Inside structure damage from the fire. Courtesy of Shane Walker.
The Mary Queen of Angels Catholic Church fire took place Monday August 29 about 9:10 p.m. and destroyed the roof, the majority of the pews, the floor and all heating, ventilation and air-conditioning in the church, according to spokesman Mark McCoy.
“Some of the stained-glass windows were damaged,” he said.
The pipe organ was destroyed.”
However the statutes, the main crucifix and the altar used for saying Mass, were saved, he said.
Church is being held in Kennedy Gym until the building is rebuilt.
“We are consulting with construction experts to evaluate our options, no decision either way has been made yet,” McCoy said.
Parishioners have begun fundraisers to help with the rebuild/reconstruction of the church.
Fundraisers
Spaghetti Dinner by Knights of Columbus
“We encourage the people of our parish family and the community to come enjoy food prepared by our brother Knights and at the same time support our fundraiser,” Calvin Barr said on his Facebook page.
A spaghetti and meat sauce, salad, garlic bread, dessert and drink meal will be offered for a free-will donation this Friday, Sept. 16 from 5-7 p.m. in Kennedy Gym, 604 S. Holbrook.
Hand Made Rosary To Be Auctioned for Fire Rebuild
Jana Walker is putting up for auction a rosary that she made. It can be viewed on her Facebook page.
Jana Walker is having a fundraiser for the church building fund. Submitted.
“I made the rosary,” Walker said. “People are welcome to share the Facebook post, although, they must click on my original post. I circled the example in red. Once they are on the original post they can comment with their bid.”
Submitted photo.
Mary Queen of Angels Church fire on August 29. Submitted by Stephen Toal.
What is KAFCE you ask ? Kansas Association for Family and Community Education. FCE was founded in 1936 under the name of National Home Demonstration Council (HDU) during an international women’s conference held in Washington D.C. It became the driving force in providing rural women with education in basic life skills.
Today FCE continues to stress education, concerns of family and communities.
This organization worked to promote public opinion for investing funds to establish public health services, County Health Departments.
In the 1940s members prepared hot meals and took them to local classrooms.
They worked to raise public awareness to establish a school lunch program.
Fostering rural reading programs, members took carloads of books into rural communities and supported bookmobiles. Using easy to understand and easy to teach lessons named , “The Hearth Fire Series,” rural women learned about a variety of topics ranging from consumer issues such as buying safe food, to health lessons, learning about mammograms and the pap test, to public policy areas, the Judicial System, to media awareness topics.
FCE is a recognized leader in the areas of children. The organization was a force in getting rating symbols displayed at the beginning of television programs. Addressing media sources – video games, the internet, music, books, magazines, etc. – FCE triesto help parents make purchasing and viewing choices appropriate for their children by educating adults and youth to the pros and cons of various media sources that the youth are exposed to in the 21st Century – books, video games, cyberspace, music, movies, cell phones and sexting.
FCE also works to instill values in elementary children to build and promote characterusing storybooks to teach children character values. Volunteers present these lessons in the schools at the fourth grade level.
Leadership through education is the key, volunteerism is the means. The mission of the FCE – past, present and future – connects with families. FCE looks to the future to empower women to change their lives, their families and their communities for the better with three main goals in mind: CONTINUING EDUCATION DEVELOPING LEADERSHIP COMMUNITY ACTION
Kansas FCE Creed
I believe in the principles of the Kansas Association for Family and Community. Education which strives to promote a better way of life for all families and communities in making the world a better place in which to live. Through leadership, may we have pride in our role as volunteer educators, be conscious of the needs of others, and be strengthened by our unity.
There are 82 Family and Community Units in the Southwind District. Two of these units are in Bourbon County – Starlite FCE, which meets at 2:00 on the third Thursday of each month in the Yeager Building at the Bourbon County Fairgrounds (for more information call Glenda Miller 620-547-2401) and Thursday Night Live FCE, which meets at 5:30 on the third Thursday of the month at various locations (for more information call Lori Nelson 620-215-9373.) An educational lesson is presented at each meeting, with refreshments and lots of good fellowship.
Come join us!Consider this your invitation to drop in and find out for yourself what FCE is all about. Join with us as we strive to strengthen families, through continuing education, leadership development and community action. We welcome you !
