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The trees will be received by the Kiwanis Club on the last Saturday in April.
The trees will be received by the Kiwanis Club on the last Saturday in April.
The exterior framework began on March 22, on the new Kansas Department of Children and Families building project at Wall Street and National Avenue.
If all goes well, the completion date is July 2024, said Mike Anders, job supervisor of Silverrock Ventures.
The 13,000-square-foot building will house offices, several conference rooms, interview rooms, a large central file room, reception/waiting areas, break rooms, and storage spaces. There is a storm shelter built into the plan.
Kendall Schoenrock, owner, and developer of Silverrock Ventures who is building the new office space for the KDCF, spent time in making the facade of the building fit in with downtown Fort Scott, Anders said.
“It will have a red brick face and a limestone three-foot starter around the bottom of the east and north side,” Anders said. “It will have a different roof to fit in with downtown. It will have outside lighting like that of E3 Ranch, right across the street.”
There will be parking on the north side of the building, on Wall Street, which the building will face. They are also leasing parking spaces from the City of Fort Scott for some parking west of the building, on the south side of that lot.
There is a whole slate of tradesmen lined up for the work ahead: electrical, plumbing, HVAC, concrete, framing, masonry, and painting, Anders said.
Skitches Hauling and Excavation, Inc., Fort Scott, was the demolition contractor for the building site.
“He supplied all of our backfill and got our job site ready to build on,” Anders said. “A great guy.”
“We tried to use local contractors,” he said. “A lot are from a 30-mile radius approximately.”
Silverrock Ventures will do the interior finishing he said.
About DCF
The Kansas Department for Children and Families is available to assist with child care and child support, employment education and training, food and cash assistance, support for youth who have experienced foster care, and more.
For further information about services to the community:
https://www.dcf.ks.gov/services/Pages/default.aspx
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If you suspect a child or vulnerable adult is being harmed emotionally, physically, or sexually, report it to the Kansas Protection Report Center 24/7 at 1-800-922- 5330 or online.
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Breanna Janise Hampton Taylor was arrested on February 25, 2024, by the Bourbon County Sheriff’s Office for unlawful sexual relations of a teacher with a student 16 + years of age, according to Bourbon County District Court Documents.
This was Taylor’s first year of teaching.
The offense date was February 17 and was outside the school environment, according to a press release from the school.
Taylor, who in court documents is now using her maiden name, Hampton, was arrested on February 25, and a $10,000 bond was posted on February 29. The case is listed as pending.
Her first appearance hearing was February 29, and her next court date, a preliminary examination, is March 28.
In the State of Kansas VS Breanna Janise Hampton, the prosecuting attorney is Bourbon County Attorney Tiana McElroy and the defense attorney is Geoffrey Clark.
Mark Ward is the judicial officer.
Hampton is being charged a Level 5 Person Felony in violation of K.S.A. 21-5572 ((a)(9)) and (b)(2).
The penalty range is a minimum of 31 months to a maximum of 136 months in prison and/or fines of up to $300,000 and 24 months post-release supervision.
The presumption of innocence in a criminal case is considered a due process of the law:
To view the USD 235 press release on February 25, about the arrest:
Uniontown Teacher Arrested for Allegation of Inappropriate Conduct Towards a Student
The Kansas Senate Bill 497, to begin the long process of building a reservoir in northern Bourbon County, is dead.
Kansas Senator Tim Shallenberger introduced the bill to start a discussion on a new reservoir in northern Bourbon County on February 9, 2024. Shallenberger is the District 13 Republican from Baxter Springs.
The bill was to establish the Pike Reservoir Project District Act to provide for a lake and related commercial and residential development in Bourbon County and authorize a governing board and sales and property tax increment financing for such project, according to HTTPS://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2023_24/measures/sb497/
To view the bill introduced on February 9, 2024: sb497_00_0000(3)
The bill was referred to the Committee on Agriculture and Natural Resources on February 12.
“There is a process, you introduce a bill, they have hearings, committees, then goes to the House and Senate,” Shallenberger said. “It’s a decades-long thing, the bill was just to kick it off.”
