Beginning April 1, Fort Scott National Historic Site will return to its spring/summer hours of operation of 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. These hours will remain in effect until October 31, 2018. The park is open daily except for Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Day.
Upcoming events in the next couple of months include:
Civil War Encampment on April 21and 22, 2018;
Memorial Day weekend activities from May 26 to 28, 2018;
and Good Ol’ Days on June 2, 2018.
From Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend, staff will offer guided tours daily at 11 a.m. Visitors coming the rest of the year can take self-guided tours, using a number of tools available including the site brochure, the site’s film, exhibits along the way, and our cell phone tour. IPhone and IPad users can also access NPS Fort Scott, the site’s Mobile App.
For additional information call 620-223-0310 or visit the park website at www.nps.gov/fosc.
Angelyka and her dad, Daniel Simonds, pick up Easter eggs in the preschool section of the Kiwanis Easter Egg hunt March 24.Fort Scott Kiwanis members hide eggs in plain view at Gunn Park for the smallest egg hunters.
Fort Scott Kiwanis members annually hide candy and prize-filled plastic Easter eggs in Gunn Park for the enjoyment of area children.
The Easter egg hunt is planned for the weekend before Easter, according to Kiwanis President Scott Flater.
Gunn Park is divided into varying age groups of children and then the eggs are “hidden” in that area, which is marked by a sign.
Prior to the hunt, the Easter bunny makes rounds to see the children.
The Easter bunny, this year portrayed by Carmen Flater, gets a little help from her husband Scott before appearing to the children.The “calm before the storm”, when Kiwanis members hide the eggs in Gunn Park.
Following are the family members with preschool children around the perimeter of the area marked off. They are waiting for the 11 a.m. signal to begin the hunt.
Phil Gorman, Fort Scott Kiwanis Treasurer gives the crowd instructions before the egg hunt begins.Fort Scott Firemen Alex Schafer and Dale Bolinger wait for the 11 a.m. time for them to signal the beginning of the hunt by sounding the truck’s loud horn.In the preschool area of the Easter egg hunt, parents and children take off following the sounding of the horn by the Fort Scott Fire Department truck.
The hunt was over in approximately five minutes.
Fort Scott Kiwanis have several community outreaches, in addition to the Easter egg hunt.
The philanthropic group also serves a pancake feed on Shrove Tuesday, and a golf tournament in April, all to benefit the youth of the community, Flater said.
Kiwanis is a global organization dedicated to change the world, one child, one community at a time, he said.
With money raised, they help the Court Appointed Special Advocates, and help the local school district, USD 234 with the backpack initiative, the indigent fund, and scholarships for Fort Scott High School seniors, he said.
In addition, the organization has helped rebuild the “fairy house” and the entrance archway at Gunn Park and planted 1000s of trees in the city of Fort Scott throughout the years, he said.
Board members of Fort Scott Kiwanis are Flater, president; Dale Johnson, secretary; Phil Gorman, treasurer; Mike Cheney, vice-president of programs; Gerald Hart, Bob Eckles, Mark McCoy and John Townsend.
Beginning on Monday, April 2, 2018 (weather permitting) Heckert Asphalt Company, in conjunction with LaForge and Budd Construction Company, will resume work on South Main Street beginning just south of 23rd Street and ending just north of the South National exchange.
With this work, there will be lane closures and possible flaggers at certain intersections while crews perform grinding work to the asphalt surface. During this time you may experience delays in travel and limited access to certain locations along this route. This work is expected to take one week to complete. Avoid this route if at all possible.
We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.
JOB OF THE DAY- SEASONAL LABORER- CITY OF FORT SCOTT
The City of Fort Scott is seeking applicants for Seasonal Laborer’s to work under direct supervision of the Parks & Facilities Manager. This position maintains grounds of public property. Essential Duties include: Cutting grass, trim and edge sidewalks, prune shrubs, cleans drainage ditches and culverts, empty trash and replace liners. Performing duties require walking, lifting 25-50 lbs, and exposure to outside weather. Apply here: http://ow.ly/iZEw30j8ZyL
The Fort Scott Community College Kid’s Fair is from 9 a.m. to noon April 14 at Bailey Hall South Parking Lot.
“This event is sponsored by Fort Scott Community College Community Relations Committee, we do it twice a year for the community kids just for fun and use it as a chance to get to know the community members,” Kassie Fugate-Cate, Director of Strategic Communications and Student Activities said.
Popcorn, cookies, drinks, games, and prizes will be offered.
“And of course, our teddy bear clinic sponsored by Student Nursing Organization (SNO),” Cate said. ” The kids bring their stuffed animals or dolls and they get a check-up like on ‘Doc McStuffins’.”
The event will be held in the south parking lot of Bailey Hall.
