Category Archives: Fort Scott

Fort Scott, Schools

U234 New Hires: Yasmina Query and Justin Robinson

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Yasmina Query. Submitted photo.

Yasmina Summer Query, 36, is the new Eugene Ware Elementary School Principal, replacing Stephanie Witt, who resigned.

Query has taught five years in fourth grade at Eugene Ware Elementary and prior to that nine years at Truman Elementary School in Nevada, MO.

She earned a Bachelors’s in Elementary Education and a Masters’s in Educational Leadership.

Her hometown is Fort Scott.

She is married to  Joshua Query owner of JDQ Construction, and who also with his father, Ronald Query, owns a nutritional store in Kansas City, called the Ultimate Sports Nutrition.

They have two boys, Mason,9 years old and will be in 4th grade, and Myron, 6 years old and who will be in 1st grade.

Outside of school, she loves to read and bake.

And “I volunteer with the children’s ministry at the Fort Scott Church of the Nazarene. I help with Sunday School, and I am always a teacher for VBS.”

How did you become an educator?

“I knew in elementary school that I wanted to be a teacher. I attended Eugene Ware as a child and graduated from Fort Scott High School. My experience in school was such a positive one, that I knew I wanted to work with kids and create that positive school experience for them as well.”

 

Is there someone who inspired you?

“I don’t think I could bring it down to just one person. I had amazing teachers growing up. There wasn’t a building or grade level that I didn’t connect to at least one teacher. As an educator, I have worked for dedicated and supportive administers. I have also learned under such experienced and loving teachers. Each person who invested in me brought me to this moment, and my life is forever changed by them.”

What is the best part of teaching?

“The thing I love most about being a teacher is watching the successes of my students. My goal every year is that all of my students learn to believe in themselves. There isn’t a child out there who isn’t capable of greatness, and I want every student who has been in my class to know that they can do anything.”

What are the greatest challenges in teaching for you?

“The greatest challenges are when you feel like you haven’t done enough for your kids. Anyone who has been a teacher has had a tough kid. You want so much to help them fix everything in the nine months you have them, but sometimes you don’t see the work you have put in until years later. Teaching is full of joys but also heartaches because you care so much about your students.”

She starts her new position on July 19.

Justin Robinson and family. Submitted photo.
Justin Robinson, 41, is the new Fort Scott Middle and High School Band Director.
His hometown is Auburn, KS.
He has 18 years of experience at Southern Coffey County as a K-12 Music Teacher.
Robinson earned a BME from Pittsburg State in 2003, and a master’s degree from Emporia State in 2007,
He has been married to Angela for 18 years and has a daughter, Zoi, who will be attending her first year at Neosho County Community College this fall.

In his spare time, he likes to fish and play music.

” My family plays in a country/rock band based out of Iola,” he said.  “We also like to travel!”

How did you become an educator?
“I got a call that Pitt (Pittsburg State University)  needed a bassoon player and away I went! ” he said. ” I fell in love with music through marching and concert band in high school and it continued to grow during my education at Pitt.”
Is there someone who inspired you?
“My middle and high school band directors for sure, to get into education!”
What is the best part of teaching for you?
“When the light bulb clicks with a child and the instrument in their hands!  Then getting to watch them develop into their potential and become the best musician they can.”
What are the greatest challenges in teaching?
“Keeping the kids motivated to strive for their best with all the distractions in the world.”
Fort Scott, Government

Walther Celebrates 25 Years as Fort Scott Public Library Director

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Fort Scott Public Library Board Member Lissa Gorman, presented a framed certificate and 25 year pin to Director Lisa Walther.

 

Fort Scott Public Library Director Lisa Walther, celebrated her 25th work anniversary on July 8.

“The board and I recognized her for her service during this past Tuesday’s board meeting on July 13,” Valetta Cannon, the youth librarian and assistant director, said.

The library is open from 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Monday – Friday and 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on Saturdays.

“We ask people to follow CDC guidelines regarding masks, and we provide hand sanitizer and disposable masks for anyone who wants to use them,” Cannon said. “We ask people to limit their time browsing upstairs to a half-hour per day and their time on the computers or wifi downstairs to one hour per day. Beyond that, we have no restrictions.”

