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What’s Happening in Fort Scott May 16
…
Category Archives: Fort Scott
Students Work To Beautify the School Campus
Submitted by Martha Jane Gentry, St. Mary’s Catholic School writing teacher.
St. Mary’s Catholic School sixth-grade students worked to continue the tradition of beautifying the school grounds.
Sixth-grade students added plants and mulch to the front entrance during their last week of school.
The Artificers June Newsletter
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Streeter Turned Fascination With Animals Into A Business
Tanner Streeter, 25, is an artist whose specialty is animals.
“I’ve been an artist my whole life, with a primary focus on animals,” he said. “I grew up hunting and fishing, so I’ve always been surrounded by nature. I spent much of my time studying animals I saw in life, in books, or on TV so that I may understand their anatomy well enough to draw them accurately.”
“My parents would take me on trips to zoos to satisfy my fascination with animals, as well as places like Cabela’s or Bass Pro Shops. In those places, the taxidermy on display captivated me at a very young age. I would think of taxidermy as almost magical, since I could not comprehend how it was accomplished.”
“When I was 18 and about to graduate my senior year of high school from Christian Learning Center, I began practicing taxidermy on small animals that I could acquire.”
He was inspired by a taxidermy how-to book that his parents, Bernard and Torrie Streeter, had given him for Christmas.
“Much to my surprise, after making a Facebook post about my endeavors in taxidermy, a mutual online friend, Dale Robertson of Wild Heritage Taxidermy in Young, Arizona, reached out to me and offered me an apprenticeship with him. He had followed me for my artwork that I would post, and I followed his taxidermy work, so that’s how we were connected. Dale is a renowned taxidermist with multiple prestigious awards.”
“I packed everything I owned into my little Chevy Blazer and drove to Arizona, where I lived for a year and a half in a trailer at the Robertson’s home and learned everything a beginner needed to know about taxidermy and then some. I competed at the last Arizona state show (their association is no longer active) in 2019 and won the title Best New Competitor and a 2nd and 3rd place with a coyote and a deer I had brought.”
Streeter learned much in that time.
“When I came back, I got a job at Outdoors Indoors in Pittsburg, KS. I got to do some taxidermy from all over the world…Africa, Greenland, and New Zealand, along with locals. My ultimate goal was to have my own business, and my first year on my own, I got an LLC (limited liability company business structure).”
He has competed at state, national, and the World Taxidermy Show, earning an assortment of first, second, and third-place ribbons.
He’s earned the titles of Best Professional Gamehead of Kansas 2023, Best Professional Small Lifesize Mammal of Kansas 2025, and Best Professional Open Mouth Whitetail of Kansas 2025.
“Competing is vital for me since it sharpens my craft and allows me to learn from the best of the best in seminars and from my judges during critiques.”
His business model prioritizes quality over quantity.
“I take a limited number of animals each year… I take extra effort to make each animal as accurate as possible, and I try to capture the unique qualities of each specimen. I’m recreating that particular animal down to the smallest anatomical detail. From muscles and hair patterns to glands and membranes in the corner of the eye. Nothing is too small to overlook.”
“Taxidermy is an art, and I treat it just as another medium. Just like if I choose to draw with a pencil or paint with a brush. I am trying to recreate God’s creation to the best of the ability He gave me.”
He started his business, Tanners Wildlife Artistry LLC, in 2022 and shares a business building with Whitetail Properties Real Estate at 306 E. 23rd, next to Riggs Chiropractic.
“I do roughly 70-80 animals annually. This keeps turnaround times and my workload reasonable.”
“I am a mammal specialist, so I currently do not do taxidermy work on birds or fish. I have been blessed to work on a wide variety of animals from around the world, including baboons, warthogs, and antelopes from Africa; red stags, fallow deer, and wallabies from New Zealand; and black bears, elk, and deer from both the U.S. and Canada.”
