This year marks the 175th anniversary of Fort Scott, which was established in 1842. In commemoration of this momentous occasion, Fort Scott National Historic Site is pulling out all the stops with frontier-era military reenactments on Saturday, June 3. Stop by the fort during the town-wide Good Ol’ Days celebration and stroll the grounds to experience the bustling activity of the 1842-1853 frontier fort.
Fort Scott NHS is excited to announce the participation of dismounted cavalry and dragoon units, two infantry units, an artillery unit, and representatives of the Western Bluecoats Field Hospital.
Of special note is the attendance of the US Corps of Topographical Engineers, who were instrumental in surveying and mapping the West. It is sure to be a fun-filled and exciting day with nearly 100 costumed living-history reenactors to observe, learn from, and interact with.
Visit with soldiers, laundresses, surgeons, and officers’ wives as they go about their daily routines. Enjoy the variety of Historic Weapons demonstrations throughout the day. Meet the men and women who shaped the very beginnings of Fort Scott during a Guided Tour. Enjoy first-hand accounts of fort activity through the letters of Captain Thomas Swords and his wife Charlotte. Living history activities will be ongoing from 9:00 am – 4:00 pm.
SATURDAY, JUNE 3
9:00 a.m. – Raising the Colors
10:00 a.m. – Infantry Drill and Weapons Demonstration
11:00 a.m. – Artillery Drill and Weapons Demonstration
12:00 p.m. – Guided Tour: Men and Women of the Old Fort
1:00 p.m. – The Tongue is More Useful than the Arrow: The Letters of Thomas and Charlotte Swords
2:00 p.m. – Infantry Drill and Weapons Demonstration
3:00 p.m. – Artillery Drill and Weapons Demonstration
The Fort Scott National Cemetery #1 hosted a large turnout as members of the community and out-of-town visitors came to the ceremony honoring servicemen and women who died while defending the United States and its values.
“It is a great privilege to join with you on these hallowed grounds,” said Thomas Maynard, master of ceremony of the event and assistant director of the Leavenworth National Cemetery. “Americans have paid for our way of life be giving theirs…We can never repay.”
James Collins, pastor of First Southern Baptist Church of Fort Scott and retired Master Sergeant and Chaplain after more than 27 years of service in the U.S. Army, gave the keynote address and emphasized the importance of Memorial Day as a day to remember those soldiers who were killed in the battles the country took part in.
“There’s something special about remembering,” Collins said, saying that action brings the fallen back into the hearts and minds of those remembering, allowing their legacy to continue despite the years since they lived.
Collins said he oversaw a number of military funerals because of his responsibilities as a chaplain, and recalled when a knock on his door during the midnight hours seven years ago brought news that his own best friend had been killed. Collins said the one question the friends and family members of fallen soldiers ask is “why?”
“We have all asked why, and I wish that I had an answer,” Collins said.
But Collins advised his listeners should also ask two other questions in such times of grief: who can I turn to and what is left for us moving forward. Collins said those who experience loss should turn to God and each other for support and that they should never forget those loved ones as they move forward.
Reverend Jimmy Tucker of Diamond Community Church, Ralph Carlson, Floyd Feezell, Arnold Schofield, boy scout Cody Dean and two gold star mothers also participated in the ceremony. An honor volley was provided by VFW Post 1165 members and Jerry Witt played taps.
With the end of the school year and the recent reopening of the Fort Scott Public Library, the annual summer reading program and other events hosted by the library are kicking-off with a party Tuesday, May 30, 10 a.m. to noon, at the Ellis Fine Arts Center.
Valetta Cannon, the youth librarian and assistant director, said 122 people came to the party in 2016 and 230 children participated in the summer reading program.
This year’s program has the theme “Build a Better World” and is for children up to 18 years old. Early registration is open, with early registrants receiving a prize. Forms are available at the library.
