises for 2023-24
- Approval of Administrative Raises for 2023-24
The board tabled the following items:
- CDWG Technology Carts & Supply
The board heard an audio recording from patron Tracy King.
The board went into an executive session for negotiation and personnel matters.
Vice-President Barrows adjourned the meeting.
PERSONNEL REPORT – APPROVED EMPLOYMENT
June 12, 2023
RESIGNATIONS/TERMINATIONS/RETIREMENTS:
- Billionis, Connie – Retirement – Board of Education Deputy Clerk, Secretary, Alumni Recording Secretary, as of May 31, 2023
- Campbell, Carlee – Resignation – Fort Scott Preschool Center Teacher at the end of the 2022-23 school year
- Ericson, Tyler – Resignation – Winfield Scott Teacher at the end of the 2022-23 school year
- Mead, Jenice – Resignation – Fort Scott Middle Teacher at the end of the 2022-23 school year
- Wilcox, Ashley – Winfield Scott Technology Teacher and Professional Development at the end of the 2022-23 school year
TRANSFERS/REASSIGNMENTS:
For the 2023-24 school year:
Certified:
- Thomas, Rachelle – Transfer from Eugene Ware 5th Grade to Eugene Ware Special Education Teacher
Classified:
- Hodges, Julius – Transfer from Winfield Scott Paraprofessional to Fort Scott High School Paraprofessional
- Lisica, Michelle – Transfer from Eugene Ware Paraprofessional to Eugene Ware Speech Paraprofessional
- Willard, Siarra – Transfer from Eugene Ware Paraprofessional to split Speech/Paraprofessional
- Witt, Randi – Transfer from MIS Clerk to Winfield Scott Speech Paraprofessional
EMPLOYMENT:
Certified Recommendations for the 2023-24 school year:
- Casey, Hunter – Winfield Scott 2nd Grade Teacher
- Cate, Kassie – Winfield Scott Elementary Special Education Teacher
- Stanley, Billie – Eugene Ware 5th Grade Teacher
- Turner, Candy – Fort Scott Preschool Center Teacher
- Workman, Darcy – Eugene Ware 4th Grade Teacher
Classified Recommendations for the 2023-24 school year:
- Ludeman, Sara – Fort Scott High School Paraprofessional
Supplemental Recommendations for the 2023-24 school year:
- Blackburn, Brendon – Fort Scott Middle School Head Football Coach
- Blackburn, Brendon – Fort Scott Middle School Summer Weights and Conditioning
- Brown, Lindsey – Fort Scott High School Girls Summer Conditioning
- Feeback, Brennen – Fort Scott High School Assistant Football Coach
- Heatherly, Julie – HOSA sponsor
- Eugene Ware Elementary Mentors
Chamber Coffee At Varia Resale Clothing June 15
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Fort Scott Farmers Market Feature: The Hamiltons’ Artisan Bakery
We are happy to have The Hamiltons’ Artisan Bakery as a part of the Fort Scott Farmers’ Market for their 2nd year! The Hamiltons can be found at the market Saturday mornings from 8 a.m. to noon and Tuesday afternoons from 4-6 p.m. They will be bringing sourdough breads and a variety of baked treats each week. Come out and get some!
The farmers market is located on Skubitz Plaza, in front of the Fort Scott National Historic Site.
Lucas Kelley: New Buck Run Recreation Director as of July 1
Lucas Kelley will assume the position of recreation director at Buck Run Community Center on July 1, with the retirement of Tom Robertson. Robertson served for 23 years in the position.
“He has been here since May 1, and will take over on July 1,” Robertson said.
“I feel so fortunate,” Kelley said. “Tom has done wonders with the rec. department, he has made it (the transition) easy on me.”
Kelley, 24, graduated from Houston, MO. high school and attended Fort Scott Community College on a basketball scholarship, where he earned an associate of science degree. He then went to Pittsburg State University where he earned a bachelors degree in exercise science in December 2021.
“All through high school I worked at the rec. department, then at FSCC I was assistant coach for one year and also refereed for some of the rec. programs here,” Kelley said. “I then moved to northwest Arkansas and worked in cardiac rehabilitation for a year, before moving to Fort Scott to take this job.”
He is married to Makayla Kelley.
