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Category Archives: Fort Scott
Bird Lands In Fort Scott, starting Friday, May 14th
The City of Fort Scott is partnering with shared electric scooter company, Bird Rides. to bring e-scooters to the city. The scooters are available through a mobile phone application and riders pay to use the scooter per minute, at no cost to the city.
City of Fort Scott Community Development and Tourism manager, Allyson Turvey, stated: “We are happy to welcome Bird to the City of Fort Scott and look forward to having the scooters available to connect visitors to our attractions. I think they will make a great addition to our community.”
The electric scooters can only be used on roads and in bike lanes and have a maximum speed of 15mph. Scooters must be parked out of the way of pedestrians. Riders are required to be 18 years-old and above to access the scooters. They are also encouraged to wear a helmet on every ride and required to obey all standard rules of the road.
“The City has been working with Bird, a LA based company for the last few months. We are excited to see the economic benefit of these scooters in our rural community.” according to Rachel Pruitt, City of Fort Scott Economic Development Director.
‘Community Mode’ allows anyone with a Bird account to report or provide feedback on vehicle-related issues such as poorly parked or damaged vehicles in their area. When a report is submitted, a member of the Bird team is assigned to correct the issue. Anyone can access Community Mode by tapping the yield sign on the bottom left of the Bird map.
If a resident has questions or concerns about the e-scooters the company can be reached directly at 1-866-205-2442 or [email protected]. More information about the company can be found on their website (www.bird.co) and on their blog (www.bird.co/blog).
USD234 Board of Education Minutes of May 10
NEWS RELEASE
Monday, May 10, 2021
Members of the USD 234 Board of Education met at the Fort Scott Middle School Commons on Monday, May 10, 2021, for their regular monthly meeting.
President David Stewart opened the meeting. The board approved the official agenda. The board also approved the consent agenda as follows:
A. Minutes
B. Bills and Claims
C. Payroll – April 20, 2021 – $1,424,631.30
D. Financial Report
E. Activity fund accounts
F. LCP Assurances
G. May 15 – Baccalaureate – 4:00 pm; Graduation – 8:00 pm
Gifted teachers, Angie Kemmerer and Paulette Howard, presented a program on
the gifted education program.
There were no comments in the public forum section.
Reports were given by the following:
· Brenda Hill, KNEA President
· Administrators’ written reports
· Dalaina Smith, Academic Director
· Ted Hessong, Superintendent
· Gina Shelton, Business Manager/Board Clerk
Board members approved the following:
· Adjustment in adult meal fees for 2021-22
· 2021-22 Fees
· Masonry bid
· Summer Camps
· 2021 Summer pay, pending negotiations
Board members shared comments and then went into executive session to discuss personnel matters for nonelected personnel and to discuss upcoming negotiations sessions and returned to open meeting.
The board approved the following employment matters:
A. Resignation of Baylee Newman, Eugene Ware paraprofessional, effective May 13, 2021
B. Resignation of Kristin Bishop, Winfield Scott paraprofessional, effective at the end of the 2020-21 school year
C. Resignation of Vernon Hill, Winfield Scott cook, effective June 3, 2021
D. Transfer of Jennifer Tourtillott, Winfield Scott kindergarten teacher, to Winfield Scott counselor for the 2021-22 school year
E. Contract extension request from Angella Curran, high school debate and forensics teacher
F. Leave of absence request from Natalie Kitsmiller, Winfield Scott paraprofessional
G. Additional duties for Krista Gorman, high school/middle school instructional coach, as high school lead administrator for the remainder of the 2020-21 school year
H. Employment of Madeline Martin as a gifted teacher for the 2021-22 school year
I. Employment of Todd Magee as a Eugene Ware third grade teacher for the 2021-22 school year
J. Employment of Trent Johnson as a high school agriculture education teacher for the 2021-22 school year
K. Employment of Carol Glover as a Winfield Scott cook for the 2021-22 school year
L. Employment of Eileen Strakal as a Eugene Ware cook for the 2021-22 school year
M. Employment of Millicient Willard as a Winfield Scott cook for the 2021-22 school year
N. Employment of Lynn Barr as high school head girls’ tennis coach for the 2021-22 school
O. Termination of Joie Moore, high school cook, effective April 1, 2021
The board adjourned.
FS Street Advisory Board Meets May 13
The Street Advisory Board will meet on Thursday, May 13th, 2021 at 4:00 p.m. at the City Commission Meeting Room at 123 S. Main Street. This meeting is open to the public.
This meeting will be made available via the City’s you tube channel at City of Fort Scott.
FS Design Review Board Meets May 12
The Design Review Board will meet on Wednesday, May 12th, 2021 at 4:00 p.m. in the City Hall Commission Meeting room at 123 S. Main Street, Fort Scott, Kansas. This meeting will be held to consider the signage at 18 N. Main Street.
