Category Archives: Fort Scott

Entertainment, Fort Scott

Pickleball: Ping Pong on a Tennis Court

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The outside pickleball courts are located up the stairs, just north of the water tower at 9th and Burke streets.

It is a cross between tennis and ping pong and was invented in Seattle in 1965.

It’s pickleball.

Played with a short wooden paddle and a whiffle ball, in Fort Scott there are two places to enjoy the sport.

One is indoors at Buck Run Community Center, 735 Scott Avenue, and the other is an outside court at 9th and Burke street, near the water tower. Paddles and balls are available at Buck Run.

The outdoor courts are a first-come, first served basis.

“We are lucky we have two places to play,” Janice Allen, a local player said.

Pickleball is taught as part of the physical education curriculum at Fort Scott Middle School, “And all kinds of kids show up at the water tower to play,” Allen said.

Teams can be found playing at the outside court at 6:30 a.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays and also at 6 p.m.

At Buck Run, 9 a.m. Monday through Friday people play and also Saturday morning at 8 a.m., she said.

There are four courts at the water tower site.

“You can go and watch,” Allen said. “We have a good time.”

Submitted photo

“I’m 77 years old,” Allen said. “It’s an excellent exercise and social game. And I’ve lost 25 pounds since I started playing a year-and-a-half ago.” The outside court opened in 2017.

Submitted photo.

The pickleball court is two-thirds the size of a tennis court, scoring is like for ping pong, serving is underhanded and a person can only score while serving. There are four courts at the water tower location.

Submitted photo. Pickleball can be played outside at night as well because of lights at the court.

“You don’t have to go with people,” Allen said. “We’ll rotate you in and out of the game. Someone will help you get started.”

“You need to wear shoes with tread, cross-training shoes, not running or walking shoes,” she said.

Entertainment, Fort Scott

Life In A Jar July 28 Downtown Fort Scott

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The Lowell Milken Center for Unsung Heroes is hosting the award-winning Life in a Jar: the Irena Sendler Project author Jack Mayer on Saturday, July 28 in the Liberty Theatre at 10 AM for a presentation followed by a performance of Life in a Jar at 2 PM.

These events happen in conjunction with the 2018 Poland Reunion and are free to the public.

The Liberty Theater Patio was the scene of a reunion for the Lowell Milken Center For Unsung Heroes Friday evening.
Fort Scott, Schools

USD 234 Civil Rights Investigation

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Fisher Park, located at Main and 7th streets.

An anonymous complaint against USD 234 was filed on June 14, 2016, with the U.S. Department of Education, according to the government education website:  https://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/docs/investigations/open-investigations/tix.html?queries%5Bstate%5D=KS.

“There has been a Title IX complaint against the school district,” USD 234 Superintendent Ted Hessong, said.  “There is an investigation currently and the school district is unable to comment more specifically at this time.”

The investigation pending is regarding Title IX Athletics, according to the website.

The Office of Civil Rights at the U.S. Department of Education works to ensure equal access to education and resolve complaints of discrimination, according to its’ website https://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/docs/howto.html

In June 2018,  City  Attorney Bob Farmer was asked by the Fort Scott City Commission to send USD 234  a letter to be sent with the school district’s paperwork on the case to the Office of Civil Rights, according to the city commission minutes of June 19, 2018.

In the letter Farmer sent, the city stated it had no plans to build a clubhouse or dressing room at Fisher Park because there is no funding at this time to do so, according to the minutes.

The city owns Fisher Park and allows the USD 234 to use the facilities there for the FSHS girls softball program, Hessong said.

“The OCR wanted a letter from the city stating that the city has no intention of building at Fisher Park,” City Manager Dave Martin said.

“We have been unable to find out who filed the complaint,” Martin said. “The state will not tell the person who turned them in.”

Hewitt Field at Fisher Park. The FSHS girls softball program uses the facilities in the spring.
Don Hewitt Field at Fisher Park. The ballpark is three blocks north of Fort Scott High School.
The concession building at Fisher Park.
Fort Scott High School, 1005 S. Main.
Fort Scott

FS Community Foundation Seeks Grant Applications

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The Fort Scott Area Community Foundation is thrilled to announce that the number of grants available for the upcoming 2018/2019 cycle totals $32,000, exceeding last year’s total by $2,000 and $11,000 more than the previous year. Thanks to the generosity of all who contributed to the FSACF general fund, the interest accrued will allow the grant committee more opportunities to benefit the 501c3 applicants who meet the qualifications.

Monies granted to the 18 beneficiaries from last year’s cycle were used for a variety of causes, including helping to purchase medals for Special Olympics’ Bourbon County participants, providing benefits to cancer patients, assisting the Beacon to meet family needs, funding classes for CASA volunteers and purchasing lights for the local pickleball courts.

The FSACF 2018 Grant Applications will be released on Wednesday, August 1, at which time they will appear on the FSACF website or may be picked up in person at the Chamber of Commerce, 231 E. Wall. Nonprofits such as churches, governmental entities, or organizations with a 501c3 status are encouraged to apply.

Applications are due by Tuesday, August 28. Acceptance and declination letters will be mailed on Tuesday, October 16. Grants will be awarded at the Foundation’s Chamber Coffee held in the Landmark Bank lobby at Third and Main at 8 A.M. on Thursday, November 1.

