Category Archives: Fort Scott
U234 Board of Education Minutes of March 2
Members of the USD 234 Board of Education met on Monday, March 2, at the Board of Education office 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:
- Minutes
- Bills and Claims
- Payroll – February 20, 2020 – $1,394,668.42
- Financial Report
- Bond Proceeds Reconciliation
- Activity Fund Accounts
Stephanie George, KNEA President, presented a report. Administrators from each building shared information with board members.
Superintendent Ted Hessong discussed legislative updates, a Stop School Violence grant, daily attendance rates, and Public School Week.
Gina Shelton, Business Manager, gave a report on the Business Department.
Board members approved the following items:
- Resolution 19-09 Taxable General Obligation Refunding Bonds, Series 2020
- Fort Scott High School course additions/changes for 2020-21
The board tabled action on handbook changes for the Fort Scott High School Parent/Student Handbook.
Board members shared comments and then went into executive session to discuss personnel matters for nonelected personnel and returned to open meeting. The board then went into executive session to discuss matters relating to employer-employee negotiations and returned to open meeting. The board approved the following employment matters:
- Retirement of Ellen Kendrick, high school art teacher, effective at the end of the 2019-20 school year
- Resignation of Emily Clayton, high school teacher aide, effective March 6, 2020
- Extension of contract for Ted Hessong, Superintendent, through the 2021-22 school year
- Employment of administrators for the 2020-21 school year
Amber Toth – Principal – Fort Scott High School
Robyn Kelso – Assistant Principal – Fort Scott High School
David Brown – Principal – Fort Scott Middle School
Matt Harris – Assistant Principal – Fort Scott Middle School
Stephanie Witt – Principal – Eugene Ware School
Joy McGhee – Principal – Winfield Scott School
Martin Altieri – Assistant Principal – Winfield Scott School
Andrea Scott – Principal – Fort Scott Preschool Center
Rick Scholes – Special Education Coordinator
- Employment of district directors for the 2020-21 school year
Joe Allen – Transportation Director
Robin Button – Food Service Director
Jeff DeLaTorre – Fort Scott High School Athletic/Activities Director
Daniel Koppa – Facilities Director
Stephen Mitchell – Technology Director
- Employment of Gina Shelton, Business Manager/Board Clerk, for the 2020-21 school year
- Employment of Breann Eden as Winfield Scott art teacher for the 2020-21 school year
- Employment of Torrie Singmaster as a Winfield Scott first grade teacher for the 2020-21 school year
- Resignation of Jeff DeLaTorre as high school head boys’ basketball coach, effective at the end of the 2019-20 season
- Resignation of Drew Graham, high school assistant baseball coach, for the 2019-20 school year
- Employment of Josh Messer as a high school assistant baseball coach for the 2019-20 school year
- Termination of James Feezell, Eugene Ware 12-month custodian, effective February 28, 2020
- Transfer of Terry Barrager, Eugene Ware/Winfield Scott 10-month custodian, to Eugene Ware 12-month custodian for the remainder of the 2019-20 school year
- Addition of a high school CTE computer teaching position for the 2020-21 school year
The board adjourned
New Car Dealer in Town: Old Fort Auto
A new vehicle dealership has opened at 213 Scott Avenue, next to Mayco Ace Hardware.
The official first day of Old Fort Auto was March 2.
The business has been a thought in Rich Aydelotte’s mind for many years.
“This is something I’ve wanted to do for a lot of years,” he said. Aydelotte and Matt Harvey are the business partners in the new venture. “I thought this was the time to do it. I have no reservations or doubts about it.”
Both will be selling the vehicles.
Matt Bowersock will be the business manager and also sell vehicles as well.
Becky Headrick will be the comptroller, title clerk, and receptionist.
“We are going to specialize in trucks, heavy trucks and sports utilities and cars, too,” Aydelotte said. “We will sell only late models.”
“Three-quarter ton trucks, heavy and light duty,” he said. “We are trying to purchase what people in Fort Scott drive.”
“Financing, we have lots of different sources, outside lending with national lenders, credit unions and local institutions,” Aydelotte said.
“They are going to be good deals, priced right,” Matt Bowersock said. “We’ll take trade-ins.”
“We chose the location because it was downtown,” Aydelotte said. “We are leasing the building from Skitch Allen.”
Hours are 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday, Saturday 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Contact the business at 620-644-5015 or Aydelotte at his cell phone, 620-215-0986.
St. Mary’s Catholic School Dinner and Auction April 25
St. Mary’s Catholic School Invites you to attend their
Dinner & Auction Event on
April 25th!
Presentation Explores Lives of Free-Born Children after Civil War
Gordon Parks Museum at Fort Scott Community College in Fort Scott, KS, will host “Children of the Promised Land,” a presentation and discussion by Angela Bates on Tuesday, March 17 at 12:00 P.M. at The Ellis Family Fine Arts Center, Fort Scott Community College, 2108 S. Horton St. Fort Scott, KS.
Members of the community are invited to attend the free program. Contact Kirk Sharp at 620 -223-2700 ext. 5850 for more information.
The program is made possible by Humanities Kansas.
“This is a Lunch and Learn event so everyone is welcome to bring their lunch and drinks. Dessert will be available,” said Museum Director, Kirk Sharp.
Nicodemus, a small, unincorporated town in Graham County, is the only remaining western town established by African Americans during the Reconstruction Period following the Civil War.
Today the town is a National Historic Site. This pictorial history explores the unique experience of mothers and their children in Nicodemus, some of whom were the first members of their families born free.
