A sign posted on the property of the rental homes. There were no more applications in the provided application box, Tuesday when this photo was taken.
The “Tiny Houses” at 6th and Lowman streets are available for rent April 1.
Tuesday, Paint Creek Painting of Redfield workers were painting the outside of the four units. Cabinets were scheduled for this week, one of the painters said.
3RK, LLC are the property owners.
The two-bedroom one bath houses have less than 800 square feet each.
Each unit has off street parking, 36-inch wide doorways, with lawn and trash service provided.
The sign atop the new John Deere Tech Program building at the intersection of Horton and 23rd Streets. The building is located on the easternmost segment of the main campus of Fort Scott Community College..
The public opening of the new John Deere Tech Program at Fort Scott Community College was held at the site Feb. 9.
A hamburger lunch was provided by the college.
Attending were prospective students, local residents, business corporations, FSCC staff and Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce members.
Attendees of the Fort Scott Community College John Deere Tech Program grand opening eat in the largest building of the tech complex. This building is the old National Guard Armory at Horton and 23rd streets.The college provided a hamburger lunch for attendees of the John Deere Tech Program official opening.
Following the lunch were speeches and a ribbon cutting sponsored by the Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce.
FSCC President Alysia Johnston speaks to the crowd at the public opening of the new John Deere Tech Program building, completed in December 2017.
Tours were given prior to the event for those interested.
FSCC President Alysia Johnston left, gives a tour of the renovated welding shop located north of the new tech program building. At right is FSCC Board of Trustees Member Dana McKenney.
A building north of the new John Deere Tech Program building was renovated for welding classes instruction. The program began in August, with Brandon McAdam, as the instructor.
The John Deere corporation supplies new and used tractors for training the students, said Dale Griffiths, tech program instructor.
Additional old tractors are supplied by dealers and individuals, he said.
Currently, there are 23 students in the program, mostly from Kansas and Missouri, Griffiths said.
“Ninety-five percent of the students will have a job waiting for them,” Griffiths said. “Technicians are the most demanded field in the ag. equipment business.”
Classes are in session from Monday through Thursday, Griffiths said.
“Most kids will travel back to work at their dealers,” he said.
In this program, students are required to work through a qualified dealership that provides paid internships throughout the program’s two years, according to information provided by FSCC.
After completing the program, students receive an associate of applied science degree and can transfer to Pittsburg State University to complete a four-year management option.
Many students choose to stay with their sponsoring dealerships to begin their career as a technician.
Federal loan and grant programs are available to students who qualify. For more information contact the financial aid office at 620-223-2700 or visit fortscott.edu.
District Court is located on the third floor of the Bourbon County Courthouse. Public records are available of court documents.
Joseph Banker, a former youth pastor at a Fort Scott church, was sentenced Feb. 2 for sexual exploitation of a child.
“The judge granted our request for probation,” Chris Meek, Banker’s defense attorney said in an interview.
“There were victims who made statements (during the sentencing) and their parents,” Meek said.
“My client’s wife and my client made statements to the court.”
“It was emotional,” he said.
“I absolutely think that the judge made the correct decision,” Meek said.
Following the Feb. 2 sentencing, Judge Amy Harth requested the court have another meeting, Bourbon County Prosecuting Attorney Jackie Spradling said in an interview.
Meek, Spradling, and Harth have been corresponding via email since the sentencing, Meek said.
“Judge Harth gave the wrong probation during the sentencing (Feb.2),” Meek said Monday. “It should have been 36 months for probation and the post-release supervision is 60 months.”
“Judge Harth inadvertently put 60, it should’ve been 36 months,” Spradling said. “We’ll have to redo that….there is no date for undoing that (yet).”
Banker pleaded No Contest to:
Sexual exploitation of a child to promote performance with a child less than 18 years old, with a violation date of Aug. 1, 2009.
Sexual exploitation of a child to promote performance with a child less than 18 years of age, with a violation date of Nov. 1, 2009.
Both of these charges are Severity Level 5 Person Felony.
The following charges were dismissed:
Electronic sexual exploitation of a child 14 to less than 16 years of age, violation date Sept. 21, 2009.
The offender must register with each registering law enforcement agency in the county or location of jurisdiction. Each time the offender must be photographed, pay a registration fee of $20, and complete the registration form with all information and updated information required for registration as provided in K.S.A. 22-4907.
