The Beacon is located at 525 E. Sixth Street, Fort Scott.
Dave Gillen is the food pantry administrator for the Beacon. Photo by Carol MacArthur.
On Monday, June 1, 2020, David Gillen assumed full management of the operation as Beacon Food Pantry Administrator. The new assistant administrator is Patty Mowen. Both are knowledgeable of the operation, and both consider this organization their “mission.” according to the press release submitted by Carol MacArthur, board chairwoman.
Beacon Assistant Director Patty Mowen. Submitted photo.
At this time, no one but the staff is allowed inside the building, according to the press release.
Food orders are called in, filled, and picked up at the back dock of the building at 525 E. Sixth. This practice may become permanent, according to the press release.
Financial requests may be called in at this time as well.
People may call The Beacon and ask for David Gillen, for inquiries, MacArthur said. The phone number is 620-223- 6869.
Improvements in the facility have already been made by Gillen and volunteers.
Office equipment is being updated as needed as well to improve service to clients.
The Beacon, Inc., in existence for almost forty years, began as churches in the community came together to serve the needs of Fort Scott and Bourbon County.
They have provided those struggling in the community as a food pantry and in offering financial assistance, dominantly through the efforts of community-related donations.
Currently, the organization provides food, financial assistance, and referrals to other service organizations.
“People have been so generous with funds and donations,” MacArthur said. ” But we have had difficulty procuring large amounts of food (during the pandemic),”
“The community has been wonderful,” she said.
The Beacon is located at 525 E. Sixth Street, Fort Scott, Ks. 66701, and is open from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Monday through Friday, with one exception.
On the second and fourth Tuesday of each month, the Beacon is closed during the day and is open instead from 4:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Fort Scott Community College, 2108 S. Horton is the site of the annual Independence Day fireworks event.
In a year that is seeing a reduction in public gatherings there will be a community celebration this year: Independence Day.
The Fort Scott Elk’s Lodge has coordinated the community fireworks display to celebrate America’s Independence for the past 25 years or more and has a goal this year of $7,000 to cover the costs.
“I think this year after all everyone has been dealing with during the pandemic, everyone will be ready for some good old fashion 4th of July fun,” Bill Brittain, with the Elks organization, said.
“The public can watch from their cars or from anywhere in the community you can see them,” Brittain said. “A lot of people do line up on Horton Street to be close and many sit in or on their cars from the Bourbon County Fairgrounds as well but again they can be seen from many parts of the community.”
The event is July 3.
“The city of Fort Scott moved this event to July 3rd a few years ago from the 4th so we have them shot on the 3rd,” Brittain said.
“Our (fireworks) company we deal with for this, sets up behind Fort Scott Community College by the ball fields to actually shoot them off,” he said. “Nobody is allowed back there during this time or while setting them up!”
“I might add it takes the entire community to make this happen,” Brittain said. “The city and county also help with this financially. We have corporate sponsors that help with this and other charitable events we do throughout the year. The public can help with this by playing in the golf tournament as well.”
The weather looks good for Saturday, a perfect day to get out and shop Fort Scott.
This Saturday, May 30, eleven retail stores have signed up to be a part of the Merchant Madness Sidewalk Sale, hosted by the Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce.
The event will be from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and participating stores will be marked with purple balloons, according to Rita Schroeder, the Chamber’s administrative assistant.
Those who have signed up: include Bids & Dibs, Books & Grannies (inside), Heidrick’s True Value/Nancy’s Gift Corner, Fort Scott Gun & Pawn, Hedgehog.INK (inside), J & W Sports Shop, Main St. Gallery & Gifts, Mayco Ace Hardware, Ruddick’s Furniture, Sunshine Boutique, Iron Star (inside) and Treasure Hunt Flea Market.
In light of the COVID 19 Pandemic, most businesses will have hand sanitizer available before touching items in the sale.
However, bringing one’s own sanitizer is a good option while shopping.
Hedgehog.INK is asking all who enter their store to wear masks as well.
Social distancing is in force in the county for all public events.
For more information: 620-223-3566 or
Lindsay Madison, President & CEO, [email protected]
Fort Scott Community College President Alysia Johnston.
Fort Scott Community College employees have been working on how to provide an education safely to all involved during the pandemic that has played havoc across the world.
“We have been working with local, regional, and state health officials to determine how best to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 for our students, employees, and community,” President Alysia Johnston said. “We want to meet the unique needs of our students while keeping everyone safe.”
Schedules have been changed.
“The June summer schedule has been changed to an all-online format with the exception of John Deere,” she said. “The classes will be split so there are not more than 10 students at one time.”
Adam Borth. Submitted photo.
“Currently, John Deere has two classrooms and a total of 15 students will be on campus in June,” Adam Borth, vice president of academic affairs, said. ” This will allow us to utilize both classrooms and appropriate distancing requirements. We will also be cleaning and sanitizing surfaces to exceed recommendations. We are hoping and planning for all of our technical classes to begin in August 2020, just as they did in 2019. While we prepare for this, we also will likely need to be prepared to have quite a bit of hands-on training in the first portion of the classes, should we need to go back online again. Our plan, at this time, is face to face courses for fall.”
“We are looking at a possible change to our fall calendar schedule that would have students finish the fall semester before Thanksgiving,” Johnston said. “We believe this would help mitigate the spread of the pandemic as we would not be bringing students back once again from a wide geographical area.”
“We are discussing the idea of moving our start date up for fall classes, to begin on August 10,” Borth, said.
