From Mr. Kimble, Fort Scott High School Principal:
Category Archives: Fort Scott
La Hacienda Receives Grant to Repair/Replace Equipment

Mirna and Jose Santana started their downtown restaurant in 2010 at 22 South Main, and moved to 24 N. Main in 2015.
Theirs is a family business that includes their sons Allen and Roger and Mirna’s brother, Melvin as employees.
They currently have 11 employees.
The restaurant does catering, has curbside pick-up and delivery service (within Fort Scott) and one can order online on their website at https://lahaciendaoffortscott.menufy.com/order
This year they created a new menu, with the La Prima (rice/chicken/cheese dip) the crowd favorite, Mirna said.
Restaurant hours are Monday-Wednesday from 11 a.m .to 8 p.m.; Thursday through Saturday, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
The phone number is 620.223.4400.
They Received A HBCAT Grant Recently
The business couple applied for and received the Healthy Bourbon County Action Team grant for restaurants in the amount of $7,000.
“We applied because the walk-in cooler was down and needed repairs,” she said. They got those repairs and are also ordering a new fryer for the restaurant, she said.
Giving Back To Their Community
The Santanas are involved in the community and have danced in the “Dancing With The Stars” fundraising event to raise funds for United Way, which distributes to many other entities, she said.
“I (also) try to help the organizations that come to us,” Mirna said. “Especially the schools.”
Mirna is originally from El Salvadore, Jose from Mexico.

Easter Egg Stravaganza This Saturday at Fort Cinema
Chamber Dinner and Awards Celebration is April 20

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Kiwanis Spring is Here: Easter Egg Hunt and Planting of Trees
Kiwanis is a global organization of volunteers dedicated to improving the world, one child and one community at a time.
Two upcoming events for them is the Easter Egg Hunt this Saturday at 11 a.m. sharp at Gunn Park Shelter House #2 for area children. Children will need to bring their own basket.

Another of the organization’s projects through the years has been to plant trees, and this year they are continuing that tradition with the help of grant funding from the Fort Scott Area Community Foundation.
If one looks down Fort Scott main streets, many of the trees in between the sidewalk and the street have been planted by Kiwanis members in the past.

Trees are available for residents and parks throughout Bourbon County.
“A lot of the trees we have planted are for citizens who don’t have the resources to put them in,” Craig Campbell, Kiwanis member, said.
This year the group ordered flowering Redbud trees and two types of shade trees, Swamp Chestnut Oak, and Water Oak.
The Kiwanis will supply and plant the trees the latter part of April.
“The Fort Scott FFA group has volunteered to help Kiwanis members plant the trees,” Campbell said. “The city of Fort Scott will help bore the holes.”
“Tim McDonnell, with the Kansas State Forestry Service will come to town prior to help us look at drainage issues, gas and water lines, overhead lines,” Campbell said.
McDonnell drives the streets in town also to see if there is overpopulation of one tree species.
“Dutch Elm in the past and Ash Trees have been noted to have pests recently,” he said. “Bradford Pears are not hardy to our area because ice storm and wind storm damage.”
“We need to be diverse to prevent (tree populations) being wiped out by pests or disease,” Campbell said.
To request a tree, call or text Craig Campbell at 620-224-0167, by April 7.
“The only obligation is to water the tree once a week for a year to get it established,” he said.
About Kiwanis
Fort Scott Kiwanis Club meets Tuesdays at noon at the First Presbyterian Church at Third and Crawford Street. Meals are provided.
BOARD OF EDUCATION SPECIAL MEETING NEWS RELEASE
There is a change in the USD234 District calendar for the last day of school, it is now May 16 not May 17.
Monday, March 27, 2023
Members of the USD 234 Board of Education met at 5:30 p.m. on Monday, March 27, 2023, for a special board meeting at the board office.
President Danny Brown opened the meeting.
The board heard from Greg Vahrenberg regarding funding options for financing the FSHS HVAC and energy savings project. The board then passed Resolution 22-12 for purpose of determining the advisability of financing the acquisition and installation of certain energy conservation measures by the execution and delivery of a lease purchase agreement certificates of participation, Series 2023, in such lease purchase agreement.
The board then heard from Jason Dial regarding the PACT Agreement with TRANE for the purposes of the FSHS HVAC and energy savings project in the amount of $8,246,225 with the first payment in March 2023 in the amount of $1,500,000. The contract includes a 5-year parts and labor warranty. The agreement includes FSHS HVAC improvements, electrical work, installation of solar panels and LED lighting to capture energy savings.
The board approved changing the District Calendar to move the last day of school for students to May 16, 2023, and for May 17, 2023, to become a district-wide professional development day.
The board went into an executive session for personnel matters.
In addition to the above, the board approved the following items:
- Purchase of two vehicles for maintenance use
- Approval of Personnel Report (following)
President Danny Brown adjourned the meeting.
PERSONNEL REPORT – APPROVED EMPLOYMENT
March 27, 2023
RESIGNATIONS/TERMINATIONS/RETIREMENTS:
- Anderson Fowler, Bethany – Resignation – FSHS English Teacher at the end of the 2022-23 school year
- Bingesser, Carol – Resignation – FSMS Boys and Girls Basketball Coach at the end of the 2022-23 school year
- Carter, Leah – Resignation – FSMS Summer Conditioning, effective 03/08/23
- DeMott, Kelsey – Resignation – Eugene Ware Special Education Teacher at the end of the 2022-23 school year
- Guiles, Peyton – Resignation – Eugene Ware Special Education Teacher at the end of the 2022-23 school year
- Hudiburg, Kenneth – Resignation – FSMS Boys and Girls Basketball Coach at the end of the 2022-23 school year
- Sanborn, Shelly – Resignation – FSHS Special Education Teacher at the end of the 2022-23 school year
EMPLOYMENT/REASSIGNMENTS:
- Altic, Xoe – Eugene Ware Elementary 3rd Grade Teacher for the 2023-24 school year
- Comstock, Tracy – FSHS English Teacher for the 2023-24 school year
- Griffetts, Christopher – Transfer from Eugene Ware Elementary Art Teacher to FSHS Art Teacher for the 2023-24 school year
- Gumfory, Chelsea – FSMS 8th Grade Math Teacher for the 2023-24 school year
- Hendricks, Caleb – Winfield Scott Physical Education Teacher for the 2023-24 school year
- Norris, Danielle – Transfer from Eugene Ware Elementary 4th Grade Teacher to Eugene Ware Special Education Teacher for the 2023-24 school year
- Woods, Nicholas – FSHS Social Studies Teacher for the 2023-24 school year
Downtown Meet and Greet April 4

