Category Archives: Youth

Business, Youth

Recommended Young Entrepreneurs Will Get a Grant

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Judah Whitson at the cash register at Fort Scott Farmers Market.
Judah Whitson mans the cash register at his family’s booth at the Fort Scott Farmers Market on June3, 2023. He sells homemade mini-donuts.

Following the first set of stories on young entrepreneurs in our community, an anonymous donor  wrote fortscott.biz that he wanted to grant each one of the featured youth with $50.

To view the prior story:

Young Entrepreneurs Series Spawns An Anonymous Benefactor

 

If you know of a child, under 18 years of age, that is creating products or providing services to sell to the public, please send their name and phone number to [email protected]

Fortscott.biz wants to encourage the youth who are learning business by doing it.

Bourbon County, Jobs, Schools, Youth

U235 Is Gearing Up for New School Year

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Vance Eden. From the school’s website.
This week marks the beginning of enrollment for the school year in U.S.D. 235.
Enrollment for Uniontown’s school district is two days:
  • Thursday, July 27th from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
  • Friday, July 28th from noon to 7 p.m.
The district’s open house is August 15 from 4 to 6 p.m.
The first day of class for students is August 16.
New teachers in the district are Amanda Ostrander-preschool, Lakyn Rucker-first grade, Tyler Ericson-fourth grade, Jacy Walker-six grade, Alex Chesney-West Bourbon Elementary School Music, Ian Ballinger, high school social studies, Christal Martin-high school science student teacher, Abby Onelio, high school Spanish/,Multi-Tiered Systems of Support(  she will work to support students struggling academically)and Carrie Sutcliffe-high school science.
Rebecca Sutterby is the new high school digital media contact and Nick Trim is the new School Resource Officer.
A series featuring new teachers for U235 started with new junior high/senior high principal Robert Onelio on July 17. Watch for profiles of the new teachers in the coming weeks.
To view Onelio’s feature:
Improving the District
“The district continues to consider bringing a bond to the voters for consideration,” said Superintendent Vance Eden. “We will start the strategic planning with the community this fall to try to establish some short and long-term, up to five year, goals. We’ll continue to work to improve ourselves as a district and support new hires as they join our team this fall.”
In May, the following retired from the district:
Rhonda Allen-elementary music, Jeanne Camac- jr/sr high counselor, Jean Cook-jr. high English and Language Arts, Betty Dennis-nurse, Amber Ericson-fourth grade, and Bonnie Rathbun-sixth grade.
Fort Scott, Youth

Magician Jeff Quinn to Perform for Summer Reading on July 26

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Magician Jeff Quinn will travel from Nebraska to Fort Scott for the first time, to wow the community with his interactive magic show, tailored to the summer reading theme. He will perform on July 26 at 10 a.m. at Memorial Hall.

 

Library performances are free and open to the public. This event is part of the library’s summer reading program. Learn more about and register for the program at: https://forms.gle/suanVpb2pYH3PwyX8

 

This performance is made possible by the Dollar General Literacy Grant.

Kansas, Youth

Dolly Parton Coming to KS

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Header

For Immediate Release:    
July 21, 2023

Contact:    
Cassie Nichols
[email protected]

Governor Kelly to Welcome Dolly Parton to Kansas for Imagination Library of Kansas
Statewide Celebration

TOPEKA — Governor Laura Kelly announced today that on  Monday, August 14, 2023, American icon Dolly Parton will visit Kansas to celebrate the statewide success of her Imagination Library program at a closed event hosted by the Imagination Library of Kansas.

Starting today, every child in Kansas from birth to age five can receive free books every month from Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library. This is made possible through increased funding provided to the Kansas Children’s Cabinet and Trust Fund by Governor Laura Kelly and the Kansas Legislature. These funds supplement local and regional resources to ensure equitable opportunity across the state. The Imagination Library has gifted over 200 million books worldwide since its launch in 1995.

“I am pleased that we have reached this amazing milestone – being able to provide the gift of reading for children and families across Kansas,” said Governor Laura Kelly. “We know that a child’s first five years are critical for health development and childhood literacy. By increasing access to the Imagination Library, we will be nurturing a love for reading and supporting the foundation of a child’s social-emotional, physical, and cognitive future. I urge all eligible Kansas families to sign their children up for the Imagination Library of Kansas.”