“We plan to have John Deere, our first responders, FSCC Cosmetology, FSCC STEM club, FSCC Athletics, and FSCC President’s Ambassadors present during the event along with FSCC SNO,” Cate said.
Denise and Bobby Duncan are opening their residence located at 102 S. National Ave., to the public this evening at 6 p.m. to answer questions and concerns about their recent closure of the Beaux Art Center.
“We are hoping to have documents ready….there has been a lot of misinformation,” Denise Duncan said.
The event is “especially for people in the historic district,” Duncan said. “And people that rent historic buildings.”
Both she and husband, Bobby will be there, she said.
The Duncan’s have had several discussions about the building with city officials that have been unsatisfactory, she said.
Denise Duncan contends that because their residence is a historic building, a code footprint is not needed. Additionally, they contend that the code footprint provided to the city is incorrect, she said.
“The code footprint regulation, K.A.R. 22-1-7, defines minimum features… for an objective evaluation by uniform application of state law using minimum resources. It also makes the code footprint available to assist local fire and building officials (to) view new construction and changes in use,” according to http://firemarshal.ks.gov/division/prevention/plans-review-code-footprint.
“The State Fire Marshall verified that it (their building) is on the state historic register,” she said. “Since it is on the historic register they are giving the city power to make waivers, exceptions, and variances on such matters.”
The City of Fort Scott hired Zingre and Associates P.A. to make the code footprint.
“Zingre’s code footprint is full of errors,” Duncan said.
Among Zingre’s biggest concerns is lack of proper egress width for stairways and doors based on the calculated occupant load of the building and how this load would spread out among the building’s two exits, according to his letter to the city, which was provided by Duncan.
Egress is an exit, according to the dictionary.
The Duncan’s will explain these contentions and others this evening at the meeting they are hosting.
Denise Duncan shows how the Zingre calculation was incorrect in the measurement of the front door to the Beaux Arts Centre. Zingre did not measure the door, merely assumed it was the standard 32 inches, she said. This measurement error cuts the number of people allowed at one time in the building, which drastically affects their business, she said.The measurement of the front door is 42 inches, which would allow more people to be in the building at the same time. Duncan contends Zingre did not measure the door while at her residence to design the code footprint.Denise Duncan looks at the code footprint document designed by Zingre and Associates P.A. This stairway on the south side of the building is not listed as an exit in the footprint.This is the west staircase which leads down to the main level from the upper level and is not shown as an exit on the code footprint.This window is the exit that the code footprint shows as the only exit on this floor which has three staircases that lead down, Duncan said. It is a window on the main level of the building.This is the first page of a three-page letter that accompanied the code footprint design sent to the city in January 2018 by Zingre and Associates, P.A, provided by Duncan. The fourth paragraph states the biggest concern of the architects.The second page of the letter from Zingre and Associates P.A. to the City of Fort Scott. Listed are other points that need to be addressed by the Duncan’s in regard to their building.The third page from Zingre to the city.Following is the code footprint produced by Zingre and Associates P.A. for the city, dated Jan. 17, 2018.This is the lower level of the Beaux Art Center as shown in the code footprint.The main level of the Beaux Arts Centre.The upper level of the Beaux Arts Centre. This level has three stairway exits that are not designated as exits on the code footprint, a point of contention with the Duncans. The small triangle at the bottom of the design, notes the only exit listed on this floor, a window.The code footprint legend of the Beaux Arts Centres.A letter from Fort Scott Community Development Director Rhonda Dunn, which stated that a copy of the completed plan was sent to the state fire marshal. Denise Duncan said they should have had the report to look over and discuss with the city before it was sent.This is Duncan’s response to Dunn’s letter, saying there were many error and omissions in the code footprint. The letter tells the city of Duncan’s intent to close the business, the Beaux Arts Centre.Page 2 of the Duncan letter to the city.Denise Duncan highlighted the parts of this Kansas Municipality and Code Officials Brochure, which lists groups of buildings that must provide a code footprint. She contends that none of these apply to the Duncan building.
Maria Whitson plays with her children Asher, Judah, and Malachi in Gunn Park last week.
The thought of a classroom without walls intrigued Maria Whitson.
Whitson, from Garland, first found out about an organization called Tinkergarten when a friend from Kansas City referred her saying she would be a good leader.
“When I went to their website, I lit up,” Whitson said. ” Being outdoors with a group of parents and children. Playing and educating, growing together, all of it caught my attention.”
Founded in 2012, Tinkergarten is a nationwide play-based, outdoor learning class designed for children ages 18 months to 8 years, and their parents.
According to recent statistics, children’s free play time is declining, and it’s diminishing the chances to develop critical life skills, she said.
Free spring trial classes will be offered at 10 a.m. March 29 and 31 at Gunn Park.