The Process
With large animals, the animal is skinned, then salted and dried.
“Once I get it, I rehydrate the skin, and then tan it in a chemical bath with a tanning formula. Then the leather must be thinned to put on a foam mannequin. I do a great deal of clay sculpting on the form. I then apply a glue to the form, put the hide on, and put everything into place and sew up any incisions.”
“If an animal has antlers or horns, that part of the skull is cleaned, getting the meat broken down and cleaned off. This is to prevent Chronic Wasting Disease from spreading.”
He charges customers by the time factor plus materials.
“I go the extra mile on every piece,” he said.
Other Artwork Around Fort Scott
One can view some of Streeter’s artistic work on the wall of Structure Hair Salon on National Avenue.
In 2023, he was part of a group of people creating wall murals in Fort Scott. “The Bison” was created by artists Cally Bailey, Emily Bailey, and Tanner Streeter.
Tanner is married to Johnnie, and they have a three-month-old daughter, Annabella.
Find out more on his Facebook and Instagram under the business name or tannerswildlifeartistry.com.
Ladies Golf League on May 14
USD234 BOARD MEETING NEWS RELEASE for May 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, May 12, 2025
Members of the USD 234 Board of Education met at 5:30 p.m. on Monday, May 12, 2025, for their regular monthly meeting at 424 S Main.
President David Stewart opened the meeting.
The board approved the official agenda, and the consent agenda as follows:
Board Minutes
04-14-25
04-22-25
Financials – Cash Flow Report
Check Register
Payroll – April 18, 2025 – $1,686,779.39
Activity Funds Accounts
USD 234 Gifts
Middle School Student Council Fundraising
Washington Workshop Extended Trip
Alex VanBecelaere was recognized by Special Education Director Tonya Barnes via ZOOM. Alex works with the Occupational Therapy in the district. She has been a huge asset to the team and the students really enjoy collaborating with her.
Superintendent Destry Brown provided the Board with an update on enrollment for the end of the year.
Assistant Superintendent Terry Mayfield provided the Board with a shared update. He updated on each of the departments and plans for the summer months.
Special Education Director Tonya Barnes reported that our district reached the high status for district IDEA Level of Determination.
The Board Approved the following items:
- Contract for Occupational Therapy Services with Outreach Therapy, LLC
- KASB Membership Renewal
- Set Capacity for Nonresident Student Enrollment
- Greenbush Contract for Low-Incidence & Audiology
- CHC School Based Health Care Service Contract
- Satchel Pulse Social Emotional Learning Curriculum
- Curriculum Resources & Materials for ELA & Foreign Language
There were none present for public forum.
The Board went into an executive session for personnel matters.
President David Stewart adjourned the meeting.
PERSONNEL REPORT – APPROVED
May 12, 2025
RESIGNATIONS/TERMINATIONS/RETIREMENTS:
Bailey, Ronda – Retirement – Accompanist – Music – High School/Middle School
Baublitz, Christina – Resignation – Paraprofessional – Winfield Scott
Dunivan, Sarah – Resignation – Music Teacher – Winfield Scott
Eichenberger, Justin – Resignation – Part Time Paraprofessional – High School
Hastings, Nicolette – Retirement – SPED Teacher – High School
Nelson, Andrew – Resignation – 6th Grade Science Teacher – Middle School
Certified Recommendations
Brown, DJ – Middle School Principal
Christy, Angela – 3rd Grade Teacher – Eugene Ware
Johnson, Kyenne – Occupational Therapist
Nelson, Andrew – Instructional Coach – Winfield Scott/Eugene Ware
Classified Recommendations for 2025-26 School year
Classified Staff
Supplemental Recommendations for the 2025-26 school year:
Hendricks, Caleb – Secondary Summer School Administrator
High School Supplemental Assignments
Middle School Supplemental Assignments
Summer School Staff
FS City Design Review Board Meets May 27
The Fort Scott City Design Review Advisory Board Meeting with Work Session to follow.
