This is part of a series of new teachers in USD 234 School District, Fort Scott. There are 24 new teachers and two new administrators.
School starts for students on August 16.
There are five campuses in the district:
Fort Scott Preschool Center (serving pre-kindergarten students ages 3+)
Winfield Scott Elementary School (serving kindergarten through through second-grade students)
Eugene Ware Elementary School (serving third through fifth-grade students)
Fort Scott Middle School (serving sixth through eighth-grade students)
Fort Scott High School (serving ninth through twelfth-grade students)
According to its website, the district has nearly two thousand students enrolled within the district and over 350+ staff members.
Tabitha Hardesty. Submitted photo.
Tabitha Hardesty, 41, is a new Special Education Teacher at Eugene Ware Elementary School.
She has 10 years of experience as a paraprofessional at Eugene Ware and is currently working towards obtaining a Bachelor of Arts in Education through Wichita State University.
“I’m in a Teacher Apprentice Program designed for paraprofessionals to go to school and work towards becoming a teacher.”
In her spare time she enjoys “supporting local fundraisers, especially if they support the students within our community.”
“Our faith and family are very important to us,” she said.
She is married to Kent Hardesty, owner of KtK Electric, LLC. “Together we have one daughter Kenzi, who will graduate from Pittsburg State University in December.”
She said the best thing about being an educator is building relationships with children. “Then assisting them in reaching goals that can be hard for them to achieve.”
“The biggest challenge is working with students that don’t come from the best situations. At the end of the day, I have to leave them and hope they will be okay.”
McKayla Vincent. Submitted photo.
McKayla Vincent, 25, is a new 1st Grade Teacher at Winfield Scott Elementary School.
She has a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology from Pittsburg State University and a Master’s in Elementary Education from Fort Hays State University.
She worked as a para-educator for a year and a half.
“Before that, I spent four years working with children at the Mental Health Center.”
In the community she participates in a church group, she said.
Her family is comprised of her mom and stepdad in Kansas City and her dad and stepmom in Sterling. She is originally from Sterling.
She has three older brothers and one younger brother, and a nephew and two nieces due in August.
“My dog Paisley is also a very important part of my family.”
What is the best thing about being an educator?
“Seeing students learn and grow!”
What is a challenge?
“Missing the students when they move on to the next grade.”
Mackenzie Ragan. Submitted photo.
Mackenzie Ragan, 23, is a new third-grade Teacher at Eugene Ware Elementary School.
She attended Fort Scott Community College and received an Associate of Science, then transferred to Pittsburg State University and graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Education.
“There are many amazing things that come with being an educator! I think that the best part is watching students have lightbulb moments and celebrating those moments with them,” she said.
Your Business/Organization is Invited to have a Booth!
Tuesday, August 20th, 8-11am
Help welcome new & returning students!
Show them what’s available in Fort Scott for:
Jobs Shopping ~ Retail
Restaurants
Healthcare
Banking
Churches Activities Recreation & Entertainment
Volunteer Opportunities
& More!
If interested in having a FREE booth, preferred method is to complete this Google doc.
Contact Tanya Potthoff at FSCC with any questions or to sign up by email or phone: Click here to email,
Call 620-223-2700 x-3530,
Or, scan the QR code below.
~ ~ ~
Fort Scott Community College is planning for their annual Business Expo to welcome returning and new students to the campus and community, and would like to invite businesses and organizations to have
a FREE booth!
The Business Expo is planned for Tuesday, August 20th, with set up at 7:30am and the Expo from 8-11am. You can expect to have approximately 200-300 students come through during that timeframe. You can set up and provide anything you would like as far as a display, brochures, job applications if you are hiring, coupons, giveaways, etc.
Riverfront Park, North National Avenue, past the orange bridge over the Marmaton River.
Riverfront Park has slowly been transforming from the unmaintained area it once was to a public space for concerts, weddings, and other gatherings and also beautiful tree-lined walk/bike trails.
