Category Archives: Schools

Bourbon County, Business, Jobs, Schools

The Business Retention and Expansion Survey Summary

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Executive Summary
The Business Retention and Expansion Survey (BRES) was
conducted by HBCAT in collaboration with the City of Fort Scott
to assess the local business climate. The survey gathered 34
responses and six in-person interviews, reflecting ongoing
challenges in the region due to business closures.
Key Findings:
• Industry Composition: The largest sectors represented were Services (37.1%), Retail
Trade (22.9%), and Finance, Insurance, and Real Estate (14.3%).
• Employment Trends: 24% of businesses reported employment growth, 59% remained
stable, and 18% experienced declines.
• Workforce Challenges: 73% of respondents struggled with recruiting and retaining
workers, especially unskilled (38%) and semi-skilled employees (35%).
• Business Expansion & Financing: 18% of businesses plan to expand within two years,
while 15% reported forgoing expansion due to lack of financing.
Business Information Needs
Local businesses expressed a strong desire for more information on:
• Small business and entrepreneurial support resources tailored to the needs of startups and
local business owners.
• Workforce and job training programs to improve access to skilled labor and reduce hiring
challenges.
• Local market matching programs to connect businesses with regional suppliers,
customers, and partners.
• Access to capital and financing to support expansion, equipment upgrades, and working capital needs.
• Improved communication between local and state governments and businesses, to increase transparency and responsiveness.

Possible Actions Local Government Could Take:
1. Improve Marketing of the City – Increase promotional efforts to attract new residents, visitors, and businesses by showcasing Fort Scott’s assets, events, and opportunities.
2. Enhance Communication – Create clearer, more consistent communication channels between the City and the business community, including regular updates and outreach.
3. Develop Incentive Programs – Introduce or expand financial and regulatory incentives for new and existing businesses looking to launch or grow in Fort Scott.
4. Increase Workforce Development Efforts – Collaborate with HBCAT and other partners to create stronger pipelines for skilled labor and job training programs.
5. Address Housing as a Critical Need – Prioritize policies, partnerships, and development strategies that expand housing options for workers and families to support long-term
economic stability.

Next Steps for The Healthy Bourbon County Action Team:
1. Launch an Employer Learning Collaborative – Convene local employers to clarify their workforce needs, discuss shared challenges, and identify specific skill gaps, particularly around unskilled and semi-skilled labor. HBCAT may host panel discussions
and is seeking facilitation support to guide this effort.
2. Engage High School Students Through Mentorship and Incentives – Partner with high school business classes to connect students with the RCP Mentorship Program and Community Health Workers, and link them to financial incentives available through the
City’s small business grant program and local community college resources.
3. Explore Soft Skill Curriculum Implementation – Evaluate the existing soft skills curriculum used by SEK KANSASWORKS in other districts to determine cost and feasibility of implementing it in Fort Scott schools, with the goal of aligning with local employer expectations.

Submitted by Jody Love

The Healthy Bourbon County Action Team, Inc.

Rural Community Partners

President and CEO

Office: 620-224-2563 Ext. 4

Cell: 620-215-2892

104 North National

Fort Scott, KS 66701

Entertainment, Fort Scott, Schools

2025 Fort Scott High School  All-Classes Reunion Is This Weekend

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The alumni reunion board, from its Facebook page.

The 2025 Fort Scott All-Classes Reunion committee has planned an extraordinary number of events to help former students reconnect this weekend.

“This reunion has been going on since 1961,” said board member Craig Campbell. “It’s a chance to get together and reconnect with not only your class, but the ones before and after.”

There was a hiatus in 2020 because of the COVID-19 Pandemic, and the event was changed to 2022.

“We decided to continue every five years on the 5 and O years,” he said.

New this year is a golf scramble, a fun event that will help raise money for FSHS scholarships.

“The Woodland Hills Golf Course is a gem, a great course,” Campbell said. “Please register as soon as possible for a lunch count for the event at www.fshsalumni.org

Registration

Registration for the alumni weekend will be at the FSHS Gym through the east side entrance of the building from 9 am to 4 p.m., according to the group’s Facebook page.

Golf cart transportation will be available for those who need assistance getting from their parking spot to the building.

FSHS t-shirts will be available for purchase, as well as other vendor information, at registration.