When: May 27, 2025
Time: 3:00 pm
Location: City Hall
Topic for discussion:
- Certificate of Appropriateness for 24 N. Main St. in Fort Scott submitted for consideration.
Following the regular meeting, the board will convene a work session to continue reviewing and updating local design guidelines.
The meeting is open to the public, and the recording is available to watch on YouTube after the meeting is held.
Submitted by Lisa Dillon
Veteran’s Pool Tournament May 17
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Board of Ed. Agenda for May 12 Meeting
Unified School District 234
424 South Main
Fort Scott, KS 66701-2697
www.usd234.org
620-223-0800 Fax 620-223-2760
DESTRY BROWN
Superintendent
BOARD OF EDUCATION REGULAR MEETING
May 12, 2025 – 5:30 P.M.
AGENDA SUMMARY WITH COMMENTARY
1.0 Call Meeting to Order David Stewart, President
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
04-14-25
04-22-25
4.2 Financials – Cash Flow Report
4.3 Check Register
4.4 Payroll – April 18, 2025 – $1,686,779.39
4.5 Activity Funds Accounts
4.6 USD 234 Gifts
4.7 Middle School Student Council Fundraising
4.8 Washington Workshop Extended Trip
5.0 Recognitions
6.0 Leadership Reports (Information/Discussion Item)
6.1 Superintendent’s Report
6.2 Assistant Superintendent’s Report
6.3 Special Education Director’s Report
7.0 New Business
7.1 Contract for Occupational Therapy Services with Outreach Occupational Therapy, LLC
for the 2025-26 School Year (Action Item)
7.2 KASB Membership Renewal (Action Item)
7.3 Set Capacity for Nonresident Student Enrollment Capacity
7.4 Greenbush Contracts for Low-Incidence and Audiology for 2025-26 school year (Action)
7.5 Community Health Center School Based Health Care Service Contract
7.6 Satchel Pulse Social Emotional Learning proposal
7.7 Adoption of Curriculum Resources and Materials for English Language Arts and Foreign
Language
8.0 Public Forum
9.0 Other Business – Personnel Matters – Time __________
9.1 Enter Executive Session – Personnel Matters (Action Item)
9.2 Exit Executive Session – _______ (Time)
9.3 Approve Resignations/Employment of Licensed/Supplemental
9.4 Approval of Classified Personnel Report #1 (Action Item)
9.5 Approval of Classified Personnel Report #2 (Action Item)
10.0 Adjourn Meeting _____ (Time) David Stewart, President
Celebrating 50 years of Caring with Cindi Lipe
Cindi Lipe has given 50 years of her wonderful caring and dedication to the residents in Fort Scott since 1976, here in this building, when it was originally a nursing home.
What better time to celebrate her than during Nurses Week!
Please stop by Guest Home Estates on Friday, May 9th, 1 pm-4 pm to say hello to Cindi!
Guest Home Estates is located at 737 Heylman, Fort Scott.
Redevelopment Project Slated For Completion This Year
Twenty-two new standard market apartments will be available this year in Fort Scott, if all goes as planned.
Shane Lamb is president of Rural Asset Management and Rural ReDevelopment Group, De Soto, KS., and decided to take on the former Fort Scott Manor Nursing Home, 736 Heylman Street as a redevelopment project.
He purchased the property in January 2022, which had been closed for approximately three years, intending to create 24 standard market apartments.
In a prior interview, Lamb said they didn’t receive any state or federal grants or funds. They did apply for them but did not receive any.
Work began last year on the project.
“We went drastically over budget and over time,” he said. “All our contractors were slow, winter was slow.”
“We jumped off that project to finish phase 1 of a project in Iola,” Lamb said.
Lamb said the Fort Scott project will be restarting this week.
Phase 1 of the Fort Scott project will take approximately 60 days once started. It will take six months for the whole project to be completed.