Chamber Coffee, Grand Opening, & Ribbon Cutting hosted by Varia Quality Resale Clothing & Accessories
The Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce invites members and guests to a Chamber Coffee, Grand Re-Opening, & Ribbon Cutting hosted by Varia Quality Resale Clothing & Accessories, Thursday, September 15th at 8 a.m. at 114 E. 23rd St. Coffee, juice, and light refreshments will be served, and attendees may register to win a special drawing. Ribbon cutting will immediately follow.
Varia just moved to a new and expanded location and has over 4,000 items in stock! They are open Tuesday-Saturday 10am-5pm.
Chamber members and guests are invited to Chamber Coffee events each Thursday at 8 a.m. to network, make announcements, hear about happenings in the community as well as learn about the host business or organization.
Contact the Chamber of Commerce at (620) 223-3566 for more information. Visit the Events Calendar and category of Chamber Coffees on fortscott.com for upcoming locations.
The winners of 1st place A Flight Team of David Brown, Jarrod Brown, Tim Bradbury, and Tarrell Vann. Submitted photo.2nd place A Flight Team from Labconco of Michael Harper, Shawn Marshall, Travis Schilling, and Chris Harper. Submitted photo.
Saturday, September 10th was a perfect day for the Friends of Tri-Valley Foundation to hold their 3rd Annual Fort Scott Golf Classic. Our 2021 tournament was canceled due to a COVID outbreak, but this year we had no problem. The Tournament was held at the beautiful Woodland Hills Golf Course in Fort Scott. It was fantastic golfing weather; the day started in the 60’s but quickly warmed to 80’s.
Play began at 9 am with 19 teams. Prizes were given out to 1st and 2nd places in A, B, and C Flights. The winners were: A Flight 1st Place went to the team of Tarrell Vann, Danny Brown, Jarod Brad, and Tim Bradbury; A Flight 2nd Place went to the team of Michael Harper, Shawn Marshall, Travis Schilling, and Chris Harper; B Flight 1st Place went to the team of Trentyn Moore, Tim Moore, Brett Scott, and Mark Bruder; and B Flight 2nd Place went to the team of Dustin Hall, Matt Wheeler, Clint Lawrence, and Ryan; C Flight 1st Place went to the team of Wally Maples, Mike Prince, Jake Scott, and Michael Hatcher; and C Flight 2nd place went to the team of Marcus Alexander, Michael Alexander, Larry Alexander, and Landon Bennett.
Along with the two flights, prizes were handed out for the Longest Drive which went to Steve Sewell and Closest to the Pin which went to Dustin Fowler. Players were also given the opportunity to try their chances with the “Trouble” Hole in One game on hole 11.
At the end of the tournament, door prizes were given out to several lucky golfers. The door prizes included: garden decor and gift bag from Heidrick’s True Value, coffee mugs and ballcaps courtesy of Kale Nelson State Farm, and Gift Certificates to G & W, Miller Feed, The Butcher Block, Sharky’s, Luther’s BBq and tickets to Grand Country Music Hall in Branson courtesy of Fort Scott Broadcasting.
Along with the door prizes, a silent auction was held for a fire pit courtesy of Niece Products of Fort Scott.
All money raised from the event goes toward the Foundation’s mission of providing quality and affordable homes for our neighbors with intellectual/developmental disabilities in the eight counties of Allen, Bourbon, Chautauqua, Elk, Greenwood, Neosho, Wilson, and Woodson.
“Without the generosity of our communities, this fun event could not have been held. Thank you to all the golfers who participated as well as to our event sponsors: corporate, hole, and in-kind. This tournament would not have been possible without the support of our sponsors. Thank you to Heartland HomeCare; Ashcraft Pest Control; Atkins Insurance; Bourbon County Cars; Brigg’s Auto of Fort Scott; Cheney Witt Chapel; Don’s Spirits and Wines, LLC; Diehl, Banwart, & Bolton; H & H Agency; Heidrick True Value; Kansas Teacher’s Community Credit Union; Konantz-Cheney Chapel; John & George Masterson; Medicalodge of Fort Scott; Mertz Tax Service; Microtronics; Peerless Products; SEK Financial; Stewart Realty Co; Young’s Welding; and Wise Accounting. It is friends like you that allow us to provide services to our neighbors with I/DD and to help them achieve the quality of life they seek. Thank you.” stated Special Projects Coordinator, Tricia Campbell.
