The Fort Scott City Commission will hold a special meeting on Monday September 21st, 2020 at 11:00 a.m. in the City Commission Meeting Room at City Hall, 123 S. Main. This meeting is open to the public.
This meeting will be available on the City’s YouTube channel.
“Please understand the $15K is just a number that we felt like would cover any and all expenses,” Adams said in an email interview. ” We do not even know if we will raise that much money, but anything we can do to ease the parent’s worry is a blessing. We are so very thankful to those who do contribute to his memorial fund.”
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A teacher at Fort Scott Middle School resigned in August and USD 234 had a fifth-grade teacher request to transfer to the middle school, creating a 5th-grade opening.
Tiffnie Spears is the new fifth-grade teacher at Eugene Ware Elementary School in Fort Scott.
Tiffnie Spears, 29, graduated from Fort Scott High School in 2009 and graduated from Wichita State University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Communications in 2013, then received her Master’s Degree in Elementary Education from Western Governors University in April of 2020.
“I was born and raised in Fort Scott and, as soon as I graduated from Wichita State, moved back home to be near my friends and family,” she said.
” I was able to do my internship hours with Mrs. Malone in the Fall of 2019 and did my student teaching with Mrs. Stepps this past Spring semester.”
She has been married to her husband, James, since 2011 and they have a 4-year-old son named Jacoby.
“My family loves to travel and our goal is to get Jacoby to as many states as possible before he graduates high school,” she said.
How did you become an educator?
“There wasn’t much that got me as excited than seeing my son, niece, and nephews grow and learn new things so I just knew I needed to go back to school to be a teacher. I was torn between following through with being a communication major or an educator so going back to school was a pretty easy choice.”
Did someone inspire you to teach?
“It was my son who inspired me to teach. After Jacoby was born, I knew I wanted to not only help him to grow and learn every day but to have a positive impact on as many children as possible.”
What is the best part of teaching for you?
“The ‘Ah-ha!’ moments are the best and most rewarding moments for me. Being able to see the positive impact you’ve made in helping that student succeed means everything.”
What is the greatest challenge in teaching?
“Starting my first year in the classroom during COVID-19 has so many obstacles but the students are doing so great with the changes we are all being faced with.”
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Submitted by FRIENDS OF FORT SCOTT NATIONAL HISTORIC SITE, KELLEY COLLINS, 417-684-2484
The Friends of Fort Scott National Historic Site Inc. is taking new subscriptions for their “Fly the U.S. Flag” project. The Friend’s U.S. flag project provides homeowners and businesses, within the city limits of Fort Scott, the opportunity to fly the Stars and Stripes on five different flag holidays without the hassle of purchasing, erecting, and storing a flag and pole. You don’t even have to remember the holiday!
For $35 annually, the Friends will install a 3’x5′ flag on a 12-foot staff at your home or business on each of the following Flag Holidays in 2021:
Memorial Day
Flag Day
Fourth of July
Labor Day
Veteran’s Day
Sign up by October 8, 2020, and you will also get Veteran’s Day 2020 included in the offer–SIX DAYS for the price of FIVE!!!
Agreements can be obtained at the Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce or can be emailed to you. Contact Kelley Collins at 417-684-2484 or Martha Scott at 620-224-9924 for further information.
All proceeds support programs at Fort Scott National Historic Site. These include Symbols of Sacrifice, a Citizenship Ceremony, Candlelight Tour, Youth Engagement, and many others.
Show your patriotism and help our local National Park by lining the streets of Fort Scott with our nation’s symbol!
The U.S. Flag Project is a yearly project sponsored by the Friends of Fort Scott National Historic Site. This offer is for new subscribers only. Current subscribers will be mailed a renewal notice in January for the 2021 season.
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NEWS RELEASE
Monday, September 14, 2020
Members of the USD 234 Board of Education met at the Fort Scott Middle School Commons on Monday, September 14, 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 – August 20, 2020 – $1,259,778.71
D. Financial Report
E. Activity Fund Accounts
One patron participated in the public forum.
Terry Sercer with Diehl, Banwart, Bolton, gave an audit report for the district with no violations of state statutes or federal regulations.
Board members heard a report from Brenda Hill, KNEA President.