The early childhood period (birth to five years) is the most influential for a child’s future, providing the foundation for a child to grow, learn, and thrive. Leaders across Kansas have been focused on developing strategies to promote early literacy and support educators, parents, and families in fostering commitments to reading. Forming an Imagination Library of Kansas is a significant step towards actualizing these goals by placing books directly in the child’s home.

Pratt, Kansas, has the distinction of starting the first Imagination Library site outside Tennessee in 2005. Today, Kansas is celebrating over 52,200 children enrolled and celebrating the milestone of gifting more than 3.8 million books to children since 2005.

Inspired by her father’s inability to read and write, Dolly Parton started her Imagination Library in 1995 to foster a love of reading for the children within her home county. Today, her program mails over 2 million high-quality, age-appropriate books directly to children’s homes each month. Each child enrolled in the program receives one book per month until their fifth birthday – at no cost to families. The program’s impact has been widely researched, and results suggest positive increases in key early childhood literacy metrics. Penguin Random House is the exclusive publisher of Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library. For more information, please visit imaginationlibrary.com.

For more information about the Imagination Library of Kansas, visit kschildrenscabinet.org/imaginationlibrary.

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Fair, K-State Extension, Youth

Colored Ribbons at the County Fair

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Jennifer Terrell, K-State Extension Agent

 

It’s county fair time and this means that 4-H’ers have the opportunity to showcase all of their hard work learned on projects throughout the 4-H year. For many, this time of year is a highlight of the 4-H program.

Have you ever wondered what the different colored ribbons attached to exhibits mean? Well, I would like to tell you how 4-H exhibits are evaluated at the local county fair.

At the local county fair, most exhibits are judged on a conference or interview basis. This is where the judge interviews the participant as he or she evaluates the product against a set of standards rather than against other exhibits. The purpose of this judging is to determine what the 4-H’er learned while completing the project. Judges may consider skill level based on age and circumstance, and expect a higher performance from older 4-H’ers, so there is some variance within the standard. Comments are generally provided verbally and sometimes written. After the exhibit is evaluated, the judge then awards a ribbon placing to the exhibit.

In 4-H, we use the Danish Ribbon System where exhibits are placed into four different ribbon groups. A purple ribbon means outstanding on all standards, a blue ribbon exceeds the minimum standards but may have some minor flaws where improvements can be made, a red ribbon meets all minimum standards and may have some visible signs of needed improvement and finally a white ribbon fails to meet the minimum standard for the project. Of the purple ribbons, the judge can select a Champion and Reserve Champion.

In 4-H, we believe that using the Danish Ribbon System gives every 4-H member the recognition deserved for the work that was done and encourage them to follow the motto “to make the best better.” While no evaluation system is perfect, this system helps 4-H develop top quality youth instead of focusing on purple ribbon projects.

I encourage you to visit your local county fair and see all of the amazing work 4-H’ers have on display. And as you walk around, pay close attention to the different ribbon placings attached to projects. You will notice there will be any number of purples, blues, reds, or whites in each of the departments. This is the Danish Ribbon System, where 4-H’ers are encouraged to challenge themselves, set goals, and receive constructive criticism. All things to help young people build essential life skills to thrive.

For more information about 4-H Youth Development, reach out to Jennifer Terrell, District Extension Agent for K-State Research and Extension – Southwind District at [email protected] or 620-223-3720.

Business, Youth

Young Entrepreneur: Katy Shead

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This is part of a series featuring young entrepreneurs.

To recommend a youth under 18 years-of-age for a feature, send contact info to [email protected]

Katy Shead. Submitted photo.

Katy Shead, 16, is providing tutoring services for school children for a business.

She attends a virtual school.

“I provide online tutoring services for people in my online school,” Katy said. “I mainly tutor math but I helped one student with basic Latin last school year.”

Her  academic advisor and  teachers recommend her to families.

“Also, people have made posts requesting tutors on my school’s Facebook page,” she said. “I have also started doing free sessions to advertise.”

Katy started tutoring as a business during the 2021-2022 school year.

