Category Archives: Youth

Bourbon County, Bourbon County Sheriff's Office, Schools, Youth

Youth Sex Trafficking Prevention Presentation is January 31

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The following is a press release from USD 234 Superintendent Destry Brown.

“I am excited to announce that thanks to Shanda Stewart, the E3 Ranch Foundation, and the Bourbon County Sheriff’s Department we are able to bring a phenomenal speaker to our community to educate us on the dangers of social media and its relationship to sex trafficking.  Please mark your calendar for Wednesday, January 31st 6 p.m. at the FSCC Ellis Fine Arts Center!,” according to the press release.

“Russ Tuttle will also be presenting to our students in all Fort Scott Schools on February 1st. His presentations to students are age appropriate and are geared at teaching students about the dangers of using social media.,” according to the release.
Here is the flyer for the event:

BeAlert® is the awareness and prevention strategy of The Stop Trafficking Project® to end domestic minor sex trafficking (DMST)before it starts by disrupting the exploitation of vulnerability.

THIS ADULT ONLY COMMUNITY PRESENTATION FOCUSES ON THE ROLE OF “LIFE ONLINE” FOR STUDENTS

ONE IMAGE & THREE WORDS WILL CHANGE YOUR PARADIGM!

 

The Who – caring adults invited to attend:

  • Law enforcement
  • Firefighter’s and EMT’s
  • Medical professionals
  • Counselors
  • Faith community leaders
  • School personnel
  • Parents, guardians, and all other adult family members

 

The What – educate and empower caring adults in our community:

  • Students are enamored with social media and “life online”
  • Name apps and provide practical advice to guide caring adults
  • Unpack vulnerabilities that can be exploited: loneliness, isolation, depression, suicide, sexting, sextortion, pornography, cyberbullying, exploitation, sexual exploitation, and domestic minor sex trafficking (DMST)

The How – the approach: Fast-moving Power Point presentation designed for maximum impact

 

The presenter – an active abolitionist: Has command of the topic and speaks with energy that grabs and keeps the attention of attendees.

The presentation – fast paced with appropriate images and videos:

  • Provide insight into the role of technology in exploiting vulnerabilities
  • Identify the demand in this high demand business of sexual exploitation
  • Provide the option to engage with the BeAlert® Strategy, the Stop Trafficking App, and the “top ten practical steps” for adults to keep students safer

 

LOCATION:   FSCC ELLIS FINE ARTS CENTER

SPONSORS:  E3 RANCH FOUNDATION & BOURBON COUNTY SHERIFF’S         DEPARTMENT

TIME: 6 PM  on January 31

OTHER DETAILS: NO CHILDREN PLEASE

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: SHANDA STEWART 620-215-2681

Area News, Fort Scott, Youth

Fort Scott Students Qualify For PSU Fall Semester Honor Roll

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Pittsburg State University has released the honor roll for the 2023 Fall semester.  

To qualify for Dean’s Scholastic Honors, a student must complete at least 12 semester hours, receive a grade point average of 3.6000 for all credit course work that semester, and have no grade lower than a B and no grade of I in any course during the semester.

To qualify for All-A Scholastic Honors, a student must complete at least 12 semester hours, receive a grade of A in all credit course work for the semester and have no grade of I in any course during the semester.

https://www.pittstate.edu/gorillaconnection/2023/12/university-releases-fall-2023-honor-roll.html?fbclid=IwAR1IzRUQggg22lCy1o2TKYqn0Tl2HZwJ-LPRZpQhmEX4Qln9HhuK2Ny66CA

The following are the honor students listed from Fort Scott:

Burke, Rebecca B. Fort Scott Psychology SR Dean’s Scholastic Honors

Carver, Kaeden L. Fort Scott Accounting JR Dean’s Scholastic Honors

Delatorre, Jacob Fort Scott Physical Education SR All A Scholastic Honors

Emmerson, Amanda R. Fort Scott Elementary Education JR All A Scholastic Honors

Erie, Aleana G. Fort Scott English SR All A Scholastic Honors

Feagins, Grant Fort Scott Accounting JR All A Scholastic Honors

Gorman, Tyler D. Fort Scott General Studies SR Dean’s Scholastic Honors

Goucher, Courtney Fort Scott Workforce Development SR All A Scholastic Honors

Hill, Sage R. Fort Scott Geo and Political Sciences JR All A Scholastic Honors

Hudiburg, Dawna C. Fort Scott Rec, Sport, and Hospitality Mgmt SR All A Scholastic Honors