In addition, reports were given by principals from each building on the beginning days of
school. The board heard reports from Dalaina Smith, Director of Academics; Ted Hessong, Superintendent; and Gina Shelton, Business Manager/Board Clerk.
Board members approved contracts for provision of educational services, the 2020-21 Emergency Operation Plan, and the appointment of Ted Hessong as a USD 234 BEDCO representative.
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 Shelley Rooks, middle school teacher aide, effective at the end of the 2019-20 school year
B. Resignation of Haley Jones, high school paraprofessional, effective September 10, 2020
C. Resignation of Julie Carpenter, high school paraprofessional, effective September 16, 2020
D. Employment of Carissa Bowman as high school FCCLA sponsor for the 2020-21 school year
The board adjourned.
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On September 13, 2020, Fort Scott Police and Fire Departments, Fort Scott Rural Fire, Bourbon County EMS and Bourbon County Sheriff’s Office responded to a missing person call at Fort Scott Lake. Kansas Wildlife and Parks along with an Air Methods helicopter also assisted in the search.
Raymond Harper, 19, of Fort Scott, had been kayaking in the lake.
His kayak had been found but friends were unable to locate Harper.
First responders searched until 1:15 a.m. on Sept. 14, when the search was stopped until daybreak.
Kansas Highway Patrol joined in the search today. Sheriff Bill Martin reached out to the Overland Park Dive Team and Fire Chief Dave Bruner to the Newton County Dive Team to assist in the search.
At 1:53 p.m. today, a body was found, that was suspected to be Harper’s. The body was sent to Frontier Forensics for an autopsy.
“At this time our thoughts and prayers are with the Harper family,” Fort Scott Police Captain Jason Pickert, said.
A call to the Fort Scott Pizza Hut revealed that the store at 1801 S. Main is permanently closed.
“On August 17, (2020) NPC (the company that operates Pizza Hut) announced that it reached an agreement with Pizza Hut that would allow NPC to close up to 300 of our Pizza Hut restaurants,” Columbia Clancy replied in response to an email to corporate headquarters. “Since that time, we have finalized our plan for next steps and after careful analysis and consideration, NPC has moved forward with closing a number of those Pizza Hut locations (including the Fort Scott, KS restaurant), effective September 8.”
“As part of our restructuring process, we made the very difficult decision to close the Fort Scott Pizza Hut restaurant,” according to a NPC spokesperson. ” We did not take this decision lightly, and we are committed to providing support to impacted employees, including providing transfer to other NPC or Yum! Brand locations, wherever possible. Ultimately, these actions will best position our remaining restaurant business for success. NPC continues to operate many other Pizza Hut restaurants across the country which remain open for business, supported by our 23,000 dedicated employees who are ready to serve our customers.”
Click here for more info:
The following link is a AP story on the closings of Pizza Huts around the country:
AGENDA
FORT SCOTT CITY COMMISSION
BUCK RUN COMMUNITY CENTER
COREY LARSON GYMNASIUM
735 SCOTT AVENUE
SEPTEMBER 15, 2020
6:00 P.M.
I. ROLL CALL:
K. ALLEN P. ALLEN NICHOLS WATTS MITCHELL
II. FLAG SALUTE:
III. INVOCATION: Pastor (To be announced)
IV. PROCLAMATIONS/RECOGNITIONS:
V. CONSENT AGENDA:
Approval of minutes of the regular meeting of September 1st, 2020.
Approval of Appropriation Ordinance 1271-A totaling $428,590.44.
Certificate of Appropriateness – 113 S. National – Signage and Alterations to building
Certificate of Appropriateness – Downtown Walking Trail – signage
VI. APPEARANCE/COMMENTS/PUBLIC HEARING:
APPEARANCE: None
B. CITIZEN COMMENTS (Concerning Items Not on Agenda – 5 minute limit per citizen)
C. PUBLIC HEARINGS/COMMENTS: None
VII. CONSIDERATION:
City Insurance Liability Update – James Charlesworth
Discussion of Pit Bull Ordinance
Update on Parks Advisory Board Ordinance
Acceptance of Community Development Block Grant No. 20-CR-004 – Mayco Ace Hardware – Approval to accept grant and for Mayor to sign all pertinent documents
Kansas Housing Grant application opportunity
Lauber Municipal Law Firm July Billing Statement
Approval of Voting and Alternate Delegates – League of Kansas Municipalities – 3 each
VIII. COMMENTS:
Consideration of recommendation from the Street Advisory Board to add two (2) additional laborers so additional manpower can assist with street maintenance
Flood Plain Permit Request from Greg Schick
Horton Street Project Update
I MOVE THAT THE CITY COMMISSION RECESS INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION.