For Kelley, the best part of this new job is “service, and getting to help people and get them involved through recreations.”
Kelley is working on making sign-up for leagues and payment of fees online, “So they won’t have to come to the building every time they want to sign up for something,” he said. “I’m in the process upgrading the system we have now.”
His community involvement so far has been with the Healthy Bourbon County’s Local Health Equity Team and also enjoys Bingo Nights at Memorial Hall to help support Veterans, he said.
Fort Scott Library to Host 2nd Annual LibraryCon on June 17
The library welcomes the community to a collaborative event celebrating fandoms and fans of all kinds on June 17 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the library.
SEEKING TALENT and VOLUNTEERS
If you are an author, artist, cosplayer, or a person with a talent, hobby, or skill you’d like to share via a workshop, sign up as a presenter using this form: Authors, Artists & Presenters
If you would be willing to lead a trivia session, judge the cosplay contest, donate food or prizes, or help out in any other way, sign up to help through this form: Volunteers or Donors
The schedule of events includes:
10 – 1 Book Signings & Author Talks with Local Authors Maria Whitson, Maranda Collins, MaryBarbara McKay, and Ronda Hassig
10 – 1 Tabletop Gaming with Sarah Klassen
Presenter Jan Hedges, Hedgehog.INK!
Word Weavers Workshops
An introduction to the art of weaving words into a poem, story, song, etc.
Participants will be involved in writing activities. Writing materials will be provided.
Children 12 & under 11:00 – 11:45 a.m.
Teens & Adults 13 & above 12:00 – 12:45 p.m.
12:30 – 1 Cosplay Contest for all ages with winners receiving prizes and small trophies.
Trivia, Digital Scavenger Hunt, Crafts, Toys, and Cosplay Meetups will take place throughout the event.
U234 Board Agenda for June 12
Unified School District 234
424 South Main
Fort Scott, KS 66701-2697
620-223-0800 Fax 620-223-2760
DESTRY BROWN Superintendent
BOARD OF EDUCATION REGULAR MEETING
JUNE 12, 2023 – 5:30 P.M.
PUBLIC AGENDA
1.0 Call Meeting to Order
2.0 Flag Salute
3.0 Approval of the Official Agenda (Action Item)
4.0 Approval of the Consent Agenda (Action Item)
4.1 Board Minutes
4.2 Financials-Cash Flow Report
4.3 Check Register
4.4 Payroll – May 19, 2023 – $1,663,532.16
4.5 Activity Fund accounts
4.6 Extended Trip Applications 2023-24
4.7 Fundraising Applications 2023-24
4.8 Gifts & Donations 2022-23
4.9 Resolution 22-14: Banking Resolution
5.0 Recognitions
5.1 Student Recognition
5.2 Employee Recognition
5.3 Board Member Acknowledgements
6.0 Leadership Reports (Information/Discussion Item)
6.1 Superintendent’s Report
6.2 Assistant Superintendent’s Report
6.3 Finance Director’s Report
7.0 Old Business
7.1 Roof Payment #5 (Action Item)
8.0 New Business
8.1 Change of July Meeting Date to July 17, 2023 (Action Item)
8.2 Workers Compensation Renewal 2023-24 (Action Item)
8.3 Trash Bid & Recommendation (Action Item)
8.4 Audit Contract for the year ending June 30, 2023 (Action Item)
8.5 Ratification of Negotiated Agreement for 2023-24, including changes to Supplemental Salary Schedule (Action Item)
8.6 Open Enrollment Information (Information Item)
8.7 CDWG Technology Carts & Supply (Action Item)
8.8 Curriculum Associates – iReady – K-8 Assessment & Intervention (Action Item)
8.9 Property, Casualty, Fleet, Cyber Insurance 2023-24 (Action Item)
9.0 Public Forum
10.0 Other Business – Personnel Matters
10.1 Enter Executive Session – Personnel Matters (Action Item)
10.2 Exit Executive Session
10.3 Approval of Personnel Report (Action Item)
10.4 Approval of ESSER Premium Pay for 2023-24 (Action Item)
10.5 Approval of Classified Raises for 2023-24 (Action Item)
10.6 Approval of Special Services Raises for 2023-24 (Action Item)
10.7 Approval of Director Raises for 2023-24 (Action Item)
10.8 Approval of Administrative Raises for 2023-24 (Action Item)
11.0 Adjourn Meeting
Patty LaRoche’s New Book: A Little Faith Lift…Finding Joy Beyond Rejection
Twenty years in the making, Patty LaRoche has written a book entitled: A Little Faith Lift…Finding Joy Beyond Rejection
LaRoche said for years, her friends have encouraged her to write her humorous stories about being rejected/humiliated.