On a weekly basis, other events and programs will be available, such as for children through fifth grade on Tuesdays and Wednesdays at 10 a.m., June 13-Aug. 2, at the public library. Events for teens will be held at the Common Ground Coffee Co. on Tuesdays at 10 a.m. A teen advisory group meets Wednesdays at 4:15 p.m.
Those willing to volunteer material, snacks or their time can contact Cannon at [email protected] or 620-223-2882.
2017 Summer Schedule:
Blocks Kick-Off Party – May 30 from 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. at the Danny & Willa Ellis Fine Arts Center (FSCC)
Musician Alan Cunningham – June 6 at 10 a.m. at the Danny & Willa Ellis Fine Arts Center (FSCC)
Professional Storyteller Jo HoPresents “This is Not a Box!” – June 23 at 10 a.m. at the Beaux Arts Centre
Faerie Garden-Making Party with Martha Scott – June 26, 3-4 p.m. at Fort Scott Public Library
Robot Party – July 10, 3-4 p.m. at Fort Scott Public Library
Wings of Love Inc.’s Rare Jewels of the Rainforest Bird Show – July 18 at 10 a.m. at the Danny & Willa Ellis Fine Arts Center (FSCC)
One year ago, the Lowell Milken Center for Unsung Heroes opened the doors of its new facility, housing a number of exhibits. But for 10 years, the center has been helping students and teachers bring recognition to individuals that had an impact on their community or era.
“It doesn’t seem possible that time has passed so quickly,” Director Norm Conard said of the time since the completion of the building. “We have so many good things coming up.”
In honor of the 10th anniversary, the center employees and directors are preparing for events in September that include a visit from Lowell Milken and the revealing of children’s books written by local retired teacher Cathy Werling about some of the unsung heroes’ stories, but at an elementary level. The world premiere of a film called “Teach us All” will also be held during the event.
But before that celebration, the center continues to host a number of events throughout the summer, as groups visit the center to see the exhibits or for training. Twelve nationally recognized teachers will visit in June as fellows of the center. The fellows and other teachers are also helping create a module concerning the unsung heroes for Kansas curriculum.
The local Rotary District Governor inauguration will be hosted at the center in July. Also in July, a group of about 30 people will travel to Poland to view the location of the story of the first unsung hero, Irena Sendler.
Members of the center also helped local high school Zoe Self, whose project qualified her for the national history day in Maryland this year. Four new exhibits are being added to the center this year as well.
The Lowell Milken Center is open to visitors and those wanting to look through the exhibits on their own or with a tour guide. Information on the exhibits, upcoming events or the center’s hours can be found at their website: lowellmilkencenter.org.
This Memorial Day weekend, you and your family are invited to visit Fort Scott National Historic Site as we honor our nation’s fallen heroes. Experience the sights, sounds and smells of a frontier military fort. Celebrate the weekend with traditional living history programs, cooking demonstrations and artillery firings. A guided tour will be offered at 1 p.m. each day and a National Moment of Remembrance honoring American Soldiers who died in the line of duty will be held Monday at 3 p.m.
On Saturday, programs will focus on community life at Fort Scott in the 1840s, with special presentations from our site volunteers on cooking, baking and washing clothes. Come join the post laundress as she demonstrates washing Soldiers’ clothes, 1840s style. Smell the aroma of freshly baked bread from the fort bake house. Watch as the Soldiers and women of the fort go about their daily routines. Living history stations will also include officers’ wives demonstrating needlework, an Infantry Soldier discussing camp life and the post sutler hawking his wares.
Small arms demonstrations are scheduled Saturday and Monday and the roar of artillery will be heard on Sunday. Special programs on Saturday will include a reading of Fort Scott officers who died in the line of duty, a tribute to American Soldiers who paid the ultimate sacrifice in all wars, and a reading of letters written by Captain Thomas Swords and his wife, Charlotte. The couple was stationed at Fort Scott in the 1840s; Captain Swords served as the post quartermaster at Fort Scott and oversaw its construction.
The schedule of activities is listed below:
Saturday, May 27
10:00 a.m. Flour, Sweat, and Tears: Bake House Talk
Unified School District 234 recognized more than 110 high school seniors during their graduation ceremony at Frary Field Saturday night.
