The Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce announces the winners of the 2023 Christmas Light Contest with cash prizes sponsored by Niece Products.
Top Residential is awarded to three places:
1st Place: John Willis, 806 S. Barbee
2nd Place: Jordan Vansickle, 320 Sunset Drive
3rd Place: Carla Farmer, 2146 Jayhawk
Top Business is awarded to Mayco Ace Hardware Store, 205 Scott Ave.
Special recognition is also given to Clark Street Lights at 753 S. Clark Street who continue to have amazing displays this year for the community and visitors to enjoy.
The Chamber would like to thank everyone in the community who put up lights to make our town festive this holiday season.
Contact the Chamber for more information at 620-223-3566 or [email protected].
Fort Scott Washateria has teamed up with Healthy Bourbon County, SEK Community Health Center, Community Organizing to Promote Equity, and Bourbon County Health Equity Action Teams to assist folks with washing their clothes and bedding this Saturday, December 16 at the laundry mat located at 501 S. National.
“Since November 1st we have made machines available from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. every Wednesday for folks free of charge,” Washateria manager, Lori Lovelace said. “The Washateria provides laundry soap and dryer sheets for folks that don’t bring their own.”
“In honor of the holiday season, we are hosting our first Wash Wednesday Weekend on Saturday, Dec 16th from 8 a.m.-2 p.m. and all machines are free,” she said. “We are not limiting people to one machine.”
“Those that come at 8 a.m. probably won’t have to wait to put their laundry in,” she said. Noting later in the morning, there will probably be a wait for the machines.
“We do have some guidelines,” she said. “We are limiting, depending on the size of the washing machine. Up to four small machines, up to two 40-pound machines, up to one 60-pound machine, and up to one 80-pound machine and the corresponding dryer. One dryer per machine.”
Some of the washing machines that will be available for the program.
Lovelace and the staff want to prevent people from “stuffing it too full,” she said. “If they need more than one dryer, they will have to pay for that.”
The larger machines are designed for bedding, “but if nobody is using them, I will let someone with a big load of clothes use them,” she said.
That day also, the Community Day will happen in the clothes closet that the Washateria provides for those in need.
From left: Carol Oakleaf, owner, and Lori Lovelace, manager of Fort Scott Washateria.
The Community Closet is full of donated items that have been washed at the Washateria and made ready to give away.
“We … want to sincerely thank St. Mary’s Catholic Church who have once again had an Advent Clothing Drive and provided us with much-needed coats, bedding, and clothing,” Lovelace said.
“The Community Closet is having our Community Day in conjunction with this (free washing machine availability) event on Saturday and will have our clothing out and available to anyone in need,” she said. “The coats will be pulled out to make them more accessible.”
In the last month, Lovelace has added vintage kiddie rides that range from 50 cents to $1 per ride, including Dino, a train, and a pony. These are for customer’s children while waiting to clean their clothes.
She has also added massage chairs for those who wish to relax during the wash/dry time. “It takes dollar bills or cards, and has been popular since they came in,” she said.
On Saturday, Christmas music and free popcorn will be added to the experience.
In addition, her husband will have backpacks for homeless people with socks and food put together. “Let us know if you need one, we’ll have a backpack.”
Members of the USD 234 Board of Education have been invited to a Christmas Luncheon at Fort Scott High School. This will take place December 18, 2023. *NO official board action will take place.*
Unified School District 234
424 South Main
Fort Scott, KS 66701-2697
www.usd234.org
620-223-0800 Fax 620-223-2760
DESTRY BROWN Superintendent
BOARD OF EDUCATION REGULAR MEETING
NEWS RELEASE
Monday, December 11, 2023
Members of the USD 234 Board of Education met at 5:30 p.m. on Monday, December 11, 2023, for their
regular monthly meeting at the board office.
President David Stewart opened the meeting.
The board approved the official agenda, and the consent agenda as follows:
Board Minutes
11/13/23 Board Minutes
Financials-Cash Flow Report
Check Register
Payroll – November 17, 2023 – $2,058,098.00
Activity Fund accounts
USD 234 Gifts
Erica Clark. Submitted photo.
Licensed Tiger Team Member of the Month was Erica Clark. She is an English Teacher at Fort Scott High School. Erica, Dave Watkins, and other volunteers have worked extremely hard on the Angel Tree at the High School. Each “tag” on the tree was adopted by staff or community member. This included seventy-four children
from thirty families. Last Friday, fifty-one volunteers help to wrap hundreds of presents in the High School Commons Area.
Classified Tiger Team Members of the Month were Terry Barrager and Alex Herring. Both were recognized by Dan Koppa. Terry is custodian at Eugene Ware, and Alex is custodian at Preschool. They both were recognized for their leadership and exemplary cleanliness in each of their buildings.
