The Friends of the Fort Scott National Historic Site are inviting the public to join them in saying goodbye to long-time Superintendent Betty Boyko.
The Friends will host a reception on Wednesday, February 23 from 4 to 6 p.m. at Crooner’s Restaurant, 117 S. Main, to honor Boyko.
Boyko is leaving her Fort Scott post to accept the Superintendent position at Homestead National Historic Park in Beatrice, Nebraska, which is closer to her family.
“Betty has been an active part of our community since she became Superintendent in May 2006, and she will be missed,” Martha Scott, member of the Friends group said.
“Come by, say goodbye to Betty and grab a Crooner’s Cakery cupcake and a glass of punch as we say farewell to this longtime Fort Scott National Historic Site Superintendent,” Scott said.
“Betty has great administrative and people skills,” Scott said. “She also has been active in Rotary Club and her church.”
“Betty has always been open to ideas that were still part of the mission of the historic site, but thinks outside the box,” she said.
Such ideas as the Symbols of Sacrifice, which are flags placed on the parade ground to honor veterans, and the U.S. Naturalization Ceremony that happens annually now.
Symbols of Sacrifice event, Sept. 2015
Recently, it was Betty who suggested that the Fort needed a boundary expansion so that the Block House could be included as part of The Fort Scott National Historic Site.
“Since it is government, we have to be careful because there are things that the fort and its employees cannot do — like the boundary expansion. She can’t actively work on it. It’s a fine line — government!” Scott said.
Boyko made the events happen with help from residents of the community.
To begin with, she gave information to local citizens on how a Friends group is beneficial to a historic site.
“She was instrumental in suggesting that we start a Friends of the Fort group,” Scott said. “She said it would be beneficial to the park.”
About the Friends of Fort Scott National Historic Site
The Friends of Fort Scott National Historic Site’s mission is to support the National Historic Site in a partnership through activities that may include fundraising, volunteerism, education, advocacy, and research.
The Friends have provided the lunch for the newly naturalized citizens after the Naturalization Ceremony held at the fort, provided the treats at the end of the annual Christmas Candlelight Tour, and made homemade ice cream for visitors for the 4th of July as well as many Friends members spending countless hours as a volunteer at the Fort.
Advertising for the Fort on a local, regional, state, or national level is done by the Friends group and they were instrumental in lobbying for the boundary expansion which resulted in the Block House becoming part of the Fort.
A group of citizens in 2009 came together to discuss forming a Friends group. They were Cheryl Adamson, Darlene Doherty, Sandra Haimerl, Herbert Haimerl, Reed Hartford, Ken Lunt, Dale Johnson, Caroly Lydic, Cynthia McFarlin, James Pitt, Jim Scott, Martha Scott, James Smith, and Paulette Smith.
From this grassroots meeting, the Friends group was born. That initial group served as officers and board members during the early years.
Current board members and officers are Reed Hartford, President; Matt Wells, Vice President; Martha Scott, Secretary; Marlene Braker, Treasurer. Vonnie Rickerson, Kelley Collins, Frankie Ruggerio, Shay Lynn Clements, Carol MacArthur, Judy Earp, Ronda Hassig, and Kaitlyn Wilson serve as the current board.
Funds for the activities that the Friends do are provided in two ways: the Flag subscriptions and membership dues.
The Flag subscriptions are a service that the Friends provide to residents within the city limits of Fort Scott, where they place a full-size flag on a 12-foot pole in a residents front yard five times a year — on Memorial Day, Flag Day, Fourth of July, Labor Day and Veterans Day.
Subscriptions are $35.00 per year and are due by the 20th of March. If interested in this subscription, please contact Kelley Collins at 417-684-2484 for more information.
“If you are interested in helping place those flags on the flag holidays, please call Kelley Collins to let her know that you’d like to help,” Scott said. “We are a small group of dedicated volunteers, we flag placers, and it is a worthwhile way to begin a holiday day.”