“Graduating from high school is a momentous occasion,” Principal Shawn Thomas addressed the students, later adding, “I am proud of you. I look forward to watching you, hearing about you, reading about you, because I know you will succeed in whatever endeavor lies ahead of you.”
Class president Emily Cotter congratulated her fellow seniors—recognizing the times they fell yet still got back up, and their chance to create their own path moving forward without the comfort provided by the support of parents and others.
Thomas encouraged the students to do three things as they move forward; remember their years of high school, appreciate all that was done so they could succeed and anticipate what struggles and opportunities lie ahead.
Fort Scott Community College President, Alysia Johnston, gave the commencement address and urged the students to continue their education, whether formally in a college setting or informally in a continuous process of learning.
“Education and learning are truly lifelong endeavors,” Johnston said, encouraging the students to try new things and investigate in order to find the major or career they are interested in.
FSCC offers tuition waiver for Bourbon County residents
Fort Scott Community College has expanded its tuition waiver for Bourbon County residents who wish to take classes at the Fort Scott campus or online. FSCC will now waive the tuition costs, up to fifteen credit hours, for any Bourbon County resident who enrolls at FSCC. Students will be responsible for covering fees and purchasing books.
According to a study by the Georgetown University Public Policy Institute, 71 percent of jobs in Kansas will require postsecondary education by 2020.
“We are always looking for ways to meet the needs of Bourbon County,” said Alysia Johnston, FSCC President. “We are pleased to offer this program to Bourbon County residents, and hope it will help more people pursue their educational goals.”
FSCC students can take general education classes for transfer to a four-year institution or pursue a certificate or associate degree. FSCC offers 55 courses that are guaranteed by the Kansas Board of Regents to transfer to any public college or university in the state of Kansas.
FSCC also offers a tuition waiver for students who attend a Bourbon County high school and take a concurrent class from FSCC. For more information about these waivers or other scholarship opportunities, visit fortscott.edu/scholarships or contact the FSCC Admissions Department at 620-223-2700, ext. 3520 or ext. 3530.
FSCC to Host Livestock Judging Camps
The Fort Scott Community College Agriculture Department will host its annual livestock judging camps in June. A beginners’ session for younger students will be offered from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Tuesday, June 20, and an extended session for older students will begin at 1 p.m. on Wednesday, June 21, and end at 11:30 a.m. on Friday, June 23.
During both sessions, students will learn how to evaluate livestock and provide oral reasons in a fun, learning environment. Students will learn transitions and phrases used during livestock judging, and they will be encouraged to improve on every set of reasons. Upon completion of the camp, students will be more comfortable with judging livestock and presenting oral reasons.
The fee for the beginners’ session is $45 and the extended session is $175. Students who attend the extended session will stay two nights in the dorms; meals are included in the fee.
Students attending the beginners’ session should check in at 9 a.m. at Burris Hall, and students attending the extended session should check in at 1 p.m. at Boileau Hall. Boileau Hall and Burris Hall are located on the Fort Scott Community College campus at 2108 South Horton in Fort Scott.
Proceeds from this event will benefit livestock judging team scholarships. The deadline to register is June 1—download a registration form at fortscott.edu/livestockjudging. For more information, please call Blake Davis, FSCC Livestock Judging Coach, at 620-223-2700, ext. 3290.
It’s a second chance to hit a hole in one with Mercy Health Foundation Fort Scott’s 2nd Annual Golf Classic.
The 4-person scramble is slated for Saturday, June 10, at Woodland Hills Golf Course in Fort Scott. Cash will be awarded for the top three places in two flights, with first place winning $300, second place winning $200, and third place winning $100 plus other prizes for various hole and chipping contests. Brigg’s Auto of Fort Scott will donate a new vehicle for a hole-in-one on hole 11, plus additional prizes for a hole-in-one on other par 3 holes.