Jones, Madison P. Fort Scott Physical Education SR Dean’s Scholastic Honors

Jones, David A. Fort Scott Music JR All A Scholastic Honors

Keating, Elizabeth Fort Scott Nursing SR Dean’s Scholastic Honors

Love, Adriana N. Fort Scott Nursing SR All A Scholastic Honors

Madison, Kendall E. Fort Scott Elementary Education SR All A Scholastic Honors

Mason, Rylan Fort Scott Biology SO All A Scholastic Honors

Mcclure, Macayla J. Fort Scott Elementary Education SR All A Scholastic Honors

Michaud, Alaenah M. Fort Scott Biology JR Dean’s Scholastic Honors

Michaud, Alec P. Fort Scott Construction Eng Technology SR All A Scholastic Honors

Mix, Angela C. Fort Scott Psychology SR All A Scholastic Honors

Reynolds, Kerigan J. Fort Scott Psychology SO All A Scholastic Honors

Terry, Noah R. Fort Scott Electrical Technology SO All A Scholastic Honors

Witt, Ivan A. Fort Scott Accounting SR All A Scholastic Honors

Entertainment, Fort Scott, Youth

7th Annual Library Family Holiday Party 

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Come to the Fort Scott Public Library on December 18 at 4 pm for a family holiday party! Enjoy holiday stories, songs, games, snacks, crafts, prizes, and gifts. Teens will have their own games & activities upstairs. Adults will have their own craft table! Everyone will have something fun to do.
Kids 1st grade & under must be accompanied by an adult at all times. Activities include holiday stories & singalong, cookie decorating, candy cane hunt, “snowball fight,” teen games, and crafts. All children and teens will receive at least one gift and a free book!

The library is seeking volunteers to help supervise the activities and groups, and donors to help provide food. Sign up here: https://forms.gle/Nofhf7aYuChp1aRL8 if you’d like to help.

After stories and songs, the event will be split up by family groups rather than age groups (with the exception of 4th-12th graders, who will remain upstairs for the majority of the event), although age-appropriate activities will be offered for each level. If you will have your children with you and would like to volunteer to help, you may stay with your family or group the entire time while helping to keep the event supervised and activities running smoothly. Email [email protected] or fill out the form linked above to volunteer or donate.+


Want to donate food but aren’t sure what to give? See this list for suggested items: Holiday Party Food Donation List
Happy Holidays!
Submitted photos.
Government, Kansas, Youth

KS Early Childhood Transition Task Force Final Report Presented

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Governor Kelly Announces Release of
Early Childhood Transition Task Force
Final Report

~~Report Analyzes Current Early Childhood Care and Education System, Recommends Unification of Kansas’ Early Childhood Services~~

TOPEKA – Today, the Kansas Early Childhood Transition Task Force (ECTTF), established by Governor Laura Kelly through the first executive order of her second term, presented its final report outlining how the State of Kansas can better serve children and families. The purpose of the Task Force was to examine Kansas’ early childhood system and identify steps the state can take to reduce burdens placed on families, increase accountability for early childhood programs, and eliminate inefficiencies and gaps in service.

“A key component of making Kansas the best state to raise a family is giving our children the strongest possible start to life,” Governor Laura Kelly said. “Thank you to the Early Childhood Transition Task Force members for their hard work, for listening to Kansans across the state this past summer, and for putting together a blueprint for action. Their final report will help me determine the best path forward to make early childhood services more accessible and affordable for all Kansas families.”

The Task Force’s final report, drawing from a series of public input sessions held across the state this past summer, highlights the need to consolidate services to reduce red tape and bureaucratic burdens on families navigating the system. Currently, four different state agencies are involved in providing early childhood services. The report recommends that Kansas unify its “early childhood care and education services into a single state entity.”

“I’m proud to have guided the Early Childhood Transition Task Force through its work this past year, said Sam Huenergardt, Co-Chair of the ECTTF. “Our final recommendation to consolidate Kansas’ early childhood care and education services into one entity would reduce the burden on children and families attempting to navigate the current system. Thank you to Governor Kelly and the Task Force for their dedication to Kansas families and future generations.”

Other recommendations include collecting and sharing data that could improve the provision and accountability of services and providing greater support for families and businesses looking to access or provide child care.

“It has been a true honor to serve as Co-Chair of the Early Childhood Transition Task Force,” said Cornelia Stevens, Co-Chair of the ECTTF. “The group’s commitment to improving systems and processes that will positively impact Kansas children and families was evident in every discussion. The recommendations provided were well thought out and will result in a more efficient and effective system for Kansas children and families.”

Governor Kelly will take the Task Force’s recommendations under advisement and now determine next steps for beginning the process of unifying Kansas’ early childhood services. The Task Force included representatives from business, government, advocacy, and early childhood sectors, as well as members of the Kansas Legislature. The Hunt Institute provided operational support and policy expertise to the Task Force’s efforts.