“The whole thing is dead, as best as I can tell,” Shallenberger said. “Unless someone locally wants to take it up again. The next thing that would have to happen is a feasibility study.”
“By looking at the bill, it could give a framework for possible future plans,” he said. “Before you do anything you have to have a framework. That’s why the bill was drafted. There would have been a lot of public input in the years-long process.”
“There are no plans currently,” he said. “The bill is gone, the whole process would all have to start over again.”
“There was pushback from local people,” he said. “They were upset.”
Shallenberger said when he visited Fort Scott last year he met with local business and government representatives “People were talking about a new lake.”
Shane Walker, Bourbon County Director of Information Technology, “had a map of the proposed lake…(and) took me up through the area.”
“It was an interesting landscape, hills and valley, perfect for a lake,” Shallenberger said. “Water is needed in Kansas and there is federal money for it.”
“If someone wanted to do a feasibility study they would have the bill as a framework,” he said.
Shallenberger said “I am optimistic about Fort Scott, there is a lot of potential, even without a new lake. You are a net win on sales tax. People are coming to Fort Scott to buy things.”
Community Members Facilitate Discussion On The Reservoir
There is a meeting this Friday, March 22, in Mapleton, which was initiated by Joe Bisogno, property owner near the reservoir site.
The meeting is scheduled to discuss the reservoir from 4:30 to 6 p.m. at Mapleton Community Center tomorrow, Friday, March 22.
“It was Joe Bisogno’s idea to get something together for information for citizens,” Mike Hueston, Mapleton City Councilman said. “Everybody I talked to, didn’t have a clue about this (reservoir).”
Landowners, community members, and political representatives are welcome to come.
Joe Bisogno owns Timber Hills Ranch in the proposed area.
“I own property that would be flooded,” he said. “The meeting will be about the pros and cons and questions of a lake in the proposed area.”
“I don’t know enough about it to be ‘yes’ or ‘no’ but I know we need water,” Bisogno said. “If the landowners and the officials can work out the details, I think it’s a great project.”
Bartelsmeyer Jewelry, 22 North Main in historic, downtown Fort Scott recently purchased a new laser tool for the store.
Wyatt and Krysta Hulbert are the owners of the store since July 2023, when they purchased it from John and Cindy Bartelsmeyer.
The xTool P2, 55 Watt, CO2 laser engraver can cut through wood, multi-colored acrylics, leather and more, Krysta said.
“We can also engrave pictures and designs on a diverse variety of materials such as paper, fabric, leather, acrylics, glass, slate coasters, phone cases, and wooden cutting boards,” she said. “With the addition of a special metal marking spray, we can create permanent etchings on the surface of several different types of metal as well.”
They purchased the new laser engraver in December of 2023 and spent a few months getting accustomed to the uses and creating displays to showcase what can be done.
“So far, I have used our laser engraver to cut out and engrave acrylic and leather earrings, engrave a coated metal tumbler, engrave a wine glass, create a wooden photograph on basswood, and engrave a personalized wooden cutting board,” she said. “We have also engraved a stainless steel dog tag, and the back of a watch case using Cermark laser marking spray. As we continue working with this new equipment, I am sure we will find many more applications and uses.”
“The minimum charge to have an item that is laser engraved will be around $25, however, each project is different and will be quoted on a per-item basis,” she said.
About the store
The Hulberts provide other services/products to the community.
Jewelry repair, ring sizing, watch battery replacements and watch repair, stylus and laser engraving, buying and selling of gold and silver jewelry and coins, and custom jewelry design.
“We offer many products such as silver fashion jewelry, estate jewelry, diamond engagement rings, and many colored stone rings, necklaces, and bracelets,” she said. “We can special order a variety of gift items such as pen sets, jewelry chests, baby silverware, frames and piggy banks, and other specialty giftware items.”
“We have an amazing team working with us at Bartelsmeyer Jewelry,” she said. “You are sure to be met with a familiar, smiling face when you walk in our door!”