This meeting will be made available via the City’s you tube channel at City of Fort Scott.
10 Years of Ministry: Feeding Families in His Name
Feeding Families in His Name celebrates 10 years of ministry on May 11, 2021.
“We started the ministry because of a seen need of school children being food insecure,” Jean Tucker, coordinator of the weekly meal, said.
“Tom Braker had the idea ten years ago and gathered a group of people who started the program on May 11, 2011,” she said. “The administrative board of the First United Methodist Church voted unanimously to start the program.”
The meal is offered each Wednesday evening at 301 S. National, the Fort Scott First United Methodist Church from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m.
“From May 11, 2011, until March of last year we served the meal in the basement Fellowship Hall,” she said. “This allowed us to visit with the families and get to know them and their needs other than a hot-home cooked meal. Now we must visit with them as they drive through.”
“Since the beginning of COVID-19 restrictions, we have served to-go-meals only,” Tucker said.
“The ministry has extended past the serving of a meal,” she said. “Some of our dinner guests have become our valued weekly volunteers. We believe that the meal is a delivery system for God’s love!”
Currently helping weekly are Tom Braker, Steve and Susan Cole, Tom Coyan, Joey Beerbower, Linda and Leroy Cox, Betty and Pat Galan, Koyle Link, Lisa Robertson, Phyllis Colthart, and Don and Jean Tucker, plus a group of 15-20 dessert bakers who bake one or two desserts every week, Tucker said.
A different group helps with the entrée and serving every week.
“The first Wednesday (of each month) is St. Martin’s Schoolboys; the second Wednesday during the school year, the Community Christian Church, under the direction of Gail Sackett, alternates with the First United Methodist Church; the third Wednesday is the Nazarene Church Small Group, under the direction of Gretchen Goodyear; the fourth Wednesday is the First Presbyterian Church under the direction of Alesha Martin and Sandra Cowan, and the fifth Wednesday is Pioneer Kiwanis under the direction of Kelly Collins,” she said.
The amount of meals served has grown.
In March 2011, the ministry served 44 meals, on March 10, 2021, they served 281 people a meal, Tucker said.
“The most we have served is 422 meals on a Wednesday last November,” Tucker said.
” I just did some math and the number of meals served since we began May 11, 2011, is over 98,000 and we have averaged 1,233 meals each month for the past year,” she said.
The ministry receives funding from the Fort Scott Area Community Foundation.
For more information, contact Jean Tucker, Coordinator of FFiHN at 620-223-4617 or church office at 620-223-1950
Friday Night Concert Features The Hemphill Family
This Friday night, May 14th, the Chamber of Commerce Concert series at Heritage Park, will present The Hemphill Family and Friends Band. The group consists of Jack and Sandy Hemphill and their two adult children, Brad Hemphill and Kristen Weeks.
A granddaughter, Piper Weeks, will perform a song. In addition, Floyd Feezell (fee zel’), who is a crowd favorite, will join them for some songs.
The band plays old country songs, old-time rock, gospel, and country standards. Because of limited seating, please bring a lawn chair. The concert begins at 7 PM.
FS Commission Work Session Cancelled For May 11
UMB Donates To CASA
UMB Bank donates $2,000 from its community fund to support Bourbon County CASA. UMB is a proud sponsor and supporter of the local CASA program.
Bourbon County CASA, founded in May 1990, has provided advocates for over 900 local children who are victims of abuse and neglect. This would not be possible without the support of individuals and businesses such as UMB.
On Mother’s Day, we celebrated everything a mother does for her children. Mothers change their children’s diapers, fed them, teach them to walk, take them to school, protect them and so much more.
Sadly, not all children are so lucky to have a mother, or a mother figure, who can and will do these things for them.
When a child is placed in the state’s care because of evidence of abuse and neglect, a judge can appoint a CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) to speak up for a child’s best interest by learning everything about the child’s situation. Often the CASA volunteer is the stability a child needs during this frightful time. CASA volunteers advocate for the child’s best interests in court and in the child welfare system when no one else can.
CASA volunteers are regular people — stay-at-home moms, retirees, teachers, business people. They don’t need to be lawyers or social workers. They just need to be willing to speak up for children in need just like a mother would for her child.
“CASA volunteers become that role model because they often are the one constant in a child’s life while he or she is in the foster care system,” said Horn.
You can help break the cycle of abuse from one generation to another. You can model what a good mother looks like by becoming a CASA volunteer or supporting Bourbon County CASA.
The next training class to become a CASA volunteer for Bourbon County CASA is spring 2022. More information can be found at nationalcasagal.org or by emailing [email protected].