“My academic advisor asked me if I would like to tutor a girl in Saxon Math 5/6,” she said.” I had always enjoyed helping my brother, cousins, and classmates with school, and I was excited to try to help this girl.”

She seems to be a natural teacher.

“I enjoyed the creative challenge of finding engaging ways to present the material to her,” she said. “She was very sweet and we had a lot of fun. This past year I got to tutor her again and her sister as well!”

“It’s sometimes difficult to tutor online – especially with a subject where showing work is mandatory,” she. “I use WebEx to video conference with my students and we work on the whiteboard.”

Katy practicing constructions for the Geometry review. Submitted photo.

“I sent a document camera to one of my families with two students so that I could see both their work and their faces at the same time to pinpoint confusion as soon as possible,” she said.

She has tutored 5th and 6th grade, Algebra I, Geometry, and Algebra II.

“One of my students in Algebra II lives in Cambodia,” she said. “It was so interesting to hear her stories and perspectives.”

This coming year, she is taking on greater challenges.

“I hope to tutor more upper-level math such as Pre-calculus and Calculus I, as I am going to be taking Calculus II next year,” she said. “I also hope to tutor higher levels of Latin if there is an opportunity.”

A recent geometry final review she held, had 35 students.

 

Katy Shead with her geometry class. Submitted photo.

She is the daughter of Mark and Haley Shead, rural Fort Scott.

 

 

Area News, Youth

American Legion Boys State of Kansas Concludes 2023 Session

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High school students from across the State of Kansas participated in the 85th session of the American Legion Boys State of Kansas, held June 4-10 at Kansas State University in Manhattan. This was the 31th consecutive year the Kansas Boys State program was held at K-State.

 

The objective of the ALBSK is to inculcate a sense of individual obligation to community, state and nation. Kansas Boys State provides a relevant, interactive, problem-solving experience in leadership and teamwork that develops self-identity, promotes mutual respect and instills civic responsibility. Boys State is a “learning by doing” political exercise that simulates elections, political parties and government at the state, county and local levels, providing opportunities to lead under pressure, showcasing character and working effectively within a team. It’s also an opportunity to gain pride and respect for government and the price paid by members of the military to preserve democracy.

 

Among the highlights from the week, Samuel Houston, a resident of McPherson, Kan., and a senior-to-be at McPherson High School, was elected Kansas Boys State governor.

 

Adiel Garcia II, a resident of Olathe, Kan., and a senior-to-be at Spring Hill (Kan.) High School, and Creytin Sanner, a resident of Junction City, Kan., and a senior-to-be at Junction City High School, were elected to represent Kansas Boys State at Boys Nation, Friday, July 21 through Saturday, July 29, at Marymount University in Arlington, Va.

 

Kyle Wheatley, Fort Worth, Texas, was named Advisor of the Year. Wheatley, a 2003 KBS delegate and 2004 graduate of Wichita (Kan.) Northwest High School, serves as a KBS associate director and bank advisor.

 

Ethan Doherty, Denver, Colo., who served as a county counselor for Powell County, was named Counselor of the Year (counselors with four or more years’ experience). He was a 2016 KBS delegate and a 2017 graduate of Girard (Kan.) High School. Theo Wagnon, Topeka, Kan., who served as a House of Representatives counselor, was named New Counselor of the Year (counselors with three or fewer years’ experience). He was a 2020 KBS delegate and a 2021 graduate of Seaman High School in Topeka.

 

Josef Kuehnen, Olathe, Kan., a senior-to-be at Olathe South High School, received the William “Bill” F. Stahl Outstanding Justice Award, given to the outstanding member of the Boys State of Kansas Supreme Court as voted on by his Supreme Court peers. The award is presented in recognition of outstanding commitment to justice under the law and dedicated service to Boys State of Kansas. Stahl, of Junction City, Kan., passed away in September 2015 and was a longtime supporter of the ALBSK.

 

Kalo Hineman, Scott City, Kan., a senior-to-be at Scott Community High School, was named the Outstanding Senator (representing Eisenhower County), and Jaxon Blubaugh, Silver Lake, Kan., a senior-to-be at Silver Lake High School, was named the Outstanding State Representative (representing Eisenhower County).