Parade

The parade kicks off the weekend at 6 p.m. on Friday, June 27. The parade emcee will be David Brown, a former Fort Scott Middle School Principal. There is still time to register to be in the parade. Please go to the website http://www.fshsalumni.org  to do so.

Parade line-up starts at 5 p.m. this Friday near the Fisher Park Concession Stand. Registrants will be given a lineup number. Everyone else is behind the horses in the parade.

The parade will start from 6th & Main, north to Wall Street, then west to National Avenue, and south to 6th & National. Each class is encouraged to participate in the parade; the parade organizer is Craig Campbell, and he can be reached at [email protected] or via phone at 620-224-0167.

Food

Food trucks will be available at 3rd & Main both Friday
night and Saturday. There will be several options available, including local restaurants. There will not be a traditional chicken dinner this year because it has declined in popularity in recent years, so there is
something different for 2025.

Music

The All-Star Reunion Band will be performing at the Liberty Theater from 8 p.m. to midnight, with a cash bar available. This is a reunion tradition!

Additionally, Bourbon County Revival will be live music at 3rd & Main. A cash bar will also be available in this area.

Saturday night’s activities will be focused on 3rd & Main with music by the Teresa Deaton Band and food trucks.

Main Street will be closed to traffic to allow alumni to move between the food trucks and outdoor music.

Entertainment will begin at 8 p.m., and all entertainment is free of charge.

The City of Fort Scott is allowing you to bring in your own beverages (no glass containers, please) during these events; however, a cash bar will be available as well.

Luncheon and Reception

There will be a luncheon for the classes of 1963 and earlier at the FSHS commons area starting at 11:30 a.m. on Saturday, June 28. The Tigers Honors Luncheon is hosted by the Reunion.

The Fort Scott KNEA will be hosting the Retired Teachers’ Reception on Saturday, June 28, from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. in the FSHS Commons area. Come back and visit with a favorite teacher.

A commemorative reunion photo will be taken under the new City entrance arch on Wall Street near 69 Highway.

The reunion board will have a roving photographer taking candid shots of the reunion weekend.

 

 

2025 Fort Scott High School  All-Classes Reunion
Schedule of Events

Friday, June 27
9 am – 4 pm Registration FSHS Gym
6 pm Parade Downtown
8 pm – midnight 80s Classes Party Memorial Hall
8 pm – midnight All Star Reunion Band Liberty Theatre
8 pm – midnight Bourbon County Revival 3rd Street Stage (3rd & Main)
Saturday, June 28
7 am 1st Annual Alumni Golf Tournament Woodland Hills Golf Course
9 – 11 am Registration FSHS Gym
11:30 am Honors Tiger Luncheon FSHS Commons Area
1 – 3 pm Theater/Debate Improv Show FSHS Auditorium
3 – 5 pm Teacher/Employee Reception FSHS/FSMS TBD
8 pm – midnight Teresa Deaton Band 3rd Street Stage (3rd & Main)

 

The planning board is comprised of:

President (2025): Rhonda Dunn, graduate of 1984
Vice-President /President-Elect: Sydney Cullison, 2015
Past President (in 2022): Lori Potter Farmer, 1983
Recording Secretary: Haley Jones, 2013
Corresponding Secretary: Ronette Center, 1984
Treasurer: Gina Findley Shelton, 1997
Parade Chair: Craig Campbell, 1977
Registration Chair: Debbie West, 1976

Fort Scott, Schools, Youth

Incident at National Speech and Debate Conference Explained by Destry Brown

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

6/19/2025

 

Nine students and three coaches from Fort Scott High School attended the National Speech and Debate Conference this week in Des Moines, IA.

During the finals round of one of the competitions and unknown person walked onto the stage and interrupted the speech. They evacuated the auditorium thinking he was an active shooter. Later the National Speech and Debate Conference posted the following announcement:

 

This afternoon, an unidentified attendee entered the stage during the Humorous Interpretation Finals, interrupting the round. The individual has been subdued and removed from the premises. There were no weapons involved, and no threats were made. The hall was evacuated and there are no reported injuries. The rest of the venue has been swept for any potential threats by members of law enforcement. We understand the concerns people have, and we want to assure everyone that this is an isolated incident. We plan to resume the tournament later today and will aim to update attendees on the revised schedule by 4 PM CT.