Valetta Cannon reads a Christmas book to children during the 2015 Christmas party
Submitted by Valetta Cannon
Fort Scott Public Library
Youth Librarian & Assistant Director
Fall is a perfect time to cozy up with a favorite book, take a stroll to watch nature change, or do both of those and more at your local library! Take a look at the upcoming programs the library is offering. All programs are free and open to the public (some programs have age limits). See you at the library!
Maker Monday
Monday, September 19 at 4:15 pm
What can you make with a cardboard box? Show off your cardboard creation talents at Fort Scott Public Library for the first Maker Monday since early 2020. Boxes, cardboard scraps, special safe cutting tools, Makedo connectors, work tables, books filled with inspiration and instructions, and craft supplies will be provided, along with snacks. This event is for all ages, free, and open to the community. Families are encouraged to create things together.
Storytime
Wednesday, September 21 at 10; Tuesdays at 10 for the weeks following.
Join Miss Val in the library’s event room for a themed storytime! Participants hear two to four stories, sing songs, make a craft, and enjoy snacks and drinks. Online storytime videos post in a private Facebook group for Storytime families and unlisted on the library’s YouTube page (families may email Miss Val at [email protected] for the link) on Thursdays at 10 am, so long as there is patron demand for the service. Reserve your curbside kit, complete with craft supplies and a snack, here:
Help decorate the library for fall, then enjoy refreshments in the event room. This event is for middle and high school students.
Every 1st & 3rd Wednesday is a hybrid meeting, with teens participating both in person and from home. Curbside kits which include supplies, snacks, and drinks, are available. Teens can also earn library loot, which they can spend on small prizes or save up for better ones, and reward books, for participating in the library’s ongoing teen reading challenge. Each 200 pages or 100 minutes of reading earns two loot and a book. To reserve a curbside kit, fill out this form: https://forms.gle/gTHh6Q1gjdVMhebi7
by 5 pm the Monday before the meeting your teen wishes to attend.
Marvelous Monday
Monday, October 10 at 3 pm
Homeschool families, meet and mingle with other local homeschoolers at Marvelous Monday events. At our next event, we will go on a scavenger hunt down Main Street. The middle and high school kids will have a more advanced list of items to find, and will begin making a collaborative newspaper for the group during this meeting. Homeschool families may submit their ideas and preferences for future meetings by filling out this form: https://forms.gle/6tZa2tRw8Y1b3w9a9
Teen Book Club
Monday, September 26 at 4:30 pm
6th – 12th graders, join Miss Valetta at Common Ground Coffee for teen book club! We will discuss our current and favorite reads, work on completing a custom book BINGO card for prizes, and enjoy delicious treats! This event is free and open to middle and high school students.
500 Books Before Middle School
Elementary-aged children now have a library literacy reward program of their very own. Each milestone your child reaches improves their literacy skills, increases their knowledge, and allows them to earn a prize and free book from the library. Sign up here: https://forms.gle/dPuXY8nhoicaUe5A7
Members of the USD 234 Board of Education met at 5:30 p.m. on Monday, September 12, 2022, for their regular monthly meeting at the board office.
President Danny Brown opened the meeting.
The board approved the official agenda, and the consent agenda as follows:
Minutes from August 8, 2022, Board of Education meeting and minutes from August 1, 22, and 23, 2022, Board of Education special meetings
Financials – Cash Flow Report
Check Register
Payroll – August 20, 2022 – $1,361,769.35
Activity Fund accounts
First Day Enrollment Count
Appointment of Zach Reynolds as the school attorney for the 2022-23 school year
FSHS Orchestra Fundraiser Application
The board heard reports from FSKNEA regarding the bucket auction for scholarships, staff returning to school, and thanked Superintendent Brown for his visibility in the schools.
The Superintendent reviewed the KSDE Accountability Report for 2020-21 and the recent culture survey that was taken of staff. Superintendent Brown updated the board on assessments and PLC professional development on behalf of the Assistant Superintendent.