 

Shawn Sullivan, Leavenworth, Kan., a senior-to-be at Leavenworth High School, was named the American Legion Department of Kansas winner of the Samsung American Legion Scholarship. As the state winner, Sullivan receives a $1,250 scholarship and his application moves on to the national level where he could receive a $5,000 award as a national runner-up or $10,000 scholarship as a national scholar.

 

The 86th session of the American Legion Boys State of Kansas is tentatively scheduled to be held the week of Sunday, June 2, through Saturday, June 8, 2024, again at Kansas State University. For information on becoming a delegate (high school sophomores and juniors in the 2023-24 academic year), nominating a delegate or sponsoring a delegate next year, visit https://ksbstate.org.

 

The following is a list of this year’s ALBSK delegates (listed by zip code/city of residence; all cities in Kansas unless noted). Those delegates denoted with a star (*) were elected by their Kansas Boys State city as its outstanding citizen:

(Name, Year in School for 2023-24 Academic Year, High School; Kansas Boys State position – all cities/high schools in Kansas unless noted)

 

64012 — Belton, Mo.

  • Chase Rothhaas, senior-to-be, The Barstow School, Kansas City, Mo; City of Shelton Councilman

 

64152 — Kansas City, Mo.

  • Boston Orth, junior-to-be, LEAD Innovation Studio; City of Shoemaker Councilman

 

66006 — Baldwin City

  • Grayson Coffield, senior-to-be, Baldwin High School; KBS Media
  • Parker Massey, senior-to-be, Olathe West High School, State Treasurer

 

66007 — Basehor

  • Nishan Thomas, junior-to-be, Leavenworth High School; Eisenhower County District Court Official

 

66013 — Bucyrus

  • Luke Torrez, senior-to-be, Spring Hill High School; KBS Media

 

66027 — Fort Leavenworth

  • Levi Hanlen, senior-to-be, Leavenworth High School; Powell County Representative
  • Ethan Herken, senior-to-be, Leavenworth High School; Kennedy County Representative
  • Connor Torres, senior-to-be, Leavenworth High School; City of Bramlage Councilman

 

66030 — Gardner

  • Braeden Fitzgerald, senior-to-be, Gardner-Edgerton High School; Powell County Commissioner
  • Ashton Lang, junior-to-be, Gardner-Edgerton High School; Department of Education and Culture Official
  • Isaiah Lang, junior-to-be, Gardner-Edgerton High School; Eisenhower County District Court Official

 

66043 — Lansing

  • Caleb Baltazar, senior-to-be, Leavenworth High School; City of Bramlage Councilman
  • Paul Curtis, senior-to-be, Lansing High School; Seitz County Commissioner and KBS National Guard
  • Jack Corrigan, senior-to-be, Lansing High School; Seitz County Representative

 

66044 / 66047 / 66049 — Lawrence

  • Levi Bates, senior-to-be, Lawrence Free State High School; City of Shelton Councilman
  • Sebastian Borjas, junior-to-be, Bishop Seabury Academy; Seitz County Commissioner and KBS National Guard
  • * Mason Hadl, senior-to-be, Baldwin High School; Seitz County Commissioner

o   Hadl was named Outstanding Citizen for the City of Werring

  • Jake King, senior-to-be, Lawrence Free State High School; City of Krupco Councilman
  • James Loyless, senior-to-be, Lawrence Free State High School; City of Gardner Councilman
  • Max Mitchell, senior-to-be, Eudora High School; Seitz County Commissioner
  • Jack Sartorius, senior-to-be, Perry-Lecompton High School; Powell County Representative
  • Brandon Sikes, senior-to-be, Lawrence Free State High School; Department of Human Resources Official
  • * Hayden Slough, senior-to-be, Bishop Seabury Academy; Kennedy County Commissioner

o   Slough was named Outstanding Citizen for the City of Shelton

  • Drake Spurlock; senior-to-be; Bishop Seabury Academy; Eisenhower County Commissioner

 