Fort Scott, Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce

Beat The Heat Shopping July 16-17

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The Fort Scott Chamber is welcomes everyone to come out, support local & enjoy the fun!
“BEAT THE HEAT”
SHOPPING EVENT
THIS FRIDAY & SATURDAY
July 16th & 17th
12 stores in the Downtown Historic District and additional locations will be participating in the fun serving cold refreshments while you shop and find hot deals in the cool stores! See list of participating stores below!
On Saturday, to add to the event, there will be a snow cone vendor in front of Hedgehog.INK! Bookstore and Offshore Tropix Boujee Softserve will be set up in front of Bids & Dibs with a delicious, sweet treat that is vegan and dairy-free, serving pineapple and strawberry flavors with toppings available. Also, a Puppet Show & Open House at Museum of Creativity!
There are plenty of benches downtown and around while you shop or taking in the historic sites, restaurants, and museums.
Participating retailers will be offering complimentary popsicles or some cold refreshments as you shop or at checkout and those stores will be designated with a Beat the Heat poster and a pink flamingo in the spirit of the shopping event.
Fort Scott, Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce

Chamber Announces BEAT THE HEAT SHOPPING EVENT!

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The Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce announces a Beat the Heat Shopping Event will take place Friday, July 16th and Saturday, July 17th. Stores in the Downtown Historic District and additional locations will be participating in the fun serving cold refreshments while you shop and find hot deals in the cool stores.

To add to the event, there will be a sno cone vendor in front of Hedgehog.INK! Bookstore and Offshore Tropix Boujee Softserve will be set up in front of Bids & Dibs with a delicious, sweet treat that is vegan and dairy-free, serving pineapple and strawberry flavors with toppings available. There are plenty of benches downtown and around while you shop or taking in the historic sites, restaurants, and museums.

Participating retailers will be offering complimentary popsicles or some cold refreshments as you shop or at checkout and those stores will be designated with a Beat the Heat poster and a pink flamingo in spirit of the shopping event. Those locations include: Angie Dawn’s Boutique, Barbed Wire & Roses Vintage Market, Bids & Dibs, Hedgehog.INK! Bookstore, Iron Star Antiques & Such, J & W Sports Shop, The Lavender Patch, Main Street Gallery & Gifts, Museum of Creativity, Sunshine Boutique, Shirt Shack, and Treasure Hunt Flea Market.


Contact the Chamber for more information at 620-223-3566.

Fort Scott, Government, Schools

USD234 Press Release

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NEWS RELEASE

 

Monday, July 12, 2021

 

Members of the USD 234 Board of Education met at the Fort Scott Middle School Commons on Monday, July 12, 2021, for their regular monthly meeting.

President David Stewart opened the meeting.  The board approved the official agenda.  The old board adjourned Sine Die with the reorganization of the new board.  The board elected James Wood as board president and Kellye Barrows as board vice-president.

The board went into an executive session to discuss personnel items for non-elected personnel.  The board returned to the open meeting.

The board approved the consent agenda as follows:

 

A.    Minutes

B.    Bills and Claims

C.    Payroll – June 18, 2021 – $2,044,997.49

D.    Financial Report

E.    Activity fund accounts

F.     Designation of banks for deposit of school funds

G.    Designation of newspaper for official school publications – The Fort Scott Tribune

H.    Officers for the 2021-22 school year

I.      Recreation Commission Board Member Terms

J.      Resolution for Waiver of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles

K.    Resolution for Rescinding Policy Statements found in Board Minutes

L.    Resolution to set dates and times for board meetings

M.   Resolution to Establish Home Rule by Board of Education

N.    Resolution for Destruction of Records

O.    Organizational Chart

P.     Set fees for copying of records

Q.    Current state mileage reimbursement rate – $.56

R.    High school fundraisers and extended trips

S.     2021-22 high school Site Council members; dates and times of meetings

 

Ted Hessong, the Superintendent, reported on the School Board Retreat, ESY, and Summer School, the football field turf evaluation, athletic trainer update, Kansas Can Success tour, and the theme for the 2021-22 school year, FOCUS ON LEARNING.  Gina Shelton, Business Manager/Board Clerk, presented a report.

The board approved the following:

 

·       Mitigation protocols for students in buildings for summer school

·       2021-22 Negotiated Agreement

·       Revenue Neutral Tax Rate

·       EduCLIMBER renewal

·       Handbook changes

 

Superintendent Hessong gave a school board self-evaluation report.  In addition, he reviewed Board Policy KGD – Possession of Firearms.  The board tabled any action on this policy.

The board set July 30 at noon for a budget presentation.  In addition, the board set August 25 at 5:30 p.m. for RNR and a budget hearing at 6:00 p.m.