Fort Scott

Rotary Fundraiser: Hurt’s Donuts

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Come buy the most DELICIOUS donuts around!
That’s right the Fort Scott Rotary is having a fundraiser for HURTS DONUTS!
 Click here to email your donut order
for only $24 a dozen!
On the email, please note your name, phone #,
and how many dozen.  You may then drop off or mail a check to the Chamber @ 231 E. Wall St. payable to Fort Scott Rotary.  If payment is not received by August 17th, the order will not be placed.  Orders and payments may also be mailed to Fort Scott Rotary, PO Box 1035, Fort Scott, KS  66701.
Please note ORDER PICKUP is Saturday, Aguust 25th between 8-11am at Memorial Hall, 1 E. 3rd St.  If you will not be able to pick them up, please make other arrangements for someone to pick them up on your behalf.
For questions or more information, call:
Melissa Wise (620) 215-0678
more information on Hurts Donuts.
Thank you!
 
See below to view the order form to buy the DELICIOUS donuts!
Fort Scott

Family Day At The Fort: Planned By Local Youth

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Fort Scott National Historic Site Youth Conservation Corp Member Reaghan Dowell tells about the garden at the fort. Sara Stepanic, right, a student trainee park ranger, listens.

Two groups of local youth donned the 1840s  summer military uniform of soldiers and told stories of life at The Fort Scott National Historic Site on Saturday.

July 21 was Family Day at FSNHS, a new event planned by area youth to gain experience with the National Park Service this summer.

“We picked cooking, gardening and dummy guns for topics,” for Family Day, Reaghn Dowell, YCC member said.

To lead the activities, the youth wore the summer uniforms that soldiers wore in the 1840s.

“The uniforms are canvass,” Sara Stepanic, said. “They are pretty heavy and not cool.” Stepanic is a student trainee ranger this summer at FSNHS.

In the morning, three different stations were available for public engagement:  a cooking demonstration, where visitors were instructed in food preparation and cooking methods;  a historic garden display, where one could work in the garden and help with the harvest; and firearms drills in the use of 1840s firearms using wooden “dummy guns”.

Afternoon activities included arts and crafts for the family at one station and historic, interactive games and activities for adults and kids at a second station.

Family Day activities were presented by two groups of youth who are working at FSNHS, the Youth Conservation Corps and the Youth Engagement Team. Both groups consist of high school age students who are gaining experience with the National Park Service this summer.

The Youth Conservation Corps is comprised of Kaden Primm, Anthea Montojo, Reaghn Dowell, and Jessden Kiwan, all from Fort Scott. Sara Stepanic, Wisconsin, a college-age student trainee park ranger was the leader of the YCC group at FSNHS.

The Youth Engagement team members are Jacey Bowen, Uniontown and Emily Davenport, Fort Scott.

Jacey Bowen, Fort Scott National Historic Site Youth Engagement member, left, and YCC Member Jessden Kiwan, right, teach how firearms were used int he 1840s.
Jase Garrison, Claremore, OK, gets a firearms lesson from Park Ranger Ryan O’Connell, while his extended family looks on.
FSNHS Youth Engagement Member Emily Davenport, left, YCC Member Kaden Primm, center; and YCC Member Anthea Motojo helped prep food for the beef stew that was being demonstrated as part of Family Day.
Park Guide Paul Goodman makes beef stew as part of Family Day at FSNHS.
Park Ranger Robert Thomas leads the Muller Family from Denver, CO in the Junior Ranger Program Pledge.

The Muller Family from Denver, Colorado worked on the National Park Service Junior Park Ranger Program while at the Fort on Saturday. Following the program outline, they were led in a National Park Service Junior Ranger oath by Ranger Robert Thomas in the visitors center.

The children get a book, badge, sticker and five trading cards when they sign up for the program.

Fort Scott National Historic Site
Bourbon County, Fort Scott

Fort Scott National Cemetery Navy Memorial Donations Sought

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The following is submitted by Daryl Roller

Veterans living in Southeast Kansas are thankful for Fort Scott National Cemetery. We appreciate the generous investments made in the (Fort Scott National) cemetery the past twenty-plus years. It is comforting for us, as well as our families, to know when our time comes; we will be buried in a dignified, peaceful place, with grounds attended to with exceptional care.

We are raising funds for a commemorative works granite monument, complete with U.S. Navy stockless anchor and chain to be placed in the Monument Circle at Fort Scott National Cemetery, to honor the service and sacrifice of the many sailors and Navy airmen buried there, as well as those to be interred in future years.

To accomplish this project, we need your help. Fundraising will be conducted by Olson-Frary-Burkhart Post 1165 of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, Fort Scott, KS. We plan to have a dedication once the monument is installed. Please send your donation to VFW Post 1165, PO Box 85, Fort Scott, KS 66701. Your name will be listed in a log of contributors to be kept at the post.

We thank you for your donation to honor the past, present, and future Navy Veterans from Southeast Kansas.

00050196_Ft Scott Donation_letter to donor (1)

Roller’s contact phone: 913/322-6492 or cell phone: 620/215-4743