Then classes will be held each Thursday, April 12 through May 31
from 10 a.m. to 11:15 a.m.
In a 5-part class each week Whitson will facilitate an expert-designed play scenario, allowing children of various ages and needs to explore, problem solve, communicate, collaborate, and create together, according to the Tinkergarten.com website. Parents and caregivers learn, too, and share insights into a child’s development.
To register go to Tinkergarten.com.
The cost is $140 per studentfor 8 sessions. An installment plan is available. There is a 30% discount for each additional sibling.
Some benefits of Tinkergarten provided by Whitson are:
● Spending time outdoors provides children with a wide range of health benefits including social and emotional well-being. Research shows that time outdoors supports improved relationship skills, and reduces stress, anger, and aggression.
80 percent of brain development occurs before the age of five. Children build foundational skills in their first five years that will affect the rest of their learning and life.
In today’s fast-paced, technology-driven world, parents need to balance the screen time with outdoor time to raise healthy, well-adjusted kids.
“I’m bringing this incredible early-childhood education program to Fort Scott, to help children develop critical capabilities such as self-reliance, creativity, persistence and problem-solving skills, all proven benefits of play-based, outdoor learning, ” she said.
“I became a leader because I want to get my children outdoors more and be intentional about creating learning experiences with them. The opportunity for me to lead a Tinkergarten class was exactly the motivation and training that I was looking for. I am thrilled that I get to not only have that opportunity for my children and myself but also for other families. I am so excited to be in a classroom without walls.”
Kansas Department of Corrections personnel delivered Narcan, an antidote that will stop an opioid overdose, to area law enforcement agencies Tuesday at the new Bourbon County Law Enforcement Center.
KDOC Administrator Liz Rice along with Andrew Lucht, corrections manager, hand-delivered the boxes of Narcan to several Kansas first responders on stops throughout the eastern portion of the state.
Allen County Undersheriff Roy Smith, KDOC Administrator Liz Rice, Bourbon County Sheriff Bill Martin and Fort Scott Police Captain Shaun West pause for a photo of one of the boxes of Narcan delivered to the drop-off site.Sheriff Bill Martin looks over the boxes of the drug Narcan before they were distributed to the law enforcement officers.
Bourbon County Sheriff Bill Martin, Fort Scott Police Department Captain Shaun West, and Allen County Undersheriff Roy Smith came to the new law enforcement center to pick up the boxes.
Liz Rice provided a news release she wrote that explains the reason for the delivery:
“In Governor Colyer’s March 1st announcement of EXECUTIVE ORDER 18-09: Task Force to Address Substance Use Disorders he shared with us that ‘The crisis of substance use disorder, particularly addiction to opioids, heroin and methamphetamine, has truly become an epidemic in our state and our country’ in that order the Governor called for greater cooperation and collaboration of state agencies, organizations, professionals, emergency response personnel, and others with policymaking authority to address substance use disorders,” according to the news release.
“We are seeing the results of that call to action today with the delivery of the Opioid reversal agent Naloxone to first responders across our great state. Opioid reversal medications are not just for addicts, we need to have them available for accidental exposure as well.”
“First responders are there when an accidental overdose occurs in a home setting or they may have accidental exposure themselves while investigating criminal activity. We want Naloxone available in all situations of Opioid overdose.”
Rice said through a grant from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), the Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services (KDADS) $1.3M was given to The University of Kansas Health System to provide treatment, prevent opioid-related deaths and educate Kansans and health care providers about the Opioid Epidemic.
“The University of Kansas Health System leveraged pharmacy relationships to use grant funds to obtain NARCAN® (naloxone HCl) at the lowest available price for mass distribution to first responders across the state of Kansas.” according to the press release.
“NARCAN® (naloxone HCl) Nasal Spray was chosen for its ease of use in delivering Naloxone in a nasal spray for the emergency treatment of known or suspected opioid overdose.”
Rice said she and Lucht had delivered the drug to law enforcement entities in Labette, Cherokee, and Osage Counties this route and were on their way to Miami and Franklin Counties.
KDOC Administrator Liz Rice shows the dosage units of Narcan, a nasal spray, which only sprays one dose, she said. Each dose is worth approximately $25, Lucht said.
“We bought enough to get you started, ” Rice said. “This will get it out on the streets where needed. I would put a box in each (law enforcement) car.”
A training video to go along with the drug is provided, she said.
Captain West said the FSPD will provide training for each of their first responders and will put the Narcan in both marked and unmarked vehicles for emergency use.
Sheriff Martin also asked for some to be provided to the Bourbon County Rural Fire Departments, and Rice complied with that request.
Captain West said Narcan “only stops an opioid overdose, it has no effect other than stopping a high.”
