Slow but sure progress is being made on a playground for children in the community.

Youth Activity Team members met at the future site of a multi-sensory playground at Ellis Park in Fort Scott Wednesday to receive a  $2,500 check from representatives of Gunn Park Trails to add to the fundraising efforts to build the playground.

Frank Halsey, who has blazed trails at Gunn Park for about a decade and in the last five years initiated the annual Tri-Yak-Athon contest, was there with the check.

The Tri-Yak-Athon is a race for bikers, runners and kayakers, which this year was turned over to Penny Pollack-Barnes to help coordinate. Gunn Park Trails members host the Tri-Yak-Athon.

Barnes presented the check, which was proceeds from the Tri-Yak-Athon in October, to the YAT.

The YAT members present to receive the check were Eric Bailey, Larry Fink, Diana Mitchell, and Tom Robertson.

Halsey said this is the first money raised for a cause by the Tri-Yak-Athon.

“We appreciate what you’ve done,” Mitchell told Halsey.

The goal for the playground is $180,000 and with this check, $39,000 has been raised, Mitchell said.

The playground equipment will eventually be at the south end of Ellis Park, west of the basketball court and near the UMB Pavillion.

“We have a lot more fundraising to do,” she said.

The YAT have a list of fundraisers they have sponsored through the years.

In 2007 the YAT initiated a Miles of Pennies community fundraiser for the Guinness Book of Records; in 2008 they sponsored a Jason Aldean concert for the city; in 2009 they sponsored a Luke Bryan concert, Mitchell said.

Then the group took a few years off.

In 2011 both Aldean and Bryan and the Duck Dynasty family came for the last concert.

On December 8 in the District Court of Bourbon County, KS, the State of Kansas VS Joseph Banker, the court heard from a doctor and a counselor who have both evaluated Banker.

Both had submitted reports to the court after evaluating Banker who has plead No Contest to two counts of sexual exploitation of a child.

The offenses occurred in 2009 when Banker was on the staff of a church in Fort Scott.

The report from the doctor states that Banker does not meet the definition of a sexual offender and would not recommend additional sexual offender treatment.

The defendant voluntarily entered therapy, the report said.

In the report, it is stated that Banker has been married for 13 years and has children 11, 9 and 6 years of age. He is currently working in construction and his wife has employment also.

Banker stated to the doctor that “the circumstances of these offenses were situational and he had no previous or subsequent behaviors related to sexual offending,” the report said.

“Banker expressed concern and extreme remorse and guilt for the incidents in question and takes full responsibility for these incidents”, according to the report.

Banker told the doctor that he was molested in childhood.

Banker has no history of criminal involvement or prior arrests.

The doctors summary and recommendation states that Banker “is a bright individual able to benefit from mental health counseling and is in mental health counseling which includes treatment for his sexually inappropriate behaviors in 2009, as well as current mental health percussions.”

“He exhibits insight…and making progress…related to his offenses and related poor judgment and limited impulse control,” which in the doctor’s opinion lead to the offense.

The doctor recommends probation for Banker.

Also submitted to the court was a document from the Christian counselor treating Banker.

“The two main areas addressed in counseling is the sexual trauma in childhood and anxiety about the recent litigation,” the counselor’s report states. “I have observed (Banker) to be a person of healthy self-introspection with compassion towards those involved in the litigation, saying nothing to defame any character during our sessions.”

Banker will be sentenced at 3:30 p.m. February 2, 2018, before the Honorable Amy Harth.

For a prior report on this case, Banker Pleads No Contest

Mother to Mother Ministry, 728 Heylman, is hosting a public open house from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. December 19 and 20.

The open house is to showcase what Mother to Mother Ministry (MTMM) does in the community, Amanda Gilmore, assistant and community relations representative for the ministry, said.

“Stop in for some coffee, tea, and refreshments,” Gilmore said. “It’s a come and go meeting.”

Wilma Leach has been the director of the ministry since the 1990s and her comforting friendship has helped many mothers of children.

Gatherings of mothers of children and caregivers will begin January 9  and are scheduled for the second and fourth Tuesdays of each month from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Topics of the meetings will be related to the family, said Gilmore.

Some of the services MTMM provides is parenting classes, friendship and support and “anything related to mothering and household management,” Gilmore said.

The ministry provides donated clothing for children.

All MTMM services are free.

New contact numbers for MTMM are 620-224-0809 and 620-215-0924.

The facility is located behind, and just north of Fort Scott Manor Nursing Home on Heylman.

MTMM is a United Way of Bourbon County agency and also has local supporters.