Along the trails are resting areas and as you go under the Hwy. 69 Highway, some colorful historic murals have been painted by local artist, Stephen Toal.
City workers install the bike repair station that was donated to Riverfront Park by the Fort Scott Rotary Club. Submitted photo. Pictured during installation were city employees Norman Mackley and Chris Tourtillott.
Recently another enhancement has been added to the park.
“Due to the increased bicycle traffic, the need for bicycle repair and the ability to air tires has been met by the Fort Scott Rotary Club,” said Jerry Witt, president of the Riverfront Authority, which oversees the area. “Two bicycle repair stations have been added to the park. One station has been installed on the Belltown Walking trail on the north side of Marmaton River and a second station has been installed on the south River Loop Road.”
One of the new bike repair stations at Riverfront Park.
“The concrete foundations were funded by the Riverfront committee at a cost of $2,400.,” he said. “The repair stations consist of a bike rack, air pump, and various tools and were funded and donated by the Fort Scott Rotary Club.”
What’s Happening in Fort Scott! August 2nd Weekly Newsletter
Trolley Tours every Friday and Saturday on the hour.
Fridays 11am-3pm, on the hour, last tour leaves at 2pm
Saturdays 10am-3pm, on the hour, the last tour leaves at 2pm
$6 adults, $4 children 12 & under
UPCOMING CALENDAR OF EVENTS
________________
Fort Scott National Historic Site
Guided Tours on Sat & Sun: 10am & 1pm
Currently closed Wednesdays & Thursdays
until further notice.
Visit your National Park!
Click here to see all the FUN classes at The Artificers, classes for ALL ages!
BINGO hosted by the American Legion Post 25 every 1st and 3rd Thursday of each month unless it falls on a holiday. Doors open at 6pm and Bingo starts at 7pm at Memorial Hall. (Taking the month of August off for BINGO & will start again in September)
Farmers’ Market at the Gathering Square Pavilion, Tuesdays 4-6pm and Saturdays 8am-12pm!
8/2 ~ First Friday at The Artificers, 8 N. National Ave., 6-9pm, stop by and say hello! Visit their FB page for more info.
8/2 ~ Live Music @ Holmtown Pub featuring Brit Stokes, Nashville Singer/Songwriter, 9pm, see flyer below!
8/1, 2, 3 ~ Bourbon County Community Theatre performs Holy Mother of Bingo!, Ellis Fine Arts Center on the campus of FSCC, tickets are $12 for adults/$10 for children and Senior Citizens, click here for more information and to order tickets.
8/3 ~ Postponed until cooler weather: Ride for Lils at Fort Scott Munitions, food trucks and other great things happening, 9:30am, click here for more information.
8/3 ~ BINGO hosted by the Mapleton Fire Dept., everyone welcome, 7pm, click here for info.
8/3 ~ 2nd Annual Bourbon County REDI Gala, dinner/live entertainment/online auction/live auction, all proceeds will be dedicated to providing scholarships for local students, single ticket/$50 and table of 8/$375, click here to purchase tickets and for more information.
8/2-4 ~ Sales Tax Holiday Weekend – Shop Local in Fort Scott, receive a 9.4% discount at participating locations click here for info., shop local promotion organized by Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce.
8/8 ~ Chamber Coffee hosted by Fort Scott Community College – John Deere School, 23rd & Horton, 8am.
8/9 ~ Burlington Recreation Travel Group Daytrip to Fort Scott, over 14 guests. Welcome!
8/9 ~ Family Pajama Party @ Common Ground Coffee Co. co-hosted by Sunshine Boutique, 6pm, click here for FB event.
SAVE THE DATE!
8/16-18 ~ Sunflower Ride at Kansas Rocks Recreation Park, raffle items/BBQ lunch/vendors, click here to pre-register and for more info.
8/17 ~ Pen and Ink Class with Philip Ortiz at The Artificers, 10am-12 or 1-3pm, click here to register or for more information.