“Thanks to our long list of sponsors, players will walk away with nice prizes and giveaways,” said Tina Rockhold, Mercy Health Foundation Fort Scott director. “Last year’s inaugural tournament was successful and organizers are looking forward to an even better event this year.”
The team entry fee is $200 and includes lunch from Sugarfoot and Peaches. Mulligans can also be purchased for $5 each (max of two per person) as well as raffle tickets for wonderful tailgating supplies.
The event is open to the public and proceeds from the tournament will stay local to support the purchase of capital equipment or programs at Mercy Hospital Fort Scott. Funds from the 2016 event helped to purchase the HydroWorx 300 underwater treadmill used for aquatic therapy.
Schedule of events:
8 – Registration
9 – Shotgun start
Lunch is served as teams round the clubhouse
Awards ceremony and raffle winners will be announced at tournament completion
Register your team online or learn more at mercy.net/FortScottGolf. Business sponsorships are also available and are tax-deductable.
During Thursday’s Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce event, Peerless Product, Inc., gave visitors a tour of their facility as well as their new powder coat paint line that came online in February.
Peerless joined the community in 1952, providing what President Coby Jones described as reliable but mediocre windows and doors. But in the past decade, the company has taken steps to improve their work efficiency and customer service, rebrand themselves and provide some of the best products available.
“We went and studied the globe on where can we buy the best components, the best materials to make our products exceptional,” Jones said, saying they now buy materials from Germany and Italy that provide durability as well as thermal protection to keep exterior temperatures out.
Peerless makes between 1,100 and 1,400 window a week, much of their products going to areas such as Boston, New York, Washington D.C., San Francisco and Dallas/Fort Worth. The windows and doors are frequently used at universities, hospitals, public schools, military bases and hotel chains, with the product customized for the customer, such as needing to protect the buildings from earthquakes, hurricanes or car bombs.
Jones said the new powder coat paint line is one of only five in the world and the only one in North America. The powder paint is sprayed on the metal, sticking to it via static electricity, and is then put through a heating process that melts it into the smooth coat that provides an attractive finish and lasts longer.
“We think this is very desirable for the work we’re doing,” Jones said.
Along with the addition of the new paint line, further changes have been made to other areas of the plant as well to improve the appearance as well as the efficiency of the work. In recent years, Peerless also became Fort Scott’s greatest employer, with about 400 employees.
“At the end of the day, what we’re trying to do is we’re trying to make this place to be the best we can be,” Jones said, adding they are trying to put the best products into their customers’ hands as well as draw others into Fort Scott to see the city as well as the plant.
After regular and heavy rains recently, the sun appeared Saturday in time for the first Farmers’ Market event of the season.
For the grand opening, the Fort Scott Gardening Club and other plant nurseries and individuals sold a number of plants. Homemade items as well as fresh vegetables and baked goods were also sold.
Starting in July, the first Saturday will feature a free children’s activity. A hot breakfast will also be on hand frequently.
The Farmers’ Market will be located at the Skubitz Plaza each Saturday, 8 a.m. through noon, and Tuesday afternoons, from 4 to 6 p.m. The market will continue each weekend through October.
A booth from the 2017 Fort Scott Farmers Market.
Sue Reinecke sells goats milk products at the 2017 Fort Scott Farmer’s Market.
FSCC Theatre Department Improv Troupe to Perform on May 9
The Fort Scott Community College Theatre Department invites the community to a performance by Amused to Death, the college’s comedy improvisational troupe. The performance is scheduled for 7 p.m. on Tuesday, May 9, at the Danny & Willa Ellis Family Fine Arts Center. Featured theatre students include Paulette Hays, Courtney Millard, Jackie Neher, Seth Newkirk, Jared Oshel, Stephanie Rice, Linda Shinkle and Royce White. This event is free and open to the public. For more information, please call Lawrence Alford, FSCC Theatre Director, at 620-223-2700, ext. 3056.