Angela Bates is the executive director of the Nicodemus Historical Society. She presents educational programs across the nation covering Nicodemus, Exodusters and black towns in the West, Buffalo Soldiers, and black women in the West.
“My great uncle, Henry Williams, was the first baby born in Nicodemus just a month after my great-grandmother Emma arrived with the first group of settlers in 1877,” said Bates. “He was one of the first in his generation born on the free soils of Kansas. He represents the many children of his generation that were reared by parents who were former slaves.”
“Children of the Promised Land” is part of Humanities Kansas’s Movement of Ideas Speakers Bureau, featuring presentations and workshops designed to share stories that inspire, spark conversations that inform, and generate insights that strengthen civic engagement.
For more information about “Children of the Promised Land” contact the Gordon Parks Museum at 620 -223-2700 ext. 5850 or visit http://www.gordonparkscenter.org/
About Humanities Kansas
Humanities Kansas is an independent nonprofit spearheading a movement of ideas to empower the people of Kansas to strengthen their communities and our democracy. Since 1972, our pioneering programming, grants, and partnerships have documented and shared stories to spark conversations and generate insights. Together with our partners and supporters, we inspire all Kansans to draw on history, literature, ethics, and culture to enrich their lives and serve the communities and state we all proudly call home. Visit humanitieskansas.org.
Water Main Work Begins March 3
The City of Fort Scott Water Distribution Department will be renewing a water main from 5th & Andrick to 6th & Andrick. A new water main and valves will be installed to replace the existing aging and shallow one.
Work will begin on Tuesday, March 3rd, 2020 with the excavation of the water main at 6th & Andrick. Customers on Andrick and the surrounding area may experience water outages for short durations during the construction time. Precautions by the Water Distribution Department will be followed when the water is restored. However, customers may experience discolored water and some air. This should clear up by running the water for a short time from an outside faucet.
Access to your area and home will be available. At the beginning of the project, the intersection of 6th & Andrick will be closed and 5th and Andrick will be open. As the project moves north on Andrick, and it becomes necessary to close the intersection of 5th and Andrick, 6th and Andrick will be reopened for traffic.
If you have any questions or concerns, please contact City Hall at 223-0550 and ask or the Water Distribution Department.
Christian Human Trafficking Awareness Speaker March 2
The monthly meeting for the Ft. Scott Aglow Lighthouse will meet Monday, March 2, 2020 at 6:30 p.m. at the Rodeway Inn Conference Room, 101 State Street, Ft. Scott, KS.
The guest speaker is Bob Reazin from LeRoy, KS.
Bob is retired but has been involved in Eight Days of Hope Ministry over the last 10 years. He will be providing information about Human Trafficking Awareness.
Aglow Lighthouse desires to provide a place to bring unity among like-minded believers in our community.
This is a place to grow in relationship with God and others.
Men, women, and youth coming together to discover who Christ made you to be and who God wants to be for you.
The group also engages in meeting community needs such as protecting the unborn and orphans.
Currently, they are in the preparation stages of getting food, clothing, and shelter ready.
Donations are welcome.
“Please be our guest and bring a friend,” Fort Scott Aglow President Amanda Gilmore said.
Visit aglow.org for more information.
Common Ground Coffee to Move Shop Mid-March
Common Ground Coffee shop’s last day of operation at its current, 116 S. Main location will be Friday, March 6.
A new chapter for this local meeting place will then begin.
“We will be closed Saturday, March 7 through 10,” Jennifer LaRoche, a member of the Common Ground board, said. “We have a tentative date of March 11th to be back in business.”
” We are going to close out the five-year journey with some live music from 7-8 pm by Rick Hite and friends,” she said.
The coffee shop will be back in business about two blocks away at 12 E. Wall.
The new space has more space, an enlarged commercial kitchen, a conference room and meeting space with a stage.
In addition, there will be a drive-up window that will be opened once the staff is “settled in”, LaRoche said.
The stage space will also need a little more work when the business is first moved in.
“It will be heated with portable heaters,” she said.
Signage will be temporary on the door to the new building, until warmer weather when it can be placed on glass, she said.
Common Ground Coffee Shop is a ministry of Fort Scott Church of the Nazarene.
Knights of Columbus Lenten Meal Begins Feb. 28
The Knights of Columbus Fish Fry begins Feb. 28 at the Mary Queen of Angels Kennedy Gym at 705 S. Holbrook.
The meal is served from 5-7 p.m. each Friday until April 3 this year and if past years are any indication there will be a line to get the meal.
The annual community event includes southern fried fish, baked white fish, meatless spaghetti, or grilled cheese sandwiches with sides of french-fried potatoes, a baked potato, green beans, or coleslaw along with desserts provided by the women of St. Mary’s Catholic Church and drinks.
A free-will donation allows the Knights to contribute to local charities and the local Catholic school, said Deborah Skeen, church secretary.
“A lot of people in the community have said it’s good food for the money,” Skeen said.
Help An Abused or Neglected Child
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Chamber of Commerce Annual Dinner Nominations Sought by March 6
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Kiwanis Pancake Feed Until 7 p.m. This Evening
Members of the community came to Buck Run Community Center for the annual Fort Scott Kiwanis Club Pancake Feed, starting at 11 a.m. today.
For a $5 donation, attendees are served pancakes, sausage and a drink.
The event is open until 7 p.m. this evening, Feb. 25.
The Kiwanis Club provides support for many local charities and awards scholarships to local students.
Below are photos from the lunch session of the pancake feed:
Buck Run is located at 735 Scott Avenue.