UMB Bank Contributes $2000 toward The Healthy Bourbon County Action Team’s “Center for Economic Growth”
The Center for Economic Growth (The Center) is giving individuals, living in a historically impoverished rural community, an opportunity for economic stability and wealth creation. Because of generous donations like these, critical services will continue to be provided to Bourbon County and City of Fort Scott residents and businesses free of charge. The Center provides expertise, business planning, financial projections, training and more with a focus on low to moderate-income, minority, woman-owned, or food-related business.
Economic stability represents an individual’s ability to access resources such as food, housing or healthcare, as well as creating a healthy business culture to help an employer attract and retain talent, reduce absenteeism and turnover, and improve productivity. “Since 2016, we have focused intently on our mission to enhance the quality of life and encourage economic growth in individuals,” Jody Hoener, President and CEO of The Healthy Bourbon County Action Team, “Through this collaboration, we are increasing access to employment and entrepreneurship in a population that has lacked upward mobility in employment opportunities and access to capital.”
The Center for Economic Growth has an array of state, regional, and local partnerships that include: The Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce, PSU Small Business Development Center (PSU SBDC), Southeast KANSASWORKS, Fort Scott Community College, and BAJA Investments. “I am constantly impressed with how well each entity works together,” Dacia Clark, Assistant Director, PSU SBDC says, “This collaboration benefits our clients as a one-stop-shop for services. Because of The Center, Bourbon County is ahead of the pack and significantly contributing to our regional goals.” Through the Blue Cross Blue Shield Pathways to Healthy Kansas Grant, The Center has access to even more expertise and resources right at their fingertips.
According to Smart Growth America, in today’s world business growth is driven by collaboration among many types of entities, private companies, universities, and others, that must interact frequently and work together creatively. “UMB is excited to support the creative and innovative efforts of The Center for Economic Growth. We hope that our contribution will make a difference in the lives of individuals in our community.” Crystal Maddox, UMB Senior Vice President-Commercial Lender.
The Center is located in the Historic Downtown Fort Scott in the upstairs of 17 South Main Fort Scott KS. It is a “one-stop-shop” for business, employment, food, telework, and distance learning needs. Current businesses, and those looking to start a business, have a physical location to meet with a person. Additionally, services are available for those seeking employment, developing soft skills (i.e. interviewing), or other job-seeking assistance. Businesses are encouraged and welcome to contact Southeast KANSASWORKS to see how they can connect with those looking for employment.
An overview of services The Center provides Bourbon County:
• WORKERS & FAMILIES:
o Distance Learning and Telework Space
o Unemployment & Job Seeking Assistance
o Increasing Access to Healthy Food
o Building Capacity for Local Food Assistance
• ADDRESSING CHILDCARE:
o Relief in Fulfilling Educational Requirements for Centers
o Incentives for Becoming a Legal Childcare Provider
• BUSINESS TOOLS & TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE:
o Getting Businesses Online via new Websites & Social Media
o Loans & Grants
o Special COVID Programs & Resources
Find us on social media! On Facebook, Instagram and Twitter #healthybbco
Background of The Healthy Bourbon County Action Team:
The Healthy Bourbon County Action Team is a Blue Cross Blue Shield Pathways to Healthy
Kansas Community. Its mission is to increase access to healthy food and physical activity,
promote commercial tobacco cessation, enhance quality of life and encourage economic
growth. The problems of health inequity and social injustice are complex in nature and
inextricably linked to key economic indicators. A healthy workforce is a prerequisite for
economic success in any industry and in all cities.
Contact information:
Jody Hoener, President and CEO
The Healthy Bourbon County Action Team, Inc
620-215-5725
[email protected]
Mary Hunt, Interim Operations Director
Southeast KANSASWorks
Desk: 620-232-1222
Cell: 620-670-0006
Website: www.sekworks.org
Dacia Clark, Assistant Director, PSU SBDC
[email protected]
785-445-2537
Lindsay Madison, President and CEO, The Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce
[email protected]
(620) 223-3566
Aglow Lighthouse Speaker: Anna Toll Kim on May 13
Fort Scott Aglow Lighthouse welcomes guest speaker, Anna (Toll) Kim, Thursday, May 13th, 2021.
Anna (Toll) Kim was born in Kansas and raised in Fort Scott.
From a young age she loved listening to the stories of missionaries from around the world.
In high school she went on her first overseas mission trip to Ecuador, an experience that influenced her life in many ways.
After graduating from Manhattan Christian College she moved to Asia to work with urban poor.
She made friends who became like family and started a family of her own.
Most recently, she lived in the Philippines and then moved back to Fort Scott to settle down with her family for a time. She loves being outdoors, puzzles, and spending quality time with family. Also, she loves sharing about her adventures in Asia.
Guests are welcome to visit our Lighthouse monthly gathering at 6:30 p.m., Thursday, May 13th in the conference room of Fort Scott Inn, 101 State Street.