The reunification area for all participants is the North parking lot, outside the Memorial Hall entrance.

 

All our students and coaches are safe and accounted for. The district administrators along with the sponsors on the trip have made the decision to bring everyone home this evening. Upon their arrival home, in addition to their families, our high school counselors and other support staff will be there to meet them at the school. We want to make sure our students, sponsors, and parents are given any support they may need in the coming days as a result of this very scary situation.

 

Mr. Slinkard, our debate and forensics coach, reported that our kids reacted very calmly and maturely during the evacuation and were helping each other as well as other kids from around the country get to safety.  He is very proud of the way our kids and coaches conducted themselves during this situation.

 

We are very thankful that everyone is safe and on their way back home.

 

Submitted by Destry Brown, Superintendent of USD234

 

 

 

Fort Scott, Government, Schools

USD 234 Minutes of the June 13 Meeting

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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

Friday, June 13, 2025

 

Members of the USD 234 Board of Education met at 7:30 a.m. on Friday, June 13, 2025, for a special meeting at 424 S Main.

 

President David Stewart opened the meeting.

 

The Board went into an executive session for personnel matters.

 

President David Stewart adjourned the meeting.

 

PERSONNEL REPORT – APPROVED

June 13, 2025

 

RESIGNATIONS/TERMINATIONS/RETIREMENTS:

 

Kimble, Scott – Resignation – Principal – High School

 

EMPLOYMENT:

 

Certified Recommendations

 

Marlow, Billie – 5th Grade Teacher – Eugene Ware

Deckinger, Eliya – Counselor – High School

 

Classified Recommendations

 

Collins, Clayton – Full Time Substitute at FSHS

 

Transfer Recommendations for 2025-26 School year

 

Hutchinson, Patty – Paraprofessional – Preschool – Transfer from Food Service

 

Supplemental Recommendations for the 2025-26 school year:

 

Collins, Clayton – Assistant Football Coach – High School

Simas, Kiel – Assistant Wrestling Coach – High School

 

Fort Scott, Government, Schools

USD234 Holds a Special Meeting On June 13

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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
June 13, 2025 – 7:30 A.M.
AGENDA SUMMARY

1.0 Call Meeting to Order David Stewart, President
2.0 Flag Salute
3.0 Approval of the Official Agenda (Action Item)
4.0 Other Business – Personnel Matters – Time __________
4.1 Enter Executive Session – Personnel Matters (Action Item)
4.2 Exit Executive Session – _______ (Time)
4.3 Approval of Personnel Report (Action Item)
5.0 Adjourn Meeting _____ (Time) David Stewart, President