“As it turned out, everybody I met had their own anecdotes of not measuring up, and some even shared that they wished they could go back to their teen/early-adult years and not give other people the power to make them feel demeaned or unvalued.,” LaRoche said. ” If they could do that, their lives would have been more confident, more real.”
“As a high school teacher, I observed my students’ insecurities on a daily basis, but when a group of my senior girls asked me to lead them in a Bible study, I realized just how pervasive these problems were,” she said. “Could anyone escape the lies of the enemy (Satan) that they weren’t good enough? Between my own life, my friends’ lives and my students’ lives, I had plenty of stories to share.”
An excerpt from her book:
“When Dave pitched for the California Angels in the late ’70s, a young outfielder was traded to the team. His wife and newborn soon arrived. I’ll call her Carol. Carol’s entrance into the wives’ waiting room following the opening day game was legendary. She was stunningly beautiful and trendy, dressing much more chic (is ‘chicer’ a word?) than the rest of the wives. After meeting her, I introduced her to the other wives and arranged to sit with her the following evening. We hit it off.”
“Returning home from the ballpark a few days later, Dave told me that Carol’s family needed a place to live while their newly purchased house was being renovated. I welcomed the addition. After all, Carol was special. Not only was she a head-turner, she was multi-talented. From singing to playing the piano to dancing to being a competitive tennis player to loving Jesus, Carol was the full package.
“Her giftedness was recognized by everyone.
“Except Carol.
“The evening of the first day she moved in was proof. While I waited with my infant son to leave for the ballpark, Carol descended the stairs looking like a movie goddess. A goddess starring in a tragedy. In her opinion, her striking outfit had struck out. Handing me her sleeping baby in his carry-seat, she returned upstairs to start over. A fuss that was repeated . . .
three times.
“With each new ensemble, I bolstered my compliments, but they were incapable of undoing whatever negatives had been given permission to determine her value. This scene was acted out daily, and with each tearful entry, Carol’s mascara-dripping makeup needed to be reapplied. Needless to say, we didn’t make it to the ballpark for the singing of the National Anthem. Instead, we made a grand entrance, with Carol being the recipient of ogles and admiration. Fans saw her beauty. Other wives did too. Her attempt at perfectionism was her attempt to mask tremendous insecurities. And even though, in her mind, she was never enough, she pretended well and fooled a lot of people.
Which, as we all know, is exhausting.”
About Patty Laroche
“I grew up in Fort Scott but moved to Washington, D.C. to become a flight attendant (then, “stewardess”) in my early 20’s,” she said. ” It was then I met my husband and entered his world of professional baseball (where I soon learned that there were plenty of incidents of ‘not measuring up’ I would add to my repertoire).”
“Dave had two young daughters from a previous marriage, and together we had three sons,” she said. “After moving over 35 times in 50 years of marriage, we recently sold our part-time condominium in Mexico and will be moving yet again.”
“My pastimes include hanging with family and friends, writing, playing tennis/pickleball and laughing. Most of all, I love spending time with Jesus, and I give him all the credit for this book.”
LaRoche has written a weekly Christian column for the Fort Scott Tribune, the Fort Scott Biz and the Nevada Daily Mail for several years.
Where to purchase her new book:
Her website: Alittlefaithlift.com
Or one can pre-order through Amazon, Barnes & Noble, or Books a Million, after June 25.
The publisher is Carpenter’s Son Publishing, the publishing date is July 25, 2023.
FS Design Review Board Meets June 12 to Discuss Arch Project and Pavilion Project
The Design Review Board will meet on Monday, June 12th, 4:00PM at City Hall.
The meeting was requested to discuss (2) items: The Downtown Arch Project and The Fort Scott Pavilion.
The meeting will be open to the public and available on the City of Fort Scott YouTube channel.