The offender is required to report four times a year in person to the registering law enforcement agency in the county or location of the jurisdiction where they reside, maintain employment, or attend school. After initial registration, they must report in their birth month and every third, sixth, and ninth month occurring before and after.
The offender must register in person upon any commencement, change or termination of residence location, employment status, school attendance or other information within three days to the registering law enforcement agency or agencies where last registered and provide a written notice to the Kansas Bureau of Investigation.
The offender’s driver’s license and identification card shall indicate that they are a registered offender. If maintaining a primary residence in Kansas, they must surrender all other driver’s licenses and identification cards from other states, territories, and the District of Columbia, except if they or an immediate family member is maintaining active duty in any branch of the United States military.
If this is the offenders first adult conviction, they must register for fifteen (15) years unless a longer term is specified or present term limits are amended by statute for any of the following:
Sexual battery, Adultery if one party is less than 18 years of age, Patronizing a prostitute if one party is less than 18 years of age, Lewd and lascivious behavior if one party is less than 18 years of age, Capital murder, Murder in the first degree, Murder in the second degree, Voluntary manslaughter, Involuntary manslaughter, Criminal restraint if the victim is less than 18 years of age, Any act which has been determined beyond a reasonable doubt to have been sexually motivated, Conviction of any person felony and the court makes a finding on the record that a deadly weapon was used in the commission of such person felony, Unlawful manufacture or attempting such of any controlled substance or controlled substance analog, Possession of ephedrine, pseudoephedrine, red phosphorus, lithium metal, sodium metal, iodine, anhydrous ammonia, pressurized ammonia or phenylpropanolamine, or their salts, isomers or salts of isomers with intent to use the product to manufacture a controlled substance, Unlawful sale of or distribution of a controlled substance. This time period does not include any time incarcerated in any jail or correctional facility or any period of non-compliance with the requirements of the Act.
If convicted as an adult of a second or subsequent offense(s) covered by the Act, they are required to register for life. Any conviction for an attempt, conspiracy or solicitation requires registration for the same term as the underlying offense.
If this is a first adult conviction, they must register for twenty-five (25) years unless a longer term is specified or present term limits are amended by statute for any of the following:
Criminal sodomy if victim is 16 or more years of age but less than 18 years of age and a member of the same sex or an animal, Indecent solicitation of a child, Electronic solicitation, Aggravated incest, Indecent liberties with a child, Unlawful sexual relations, Sexual exploitation of a child if the victim is 14 or more years of age but less than 18 years of age, Aggravated sexual battery, Promoting prostitution if the prostitute is 14 or more years of age but less than 18 years of age. This time period does not include any time incarcerated in any jail or correctional facility or any period of non-compliance with the requirements of the Act.
If convicted as an adult of a second or subsequent offense(s) covered by the Act, they will be required to register for life. Any conviction for an attempt, conspiracy or solicitation requires registration for the same term as the underlying offense.
The offender must register for life if convicted of any of the following crimes:
Rape, Aggravated indecent solicitation of a child, Aggravated indecent liberties with a child, Criminal sodomy if the victim is 14 or more years of age but less than 16 years of age or animal, Aggravated criminal sodomy, Aggravated human trafficking, Sexual exploitation of a child if the victim is less than 14 years of age, Promoting prostitution if the prostitute is less than 14 years of age, Kidnapping, Aggravated kidnapping, Any person who has been declared a sexually violent predator pursuant to K.S.A. 59-29a01 et seq. Any conviction for an attempt, conspiracy or solicitation requires registration for the same term as the underlying offense.
If the offender travels outside of the United States, they will report in person to the registering law enforcement agency and provide written notice to the Kansas bureau of investigation 21 days prior to any such travel. They will provide an itinerary including, but not limited to, destination, means of transport and duration of travel.
If the offender uses the internet, they are required to report to the registering law enforcement agency any and all: email addresses; online identities; information relating to membership in any and all personal web pages or online social networks; and internet screen names.
Pursuant to Title 18, United States Code, Section 2250, if a sex offender fails to register or fails to report a change in residence, employment, or student status, and travels in or moves across state lines, the offender can be charged with a federal crime and punished by up to ten (10) years imprisonment.
If the offender receives an expungement for the crime that required registration, the registration obligation does not terminate.