FSCC names Cara Comstock 2017 Outstanding Sophomore
Fort Scott Community College is pleased to announce Cara Comstock has been selected as the 2017 Outstanding Sophomore. FSCC will host a reception to honor her at 2 p.m. on Thursday, May 11, in the meeting rooms of the Danny & Willa Ellis Family Fine Arts Center, 2108 South Horton Street, Fort Scott.
Photo Credit: FSCC
“Cara has gone above and beyond for FSCC. She has served as a great example for the students and President’s Ambassadors,” said Matt Glades, FSCC Director of Admissions. “We are very proud of her and look forward to seeing her succeed in her future endeavors.”
Comstock hails from Deerfield, Mo., and her parents are Charlie and Patty Comstock. She will graduate in May with an associate of general studies degree, and plans to transfer to Kansas State University to study agriculture education and animal science.
“I am very humbled to be selected as the 2017 Outstanding Sophomore. FSCC has many outstanding students, and I am honored to represent such a great class,” said Comstock. “I am extremely grateful for the opportunities that have been presented to me throughout my time FSCC, and am excited to build on the foundation that I was able to attain here as I further my education at Kansas State University.”
Comstock was named to the FSCC President’s Honor Roll in 2016. She has served as an admissions department work study student, supervisor of the president’s ambassadors, and a member of the collegiate farm bureau, phi theta kappa, livestock judging team, CAMP scholarship program, and TRIO student support services. She was named to the 2017 All-Kansas Academic Team, and received second place at the Young Farmers’ & Rancher’s Conference Discussion Meet and Quiz Bowl.
FSCC Names Timbi West 2017 Outstanding Alumna
Fort Scott Community College is pleased to announce Timbi West, APRN, FNP, has been selected as the 2017 Outstanding Alumna by the FSCC Alumni and Friends Board of Directors. FSCC will host a reception to honor West and Whitney Rogers, the 2017 Outstanding Young Alumna, at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, May 19, in the meeting rooms of the Danny & Willa Ellis Family Fine Arts Center. West will speak at the noon graduation ceremony on May 19.
Photo Credit: FSCC
West serves as a family nurse practitioner at the Charleston Rural Health Clinic and Schmitz Family Practice in Charleston, Ark. She is a veteran of the United States Army and Air Force. She graduated from FSCC in 1983 with a licensed practical nurse certificate and with an associate of science degree in nursing in 1984.
“I was only 17 when I attended FSCC and had no idea at the time what an impact the foundation would have on my future,” said West. “Every step of my life and career has been based on those early years spent at FSCC.”
While attending FSCC, West worked at Mercy Hospital Fort Scott as a nurse’s aide and licensed practical nurse.
She went on to attend Pittsburg State University from 1984 to 1985 and Wentworth Military Academy/Junior College from 1986 to 1987. She earned her bachelor of science degree in nursing from Missouri Southern State College in 1990, and master of science degree in nursing in 1994.
From 1984 to 1986, West served as a registered nurse at Mercy Hospital Fort Scott. West went on to serve as a charge nurse at Heartland Hospital until 1990. She served as a registered nurse, staff development assistant, and education committee chairperson at the Missouri Department of Mental Health from 1990 to 1991. West worked at the Missouri Department of Health, serving as case manager from 1991 to 1996, community health nurse from 1991 to 1993, public health coordinator from 1993 to 1994, and family nurse practitioner from 1994 to 1996. She also served as a clinical faculty preceptor for the University of Missouri from 1995 to 1996. From 1991 to 1995, she served in the U.S. Army Reserve as a first lieutenant and as a captain of the 188th Fighter Wing of the U.S. Air Force from 1997 to 1999. She served as a family nurse practitioner at the Northside Community Health Center from 1996 to 1999.
West is an active member of her church and community. She serves as a preceptor for nurse practitioner and nursing students and provides physical exams to student-athletes at local schools. She is also member of the Christian Women’s Job Corps Advisory Board, Kiwanis, American Legion, Bible Study Fellowship and University of Kansas Alumni Association. West resides in Charleston, Ark., with her husband, Jim. She has three children, Brad, Ellen and Clay.