Terry Barrager and Alex Herring. Submitted photo.
The Barkery Team from Fort Scott High School was recognized by Assistant Principal Alex Specht. Seniors – Cainen Wood, Christian Herrington, Juniors – Daniel Brown, Nicollette Brown, Klaire Graham, Donald Morris, Nolan Madison, Sophomores – Mayia Castleberry, Haley Maloun, Julia Maloun. Each student explained the process of buying the ingredients, making the dog treats, and selling to customers. They are also learning about
managing money and making change for customers.
Nikki Regan, Flo Tanner, and Kathryn Ogle were also recognized as part of the Barkery Team. Each were acknowledged for the devotion and love for the students.
The Barkery Team: Front row left to right: Nicolette Brown, Julia Maloun, Haley Maloun Back row left to right: Donald Morris, Mayia Castleberry, Cainen Wood, Klaire Graham and Erica Clark.
Kellye Barrows, Danny Brown, and Lynette Jackson were recognized and thanked for their years of
service on the USD 234 Board of Education.
Danny Brown, Kellye Barrows and Lynette Jackson. Submitted photo.
Superintendent Destry Brown reported on the Staff Christmas Lunch to be held next Monday and the grant that
the district is working on for the early childhood center.
Tonya Barnes, Special Education Director, gave a report on the process of hiring new paraprofessionals and
DCAP reports. Tonya was able to report about the numerous training opportunities that will be available for the
Special Education department in the coming months.
Superintendent Brown reported on the district’s State Aide that will be coming in soon and will be higher than predicted. He also reminded everyone that W2s will start coming out in January.
The board went into an executive session for possible purchase of property. The board approved purchase of new Preschool Building.
The board had a presentation by Hight Jackson Architect Firm for the new Preschool Building.
The Board discussed the options of filling the vacant board seat #5. It was decided to take letters of interest with Board recommendation.
The board approved the following items:
• Purchase of new Preschool Building
• Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Kansas Grant for Linda Minor and Dakota Hall
● Personnel Report following
The board went into an executive session for personnel matters.
President Stewart adjourned the meeting.
PERSONNEL REPORT – APPROVED EMPLOYMENT
December 11, 2023
RESIGNATIONS/TERMINATIONS/RETIREMENTS:
Baugher, Mark – Retirement
Lockwood, Connie – Retirement
Matkin, Brad – Resignation
O’Brien, Shawn – Resignation
Reichard, Betsy – Resignation
Sweyko, Pauline Kate – Resignation
Wells, Matthew – Resignation
TRANSFERS/REASSIGNMENTS/LEAVE OF ABSENCE:
For the 2023-24 school year:
Classified:
Palmer, Lana – Transfer from Van Driver to Full time Bus Driver
Schnichels, Laryn – Leave of Absence – Middle School Paraprofessional
Willard, Siarra – Transfer from Speech Paraprofessional to Full Time Eugene Ware Para
EMPLOYMENT:
Classified Recommendations for the 2023-24 school year:
Madison, Kendall – Winfield Scott Paraprofessional – January 2, 2024
Martin, Emily – High School Paraprofessional
Palmer, William – Van Driver – January 3, 2024
Yocham, Shelly – Speech Paraprofessional – January 2, 2024
Supplemental
Clark, Erica – Teacher Mentor 2023-2024 school year
The Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce invites members and guests to a Chamber Coffee this Thursday, December 14th at 8 a.m. hosted by Hedgehog.INK! Bookstore, located at 16 S. Main St. Coffee, juice, and light refreshments will be served.
Dick and Jan Hedges opened Hedgehog.INK! Bookstore on October 31st, 2018 with the goal to support the community, encourage others to invest in Downtown Fort Scott, and to provide a market for local vendors and authors. Hedgehog.INK! started in a one store front with almost 10,000 books, today they have expanded into a children’s room, the great room, and the reading loft with nearly 30,000 books. The host 11 vendors and 32 local authors. Events at Hedgehog.INK! include; story times, author talks, Wednesday Writers group, and an Annual Writing Seminar. This week’s Chamber Coffee will be bittersweet as owner Jan Hedges and staff are celebrating their 5-year anniversary, but Jan has announced that she will be retiring and will be moving closer to family. Come out and join us this Thursday as we thank Jan for 5 years in Downtown Fort Scott and help spread the word if you know a possible new owner for a wonderful bookstore!
Contact the Chamber of Commerce at (620) 223-3566 for more information.
The Fort Scott Area Community Foundation (FSACF) is thrilled to announce the resounding success of its inaugural Match Day, raising an impressive $89,551 for 11 of its community funds.