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CHAMBER TO HOST JOB FAIR APRIL 13TH
The Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce will be hosting a Job Fair on Thursday, April 13th, from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. at the Ellis Fine Arts Center on the campus of Fort Scott Community College, 2108 S. Horton St.
The Job Fair will give businesses the opportunity to recruit students and other job seekers in the area for both part-time and full-time positions. Southeast KANSASWORKS will be present with a booth to provide resources and assistance.
Employers are encouraged to reserve a booth on fortscott.com/events. The cost to reserve an employer booth is $50 for Chamber members or $90 for non-Chamber members.
Contact the Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce at 620-223-3566 for more information or visit fortscott.com.
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Employers registered to-date include:
CHC/SEK – Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas
City of Pittsburg Police Department
Fort Scott Presbyterian Village
Heartland Behavorial Health (Nevada)
Integrity Home Care + Hospice
Labconco
Kansas Department for Children and Families
Kansas Department of Transportation
Nevada Regional Medical Center
Peerless Products
Pittsburg State University
Southeast Kansas Mental Health Center
Twister Trailer
FSCC Women’s Luncheon is April 26

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Updates on Local Entities Planned for Luncheon on April 5
CHAMBER TO HOST COMMUNITY CONNECTION PANELIST LUNCHEON
The Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce will be hosting a Community Connection Panelist Luncheon on Wednesday, April 5th, from 11:45 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Empress Event Center, 7 N. Main St. Chamber members and the community are invited to attend for updates by the City of Fort Scott, Bourbon County, Fort Scott Community College, USD-234, USD-235, and Bourbon County REDI.
The event is free to attend but registration is requested. Box lunches are available by pre-order for $10 and those need to be ordered by April 3rd at 10am. Those planning to attend may RSVP online at fortscott.com under the events tab.
There will be a 7-minute update from each of the following panelists, ending with time for questions:
City of Fort Scott City Manager Brad Matkin
Bourbon County Commission Chair Jim Harris
FSCC President Alysia Johnston
USD-234 Superintendent Destry Brown
USD-235 Superintendent Vance Eden
Bourbon County REDI Executive Director Rob Harrington
Moderators for the event will be Bailey Lyons of Lyons Realty Group, 2023 Chamber Board Chair and Katie Casper, Union State Bank, Past Chamber Board Chair & Current Board Member.
This event is being sponsored by Davis Accounting, Inc. and Labconco.
Contact the Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce at 620-223-3566 for more information or visit fortscott.com.
FS City Commission Special Meeting This Evening
There will be a Special City Commission meeting tonight, Monday, March 27th at 5:00PM at City Hall to discuss the Wastewater Treatment Plant.
U234 Board of Education Special Meeting Agenda March 27
BOARD OF EDUCATION SPECIAL MEETING
MARCH 27, 2023 – 5:30 P.M.
PUBLIC AGENDA
1.0 Call Meeting to Order
Danny Brown, President
2.0 Flag Salute
3.0 Funding Options & FSHS HVAC and Energy Project
3.1 Resolution No. 22-12 & Bond Documents (Action Item)
Be it resolved a Resolution of the governing body of Unified School District No. 234, Bourbon County, Kansas (Fort Scott) determining the advisability of financing the acquisition, and installation of certain energy conservation measures by the execution and delivery of a lease purchase agreement certificates of participation, Series 2023, in such lease purchase agreement.
3.2 Contract with TRANE (Action Item)
4.0 Approval of Bids for Vehicles (Action Item)
5.0 Change of Last Day of School (Action Item)
6.0 Other Business – Personnel Matters
6.1 Enter Executive Session – Personnel Matters (Action Item)
6.2 Exit Executive Session
6.3 Approval of Personnel Report (Action Item)
7.0 Adjourn Meeting
President Brown