FSCC Names Whitney Rogers 2017 Outstanding Young Alumna
Fort Scott Community College is pleased to announce Whitney Rogers has been selected as the 2017 Outstanding Young Alumna by the FSCC Alumni and Friends Board of Directors. FSCC will host a reception to honor Rogers and Timbi West, the 2017 Outstanding Alumna, at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, May 19, in the meeting rooms of the Danny & Willa Ellis Family Fine Arts Center. Rogers will speak at the 9 a.m. graduation ceremony on May 19.
Photo Credit: FSCC
Rogers is a fourth grade teacher at George Nettles Elementary School in Pittsburg, Kans. She earned her associate of science degree from FSCC in 1997.
“Although many years have passed since I attended there, Fort Scott Community College still holds a very dear place in my heart,” said Rogers. “The two years I attended there was the highlight of my college career.”
After graduating from FSCC, Rogers enrolled at Mid America Nazarene University to pursue her bachelor’s degree in elementary education and graduated summa cum laude in 1999. Rogers earned her master’s degree and certification in English to Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) from Pittsburg State University in 2008.
After graduating with her bachelor’s degree, Rogers went on to work at Mission Trail Elementary as a fourth grade teacher. From 2001 to 2003, she worked at Lusher Elementary as a fourth grade and second grade teacher. Rogers served as a kindergarten teacher at Eugene Ware Elementary from 2003 to 2006. From 2010 to 2012, she served as an adjunct instructor at Labette Community College. Since 2012, she has taught at George Nettles Elementary.
From 2005 to 2009, Rogers served on the FSCC Alumni and Friends Board. She has participated in a variety of community service projects and coordinated supply drives to support the country of Haiti after it was devastated by an earthquake. She has written and worked on grants to receive thousands of dollars for classroom supplies to benefit her students. Rogers was invited to speak at the 2016 National Science Education Association Conference about STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) in the classroom. In 2016, she was one of only 32 other teachers in the U.S. selected to receive the Rural Community Trust grant to travel abroad for professional development. She traveled to Taiwan to learn how the schools teach math and science to bring that knowledge back to her classroom. She is an active member of the Pittsburg Nazarene Church, where her husband, Kyle, is the pastor. Rogers resides in Pittsburg, Kans., with her husband and three children, Noah, Grace and Luke.
FSCC May Schedule
Tuesday, May 9
FSCC Theatre Improv Performance, 7 p.m. at the Danny & Willa Ellis Family Fine Arts Center
Thursday, May 11
FSCC Outstanding Sophomore Celebration, 2 p.m. at the Danny & Willa Ellis Family Fine Arts Center
Saturday, May 13
FSCC Miami County Campus Celebration of Success, 2 p.m. at the Miami County Campus
Wednesday, May 17
FSCC Adult Basic Education Graduation, 6 p.m. at the Danny & Willa Ellis Family Fine Arts Center
Thursday, May 18
FSCC Nurse Recognition and Pinning Ceremony, 4 p.m. at the Danny & Willa Ellis Family Fine Arts Center
FSCC Athletics Department Banquet, 6:30 p.m. at the Danny & Willa Ellis Family Fine Arts Center
Friday, May 19
FSCC Graduation Ceremony, 9 a.m. and 12 p.m. at the Danny & Willa Ellis Family Fine Arts Center
FSCC Outstanding Alumna and Young Alumna Celebration, 10:30 a.m. at the Danny & Willa Ellis Family Fine Arts Center
More than 100 couples attended the Fort Scott High School prom Saturday evening, with the students walking the red carpet of the Hollywood theme in front of a crowd of family members and friends.
Students and their escorts drove up to the Middle School venue in a variety of vehicles, including sports cars, antique vehicles, tractors, the cab of a semi-truck, and even four-wheelers. Some students were escorted down the runway by dates, while others walked with grandparents or younger family members.
If you do not see your student in the following gallery, check our Facebook page. Please contact us if you are interested in seeing more photos.