The community’s response to the new fundraising event was truly incredible. FSACF pledged to match $25,000 in community donations this year, facilitated by a matching grant opportunity from the Patterson Family Foundation. The FSACF funds and organizations involved with the event received a total of $64,551 in community support. This shared generosity and dedication to Bourbon County and the Fort Scott area are set to make a lasting impact on the community!
“We appreciate the strong response from our community members and local businesses,” stated Craig Campbell, President of FSACF. “Their support has allowed us to provide funding for a range of initiatives that address important needs and contribute to the betterment of our community.”
Match Day proceeds will be distributed to:
Anna Fay Steele Memorial Fund
Care to Share Cancer Support Group
First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) of Fort Scott Endowment
Fort Scott Area Chamber Foundation Fund
Fort Scott Area Community Foundation General Endowment Fund
Fort Scott Area Public Parks Endowment
Pratt & Pauline Irby Endowment
John Valentine & Patricia Jean Neff Healthcare Fund
Robert Gordon Steele Memorial Fund
Shepherd Family Endowment Fund
Shirley Yeager Animal Friends Foundation
The success of Match Day paves the way for an even more impactful Match Day 2024, slated for December 3rd. FSACF encourages everyone to mark their calendars and join the movement to amplify the power of giving back.
“We sincerely appreciate the trust and generosity extended to the Fort Scott Area Community Foundation,” Campbell remarked. “Working together, we can continue to create a lasting impact on the lives of our friends and neighbors.”
To learn more about the Fort Scott Area Community Foundation and its philanthropic initiatives, please visit FSACF.com!
The Bourbon County Fair Association’s 3rd Annual Jingle Bell Holiday Mart is this Saturday, December 9 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Emelia Whiteacker is the organizer of the event for the fair board that raises funds for maintaining the fairgrounds year-round, said Addie Foster, one of the vendors.
Foster is a sister to Whiteacker and they have spice products to sell in their M M Flavor booth.
Leanna Leatherman, who had organized the event in the past, died earlier this year and the fair board asked Whiteacker to take over the duties, Foster said.
The event is in two buildings: the Cloverleaf Event Center and the Yaeger Building on the Bourbon County Fairgrounds. The Yaeger Building is adjacent to the poultry building and the Cloverleaf is where meals are served during the fair.
There will be food, clothing, crafts, and other possible Christmas present items to purchase.
Foster and her sister Emelia Whiteaker are the owners of MMM Flavor Shop which sells spices.
In addition, Care to Share, a local helping organization for cancer survivors, will have pancakes, biscuits and gravy, and a baked potato bar available for purchase in the Cloverleaf Event Center.
Housed in the Yaeger Building will be Mrs. Claus’s Kitchen featuring: Mrs. Claus’s Coffee Shop, Hamilton’s Artisan Bakery, Donna Jo’s Homemade Fudge, Peace Acres Freeze Dried Candy, and Mmm Flavor Shop.
The Cloverleaf Event Center will have vendors: Locust Hill Lamancha Goat Milk Products, Sally Kraft, Tessie’s Trendy Nails-Color Street, Flying P Ranch, Write On, Bear’s Nectar LLC, Mary Kay-Lauren Wagner, Scentsy-Laken Brittain, Happy Little Candle Company, All Things Cute and Cuddle, On the Farm, Kitty’s Kitchen, Turkey Forge, Gyp and Jo, Cattywampus Creations, and Art by SueP.
Blue Dog Wine Co. will also be in the Cloverleaf Event Center with their locally made wines.
“There are more vendors this year with many hand-crafted items under $10 for the tight budgets,” Whiteacker said.
Two Bourbon County cemeteries will be a part of Wreaths Across America, a national program to honor U.S. Military Veterans with wreaths on their graves.
According to its website, the mission of Wreaths Across America (WAA) is to remember the fallen, honor those who serve, and teach the next generation the value of freedom. Volunteers work year-round to share this mission and inspire others to join.
Submitted graphic.
Diann Tucker is the WAA Location Coordinator for Fort Scott National Cemetery.
Tucker said for the last five years, there have been enough funds raised to place wreaths on all the veteran’s graves at the national cemetery.
A submitted graphic from Tucker telling of the speaker and the agenda for the ceremony.
“About 6,800 wreaths will be placed on December 16,” she said. “The ceremony starts at 10 a.m., immediately followed by the laying of the wreaths.”
“A youth group will be driving golf carts to pick up and take them back to their cars,” she said.
The Wreaths Across America transport truck will arrive from Columbia Falls, Maine, at 8 a.m. driven by a veteran.
“We can always use volunteers to off-load from the truck,” Tucker said.
Fundraising for the project is all year round.
“At $17 a wreath and 6,800 graves, it is $115,600 (in funds raised) this year,” Tucker said.