8/20 ~ Fort Scott Community College Business Expo in Bailey Hall, 8am-11am, contact Tanya Potthoff if your business/organization would like to participate, see the flyer below for more info.
8/31-9/1 ~ Alumni & Friends Weekend at Fort Scott Community College, alumni social/hall of fame induction dinner/activity and athletic team/so much more, click here for more info.
8/30-9/2 ~ Uniontown Old Settler’s Picnic, car show/horseshow pitching/parade/vendors/food trucks, street dance begins at 7pm, click here for more information.
A1 Towing and Recovery LLC provided manpower and equipment to stack the containers for the future FSFD Training Center. Submitted photo.
Regular training helps firefighters build competence in emergencies.
The Fort Scott Fire Department has never had its own training facility, crews have trained in the station bay areas, online, and in a small storage shed area near the Hawkins Public Safety facility, FSFD Deputy Chief Mike Miles said in a press release.
“New recruits need better training opportunities, with real-life situations translating to better service when an emergency happens,” Miles said. He believes it will help with retention, morale, more opportunities to go train on new skills or different skills, and will relieve frustration to have better training opportunities.
“Regular training in a dedicated facility helps firefighters build confidence in their abilities and competence in handling emergencies,” Miles said in the press release. “This confidence translates into better performance and decision-making during real incidents, ultimately leading to a more effective emergency response and better outcomes.”
The FSFD has planned a site that is currently open space on the southwest corner of the Hawkins Public Safety Facility at 17th and Judson Streets. It is unused currently.
Judson and 17th Street corner is the site of the new Fort Scott Fire Department Training Center. Seen in this photo on the left, is the new training center in progress.
“We are hoping to have it completed by the end of September,” he said. ” We still have concrete to pour for work areas and then we will go inside and start to construct the layouts we desire for training purposes.”
He said the rooms will be set up like living rooms, bedrooms, kitchen, entanglement areas, etc. where search and rescue skills can be practiced.
Miles has sought to let the neighborhood know of the plans the department has.
He sent letters to surrounding neighbors to invite them to the station to answer questions and discuss the plans for the training facility. He said positive feedback was received from that endeavor with a “couple of concerns of smoke.”
“We want to be good neighbors, training times will be during the daytime hours… nontoxic smoke…always mindful of the weather conditions before considering any burn…maybe a couple of times a year with actual live fire,” he said.
He said they did look at other areas for the location of the facility, but didn’t find a suitable location or landowner contacting them back.
“Having the training center on-site at the FSFD gives us more flexibility,” he said “If we get called out during a training evolution we can leave the site and not worry about our gear. Water, bathrooms, and all the equipment are already on site.”
The Fort Scott Police, Bourbon County Emergency Medical Service, and other agencies will also be able to use this facility as a training opportunity, he said.
“This will be a major benefit to the service FSFD provides to the community and only make us stronger,” he said. “The capital improvement budget set forth by Fire Chief Dave Bruner allows for this project to be completed.”
A1 Towing and Recovery LLC provided manpower and equipment to stack the containers for the future FSFD Training Center. Submitted photos.
A1 Towing and Recovery LLC volunteered company time, equipment, and employees to help with the project.
“It’s exciting to see the Fort Scott Fire Department wanting to continue practice/training to stay at the peak of their skills that our community depends on,’ said A1 owner, Robert Coon.
City Hall Commission Room – 123 S. Main Street, Fort Scott, KS 66701
August 6, 2024 – 6:00 P.M.