The board selected the following:

 

·       Hearing officer for suspensions and expulsions – Gary Billionis

·       BEDCO Representative – David Stewart

·       Chamber of Commerce Ex-Officio Board Member – Ted Hessong

 

Board members shared comments and then went into executive session to discuss personnel matters for nonelected personnel and returned to open meeting.

The board approved the following employment matters:

 

A.    Resignation of Stephanie Witt, Eugene Ware Principal, effective at the end of the 2020-21 school year

B.    Resignation of Codee Weddle, Winfield Scott paraprofessional, effective at the end of the 2020-21 school year

C.    Resignation of Tammy McDaniel, middle school paraprofessional, effective at the end of the 2020-21 school year

D.    Resignation of Judy Welch, bus driver, effective at the end of the 2020-21 school year

E.    Employment of Justin Robinson as Fort Scott Middle School/Fort Scott High School band instructor and for band presentations at middle school and high school for the 2021-22 school year

F.     Employment of Matthew Wells as a 4-hour bus driver for the 2021-22 school year

G.    Employment of Wanita Tate as a 5.5-hour preschool bus driver for the 2021-22 school year

H.    Employment of Winfield Scott supplemental employees for the 2021-22 school year

I.      Employment of high school supplemental employees for the 2021-22 school year

J.      Employment of Whitley Chesney for middle school music presentations for the 2021-22 school year

K.    Recommendation for Andrea Scott, FSPC Principal, to be district Special Education Coordinator for the 2021-22 school year

L.    Employment of Carlee McCullough as a preschool teacher for the 2021-22 school year

M.   Employment of Josh Hudiburg as a high school assistant football coach and Jacob DeLaTorre as high school assistant freshman boys’ basketball coach for the 2021-22 school year

N.    Transfer of Yasmina Query, Eugene Ware fourth grade teacher, to Eugene Ware Principal for the 2021-22 school year

O.    Resignation of Curt Toll, high school assistant track coach, effective at the end of the 2020-21 school year

P.     Combining three custodian positions (5.5 hours for 12 mo.; 3.5 hours for 10 mo.; 8 hours for 10 mo.) into two custodian positions (8 hours for 10 mo.; 8 hours for 12 mo.)

 

The board approved a Resolution for Bank Account Signers  In addition, the board approved a 1.5% increase in salary for administrators and classified employees for the 2021-22 school year.

The board adjourned.

 

Fort Scott, Sports

Arndt, Laird and Traul To Compete In U.S. National High School Rodeo

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Cowboys and cowgirls will compete at the national high school rodeo finals in Lincoln, Nebraska on July 18.

Miranda Arndt, Kelsey Laird, and Jaci Traul are the local cowgirls competing.

“These kids all compete in the Missouri High School Rodeo Association,” said Kasey Laird, Kelsey’s mother. “There might be more,  as there are several families from southeast Kansas that attend MHSRA.  These kids have worked hard for the chance to go to the national finals and compete against other states for the number one spot.”

Miranda Arndt. Submitted photo.

Miranda Arndt, 18, is a 2021 Fort Scott High School graduate, the daughter of Trina and Jason Arndt.

“I am going to compete in goat tying at nationals,” Miranda said.  “I went last year in goat tying also.”

“I’m looking forward to being more prepared and hopefully winning a national title,”  she said.

Arndt will be attending Northeast Oklahoma A & M this fall.

 

Kelsey Laird. Submitted photo.

Kelsey Laird, 15, is the daughter of Kasey and John Laird and is a sophomore at Fort Scott High School.

“Kelsey competes in barrel racing, poles, and goat tying, however, she is competing at national finals as a rodeo queen,” Kasey said. “She will compete against the other states in horsemanship, modeling, written testing, and personal interviews. This will determine the national high school rodeo queen.”
Jaci Traul. Submitted photo.
Jaci Traul, Fort Scott,  is the daughter of John and Nicki Traul, and granddaughter of Frank and Debbie Madison.
She is a 2021 graduate of Manhattan Virtual Academy.
“Jaci has qualified for nationals seven times., three times in junior high and four in high school,” her mother, Nicki said. “She was the Missouri High School Rodeo State Champion Breakaway Roper this year. She also qualified for nationals in the poles and was the Reserve Champion All-around Cowgirl.”
She will attend Northeast Oklahoma A&M in Miami, OK on a rodeo scholarship.