Fort Scott, Schools

USD234 Board Minutes of June 9

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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, June 9, 2025
Members of the USD 234 Board of Education met at 5:30 p.m. on Monday, June 9, 2025, for their
regular monthly meeting at 424 S Main.
President David Stewart opened the meeting.
The board approved the official agenda, and the consent agenda as follows:
Board Minutes
05-12-25
Financials – Cash Flow Report
Check Register
Payroll – May 15, 2025 – $1,707,170.52
Activity Funds Accounts
USD 234 Gifts
Superintendent Destry Brown reported on the mental health grant that has been approved for the
district.
Assistant Superintendent Terry Mayfield provided the Board with an update of summer facilities,
budget closing for the fiscal year, and an update to the Preschool building.
Special Education Director Tonya Barnes updated the board on Extended School Year and the
various summer projects that are being completed.
The Board Approved the following items:
• Purchase of 385 Student Chrome Books
• Purchase of 90 Staff Laptops
• Purchase of 10 Passenger Van
• Purchase of two 71 Passenger Buses
• Purchase of Passenger Car
• Continued participation in the National School Lunch Program
• Revision to the Policy EE – Food Service Management for “unpaid meal charges”
• E-Rate Category 2 Funding – Purchase of Wireless Access Points
• Renewal of Kansas Insurance Cooperative for Schools Property and Casualty
Insurance
There were none present for public forum.
The Board went into an executive session for negotiations review.
The Board went into an executive session for personnel matters.
President David Stewart adjourned the meeting.
PERSONNEL REPORT – APPROVED
June 09, 2025
RESIGNATIONS/TERMINATIONS/RETIREMENTS:
Altic, Doug – Retirement – Counselor – High School
Hendrickson, Ela – Resignation – Special Education Teacher – High School
Hunsaker – Josseline – Resignation – Paraprofessional – Winfield Scott
Karleskint, Amanda – Resignation – Paraprofessional – Winfield Scott
Stepps, Abby – Resignation – 5th Grade Teacher – Eugene Ware
EMPLOYMENT:
Certified Recommendations
Brown, Trey – 7th Grade Social Studies Teacher – Middle School
Campbell, Marjorie – Special Education Teacher – High School
Ellis, Christina – Special Education Teacher – KRI
Johnson, Amanda – Music Teacher – Winfield Scott
Kemmerer, Angie – 8th Grade Science/Social Studies Teacher – Middle School
Mena, Kati – SLP Tele-therapy
Stanley, Tammy – 6th Grade Science Teacher – Middle School
Turner, Jesse – Special Education Teacher – High School
Classified Recommendations for 2025-26 School year
Bradbury, Luke – Paraprofessional – Winfield Scott
Bruner, Genea – MIS Tech Support
Clayton, Emily – Paraprofessional – Winfield Scott
Dawson, Jamie – Behavioral Analyst
Hill, Landon – IT Help Desk
Hill, Katherine – Paraprofessional – Winfield Scott
Montojo, Anthea – Cook – Winfield Scott
Prine, Aubrey – Part Time Paraprofessional – Winfield Scott
Reichard, Besty – MIS Tech Support
Stephens, Emily – MIS Tech Support
Supplemental Recommendations for the 2025-26 school year:
Barner, Alex – Assistant Football Coach – High School
Brown, Trey – Assistant Boys Basketball Coach – Middle School
Coen, Jessica – Special Education Teacher – Extended School Year
Coen, Serenity – Paraprofessional – Extended School Year
Davenport, Heather – Summer School Teacher
Durossette, Jake – Assistant Wrestling Coach – Middle School
Durrosette, Jake – Girl’s Summer Conditioning – High School
Eugene Ware Site Council
Eugene Ware Supplemental
Hall, Addisyn – Paraprofessional – Extended School Year
Kegler, Terra – Paraprofessional – Extended School Year
Merriman, Virginia – Paraprofessional – Extended School Year
Middle School Supplemental

Fort Scott, Government, Schools

USD234 Agenda for June 9

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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
June 09, 2025 – 5:30 P.M.
AGENDA SUMMARY WITH COMMENTARY
1.0 Call Meeting to Order David Stewart, President
2.0 Flag Salute
3.0 Approval of the Official Agenda (Action Item)
4.0 Approval of the Consent Agenda (Action Item)
4.1 Board Minutes
05-12-25
4.2 Financials – Cash Flow Report
4.3 Check Register
4.4 Payroll – May 15, 2025 – $1,707,170.52
4.5 Activity Funds Accounts
4.6 USD 234 Gifts
5.0 Leadership Reports (Information/Discussion Item)
6.0 New Business
6.1 Student Chromebook Purchase (Action)
6.2 Staff Laptop Purchase (Action)
6.3 10 Passenger Van Purchase (Action)
6.4 71 Passenger Buses Purchase (Action)
6.5 Passenger Car Purchase (Action)
6.6 Participation in the National School Lunch Program (Action)
6.7 Revision to Policy EE – Food Services Management (Action)
6.8 E-Rate Category 2 Funding – Wireless Access Point (Action)
6.9 Kansas Insurance Cooperative for Schools Property and Casualty Insurance Renewal
7.0 Public Forum
8.0 Other Business –Negotiations _____(Time)
9.0 Other Business – Personnel Matters – Time __________
10.0 Adjourn Meeting _____ (Time) David Stewart, President

Fort Scott, Schools, Youth

National Merit Finalist: Katy Shead, Fort Scott

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Katy Shead. Photo by Deana Spyres of www.inspyredimages.com

Katy Shead, Fort Scott, has been selected as a finalist in the National Merit Scholarship Program.

Katy homeschooled through Veritas Scholars Academy (VSA), which is an online school based in Lancaster, PA. On May 30th, she graduated as valedictorian in her class of 115 other students from all over the world.