The building is approximately 20,000 square feet and has been completely gutted, and all new materials have been used.
The Fort Scott property will not be low-income apartment rentals but instead will be for the standard market, with prices for the large one-bedroom apartments at $675 to 695 per month, Lamb said.
“We focus on rural towns and rural housing,” he said in a prior interview. “Typically, we purchase nursing homes, schools, hospitals…single-use vacant properties we convert to housing.”
Lamb said he always tries to use qualified local contractors and buy materials locally.
“I always try to keep the money local,” he said. “It doesn’t work 100 percent of the time. Sometimes you can’t find local partners to meet those deadlines…because they are so busy. We do have a couple from Fort Scott, Chanute, and Iola.”
Racy’s Are the New Owners of Common Ground Coffee Co.
Wayne and Stacy Racy are the new owners of Common Ground Coffee Co., as of May 1. They took over ownership from Fort Scott Church of the Nazarene.
“Wayne and I have always supported Common Ground, even since they opened on Main Street,” Stacy said. “When we travel, we make it a point to stop at coffee shops, enjoying a good cup of coffee in a relaxing setting. Wayne has served on the coffee shop board (at their church, Fort Scott Church of the Nazarene) for several years. Three years ago, we began volunteering at the coffee shop and started spending numerous hours inside Common Ground, which allowed us to meet new people and reconnect with old friends.”
Stacy usually works in the kitchen, while Wayne serves coffee and chats with customers. About a year ago, Timken LLC, Fort Scott, announced it would be closing.
“He had worked at Timken for several years, and when an opportunity arose that would take us out of Fort Scott, we both felt mixed emotions,” she said. “This was my hometown, and we had always imagined that we would retire here.”
Stacy’s parents, longtime farmers in Bourbon County, are now older, and she didn’t feel she could move away and leave them behind.
“We have built our family to love Fort Scott just as much as we do,” she said. “Our youngest daughter, Samantha Burenheide, started volunteering with us three years ago and later became the manager until a permanent replacement was found. Leaving Fort Scott wasn’t an option for us, especially with our parents, and children, Katie and Samantha, and grandchildren living here.”
“I felt early on that the Lord was calling us to become more involved with Common Ground Coffee, and by November, we realized it was time to take the next step and become the owners. Wayne spoke with Pastor Virgil Peck about our intention to buy the coffee shop. Pastor Virgil understood our passion for it, and soon after, our proposal was presented to the Coffee Shop Board and the Church Board, both of which approved it.”
The planning began, and Common Ground transitioned from a non-profit to a for-profit business.
“After hours of paperwork, on May 1st, we officially took ownership. We are excited to serve our community and eager to see what the Lord has in store for Common Grounds. We anticipate some challenges ahead, but we also believe we live in one of the best cities around.”
Stacy will continue running her business at Healing Hands Massage and Salon, and Wayne will remain at Timken until he completes his time there, after which he will join Common Ground Coffee full-time.
“Most Saturday mornings, you can find both of us at the shop, working alongside our team,” she said.
Heidi Dixon will continue as manager, and Suzanne Griffin will continue to cater for Common Ground and keep the case full of her delicious desserts, along with Teri Hamilton and the baristas.
“We will continue to work with our baristas on learning new techniques and consistency on each coffee they make for our customers,” she said.
“Common Ground will still be a place that you can come and use the Wi-Fi to work or study, ” she said. ” We will also still offer free space for Bible studies and small groups to meet. I would eventually love to find someone to start a book club, etc. Just a place to reconnect with friends and build memories. People are welcome to come in and bring games to play with family and friends. Just a place to feel at home. Besides amazing coffee, we offer smoothies, teas, lemonades, and dirty sodas for those who don’t like coffee.”
The phone number will continue to be 620-223-2499, and the name will stay the same, Stacy said.
They don’t own the building, the owners are still Jennifer and Adam Laroche. They own the business.