 

Entertainment, Fort Scott

Friday Night Free Concert: Church of Christ

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Ralph Carlson introduces the Friday Night Concert musicians May 2019.

The performance for this week’s Friday Night Concert will be presented by the Church of Christ (15th and Crawford). The music will feature an evening of a cappella hymns and gospel songs.

“The singers represent multiple ages and they really shine with a passion for blending harmonies with their musical styling of the gospel,” concert series organizer Ralph Carlson said. “Come out and join us for a great opportunity to see friends and enjoy some beautiful music. We are happy to welcome this church group to the park pavilion.“

The concert begins at 7 p.m. at the Heritage Park Pavilion at First and Main streets. The shows, sponsored by the Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce, are free and open to the public. We are pleased to have Dave Oas, Parsons, Kansas, serve as sound technician 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 Common Ground Coffee Co., 12 E. Wall Street.

Fort Scott, Schools

Alex Specht: New FSHS Assistant Principal

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Alex Specht. Submitted photo.
Alexander M. Specht,  53, is the new Fort Scott High School Assistant Principal.
He has taught biology, advanced biology, environmental science, applied physics, anatomy, and physiology for 20 years at the high school level at Hoisington, Osawatomie, and Great Bend and 7th-grade science at McPherson Middle School.
He has also been a head high school girls basketball coach, middle school boys basketball coach, high school and middle school track coach, and boys and girls high school golf coach.
Specht has been a two-time Teacher of the Year, a Walmart Teacher of the Year, and a Kansas Master Teacher of the Year.
He earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Emporia State University in 1991, a Master of Education degree in Educational Leadership,  from ESU, in 2006.
The best part of teaching science for him is engaging students in inquiry-based learning, he said.
“I would set the students up for the biological concept of the day, give them a general procedure to follow, and then watch as they discovered the science lesson for the day,” he said.  “To see the expression on their faces and interacting with them as they discovered something new, cool, smelly or amazing is always an awesome way for a student to get hooked on science and the learning process!”
“The greatest challenges I see in education today is at the daily instruction level,” he said. “Classroom teachers are dealing with the personal problems of the students.  These personal issues include family, home, school, friends, and athletic concerns that cause a great deal of stress on the student.  I believe we need to build relationships with our students and to work with their families to let them all know how committed this district is to partnering with them to help their students be successful.  When students struggle with ‘outside’ problems, it is definitely a challenge for them to focus ‘inside’ the classroom.
Family and Interests
Born in Faribault, MN, Specht moved to Smith Center,  KS then moved to Sharon, KS where he graduated from high school.
“A  fun fact:  I went to high school with country music singer Martina McBride.  I asked her out on a date once but she said no,” he said.  “Dang!”

Amy, his wife of three years,  is a manager in the Farmers Alliance Insurance Company.   His oldest son, Tyler, graduated from Kansas State University and moved to Dallas to begin work in the financial investments industry.  His son, Jacob, is a sophomore at Fort Hays State University, majoring in biology. He also has a stepson,  named Tyler.

Specht loves being outdoors, he said.
“I have a fishing boat and a kayak and love to fish!” he said. “I mountain bike, work out a little and like to target shoot and do some hunting with…Amy.”
“As a biologist, I also love flowers and landscaping,” he said.  ‘It’s a fun and creative way for me to spend time.”
A college chemistry teacher encouraged him to teach.
“I always enjoyed science classes and in college, I had a chemistry teacher who was impressed by the way I led our chemistry class through a review session for an upcoming test,” he said. ” He told me that I presented ideas and helped the other students so well that I should become a teacher.  That was never a thought for me until that moment.”
His father inspired him.
“He was a good dad and raised me with high expectations, understanding of accountability, and a strong work ethic,” he said.
He was consistently teaching him or encouraging him, he said.
“My dad was my elementary principal as I grew up and my first basketball coach,” he said. “He was a special education teacher and a superintendent…being in a school was a part of my life.”
Also following his father’s example, Specht served in the  U.S. Navy.
Fort Scott

FS Area Community Foundation’s Newsletter

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News from the
Fort Scott Area Community Foundation
Please find our Summer 2021 Newsletter below.
Click here for a printable PDF copy.
Thank you for reading our
Summer 2021 Newsletter!
Contact us with questions or for more information:
Board President Carla Farmer: 620-224-6500
Website: www.fsacf.com
Connect with us:
Click here to Like the Foundation’s Facebook page.