For more information contact Tucker at 620-224-7054 or 620-223-6700.
Uniontown Ruritan Club has initiated a project this year to place wreaths on the veterans in the Uniontown Cemetery.
“We began discussing this in the summer and a couple of months ago decided to move forward with it,” Mary Pemberton, spokesperson for the club said. “It is headed up by Mark Warren, Larry and Judy Jurgensen and myself.”
“Wreaths Across America started in 1992 in Arlington Cemetery and expanded from there,” Pemberton said. “Local cemeteries can participate as well. Funding is from donations and volunteers do the ceremony and lay the wreaths.”
The Uniontown ceremony will be on December 15 at 1:30 p.m.
“Schools gets out early that day and several students will help lay the wreaths,” Pemberton said. “The Uniontown High School band and choir will perform. Mark Warren will be the speaker.”
The names of the veterans will be read as the wreaths are laid.
“The public is invited and encouraged to attend,” Pemberton said.
“If any relative of a veteran in Uniontown Cemetery would like to lay the wreath on their vet’s grave they just need to let us know before to that.”
For more information contact Pemberton at 620-224-9654.
The architect’s rendition of the future Mary Queen of Angels Catholic Church. Submitted graphic.
The area south and west of St. Mary’s Catholic School is a hub of construction.
The August 2022 lightning-strike fire at Mary Queen of Angels Catholic Church destroyed the structure.
“Fr. Yancey Burgess, the pastor, said the destruction was too great to repair the old church,” according to a news article in https://catholicdioceseofwichita.org/new-church-planned-for-fort-scott/. “The engineers have said it would be cost prohibitive to try to rebuild it because the church would lose its ‘grandfather’ status and would have to meet modern building codes.”
Simpson Construction Services, Wichita, is the general contractor for the new church building and has two employees on site, Howard Thome, superintendent, and Tyler Fox, field engineer.
The new church site is located at 702 Eddy, in approximately the same spot as the old one.
Fox said there are approximately 26 sub-contractors from start to finish on the project.
Construction began in November 2023.
“The church will be a little over 7,000 square feet,” Fox said. “The owner occupancy is expected to be November 2024.”
On December 5, R2 Concrete Construction, Fort Scott, was pouring the footings.
The gate to the construction site of the new Mary Queen of Angels Catholic Church.
“We had to go down to bedrock,” Thome said. “We put in a lean concrete to bring it up to bedding. The footing is on top, so should be stable.”
“We should pour the slab in the next couple of weeks,” Fox said. “Then start erecting steel in late January.”
The project is being funded partly through insurance because the church was struck by lightning in August 2022, according to Bo Casper, a church member and also a sub-contractor on the rectory building.
Above 95 percent of the original stained glass windows was saved from the fire/water damage and will be reinstalled in the new church, according to Mark McCoy, who is on the parish building committee.
It is also being funded by a capital campaign that the church parish is doing, McCoy said.
The church will be ADA-accessible with a zero-entry to the church.
The cost of the church rebuild is approximately $6.5 million, McCoy said.
The banner on the outside fence of the construction site.
“The church was one of those founded by Italian-born Fr. Paul M. Ponziglione who helped establish many churches after he arrived in 1851 at the Osage Mission in Kansas” according to the article https://catholicdioceseofwichita.org/new-church-planned-for-fort-scott/“Because of the Fort Scott fire, St. Francis Church in St. Paul is now the oldest church in the diocese.”
Church Rectory
Looking east from the new church rectory at 720 Holbrook to the construction site of the church. St. Mary’s Catholic School is to the left in the photo.
Casper Enterprises, a local company, was working on the church rectory, at 720 Holbrook, west of the new church building on December 5.
The Catholic Rectory of Mary Queen of Angels Catholic Church is being framed. The location is 720 Holbrook.
Bo Casper said the crew started the framing in November (2023 )of the 1,634 square foot home the church’s priest will live in. It will have three bedrooms, two baths, a large garage and a saferoom.
The rectory should be completed by the end of February 2024 “If the weather cooperates,” Casper said.
The lot where the rectory is being built belonged to the church.
The rectory was torn down and the site moved “because the church was totaled and had to be ADA compliant and needed more parking spaces,” Casper said. “We had to gain footage and tear down the rectory. It was just as old as the church. Bats were coming in through the chimney area. It was a three-story high brick building.”
The new rectory will have a brick facade and regular siding on the rear and sides of the building, Casper said.
The concrete has been poured at the rectory, and the three-man crew is currently framing, which will be done by the end of the week, Casper said.
Bo Casper left, and Frank Casper work on framing the rectory.
The cost of the rectory is approximately $325,000, McCoy said.