If you prefer to print the survey and mail or drop off your nominations to the Chamber that is great too. Click here for a printable copy. You may also email your nominations directly to the Chamber at [email protected].
The Design Review Board will meet on Thursday, February 15th, 2018 at 4:00 p.m. at the City Hall Commission Meeting room at 123 S. Main Street, Fort Scott, Kansas. This meeting will be held to discuss a Certificate of Appropriateness for the installation of bicycle racks in the downtown area, discussion of fencing in the downtown area, and review of the Gordon Parks sign on the Iron Star Building. This meeting is open to the public.
The City of Fort Scott City Offices will be closed on Monday, February 19th, 2018 in observance of the President’s Day holiday. The offices will reopen on Tuesday, February 20th, 2018.
The City’s tree and brush dump site located on North Hill will also be closed on Saturday, February 17th, 2018 for the President’s Day holiday. It will be open again on Tuesday, February 20th, 2018 from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
USD 234 Superintendent Bob Beckham is retiring effective June 29.
Beckham gave the Board of Education notice at a meeting last Tuesday.
Beckham worked his way up from teacher to the athletic director, then the principal, then four years ago assumed the superintendency of the district.
The following is from an interview with fortscott.biz.
Why are you retiring?
“I always told myself that I would know when it was time for me to retire, I just know it’s time now.”
How far into your contract are you?
“In June I will have fulfilled my current contract.”
Will you give a short synopsis of your career?
“After graduating from Pittsburg State University I taught and coached five years at Altoona-Midway High School. I came home in 1989 and taught biology and social studies and coached at Fort Scott High School for nine years. I served as the athletic director for seven years, then as the high school principal for eight years. I will have completed my fourth year as the superintendent in June.”
Why did you become an educator?
“Like all educators, I chose this profession to invest in young people – to help them reach their full potential.”
What are you looking forward to in retirement?
“I will be going back to work, just not sure in what capacity yet.”
Jeff DeLaTorre was hired as Fort Scott High School Activities/Athletic Director at a USD 234 Board Meeting Tuesday.
Currently, he is the assistant principal at the school.
He will assume his new duties July 1.
The following is an interview DeLaTorre had with fortscott.biz.
What do you see as the strengths and challenges of the school you will be helping lead?
” Fort Scott High School has a great tradition of having successful athletic and activity programs. We have great kids and strong community support. My goal is to help those programs remain strong and maintain success and to continue to give our community a sense of pride in our high school.”
What is your career experience?
“I taught Physical Education at Yates Center High School from 1995-2000. Also coached basketball, baseball, and football. Moved to Fort Scott in fall of 2000. Taught World History and PE until 2005. Taught full-time PE from 2005 – 2011. Became the Assistant Principal in 2011 and have been in that role since then. Have been the head boys basketball coach at FSHS since 2000. In my time at FSHS I have also coached football, tennis, and baseball.”
What is your education?
” I graduated from Chanute High School in 1990. Graduated from Pittsburg State University in 1995 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Education. Earned Master’s Degree in Educational Leadership from Pitt State in 2009.”
Your family?
” I have been married to my wife Angie for 21 years. We have two sons – Kaleb (20 and a sophomore at Neosho County Community College in Chanute), and Jacob (16 and a sophomore at FSHS).”
Hometown: Chanute
Why did you choose education as a career?
” I always enjoyed working with kids and looked at education as an opportunity to make a difference in young people’s lives. I also had several teachers and coaches growing up that had a strong impact on me, and I liked the possibility of having that same impact on my students and athletes that I would work with.”
Submitted photo. Amber Toth was selected to be Fort Scott High School’s Assistant Principal starting in July.
Amber Toth was hired Tuesday at the USD 234 Board of Education meeting to be Fort Scott High School Assistant Principal starting in July.
The following is an interview fortscott.biz had with Toth.
What do you see as the strengths and challenges of the school you will be helping lead?
“The high school has many strengths. We have an amazing staff who is always striving to get better. We are focused on rigor and excellence. We are also working really hard to get curriculum aligned across the district, not just in the building. We have leaders in place who have the best interest of kids in mind, even when those decisions are hard. We have amazing programs within the school that provide every student the opportunity to find their niche. But just like any school, there is always room for improvement. I think one of the challenges we face is ensuring our instruction is relevant in making students college and career ready. It is my goal to provide as many opportunities to ensure our graduates have bright futures and are employable. I want to see those students bring innovation and vision to Fort Scott. We are also in transition with a new accreditation process. Pieces of this will require us to alter what we do in some areas. I am looking forward to helping a wonderful team become the best school that we can be.”