Call to Order
Roll Call
Tim VanHoecke, Matthew Wells, Dyllon Olson, Kathryn Salsbury, Tracy Dancer
III. Pledge of Allegiance
Invocation
Approval of Agenda
Consent Agenda
Approval of Appropriation Ordinance 1365-A – Expense Approval Report – Payment Dates of July 10, 2024 – July 31, 2024 – $2,311,545.74
Approval of Minutes for July 16, 2024, Regular Meeting and July 29, 2024, Special Meeting
Request to Pay – Earles Engineering, Inc. – Project No. 06 KA-6898-01 – Invoice No. 17392 – Billing Statement No. 3 – Payroll for Earles Engineering – June 2, 2024 – June 29, 2024 – KDOT CCLIP – $91,352.17
Request to Pay – Heck & Wicker, Inc. – EEI Project No. 24-414 – Horton Street & 6th Street Improvements Contractor’s Application for Payment No. 1
VII. Public Comment – Sign up required before the beginning of the meeting on register at the entrance of the Commission Room. Public Comments are for any topic not on the agenda and limited to five (5) minutes per person, at the Commission’s discretion.
VIII. Appearances – Must be scheduled with the City Clerk at least (1) week prior to the meeting
you wish to address the Commission. You will be scheduled on the agenda to speak on your topic.
Thomas Metcalf Jr. – Sons of American Legion Car Show – Temporary Street Closure of 3rd Street between National Ave. and Main St. – September 7, 2024 – 8AM-2PM
Unfinished Business
Consideration of Proposals for Repairs to Memorial Hall Facade – Kruger
Tabled from July 16, 2024.
Consideration to Approve Ordinance No. 3769 – Golf Cart Ordinance – VanHoecke – Tabled from July 29, 2024.
Consideration of Change Addendum No. 1 – WWTP Change in Infrastructure Permit EEI File: 23-306 – Earles Engineering & Inspection, Inc. – Original Contract $7,500.00 – Additional Service Fees – $5,000.00 – J. Dickman – Tabled from July 16, 2024
New Business
Action Items:
Consideration to Pay KDOC – Legal Fees for a Preliminary Visitation Study for the Feasibility Study Regarding the Star Bond Project – $10,000.00 – B. Matkin
Consideration to Approve Change Order No. 3 – Hofer-Hofer & Associates – B. Matkin
Request to Pay – Hofer-Hofer & Associates – Application No. 5 – Gunn Park Shower House – $3,726.00 – B. Matkin
Request to Pay – Hofer-Hofer & Associates – Application No. 6 – Gunn Park Shower House – $10,500.00 – B. Matkin
Consideration of Resolution No. 18-2024 Adopting the Kansas Homeland Security Region H Hazard Mitigation Plan – B. Matkin
This is part of a series of new teachers in USD 234 School District, Fort Scott. There are 24 new teachers and two new administrators in the district.
School starts for students on August 16.
There are five campuses in the district:
Fort Scott Preschool Center (serving pre-kindergarten students ages 3+)
Winfield Scott Elementary School (serving kindergarten through through second-grade students)
Eugene Ware Elementary School (serving third through fifth-grade students)
Fort Scott Middle School (serving sixth through eighth-grade students)
Fort Scott High School (serving ninth through twelfth-grade students)
According to its website, the district has nearly two thousand students enrolled within the district and over 350+ staff members.
Submitted photo. Chris Oxholdm.
Chris Oxholm , 34, is a new Fort Scott High School Special Education teachers.
He earned degrees from the Mass. College of Liberal Arts (BA), and Colorado Christian University (MEd) and has four years of teaching experience.
In his spare time, “You can catch me with Ashley and the kids down at the Pool! We are new to Kansas but we love this cool town so far!”
They have been married since September 3, 2016, and have three children; Charles (6), Frannie (4), and little Emma (2).
“We also live with our Nanny, Miss Dana, and our two Standard Poodles, Fenway and Wrigley. “
“The best part about being an educator, for me, is seeing progress in students that have worked on something that they struggle with.”
“My biggest challenge as an educator has been maintaining the same energy all day.”
Amanda Prine. Submitted photo.
Amanda Prine, 37, is a new 2nd-grade teacher at Winfield Scott Elementary School.
She has a bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from Missouri Southern State University and a master’s degree in Educational Leadership from Northwest Missouri State University.
She is entering her 14th year in education.
“During that time, I have worked as an elementary teacher and as the director of an early childhood center.”
She is a parishioner of St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Nevada, MO, where her family resides, and has recently finished a term serving on her local Parks and Recreation Board.