THE SUBJECT MATTER OF THE RECESS IS THE DISCUSSION OF:
The statutory justification for the recess is:
K.S.A. 75-4319(b)(1) – to discuss matters of non-elected personnel;
K.S.A. 75-4319(b)(2) – consultation with the City Attorney on matters that would be deemed privileged in the attorney-client relationship;
K.S.A. 75-4319(b)(3) – to discuss employer-employee negotiations whether or not in consultation with the representative(s) of the public body or agency;
K.S.A. 75-4319(b)(4) – to discuss data relating to financial affairs or trade secrets of corporations, partnerships, trusts, and individual proprietorships;
K.S.A. 75-4319(b)(6) – for the preliminary discussion of the acquisition of real property.
The Executive Session will be for _________ minutes long and the open meeting will resume at ___________ am/pm.
X. MOTION FOR ADJOURNMENT: ROLL CALL
The meeting will be held at Buck Run in the 1st gym.
AGENDA
FORT SCOTT CITY COMMISSION
BUCK RUN COMMUNITY CENTER
COREY LARSON GYMNASIUM
735 SCOTT AVENUE
SEPTEMBER 1, 2020
6:00 P.M
I. ROLL CALL:
K. ALLEN P. ALLEN NICHOLS WATTS MITCHELL
II. FLAG SALUTE:
III. INVOCATION: Pastor (To be announced)
IV. PROCLAMATIONS/RECOGNITIONS:
V. CONSENT AGENDA:
Approval of minutes of the regular meeting of September 1st, 2020.
Approval of Appropriation Ordinance 1271-A totaling $428,590.44.
Certificate of Appropriateness – 113 S. National – Signage and Alterations to building
Certificate of Appropriateness – Downtown Walking Trail – signage
VI. APPEARANCE/COMMENTS/PUBLIC HEARING:
APPEARANCE: None
B. CITIZEN COMMENTS (Concerning Items Not on Agenda – 5 minute limit per citizen)
C. PUBLIC HEARINGS/COMMENTS: None
VII. CONSIDERATION:
City Insurance Liability Update – James Charlesworth
Discussion of Pit Bull Ordinance
Update on Parks Advisory Board Ordinance
Acceptance of Community Development Block Grant No. 20-CR-004 – Mayco Ace Hardware – Approval to accept grant and for Mayor to sign all pertinent documents
Kansas Housing Grant application opportunity
Lauber Municipal Law Firm July Billing Statement
Approval of Voting and Alternate Delegates – League of Kansas Municipalities – 3 each
VIII. COMMENTS:
Consideration of recommendation from the Street Advisory Board to add two (2) additional laborers so additional manpower can assist with street maintenance
Flood Plain Permit Request from Greg Schick
Horton Street Project Update
I MOVE THAT THE CITY COMMISSION RECESS INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION.
THE SUBJECT MATTER OF THE RECESS IS THE DISCUSSION OF:
The statutory justification for the recess is:
K.S.A. 75-4319(b)(1) – to discuss matters of non-elected personnel;
K.S.A. 75-4319(b)(2) – consultation with the City Attorney on matters that would be deemed privileged in the attorney-client relationship;
K.S.A. 75-4319(b)(3) – to discuss employer-employee negotiations whether or not in consultation with the representative(s) of the public body or agency;
K.S.A. 75-4319(b)(4) – to discuss data relating to financial affairs or trade secrets of corporations, partnerships, trusts, and individual proprietorships;
K.S.A. 75-4319(b)(6) – for the preliminary discussion of the acquisition of real property.
The Executive Session will be for _________ minutes long and the open meeting will resume at ___________ am/pm.
X. MOTION FOR ADJOURNMENT: ROLL CALL