Why did you choose education?
“I had amazing teachers. There are some special ones that come to mind. Mr. Warnock was my 3rd grade teacher and taught me to love exploring. Mrs. Beardmore was my 5th grade teacher and taught me to love people, even when it was hard. Ms. Zimmerman was my high school English teacher and she taught me a love of literature. Kathy Faulkenberry was my debate and forensics coach and she taught me my passion. I knew from a young age that I wanted to make a difference in the world. I love making a difference in the lives of kids. I couldn’t imagine myself in another field. The teachers I had, inspired me to change lives the way they changed mine.”
Where did you receive your education?
“I have a Bachelors in English Education from Pittsburg State University that I earned in 2000. I also have a Masters in Educational Leadership that I earned in 2011 from Grand Canyon University.”
What is your past experience?
“Before coming to Fort Scott, I was an Advanced Placement English teacher and the Advanced Placement Coordinator. I also taught debate and forensics, as well as speech. In those roles in Caney, I wrote $25,000 worth of grants to expand our AP program. I also began my journey on the National Speech and Debate Association District Committee for the South Kansas District and directed the school play.”
“Since coming to Fort Scott, I have taught Dual Credit Speech, Debate and Forensics. I also started the school pantry. I am also certified in Youth Mental Health First Aid. I have had the privilege of presenting several in-service sessions to the staff on subjects ranging from instruction, project based learning, and suicide prevention.”
Toth hales from Caney, Ks. graduating from high school there in 1995, then taught there for eight years.
Tell about your family.
” I have been married to my husband, Travis Toth for 17 years. He teaches Social Studies and is the assistant coach for debate and forensics at Fort Scott High School. Before teaching, he was a law enforcement officer.
We have four children. Darby will be graduating this year and attending Washburn University in the fall. She plans to study Psychology. Madison is a Sophomore this year. She is active in debate, forensics, drama, choir and was chosen to attend the Hugh O’Brian Youth Leadership (HOBY) conference this summer. Trent is in 6th grade. He is a hard working young man who enjoys competing in robotics, middle school forensics, plays, sports and was recently chosen to be a page next month at the state capital. Kennedy is in 2nd grade. She is competitive, tenacious, and loves to participate in Tiger Cheer.
My parents are Michael and Penny Coy and they still reside in Caney
My sister, Sarah Bahr and her children also moved to Fort Scott. Sarah is a drug and alcohol counselor for Crawford County Mental Health and an assistant coach for debate and forensics. She has two children that attend school within our district., Ashton Nave,freshman, and Graci Nave, 8th grader ”
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 9
John Deere FSCC Tech Program Grand Opening – 8 AM at their new facility -2223 S. Horton St. ~Lunch served at 11:30pm—Ribbon Cutting at 12 pm.
IF Gathering at Community Christian Church Fort Scott 6:30 pm ~ 1919 Horton St, Fort Scott Additional sessions on Saturday.
Theology on Tap ~ Nate’s Place 7 pm – 750 S National Ave., Fort Scott “Why is it important to live locally?”
Fri & Sat – 10 am – 5 pm~ Livestock Sale – Fort Scott Livestock Market 2131 Maple Rd.~ Friday: Cows, Pairs & Big Bulls. Saturday: Stocker & Feeder Cattle.
Fri & Sat – The Prairie Troubadour 3rd Annual Symposium at Liberty Theatre, 113 S. Main St.
Fri, Sat & Sun – Art Project: New Faces New Neighbors – 8:30 am – 4:30 pm Fort Scott National Historic Site – History & Art come together. Kids create textile works of art that encompass the change of Fort Scott NHS throughout its history.
SATURDAY, February 10
Coyote Calling Contest by The Fort Outdoors ~ 7 AM – 2522 Richard Rd, Fort Scott – Care to Share Fundraiser
Cupid’s Corner Children’s Crafts at Buck Run, 9-10: 30 am, ages pre-K to 5th grade.
FS High School State Scholars Bowl—All day
Kill Cancer with CrossFit Fundraiser- at Smallville CrossFit ~ 11– 12 pm ~ 13 S National.