66048— Leavenworth

  • Jaden Daniel, senior-to-be, Leavenworth High School; Seitz County Representative
  • Quintin Hoppe, senior-to-be, Pleasant Ridge High School, Easton; Kennedy County Representative
  • Trey Johnson, junior-to-be, Leavenworth High School; City of Krupco Councilman
  • Grady Mathews, senior-to-be, Leavenworth High School; City of Gardner Councilman
  • Luke Monroy, senior-to-be, Leavenworth High School; City of Werring Councilman
  • Shawn Sullivan, senior-to-be, Leavenworth High School; Lieutenant Governor

 

66053 — Louisburg

  • Colton Prettyman, junor-to-be, Louisburg High School; Department of Natural Resources Official

 

66061 — Olathe

  • * Henry Bailey, senior-to-be, Olathe North High School; Eisenhower County Commissioner

o   Bailey was named Outstanding Citizen for the City of Klassen

  • Austin Chase, junior-to-be, DeSoto High School; Dole County Representative
  • * Evan Faimon, senior-to-be, Olathe West High School; City of Whorley Councilman

o   Faimon was named Outstanding Citizen for the City of Whorley

  • Dylan Harker, senior-to-be, Heritage Christian Academy, Olathe; KBS Highway Patrol Officer
  • Adiel Garcia II, senior-to-be, Spring Hill High School; Attorney General

o   Garcia was elected to represent Kansas Boys State at Boys Nation

  • Joey Geisler, senior-to-be, Blue Valley Southwest High School; Senate Majority Leader and Kennedy County Senator
  • Jackson Gwartney, senior-to-be, Olathe West High School; City of Thomson Councilman
  • Reid Kalkman, senior-to-be, DeSoto High School; City of Shoemaker Councilman
  • Jakob Kuehnen, senior-to-be, Olathe South High School; City of Whorley Councilman
  • Josef Kuehnen, senior-to-be, Olathe South High School; Supreme Court Judge

o   Kuehnen received the William “Bill” F. Stahl Outstanding Justice Award

  • Ricky Nosworthy, senior-to-be, St. James Academy, Lenexa; City of Klassen
  • Isaac Shilling, junior-to-be, Olathe West High School; Department of Education and Culture

 

66067 — Ottawa

  • Aiden Demoret, senior-to-be, Ottawa High School; KBS Highway Patrol Officer

 

66071 — Paola

  • Johnson Martell, senior-to-be, Paola High School; City of Krupco Councilman

 

66080 — Richmond

  • Marcius Englund, senior-to-be, Central Heights High School; City of Raymond Councilman

 

66086 — Tonganoxie

  • Gavin Shupe, senior-to-be, Tonganoxie High School; Powell County Commissioner

 

66109 — Kansas City

  • Thomas Hapke, senior-to-be, Piper High School; Speaker of the House and Kennedy County Representative
  • Grayson Lamb, senior-to-be, Piper High School; Eisenhower County Representative
  • Logun Nigh, senior-to-be, Lawrence Virtual School; Seitz County Representative

 

66202 — Mission

  • Wilson Biles, junior-to-be, Shawnee Mission East High School; Dole County Commissioner

 

66203 — Shawnee

  • Sam Wilson, senior-to-be, Shawnee Mission Northwest High School; City of Werring Councilman

 

66205 — Westwood

  • Rocco Marrello, senior-to-be, Bishop Miege High School, Department of Human Resources Official

 

66207 — Prairie Village

  • Julius Lopez, senior-to-be, Bishop Miege High School; Powell County Commissioner

 

66208 — Mission Hills

  • Dean Patterson, junior-to-be, Pembroke Hill School, Kansas City, Mo.; City of Werring Councilman

 

66209 — Leawood

  • Gavin Nelson, junior-to-be, Blue Valley North High School; Dole County Senator
  • Landon Nelson, junior-to-be, Blue Valley North High School; Eisenhower County Representative

 

66211 — Olathe

  • Trenton Rogers, senior-to-be, Olathe West High School, Department of Education and Culture Official

 

66213 / 66214 / 66221 — Overland Park

  • Samuel Olson, senior-to-be, Olathe North High School; Dole County Representative
  • Kevin Colerick, senior-to-be, Blue Valley Northwest High School; City of Whorley Councilman
  • Matthew Newbold, junior-to-be, Pembroke Hill School, Kansas City, Mo.; Dole County Representative
  • Cody Peng, senior-to-be, Blue Valley Northwest High School; Secretary of State
  • Matthew Stevens, senior-to-be, Blue Valley Southwest High School; City of Krupco Councilman