Membership in Friends is easy, Scott said.
The four membership levels are: $35 is Corporal, $50 Sergeant, $75.00 Quartermaster, $100 Sergeant Major.
If interested, mail a check to Membership Chairman, Martha Scott, 1208 S. National, Fort Scott, Kansas.
There will be a Special Meeting of the Fort Scott City Commission held at 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday, February 22nd, 2022.
Discussion will be the Airport Runway project.
There will be a work session immediately following the special meeting to discuss the prioritization of Lake Fort Scott projects.
These meetings will be held at 123 S. Main Street in the City Commission meeting room and will be broadcast on the City’s you tube channel. These meetings are open to the public.
2/18 ~ National Drink Wine Day, Crooner’s Lounge featuring 1/2 price bottles all evening, and new wine menu Click here for more info. on their FB page.
2/19 ~ ESSER III FUNDING COMMUNITY CONVERSATION: Hosted by USD 234
8am at FS Middle School, 8am, 1105 E. 12th St. Give your input to identify needs for our schools. See flyer below for more info.
2/19 ~ Jr. Duck Stamp Art Contest: Hosted by Fort Scott National Historic Site
Jr. Duck Stamp Art Contest in cooperation with the Marais des Cygnes National Wildlife Refuge. All art supplies provided. More info on the
2/19 ~ Legislative Update Coffee hosted by the Chamber at Empress Event Center, 10-11:30am, Breakfast Refreshments served. Public welcome for an update by Kansas Senators Richard Hilderbrand and Caryn Tyson and Representatives Ken Collins and Trevor Jacobs.
2/20 ~ Open Mic Afternoon: Hosted by Gordon Parks Museum. 2pm at The Ellis Fine Arts Center – Fort Scott Community College
The Gordon Parks Museum will host an open mic for any poets, rappers, musicians, or artists of all ages to read their work. Bring your friends, your poetry, your instruments, your beats, your inspirations, your creativity, and your talent! No sign-up necessary, just hop on the mic when you’re ready!
2/20 ~ Film Screening at the Gordon Parks Museum of “Many Fires This Time: We the 100 Million” an award-winning documentary film that received the Gordon Parks Black Film Excellence Honorable Mention Award at the Tallgrass Film Festival in Wichita, KS, 3:30pm.
2/25 ~ Friendship Soup Lunch hosted by First United Methodist Church 11:30am – 1pm
First United Methodist Church will host a
drive-through soup lunch. A variety of soups including potato, vegetable beef, and chili will be served along with a dessert for a free-will offering. The soup lunch will be sponsored by the Mission Committee at FUMC
301 S. National
2/26 ~ Kansas Rocks – 26th AnnualFrostbite This is a great way to open up your season’s wheeling. Great food, great fun, and great friends make this event warm all over.
(Coffee, juice, and light breakfast refreshments will be served)
Kansas Senators Caryn Tyson and Richard Hilderbrand and Representatives Trevor Jacobs and Ken Collins have been invited to give an update on the current session as well as address any issues or questions presented by the audience.
Thank you to our Chamber Champions members for all of their support
Lewis Dunkeson, Communities in Schools Site Coordinator, speaks to the group on Feb. 8. Submitted photo.
The Fort Scott High School Career Exploration Mentoring Program needs a few more volunteers.
The program is a partnership of the Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce, the City of Fort Scott and the school district, USD234, according to the Chamber website.
Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Lindsay Madison told the weekly Chamber Coffee attendees on Thursday that two more female mentors are needed for the students.
“The Chamber’s motivation for organizing the program is related to Workforce Development,” Madison told fortscott.biz. “Our goal is to help the students be on a path to success, but also develop a funnel of employees for our manufacturers and other businesses by exposing students to local career opportunities available.”
“Students may be ready to start working directly after high school or college, or may move away for several years and return to Bourbon County in the future,” she said. “By being part of the mentor program they will be more aware that Fort Scott truly is a great place to live, work and raise a family.”