The team members include the Hulberts, John Bartelsmeyer, Julie Kibble, Kerragan Davis, Sammie Ragan, Yvonne Holloway, and Anna Laubenstein.
Hours of operation are Tuesdays-Fridays from 10:00 am to 5:30 pm and on Saturdays from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm.
The store phone number: 620-223-2070
E-mail: [email protected]
Website: www.bartelsmeyerjewelry.com
The Fort Scott Kiwanis Easter Egg Hunt is this Saturday, March 23 at 11 a.m. sharp at Gunn Park Shelter #2. The event is for children preschool through fifth grade, with participants bringing their own Easter baskets to gather the goodies in.
The Kiwanis-sponsored event is always the Saturday before the Easter weekend.
“We recommend people get there at 10:30 a.m.,” Kiwanis President John Crain said. There is always a crowd and it may take a while to get to the child’s age-designated area.
“It’s over at 11:07,” said event coordinator Bob Eckles with a chuckle.
The Easter Bunny will be there, so parents can get a snapshot of their children with him.
“Kiwanis packs the goodies on Thursday at 6 p.m. before the event,” Eckles said. “We get help from the Key Club at the high school.”
They usually spend several hundred dollars on candy, but this year “Candy is more expensive, especially chocolate,” Eckles said.
In some of the eggs are coupons from local businesses: Hedgehog Book Store, Dairy Queen Restaurant, McDonalds Restaurant, NuGrille and Flowers By Leanna.
Cash donations for the event are from: R and R Equipment; Diehl, Fletcher and Banwart CPA;Don’s Spirits and Wines; Merle Humphrey Insurance and Photography; Iron Star Antiques; Big Sugar Lumber; Bids and Dibs Consignment and Walmart.
The Bourbon County Garden Club started in 2003 and gives time and talent to the community through public garden care.
The Bourbon County Garden Club will open its season on Thursday, March 21, with a meeting at 6 p.m. at the Lowell Milken Center in downtown Fort Scott, at Wall and Main Street. The club meets once a month from March until October.
“New members bring new energy and new ideas,” said Martha Jane Gentry, co-president of the club in a press release. “Learn how you can contribute to Bourbon County Garden Club activities for the coming season by attending the March 21 meeting.”
“Garden experience is not necessary for participation,” said Gentry, “The club offers opportunities for learning and for community service.”
“The Garden Club started in 2003 and has grown in membership since then,” she said. “There are now about thirty members representing different ages, interests, and areas of the county.”
Membership is free, with the club’s activities financially supported by one fundraiser. The annual plant sale occurs on the opening Saturday of the Downtown Farmers’ Market, this year on May 4.
“The club partners with Tri-Valley Developmental Services to sell a wide variety of plants, all of which are geared to our area’s growing conditions,” she said. “Club members offer plants freshly dug from their own gardens, and Tri-Valley provides plants and hanging baskets from the agency’s greenhouse.”
About one-third of the members have chosen to further their gardening knowledge by taking the K-State Master Gardener course through the K-State Extension Service.
“The class is offered via Zoom in the fall, with occasional in-person meetings,” she said. “Master Gardeners are required to share their knowledge through area activities, and the local club offers some of those opportunities.”
Many Projects
In addition to increasing in number, the number of community projects has increased.
The partnership with the City of Fort Scott has been vital for many of these projects.
“The city installed the watering system for Heritage Park (at First and Main Street) which members designed and planted in 2006,” she said. “That garden features a mix of annuals and perennials and is a colorful backdrop for Friday night concerts, photo shoots, and downtown gatherings.”
“Later, the city added a watering system for the downtown hanging planters and for the island gardens at the pool,” Gentry said.” In addition to those projects, the club has planted, cared for, and watered gardens in the North Main area.”
“A recent project is the island garden at Riverfront Park, a collaboration with the Fire Department and Riverfront volunteers,” she said.
The newest project is outside the downtown area.