 

66215 / 66220 — Lenexa

  • Logan Grosserode, senior-to-be, Home School; Eisenhower County Representative
  • Hayes Schoenfeldt, senior-to-be, Olathe Northwest High School; City of Thomson Councilman

 

66216 / 66218 / 66226 — Shawnee

  • Garrett Dykes, junior-to-be, DeSoto High School, Seitz County District Court Official
  • Adam Poe, senior-to-be, Rockhurst High School, Kansas City, Mo.; Department of Economy Official
  • Sebastian Smith, senior-to-be, Mill Valley High School; Eisenhower County Commissioner
  • Mason Van Allen, senior-to-be, DeSoto High School, Kennedy County Commissioner

 

66224 — Leawood

  • Jack Graves, senior-to-be, Blue Valley High School; City of Klassen Councilman and KBS National Guard
  • Joshua Murphy, junior-to-be, Blue Valley High School; Department of Economy Official
  • * Chetan Thomas, senior-to-be, The Barstow School, Kansas City, Mo.; KBS Media

o   Thomas was named Outstanding Citizen for the City of Krupco

  • Luke Wakeman, junior-to-be, Blue Valley North High School; Seitz County Commissioner

 

66409 — Berryton

  • Grant Bryan, senior-to-be, Bishop Seabury Academy, Lawrence; Department of Economy Official

 

66440 — Hoyt

  • Jackson King, senior-to-be, Royal Valley High School; Powell County District Court Official

 

66441 — Junction City

  • Noah Fields, senior-to-be, St. Xavier Catholic School; City of Whorley Councilman
  • Travis Leasure, senior-to-be, Chapman High School; Seitz County Representative
  • Creytin Sanner, senior-to-be, Junction City High School; House Majority Leader and Powell County Representative

o   Sanner was elected to represent Kansas Boys State at Boys Nation

 

66442 — Fort Riley

  • Joseph Knell, senior-to-be, Junction City High School; Supreme Court Judge

 

…

Bourbon County, Youth

Young Entrepreneurs Series Spawns An Anonymous Benefactor

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Judah Whitson at the cash register at Fort Scott Farmers Market.
Judah Whitson mans the cash register at his family’s booth at the Fort Scott Farmers Market. He makes and sells mini-donuts at five-years-old, with help from his family.

A subscriber who has been reading the Young Entrepreneur Series on fortscott.biz was touched and wanted to support each business with a $50 grant.

The benefactor wishes to remain anonymous.

This is what he wrote:

“I always stop at the local kids’ lemonade stands. When I was growing up in Fort Scott, I remember the postman buying a cup of lemonade from me. For some reason that stayed with me.

“Selling Grit Magazine door to door, making birdhouses and selling them door to door, having a Tribune newspaper route back when you paid for your batch of papers up front, delivered them, and then collected monthly. If anyone stiffed you, you were out the dough. All of those things were great life lessons for me growing up in Fort Scott. That’s why I really like your program of highlighting young entrepreneurs”

If your child has been highlighted in our Young Entrepreneur Series, please contact [email protected] for the grant money.

The Young Entrepreneur Series is featuring youth under 18 years old who have a business in product or services.

To recommend a young entrepreneur in our community, please send contact info, email or phone number to [email protected]

 

Entertainment, Exercise, Fort Scott, Youth

Construction of Downtown Splash Pad Is Moving Forward

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Submitted photo of work on the splash pad.

The splash pad project is moving ahead with plans for a summer opening, according to Bailey Lyons, one of the committee members spearheading the project.

The project is located on North National Avenue, across from Brick Street BBQ Restaurant on Skubitz Plaza.

“You may have noticed there has been a lot of recent action at the site of the Splashpad and Sensory Park,” according to a press release from Lyons. “With Playscapes Recreation leading the charge, and the Splashpad and Sensory Park committee heavily involved, much progress has been made in the last few weeks.”
Looking west towards National Avenue, one can see the recent work at the splash pad site. Submitted photo.
The Splashpad and Sensory Park Committee is comprised of Kelly Barr, Katie Hueston, Josh Jones, Lyons, and Meredith Tucker.
They have been actively working on this project for the past year, and have raised over $300,000 in funds and in-kind donations.
From the Fort Scott Splash Pad and Sensory Park Facebook page.