The Business Manager reported on the special education audit, financial audit, and annual reporting.
The board approved the following items:
Contract with Greenbush for federal E-rate related to connectivity which allow the district to receive an 80% discount on services.
Place three (3) buses and a suburban for sale through auctiontime.com. In addition, scrap two buses that are no longer in service.
Vehicles for auction will be:
2006 Blue Bird 27 passenger
1998 AMTRAN 64 passenger
2003 Blue Bird 40 passenger
1990 Chevy Suburban
Contract with Diehl, Banwart, Bolton CPAs for the annual financial audit.
Curtain divider purchase to allow additional classroom space at Fort Scott Middle School.
Roof bids to Meridian Roofing Solutions. This will address roofs at Winfield Scott, Fort Scott High School, and Eugene Ware Elementary. The total bid was for $1,341,401.
Direct Communication & Public Relations proposal to evaluate communication with students, families, and staff.
KDHE Kansas K-12 Stay Positive Test Negative Initiative Grant in the amount of $776,558. This is a non-matching grant that will allow for testing to continue for the schools and the purchase of Synexis machine to fight viruses, bacteria, mold, odors, and insects.
Personnel Report – following
The board went into an executive session for personnel matters and the superintendent evaluation process.
President Danny Brown adjourned the meeting.
PERSONNEL REPORT – APPROVED EMPLOYMENT
RESIGNATIONS/TERMINATIONS/RETIREMENTS:
Dennis Dennigan – Resignation – FSHS special education teacher, effective September 1, 2022
Integrity Home Care & Hospice has earned the 2021 SHPBestTM“Premier Performer” Patient Satisfaction Award
Ft. Scott, Kansas, 9/12/2022 – Integrity Home Care has been recognized by Strategic Healthcare Programs (SHP) as a “Premier Performer” for achieving an overall patient satisfaction score that ranked in the top 5% of all eligible SHP clients for the 2021 calendar year.
The annual SHPBest™ award program was created to acknowledge home health agencies that consistently provide high quality service to their patients. The 2021 award recipients were determined by reviewing and ranking the overall satisfaction score for more than 2,500 home health providers. With the largest HHCAHPS benchmark in the nation, SHP is in a unique position to identify and recognize organizations that have made patient satisfaction a priority and have been rewarded for their efforts with high marks on the HHCAHPS survey.
“SHP is proud to present the SHPBest awards to our top-performing customers. We commend these organizations for their continuous focus on delivering the highest quality of care to their patients,” said Rob Paulsson, President of SHP.
Integrity’s Fort Scott home health team is thrilled to receive this award and expects to see more in the future. “Our team is proud to receive this recognition. Our primary goal is ensuring our patients’ ability to remain comfortable in their home environment while receiving restorative care and skilled services. I feel like these consistently high patient satisfaction scores validate that we’re meeting our goal while providing quality care. We will continue to partner with our patients on their journey towards wellness and improved independence,” said Integrity’s Fort Scot Home Health Administrator, Becky Davied.
Integrity Home Care & Hospice is passionately dedicated to improving the healthcare system, because everyone has had a personal experience with the struggle that comes with a change in health. They are here to help and support you and your family as you seek to improve or simply maintain your health and independence at home.
Integrity’s mission is to identify and meet your home care needs and the needs of its employees with unmatched skill, compassion, and integrity.
About Strategic Healthcare Programs (SHP)
Strategic Healthcare Programs (SHP) is a leader in data analytics and benchmarking that drive daily clinical and operational decisions. Our solutions bring real-time data to post-acute providers, hospitals, and ACOs to better coordinate quality care and improve patient outcomes. Since 1996, SHP has helped more than 7,000 organizations nationwide raise the bar for healthcare performance.
The City Commission will meet for a special meeting at 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday, September 14th, 2022 at City Hall in the City Commission meeting room at 123 South Main Street, Fort Scott, Kansas. The City Commission will meet for the 2023 Budget Hearing. An executive session will follow the public hearing.
This meeting will be broadcast on the City’s You tube channel. This meeting is open to the public.
A disc golf tournament is scheduled at Gunn Park on Sept. 17.