Residential pocket gardens were expanded last year through the club. Several members had already planted corner/pocket gardens, and the club decided to expand the project. Two local homeowners won free gardens from drawings through the club’s Facebook page and at the plant sale.
“A pocket garden is a small planting plot or large pot tucked into a convenient corner of your property,” according to www.bobvilla.com>articles>pocket-gardens.
“I do the four corners at 8th and Crawford as part of the pocket garden project,” she said. “There are bulbs currently blooming”
A club committee collaborated with those homeowners in the fall, before planting the garden.
“Look for Garden Club Pocket Garden signs throughout Fort Scott to see what can flourish in small areas with challenging conditions,” she said. “For all gardens, the plant selection focuses on choices that are drought. Both the city staff and club members are committed to minimal water usage.”
Fort Scott High School Floriculture Teacher Sydney Cullison’s students plan to create and sell some of the products they have learned to make.
“Students in floriculture are looking to create Easter-themed centerpiece arrangements,” she said. “This is a learning experience for students and each arrangement may vary slightly.”
This is the first year for floriculture in FSHS.
“Our source of flowers is Flowers By Leanna,” she said. “She sells them wholesale to us. We have done a workshop there with her.”
“It’s the first time we’ve ever sold arrangements,” Cullison said. “We are testing the waters.”
“We plan to make corsages and boutonnieres,” she said.
“We are lucky to have several floral shops in town, some rural towns don’t, but we want to give the kids the experiences at the same time,” she said.
“The proceeds will be used for future floriculture things,” she said.
Orders for the Easter arrangements are due by March 17.
Each arrangement is $30. Flowers to be possibly included are: white easter lilies, tulips, stock, carnations, static, and leather leaf in a 5.5″ tall tin bucket with ribbon.
Cash or Check to Fort Scott FFA. Venmo @Sydney-Cullison
Delivery inside city limits is available for $5.
Pick up at FSHS Ag Shop.
Delivery and pick up on March 27 by 4 p.m.
Order Link: https://forms.gle/
Saint Martin’s Academy is a Catholic boarding school for boys that combines classical academics with a practical work program on a sustainable farm. and is located southwest of Fort Scott.
It seems they have some athletes as well.
“We are the reigning Kansas State Rugby Champions, ” said school headmaster Daniel Kerr. ” Currently, we are ranked #9 in the country for all schools of any size according to the Goff Rugby Report.”
“To be a rugby player at St. Martin’s Academy is to be part of something larger than yourself,” said Coach John Prezzia. “It’s to be a band of brothers; a small group of young men united in the forge of intense battle amongst each other, where they are truly, ‘ironing sharpening iron’. This creates a bond amongst them that is so tight, that every one of them is completely willing to sacrifice all of himself for the sake of each brother next to him, and the team as a whole”
“This unity of purpose and toughness is how we continually punch above our weight, and with only 68 boys total enrolled at the school, we can compete with the very best teams in the country,” he said. “We have just been invited to the National Tournament…and are currently in the planning and fundraising phase. The boys have worked unbelievably hard to get to this level, and are incredibly excited to compete with the best.”
We got the invite last Tuesday, and when I announced it to the boys, they just about brought the house down with their hooting and hollering,” Prezzia said. “It was a pretty special way to kick off this journey to try and bring a Rugby National Title back to Fort Scott.”
“Rugby, a “barbarian’s sport played by gentlemen”, was invented in Rugby, England in 1823 when William Webb Ellis picked up a soccer ball and ran with it,” Kerr said. “It is the progenitor of American football. For example, the name ‘touchdown’ comes from the rule in rugby where you have to physically touch the ball down in the endzone for the score to count. Rugby combines the fluidity and continuous play of soccer with the physicality and roughness of American football. There are 15 players on the field and like soccer, they play both offense and defense as the ball changes possession. Like American football, the aim is to carry the ball across the opponents goal line and touch the ball down in the opponents end-zone or ‘try zone’. A ‘touchdown’ is called a ‘try’ in Rugby. A try is worth 5 points and the subsequent conversion kick is worth 2 points.”