A full copy of the Task Force’s final report can be found here.

Fort Scott, Schools, Youth

FSHS Thespians Direct Children’s Production of ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas 

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FSHS Thespians Direct Children’s Production of ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas 

 

The Fort Scott High School Thespians present their children’s theatre production of ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas by Kathryn Schultz Miller.

 

Performances are at 7 p.m. on Dec. 8 and 9 at the FSHS Auditorium. Doors open 30 minutes prior to showtime.

 

The mini-musical is based on the traditional Christmas poem by Clement C. Moore with a modern take including Izzy the Christmas mouse played by Theodore Bowman, Rosie the red-nosed reindeer played by Mary Racer, and other holiday favorite characters such as reindeer, elves, and even the Abominable Snowman. Audience members will get to join in the fun throughout the performance. Cast members include fifty local children in 1st-8th grades.

 

‘Twas the Night Before Christmas’ is produced by FSHS Theatre Director Angie Bin with assistance from Levi Bin. Direction and design is by the FSHS Thespians. Junior Cooper George serves as Director with junior Mykael Lewis assisting. Junior Alyssa Popp is the Stage Manager.

 

Tickets are all reserved seating and are $6 from fortscotthighschool.ludus.com or at the door. Seating is limited.

 

# # #

 

Contact: Angie Bin, 620-719-9622, [email protected]

 

Bourbon County, Youth

CASA Christmas Celebration is December 8

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Sending on behalf of Chamber Member

Bourbon County CASA…..

Change a Child’s Story!

You are cordially invited to a

Christmas Celebration

to benefit Bourbon County CASA

Friday, December 8th 2023

Mitch and Colleen Quick’s Residence

2086 Justice Road

Fort Scott, Kansas 66701

7:00-9:00pm

Heavy hors d’oeuvres and full bar provided

Giving Levels

Payable with your reservation response card

Sponsor

$25 per person

$50 per couple

Guardian

$50 per person

$100 per couple

Guardian Angel

$75 per person

$150 per couple

Friend

$125 per person

$250 per couple

Defender

$500 per person

$1000 per couple

Benefactor

$1,000 per person and over

Mail your selected giving level to:

Bourbon County CASA

PO Box 146

Fort Scott, Kansas 66701

Click here to RSVP, please RSVP by

Friday, December 1st.

Contact CASA Director Christa Horn with any questions or for more information 620-215-2769.
Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce | 231 E. Wall Street, Fort Scott, KS 66701
Fort Scott, Schools, Sports, Youth

2023 Fall Extravaganza is November 20: Shopping To Support the Swim Team

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Fort Scott Middle School.

The annual 2023 Fall Extravaganza is Monday,  November 20 from 5-8 p.m. at the Fort Scott Middle School. The event began in 2009.

“Fort Scott High School Swimming is sponsoring the event,” said Madeline Martin, the swim coach for both boys and girls teams.
“The purpose of the event is to help our swimmers raise money to attend the 2024 Summer Olympic Swim Trials as well as bring an opportunity to town to support local businesses.”

“We have 56 booth spaces this year, a few more than last year in addition to several new vendors,” Martin said.

On  Facebook: https://fb.me/e/NkwvKmyf

Below is a list of vendors for the event:

About FSHS Swim Teams

“We have 11 boys coming out this year through our cooperative agreement with Frontenac and Pittsburg (school districts),” Martin said. “This girl’s season I am planning on 15+ girls from our COOP with Pittsburg, Frontenac, Arma, Colgan, and Humboldt ( school districts).”

The swim team practices from Monday-Friday in Pittsburg at the YMCA.

“Boys swimming has been active in Fort Scott since the winter of 2019 and then girl’s season began the spring of ’20 but was cut short due to COVID,” she said. “Angie Kemmerer began coaching the team and this will be my third year as swim coach.”

The money raised from booths at the Fall Extravaganza will allow the student-athletes to go to the Summer Olympics in Indianapolis, Indiana in June 2024.

“We are going to be spectators at the Summer Olympics,” she said. “The kids are excited to go watch some of their favorite athletes in person and watch a high-level competition in person.”

 

 

Art, Fort Scott, Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce, Youth

World Famous Vienna Boys Choir Coming to Fort Scott on Nov. 10

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Photo credit: Lukas Beck.

The Vienna Boys Choir is coming to Fort Scott Community College on Friday, Nov. 10. The performance will be at 7 p.m. at the Ellis Fine Arts Center on the campus of Fort Scott Community College, 2108 S. Horton.