“Working at a local manufacturer does not exclusively involve assembly line work as students may perceive, there are many great positions to be held in accounting, sales, engineering, welding and other areas that we try to expose them to,” she said.
“Some students are more interested in health care, law enforcement or other fields and mentors will work to set up job shadows or question/answer sessions with people in those careers” Madison said. “Each student’s needs are differently related to their educational goals or career exploration and while we bring the mentors and students together monthly as a group, the mentors work individually with the students they are paired with to build connections and make a positive impact towards their success.”
Currently, there are 14 students enrolled in the program, Madison said.
Once per month a group activity, speaker or tour is organized by the Chamber.
On February 8 at Fort Scott High School, Assistant Principal Alex Specht was the keynote speaker. Submitted photo.
At least one other time per month the student meets with their mentor one-on-one to talk about personal goals, pertinent topics or other issues that the student might have.
Attendees at the Feb. 8 mentoring program at Fort Scott High School. Submitted photo.
Bill Michaud, the owner of Sleep Inn Hotel and Chamber member, helps with the program, working with the mentors. Lewis Dunkeson, Communities in Schools Site Coordinator, helps recruit high school students and keeps them informed of meetings, Madison said.
It is an extra-curricular activity, and the high school staff are “very supportive” by allowing extra time at lunch for the meetings, Madison said.
Community members interested in being mentors, and students interested in the program, may contact the Chamber of Commerce at 620-223-3566 or email [email protected].
If you are interested in being a mentor to a high school student please complete the following, which is found on the Chamber website:
Here are several of the education modules used by mentors for discussion topic ideas for one-on-one visits with the students: basic vehicle maintenance, cooking, driver’s license information, household financing, jobs, and personal health.
The modules listed above were developed by the 2017-18 LEAD Bourbon County class, a leadership program organized by the Chamber.
NOTICE – Due to the weather, the soup lunch that was scheduled today has been cancelled and rescheduled for next Friday, February 25.
The Soup Luncheon has been rescheduled for NEXT Friday, February 25 from11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. This is a to-go meal that can be picked up under the covered entrance off of National Avenue. A variety of soups including potato, vegetable beef, and chili will be served along with a dessert for a free-will offering. Sponsored by the Mission Committee.
There will be a Special Meeting of the Fort Scott City Commission held at 1:00 p.m. on Friday, February 18th, 2022.
An Executive Session.
Discussion of the sale of Lake Fort Scott properties, and the Airport Runway project.
This meeting will be held at 123 S. Main Street in the City Commission meeting room and will be broadcast on the City’s you tube channel. The meeting is open to the public, but the Executive Session is not.
Governor Laura Kelly announced last week that 40 rural Kansas communities will receive Community Development Block Grants (CDBG) totaling more than $17.6 million to help support critical community development projects.
The City of Fort Scott received a $700,000 award grant to help revitalize the wastewater system infrastructure.
The awards are administered by the Kansas Department of Commerce and granted from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Small Cities CDBG program. Eligible CDBG public improvement projects help fund water and wastewater projects, housing rehabilitation, and other community facilities and services, according to a press release from the governor.
The $700,000 grant will be put with the $425,000 that the city will provide of the projected total cost of $1,125,000 for wastewater system infrastructure improvements.
Kelley Zellner. Submitted photo.
“The project is set to be solicited in the next few weeks, ” Fort Scott City Manager Kelley Zellner said. “And a contractor will be selected. Once the contractor is chosen for the job, the contractor decides the order of completion of the project using their ‘Means and Methods.'”
“The city’s wastewater collection system is in need of attention in certain areas and some of the equipment at the sewer plant will need to be looked at for upgrades in the next several years,” Zellner said.
“This particular improvement project, to the citizens of Fort Scott is a small portion of the need improvements to the overall collection system and a small step in the direction of a healthy infrastructure legacy for our children and grandchildren’s sake!” he said.