The committee’s mission is to build the first all-inclusive, fully accessible park in Fort Scott, according to the press release.

The full press release is as follows:

“This sensory playground and splash pad will offer children and their families a fun, safe, barrier-free space to play, laugh, interact, and feel like they belong – regardless of their abilities. This project is about community, education, engagement, advocacy, and inclusion.”

“This playground has been intentionally designed with sensory stimulation in mind to maximize play and support the development of all children. The park will include a variety of equipment and activities made to engage as many senses as possible, and appeal to a broad range of ages and ability levels.”

“While the Splashpad and Sensory Park will provide a new, unique, and fun option for able-bodied children to play, it will be the first and only option for many kids in our community who have disabilities and cannot enjoy our other parks. These special kids and their families will no longer be left out or displaced when it comes to enjoying recreational amenities, something that many take for granted.”

The committee has plans to open the splash pad this summer and “is almost to the finish line….through grants, monetary donations and in-kind donations,” according to the press release. “As work quickly progresses towards a grand opening (date to be announced), there are notable changes occuring at the site regularly.”

Here is a list of what has been done:
  •  the pad has been leveled and brought up to grade,
  • elevations have been set,
  • water and electric have been laid to the site,
  • drain lines have been laid,
  • feature footings have been set,
  • piping from the features has been laid,
  • and the vault has been set to house the manifold which will soon be placed.
“Once all of this is wrapped up, concrete will be poured, and the features will be installed after the pads have cured. The committee is still actively working to complete the park with the final piece – an ADA accessible restroom – which they hope will be added in the very near future.”
A portion of the concrete for the splash pad is being poured today, June 27. Submitted photo.
The committee is planning two work days and is  inviting the public to help on-site with the project
In the coming weeks, clean up and landscaping will take place on  Sunday July 9, and/or Saturday July 15.
Those who would like to help, please contact Lyons at (620)224-7795 so that jobs and tools/materials can be coordinated for the work.
Robert Coon, A-1 Towing, donated his company’s personnel and truck to put a concrete vault in place on June 22 for the upcoming splash pad project. The concrete will house the plumbing for the splash pad. Submitted photo.
“The Splashpad and Sensory Park Committee would like to sincerely thank all of the generous donors who have contributed thus far, both monetary and in-kind donations,” according to the press release. “Donors who have given $500 and above are listed below, and will be featured on permanent signage at the park:
FOUNDERS
Timken Foundation of Canton
Walmart
BENEFACTORS ($10,000+)
Contributors to YAT/Parks Advisory Board
Alta Davis
Evergy
No Limits Rehabilitation/Brad & Meredith Tucker
City of Fort Scott
ADVOCATES ($5,000-9,999)
Advanced Bourbon County
Aetna – Better Health of Kansas
Bourbon County REDI
Bourbon County, KS
Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas
Forrest & Julia Sewell
Fort Scott Area Community Foundation
Healthy Bourbon County Action Team
Key Charitable Trust
Lyons Realty Group
Niece Products of Kansas
Steven & Jessica Tucker
SPONSORS ($2,500-4,999)
Bloomfield Foundation In Memory of Tim Bloomfield & His Grandaughter Olivia Bloomfield
Hammerson Ready Mix
Jayhawk Wind
In Honor & Memory of Lillian Rose Kraft
Modern Woodman Fraternal Financial
O’Brien Ready Mix
Joshua & Terra Tecchio-Baseley
Sheridan Nash
Skitch’s Hauling & Excavation
DONORS ($1,000-2,499)
A1 Towing & Recovery
Advantage Metals Recycling
Big Sugar Lumber
Bourbon County Cars
Bourbon County Garden Club
Cheney Witt Funeral Chapel
DelBrenna Jewelry by Megan Neil & Sebastian Ghezzi
Dreamscape Innovations, Inc.
Fort Scott Recreation Department
Highway 3
In Loving Memory of Marsha Lancaster, Longtime Owner of Marsha’s Deli
In Memory of Angelo-Sondra Dellantonia
Janet Braun
Jeff Allen Electric
Landmark National Bank
Lee Sewell-Painter
Legacy Health
Mid-Continental Restoration
Mitch Welch
Pearson Towing
Pete’s of Erie, Inc.
RII Concrete Construction
Sleep Inn
Sonic
Thomas Concrete & Construction
Valu Merchandisers Co.
W/K Holdings
FRIENDS ($500-999)
Bowman’s NuGrille
Budgetel Inn & Suites – Aaradhya Piyush Mistry
Clifton Chiropractic
Davis & Associates Tax + Consulting
FSHS FFA & Construction Trades
Greyhound Football Legacy Center
The Gugnani Family
The Horton House
John Crain – In Memory of Don & Connie Crain
JW & Diana Endicott
Konantz – Cheney Funeral Home
Labconco
Liberty Savings Association, FSA
Lyons & Lyons
The Meeks Family
Scott and Melissa Meyers
Museum of Creativity
{Re:freshed} Spa
The Reynolds Law Firm
Riggs Chiropractic of Fort Scott
Stewart Realty
Union State Bank