Katy Shead speaking as class valedictorian at her school on May 30. Submitted photo.

Her most difficult class was chemistry, she said. “But it was also the most interesting.”

Despite it not being easy, she has chosen it as a major.

Katy will major in chemistry at Hillsdale College in Hillsdale, Michigan (student population 1400-1800 students) beginning this fall. She will minor in Greek and Classical Education, she said.

Her goal with this education plan:

“I want to read the Greek Bible on my own, and I want to teach chemistry, or something, science or math at a classical school, especially online.”

“I want to study the Greeks and Romans and the original texts, not just the stuff that people wrote about them,” she said.

Katy has had a classical education.

Classical education has three different stages of learning, she said.

“First is grammar and lots of memorization, foundational knowledge. Second is logic, around middle school age, which is how you make a coherent argument with clear and logical thinking, recognizing fallacies. To connect ‘Oh, this happened in this year and it did affect this.’ The third stage is taking the connections in the logic stage, and using information you already have, and communicating it.”

Katy used this education, this past year, to come up with her own research statement and defended it in a paper and a presentation.

A person in Scotland with expertise in the field and a PhD read her paper and asked questions. A professor guided the process and graded it.

Her research statement was  Imago Dei Impact on the Church’s Perception of Autism.

“It was about the inherent value that God gave humans when He created them in His image. The paper argues that if the church recognizes autistic people’s intrinsic value, then they’ll be empowered to love them as they should,” she said. “The point of the paper is that sometimes the autistic members are viewed as charity cases.”

Other awards she has received during her high school years: Dean’s List at VSA from 2021 to 2024, a national award at the 2023 Classical Learning Test, Summa Cum Laude on the 2023 National Latin Exam,  inducted into the  202Highest Honors Class at VSA, and Cum Honore Maximo Egregio in 2021, a National Latin Exam she took, earning a perfect score.

During high school, Katy has been a student mentor, an independent tutor of maths and sciences, a literature club co-chair, and a volunteer at K-7 Kanakuk Camp, Missouri. She also worked with special needs people at Heartland Therapeutic Riding, Kansas, and Camp Barnabas, Missouri. She also volunteered at her grandparents’ annual Shead Farm Festival near Garland.

She is the daughter of Haley and Mark Shead.

 

 

About National Merit Scholars

16,000 semifinalists competed in the 70th annual National Merit
Scholarship Program, according to an NMS press release. These academically talented high school seniors have an opportunity to continue in the competition for some 6,870 National Merit Scholarships worth nearly $26 million that will be offered next spring. To be considered for a Merit Scholarship® award,
Semifinalists must fulfill several requirements to advance to the Finalist level of the competition.

To become a finalist, the semifinalist and a high school official must submit a scholarship application, providing information about the semifinalist’s academic record, participation in school and community activities, demonstrated leadership abilities, employment, and honors and awards received, according to the press release. A semifinalist must have an outstanding academic record throughout high school, be endorsed and recommended by a high school official, write an essay, and earn SAT® or ACT® scores that confirm the student’s earlier performance on the qualifying test.

Bourbon County, Schools

ARCADIA, KANSAS HIGH SCHOOL ALUMNI BANQUET: “HUGE SUCCESS”

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Submitted by Marilyn Flagg

 

Even though Arcadia High School closed its doors at the end of the  “1965” school year, the annual alumni banquet is still being held on memorial week-end.  This year, the 2025 banquet was held in Arcadia, Kansas at the Community Center with 62 attending.  The membership also includes the Junior, Sophomore, and Freshman Class of 1965.  The banquet was held in Arcadia on Saturday afternoon, May 24th and was catered by Chicken Mary’s and served by the Stansbury brothers of Arcadia, Ks. Open Door Mission Church Youth.

 

Enclosed with the invitation to the banquet this year was the deceased for 2024 prepared by Marilyn Flagg, Historian.  The change of addresses, phone numbers, etc. was enclosed also prepared by Marilyn.  The 2024 Financial Report done by Shirley Landon, Treasurer, and the 2024 Minutes completed by Virginia Smith, Secretary, was a hand out at the banquet.

 

Social hour was 1:00-3:00 p.m. followed by lunch and business meeting. President Pat Morris of Arcadia welcomed the 40 Alumni and 22 guests.  The Pledge of Allegiance to the American flag was led by Merle Engle.   The invocation was by Richard Page.