She and her husband, Lee, have two daughters, Aubrey and Lynleigh “as well as three dogs and two cats.”
” Aubrey will be entering her senior year in Nevada this school year and Lynleigh will be joining me in Fort Scott as she enters first grade!”
She said the best thing about being an educator is making a positive impact on our students and getting to witness the moment that learning concepts click for them as they learn something new.
For her the most challenging thing about being a teacher is “managing our time so that we can best meet the needs of each student while accounting for different levels of learners and learning styles.”
Taylor Jones. Submitted photo.
Taylor Jones, 23, is a new Spanish teacher at Fort Scott High School.
She earned a Bachelor of Arts, Modern Languages; emphasis in Spanish language and culture from Pittsburg State University class of 2023 and is a 2019 FSHS graduate.
“I am in the Transition to Teaching program through Fort Hayes State University, which will take me from a restricted teaching license to a professional teaching license while also getting my Masters of Science in Education,” she said.
Her community involvement includes volunteering with Core Communities in Fort Scott since November of 2023.
“I enjoy watching a variety of sports, music, and theatre events at the high school and college level. I also have been going to the Pittsburg Presbyterian Church since college, singing in the choir, playing instruments, and helping with the tech team.”
She is the eldest child of Joshua and Karen Jones and has a twin sister, Madison, and a younger brother, David.
“The best thing about being a new educator is the opportunity to make a meaningful impact on students’ lives while continuously learning and growing in the profession,” she said.
“One challenge of being a new teacher is balancing the various student needs while learning the ins and outs of the job.”
Taken from the City of Fort Scott’s Facebook page.
Public Service Announcement: If there are cones or barricades blocking a work site please go around the block or go a different direction. Please do not remove the cones and drive through the worksite. All you are doing is tearing up the work and most of the time it has to be redone by City of Fort Scott Public Works crews. We have a citizen on video doing just this and will be looking for the person responsible.
I am personally trying to do the best I can to communicate to citizens daily about road closures, water outages, detours, or anything else that goes on; either on Facebook, the radio, or other media outlets, but it takes help from the citizens also. Please communicate to your neighbors.
We have a lot of projects going on right now in Fort Scott and maybe you are not used to this, but it is called progress. This progress is what the citizens of Fort Scott deserve. Remember, we pay a special 1/2 cent sales tax for street repairs, so every time you see someone tearing up work that was done by the city, and it has to be done again. It is taxpayers’ money being wasted.
I will continue to update citizens on things you need to know, and our staff/crews will do our best to eliminate any inconveniences that are caused by progress. Please help us by following the law.
The citizens of Fort Scott deserve better streets and infrastructure, but it will take time to get you what you deserve. It did not crumble overnight, and it will not be fixed overnight. Progress will continue and improvements will be made! We are not perfect so there will be mistakes along the way, but I can ensure you we will work hard to get things done.
Also, if you see our dang sign, bring it back!!!
if you have any questions please write me an email. [email protected].
City Hall Commission Room – 123 S. Main Street, Fort Scott, KS 66701
July 29, 2024 – 5:00 P.M.
Call to Order
Roll Call
Tim VanHoecke, Matthew Wells, Dyllon Olson, Kathryn Salsbury, Tracy Dancer
III. Pledge of Allegiance
Invocation
Approval of Agenda
New Business
Action Items:
Consideration of Approval for Healthy Bourbon County Action Team (HBCAT) to apply for the Our Town Grant (a 1/1 match grant), a Letter of Cash Commitment of $16,780.00 to be drawn from the Parks Fund, and $29,720.00 of in-kind services from the City, to be used for the proposed project at Nelson Park – Rachel Carpenter/Executive Director of HBCAT.
Consideration of Bids for the Investment of $1,500,000.00 in Certificates of Deposit to drawn from the fund and redeposited with earnings to the same fund – B. Matkin
Consideration to amend Golf Cart Ordinance– T. VanHoecke