The donors listed above have contributed $500+, according to Lyons. “In addition to these, there have been numerous donors below the $500 level, and their generosity and support is also much appreciated!”

 

An artist’s rendition of the splash pad from the Fort Scott Splash Pad and Sensory Facebook page.

The City of Fort Scott is supplying the water to the splash pad.

“The city’s part is to get the splash pad the water supply,” Fort Scott’s Water Distribution Supervisor Bill Lemke said.

Bourbon County, Business, Food, Fort Scott, Youth

Young Entrepreneur: Rinley Holly

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This is part of a series highlighting young entrepreneurs in our community.

If you would like to nominate a young entrepreneur, please submit their contact info to [email protected].

Rinley Holly sells to a customer, while her brother Stetson looks on.

Rinley Holly, rural Fort Scott,  is five years old and likes to bake.

Katie, her mom, said she would bake everyday if she could.

Her parents, Katie and Ethan, own Still Waters Farm and sell beef and pork at the farmers market on Saturdays. She is with her family on Saturday mornings, along with her brother, Stetson, 3.

“Last year, she kept asking me to let her sell cookies,” Katie said.

So, Rinley baked and sold her product once last year at her family’s booth at the Fort Scott Farmers Market.

This year when Katie heard that other entrepreneurs were going to be selling products at the farmers market on June 3, “We asked her if she wanted to make some cookies.”

She did, and she has a helper.

“Stetson likes to taste test for her,” Katie said.

Rinley tells the process of making her cookies:

“You make dough, roll it in a ball, and flatten them with a cup, then put them in the oven on a rack,” she said. “Snickerdoodles are my favorite.” She also makes chocolate chip cookies.

Rinley likes to bake, “Cause it’s fun,” she said.

She is planning on attending the Acton Children’s Business Fair, later this year, her mother said, to learn more about the business side.

“Kids develop a brand, create a product or service, build a marketing strategy, and then open for customers at our one-day marketplace,” according to https://www.childrensbusinessfair.org/fortscott-ks

“We will host children’s business booths at the 2nd annual event that will be held at the Farmer’s Market located at Skubitz Plaza near the Historic Fort on September 30th, 2023 from 8 a.m. to noon.”

The Fort Scott Farmers Market is at Skubitz Plaza, directly in front of the Fort Scott National Historic Site on Tuesdays from 4-6 p.m. and Saturdays from 8 a.m. to noon.

Fort Scott, Youth

Storyteller Jo Ho to Perform for Summer Reading on June 27

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Storyteller Jo Ho will return to Fort Scott on June 27 at 10 a.m. at Memorial Hall.

Enjoy the interactive genius of her customized summer reading storytelling presentation called “I Scream for Ice Cream!” After the performance, come to the library for ice cream in the event room.

 

Library performances are free and open to the public. This event is part of the library’s summer reading program. Learn more about and register for the program at: https://forms.gle/suanVpb2pYH3PwyX8

 

This performance is made possible by a partnership with USD 234.