 

At the opening of the business meeting, President Pat Smith Morris (Class of 1964)  introduced alumni officers Vice President, Tom Watt (Class of 1968); Secretary, Virginia Harris Smith (Class of 1964);  Treasurer, Shirley McKinstry Landon (Class of 1956); and Historian Marilyn Coonrod Flagg (Class of 1962) and thanked them for all the work they have done for this year’s banquet.

 

There were no objections or corrections to the 2024 Minutes or the 2024 Treasurer’s report.  They stand approved as presented.

 

Richard Page led the nominations and election of officers. Michael Sheffield and Sharon Foster were also on the nomination committee.

Richard Page nominated Tom Watt for president in 2026 and Pat Morris for Vice President.  Michael Sheffield made the motion to accept and Lilly Sheffield seconded Michael’s motion.  All in favor voted yes and motion carried. Shirley Landon will remain as Treasurer; Virginia Smith as Secretary and Marilyn Flagg as Historian.

 

Special recognition was given to members of the 60th (1965);

70th (1955); and 80th (1945) this year.

 

Those attending from the 60th class were the following:

Rosedda Burge Carter and guest Teresa Kennedy; Terry Bright;

and Linda Montee Underwood and guest John Underwood.

 

Attending from the 70th.  were as follows:  Virgil Curnutt and guest Benjamin Curnutt;  Mary Lee Eggen Payne and guests Ron and Cindy

Morton.

 

There were none in attendance for the 80th class.

 

All 22 guests were asked to stand and be recognized.

 

Tom Watt, chairman of the Scholarship Committee, announced the winner of the 2025  A.F. Bowlus/Betty Kirksey Scholarship as Lainey

O’Dell.  Lainey is the great granddaughter of Jack and Mary Lee Payne.

Since Lainey lives in Alabama and unable to attend, her grandparents,

Ron and Cindy Morton and great grandparent, Mary Lee Eggen Payne, attended and spoke in her behalf.  Lainey was awarded a $1,000 scholarship.  Katherine Shead was awarded an additional “AHS” scholarship in the amount of $1,000. Katherine is the granddaughter of Larry Shead. Because of her graduation, Katherine and Larry were unable to attend.

 

Any child, grandchild, or great grandchild of Arcadia High School Alumni may apply for a scholarship.

 

Marilyn Flagg led the memorial service for alumni deceased since the last meeting.  Those remembered were: Mary Coonrod Bournonville; Robert (Bob) Morozzo; Yvonne Blair Gazaway; Helen Cambers Green; Elmer R. Carpenter; Marilyn Ferguson Nuzum; Philip Harris; Don Kauble; Carl F. Morris; Donald E. (Gene) Stevens; Patsy Fanning Scott; Elizabeth Burge Buchanan; Sandra Hanson Hamby; Doylene Shoemaker Chapman; Mary Jo Wozniak McKinney; David Beerbower; Mike Carpenter; Priscella Krieger; and Jack Hurst.

 

The roll call which consisted of the following and the 1945, 1955, and 1965  classes listed above was done by Tom Watt.

 

1949 –  Jerry Skidmore

Billy D. Yoos and guest William Yoos

1950 –  Betty (Clarkson) Skidmore

1953 –  Bobby Charles and guests Bobby Harris and Paul Harris

1954 –  Esther Engle Cousins and guest Janice Crooks

Gary Peterson and guest Patty Peterson

1956 –  Shirley (McKinstry) Landon and guest Tina Caldwell Hooks

1957 –  Merle Engle

Francis M. Jones and guest Karen Kay Tripp

Lilly (Turner) Sheffield

Lou Sheets and guest Linda Sue Sheets

1958 –  Joyce McKinstry Turner

Laura Coonrod Felt

1959 – William Page

Michael Sheffield

1960 – Hilda Cockman Page

Jerry Coonrod and guest Jan Steele

1961 – Howard Holland and guest Louise Holland

1962 – Marilyn (Coonrod) Flagg

Joyce (Elliott) Maycumber

Helen (Morris) Nichols

Ronnie Smith

1963 – Sharon Barnard Foster

Richard (Dick) Page

1964 – Ronnie Kellogg and guest Barbara Kellogg

Virginia Harris Smith

Steve Morris

Ronnie Portwood and guest Mary Portwood

Pat Smith Morris

Sherry Swafford Page

1966 – Jerry Morris

Larry Smith

1968 – Don Schaub

Sherry Sisney

Tom Watt and guest Phyllis Watt

 

Billy D. Yoos (Class of 1949) was given an award for being the “Oldest” alumni.  Virgil Curnutt (1955) was  awarded for traveling the “Most

Distance”.