For those not familiar with the sport, disc golf is played much like golf, but instead of a ball and clubs, players use a flying disc or Frisbee® to aim at a basket on a pole, according the website https://www.pdga.com/introduction. The sport was formalized in the 1970s and the object of the game is to complete each hole with, fewest throws.
Local disc golfer Danny Craig is organizing the Gunn Park tourney, which is a Professional Disc Golf Association event.
Danny Craig is the local organizer of the Professional Disc Golf Association Tournament at Gunn Park on Fort Scott’s west side. Submitted photo.
“This is a professional tournament, the professionals will be playing for money,” he said. “Last year there were 75 players that showed up, from states that surround Kansas. I’m not sure of the economic impact, but they buy gas and meals (in Fort Scott) and maybe even stay in the hotels.”
“Disc golf was started in Fort Scott in 1999,” he said. “The Fort Scott Kiwanis provided nine baskets.” It now has 18 holes.
Craig enjoys the game because it is good exercise, he said. “And watching others play. I started playing when I moved next door to a disc golf course and fell in love with the game.”
Disc golf participants watch the game in a prior tournament in Gunn Park. Submitted photo.
“There is something about throwing that perfect shot,” he said. “It doesn’t happen every time, but when it does, it’s magic.”
The cost for this tournament for professional disc golfers is $63, in the amateur division, $58; the intermediate and entertainment division, $53 and the junior division, which is 18 years old and younger, $53.
“There is a payout for the winners in the professional division, it’s $600 added cash above the entry fee,” Craig said. “Amateurs get prizes. Entry fees goes towards the players packets.”
A trailer with disc golf supplies will allow amateur winners to choose their prize. Submitted photo.
There will be a trailer with disc golf supplies, he said. “The amateurs can choose from this.”
Rain or shine the event will happen, he said. “Lightening delays the event one hour, if is continues, the event discontinues.”
The first round starts at 9 a.m., the other at 1 p.m.
“Hole number one is by the small rock shelter house, near the lower pond,” Craig said. “It tees off here.”
Gunn Park is a very picturesque course, with gently rolling hills and trees.
“It is one of Kansas’s hidden treasures,” Craig said.
“I want to thank our sponsors Hammer Insurance, 5 Corners Gas Station and the City of Fort Scott,” Craig said.
Disc golf players walk to another hole in Gunn Park at a prior tournament. Submitted photo.
About The Game
“A golf disc is thrown from a tee area to a target, which is the hole,” according to the website. “The hole can be one of a number of disc golf targets; the most common is an elevated metal basket. As a player progresses down the fairway, he or she must make each consecutive throw from the spot where the previous throw landed. The trees, shrubs, and terrain changes located in and around the fairways provide challenging obstacles for the golfer. Finally, the putt lands in the basket and the hole is completed.”
The City Commission will meet for a special meeting at 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday, September 14th, 2022 at City Hall in the City Commission meeting room at 123 South Main Street, Fort Scott, Kansas. The City Commission will meet for the 2023 Budget Hearing.
This meeting will be broadcast on the City’s You tube channel. This meeting is open to the public.
Ralph Carlson introduces the Friday Night Concert musicians May 2019.
This week’s Friday Night Concert will be presented by a musician-friends trio, Ralph Carlson, Stephan Moses, and Carolyn Tucker. The program will feature vocal and instrumental music of southern gospel, country, blues, songs of Elvis, and Latin-American light-classical tunes. Carlson provides harmony and keeps the rhythm on Martin acoustic guitar, Moses sings and plays Gretsch electric lead guitar, and Tucker provides vocals and fills in the gaps on keys.
“All three of us began studying music as youngsters. When you combine our years of playing experience, it’s 191! Through the years, we have all played individually in church, our communities, and diverse venues,“ concert-series organizer Ralph Carlson said. “We appreciate the opportunity to play for the loyal folks who attend this seasonal Friday event. Bring a neighbor and join your friends for a fun evening.”
The one-hour concert begins at 7 p.m. at the Heritage Park Pavilion at First and Main streets. The event is free and open to the public. Dave Oas and Jim Butler provide the sound each week. Due to limited seating, attendees are encouraged to bring lawn chairs.
In the event of inclement weather, the concert will be moved to The Loading Dock at Common Ground Coffee Co., 12 E. Wall Street.