Fort Scott Community College

“FSCC was excited to partner with the Vienna Boys Choir to highlight our wonderful facility and offer the community of Fort Scott a performance from this famous choir,” Tom Havron, FSCC Vice President of Student Affairs said. “All excess revenue generated from the performance will go to student scholarships from the FSCC Foundation.”

 

“The Vienna Boys Choir is one of the most famous choirs in the world, and one of its oldest,” according to a press release. “In 1498, Emperor Maximilian I moved his court to Vienna to establish the Chapel Imperial there, along with the Vienna Boys Choir. Over the centuries, the court attracted musicians like Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and Anton Bruckner. Joseph Haydn, Michael Haydn, and Franz Schubert were themselves choirboys.

“The 100 boy choristers between the ages of nine and fourteen are divided into four choirs. Between them, the choirs give around 300 concerts each year, attended by almost half a million spectators around the world. Since 1924, the boys have sung over 1000 tours in 100 different countries, which has resulted in a staggering 29,000 performances. At the Sunday services in Vienna’s Imperial Chapel, they perform with members of the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra and the State Opera Chorus. The Choir frequently appears with major orchestras, conducted by Joana Mallwitz, Zubin Mehta, Riccardo Muti, Christian Thielemann, and Simone Young. Recent highlights include appearances at the Salzburg Festival and the Vienna Philharmonic’s New Year’s Concert.

“The Vienna Boys Choir’s singing tradition is listed by UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) as an intangible cultural heritage in Austria. Professor Gerald Wirth, himself a former choirboy, is the Artistic Director of the entire Campus.”

 

“Today the Vienna Boys Choir is a private, non-profit organization, which relies on sponsorship and donations. The Choir maintains a primary school, a junior, and a senior high school. 300 boys and girls between the ages of six and 19 attend the Choir’s Schools in Vienna’s Augarten Park. All receive individual voice lessons and sing in one of the choirs. The Choir’s education is open to all, regardless of their origin, nationality, or religion. About a third of the students go on to become music professionals.

 

 

 

Entertainment, Fort Scott, Schools, Youth

FSHS Thespians Announce Auditions for Children’s Christmas Show

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The Fort Scott High School Thespians are holding auditions for ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas by Kathryn Schultz Miller.

 

Auditions are open to children in 1st-8th grades and take place from 6-8 p.m. on Nov. 13 OR 14 in the FSHS Auditorium. Children do not need to prepare anything in advance, but should plan to stay for the duration of the audition time on one of the nights. Parents should be present at the beginning for information and to fill out audition forms.

 

Rehearsals will generally occur Monday-Thursday from 6-8 p.m. Performances are Dec. 8 and 9 at 7 p.m. in the FSHS Auditorium. There is a $30 participation fee for children cast in the show.

 

‘Twas the Night Before Christmas is produced by FSHS Theatre Director Angie Bin with direction and design by the FSHS Thespians. Please contact Bin at [email protected] or 620-719-9622 with any questions.

History, Lowell Milken Center for Unsung Heroes, Youth

Award-Winning Teacher and Students Visit the Lowell Milken Center

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Paige Franzen, Kadence Huck, and Callahan Levi, winners of the $2,500 First Prize in the Lowell Milken Center’s 2023 International Discovery Award competition, will be guests at the LMC on Thursday, November 2nd.

These 11th-grade students from Nashua-Plainfield High School in Nashua, Iowa, along with their award-winning social studies teacher, Suzy Turner, a 2022 LMC Fellow, are in Fort Scott to collaborate with the LMC staff on the production of a new exhibit panel for the Center’s Hall of Heroes.

The new exhibit will feature Unsung Hero Christine Grant, the subject of the students’ award-winning project. Their documentary, Why Not Us? Dr. Christine Grant’s Pursuit of Gender Equality, shares the story of Dr. Grant’s significant contributions to furthering gender equality in collegiate sports. As the decades-long athletic director at the University of Iowa, Grant embraced the historic passing of Title IX, building a highly recognized and unprecedented women’s athletic program.

Through their interviews with Grant’s previous students, mentees, and colleagues, the Nashua students were able to provide firsthand insight into the legacy she left behind. This information will be a valuable resource as the Lowell Milken Center staff works with Suzy Turner and her students to create a powerful new exhibit.

About the Lowell Milken Center: The Lowell Milken Center is a non-profit 501 © (3) that works with students and educators within diverse academic disciplines to develop projects focused on unsung heroes. Once their projects are finished, we advocate for the student’s unsung heroes by sharing them in our Hall of Unsung Heroes or our website so people all over the world discover their individual influence and obligation to take actions that improve the lives of others. The Hall of Unsung Heroes is proudly located in Southeast Kansas and showcases some of the top projects developed in collaboration with the Center.