 

The school song was led by Jan Steele.  Jan is the daughter of Richard (Dick) Steele) long time music teacher in the Arcadia High School.

 

The benediction was led by Merle Engle.

 

The servers were the

Stansbury Brothers (Camryn, Wyatt, and Timothy), of Arcadia, Kansas Open Door Mission Church Youth and Judy Stansbury.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fort Scott, History, Schools, Youth

Fort Scott National History Day State Champions Set to Present at Christian Learning Center

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Kenlee Eden, Kodie Wells, and Blair Felt. Submitted photo.
Hadley Wells,  Charlee Wells, Klair Kobernat, and Bella Antone. Submitted photo.

Southeast Kansas will send two projects to the National History Day Championship in College Park, Maryland, June 8-12. Five projects from Christian Learning Center attended the State National History Day Championships in Topeka in April.

The Fort Scott State Champion groups competing at Nationals in June will present their performances at 6:30 PM on Thursday, May 29th, at the Christian Learning Center in Fort Scott. This presentation will allow the students to practice sharing their projects and raise funds for their trip to College Park, MD. The community is invited to attend and support the two groups of students. Attendees can enter through the CLC Gym doors.

The following students are State Champions and will be sharing their projects on May 29th:

Kenlee Eden, Blair Felt, and Kodie Wells from Fort Scott Christian Learning Center will participate in the Senior Group Performance category, coached by Megan Felt and Rachel Wells. Their project is entitled Elzbieta Ficowska: Embracing Her Responsibility to Take a Stand for the Rights of the Polish People. Their project is a performance based on Elzbieta Ficowska. As a baby, Elzbieta was rescued by Irena Sendler from the Warsaw Ghetto and would grow up to become a leader in the Polish Solidarity Movement. As a leader in the Polish Solidarity Movement, Elzbieta Ficowska worked to bring rights and freedoms back to Polish citizens in the 1980s. The people of Poland believed it was their responsibility to free the nation from Communism.

 

Bella Antone, Klaire Kobernat, Charlee Wells and Hadley Wells from Fort Scott Christian Learning Center participated in the Junior Group Performance category at the State National History Day competition, coached by Rachel Wells. Their project is Miners Labor Rights: Mary Skubitz the Voice Above the Ground Who Rose to Fight. The performance is based on the actions of Mary Skubitz and the Amazon Army in Crawford County. In 1921, Mary Skubitz led the Amazon Army to march for the rights of the men and children working in coal mines. They felt it was their responsibility as family, to march for fair payment and working conditions. This march of over six thousand women brought the miners’ struggles for fair labor laws to the surface all around the state of Kansas.

 

 

History Day encourages students to express their knowledge of and interest in history through creative and original dramatic performances, media presentations, historical papers, website design, or three-dimensional exhibit projects. The research and study for district, state, and national competitions take place throughout the entire school year.

The national competition involves the top 2,800 students from across the nation, chosen from over 800,000 who compete to advance from local to state to national competition. All 50 states and several countries will be represented at the National competition. The theme this year is “Rights and Responsibilities in History.”

The Lowell Milken Center provides critiques and helps with research for National History Day Unsung Hero projects from Kansas and throughout the United States.

Fort Scott, Schools, Youth

Students Work To Beautify the School Campus

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Front: Ella Walker back: Mason Stice, TJ Schaub, Holden Farrell, Boston Thorpe, Gage Madison, Jace Cowan, Romey Rogers, Kalley Swank, Tesla Tinsley, Ginny Cavin. Submitted photo,

 

Submitted by Martha Jane Gentry, St. Mary’s Catholic School writing teacher.

 

St. Mary’s Catholic School sixth-grade students worked to continue the tradition of beautifying the school grounds.

 

Sixth-grade students added plants and mulch to the front entrance during their last week of school.