“We have tentatively set the commencement ceremony for Saturday, November 21, 2020 for graduates from spring 2020, summer 2020, and fall 2020,” he said.
“This would allow us to end the week of Thanksgiving, and hopefully minimize exposure during the fall semester. Our spring 2021 semester has not changed at this point, although this could change, given the fluidity of this situation,” Borth said.
“We are still evaluating courses which begin in July, and will continue to do so while the situation evolves,” he said. “The primary changes will be the amount of students in a classroom at any given time. We will ensure 15 occupants are in a classroom during this phase of reopening, and also ensure social distancing is occurring. This may mean significant changes to how our courses are scheduled by the time August rolls around.”
Some students will be tested for COVID 19.
“We plan on bringing back some student-athletes in July and have been working with Community Health Center of SEK to perform COVID-19 testing for the students,” Johnston said. ” We have procedures and protocols in place if someone tests positive for COVID-19. We are extremely grateful to CHC of SEK for working with us to establish best practices and administering the tests at no cost to the college or students.”
Budgets are revisited.
“We are currently developing the 2021 fiscal budget and analyzing available data and information to determine the best budgeting solutions,” she said. ” We know our state funding will be lower and we are making adjustments – keeping in mind the critical needs of students and all stakeholders must be met.”
Safety is a priority.
“Making sure students, employees and the community are safe is our greatest concern and we are working every day on best practices to make sure we meet all our stakeholder’s needs,” Johnston said.
On-campus classes for the fall semester are planned for students.
“The students, faculty, and the staff have done an amazing job adapting to online classes and working remotely,” she said. “However, we are all looking forward to having students on campus for the fall semester.”
Sliding fee discounts and financial assistance is available to eligible patients, as stated on the front door of the CHC/SEK Clinic in Fort Scott.
Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas now offers COVID-19 antibody testing through QUEST Laboratories, according to Robert Poole, Communication and Marketing Director, in a press release.
Antibody testing is useful for research and specific virus investigations or epidemiologic studies. CHC/SEK shares testing results with its state and federal partners, according to the press release.
Put simply, the body makes antibodies to fend off germs and other harmful substances. And this process is part of the body’s immune response, according to dictionary.com.
The antibody test requires a physician’s order and looks for antibodies in persons who may have had, and have recovered from COVID-19, according to the press release.
Individuals wanting this antibody testing should discuss their concerns and what their results might mean with their doctor.
Laboratory orders can be accepted from physicians outside of the organization for this test, for example, a college student might have a primary care physician in another city.
COVID-19 antibody tests require a blood draw.
Testing is available at either the CHC/SEK Walk in-In Care, 1624 S. National, or the medical clinic at 401 Woodland Hills Blvd.
A positive result does not guarantee immunity from the virus. Whether you test positive or negative, you should still take preventative measures to protect yourself and others from the virus.
The cost of the COVID-19 antibody testing is being covered by the federal government, however, patients may incur an office visit fee depending on their insurance and income status.
Other points from the press release:
The science of COVID-19 testing is evolving, and test accuracy is not perfect. However, testing for antibodies can help identify people who have likely been exposed to the COVID-19 and have mounted an immune response to the virus.
The timing of the test is important. It typically takes 1 to 3 weeks after someone becomes infected with COVID-19 for their body to make antibodies; some people may take longer to develop antibodies.
It is unknown if people with antibodies have immunity and are protected from becoming sick with COVID-19 again. It is also not known how long those antibodies will last.
Antibody tests are not used to diagnose someone as being currently sick with COVID-19. To see if you have a current infection, you need a viral test that checks respiratory samples, such as a swab from inside your nose.
Whether you test positive or negative for COVID-19, you should still take preventative measures to protect yourself and others from the virus.
Allen Schellack, director of Fort Scott Compassionate Ministries.
Three Christian ministries are working together to bring food to those affected by the COVID 19 Pandemic.
Fort Scott Compassionate Ministries, Fort Scott Church of the Nazarene, and Convoy of Hope will be having a food distribution event, Saturday, May 23, from 10 AM to 2 PM at Fort Scott Nazarene, 1728 S Horton.
Convoy of Hope is providing the food, the church is providing the distribution place and some volunteers and Allen Schellack, director of Fort Scott Compassionate Ministries, is providing the coordination of the food distribution.
The Fort Scott Church of the Nazarene is located at 1728 S. Horton. People should enter off of Horton Street and will pick up food under the canopy on the south side of the church.
Food distributed (while supplies last) will include potatoes, bread, eggs, produce, and bottled juice and tea, according to Allen Schellack, director.
Schellack recently completed a Convoy of Hope Zoom training and on May 20 he was told that food to distribute would be available on May 23.,
Schellack with his son, Dustin, will be picking up the food from the Convoy of Hope hub site in Webb City, MO.
Volunteers are needed on May 23 to help direct traffic for the event, unpack the food, and hand out the food, Schellack said.
Volunteers can call Schellack to schedule a work time at 620-223-2212.
There are no income guidelines to receive the food, nor registration requirements.
“We hope to make this the first of many more events,” Schellack said.
“This is a community event and our vision is to have more churches involved to help serve the community,” he said.
Convoy of Hope is a faith-based organization with a driving passion to feed the world through children’s feeding initiatives, community outreaches, disaster response and partner resourcing, according to its’ Facebook page.
Schellack is a member of the Fort Scott Church of the Nazarene and members are supporting this outreach as volunteers and allowing the church to be the distribution point.
The mission of Fort Scott Compassionate Ministries is to
alleviate suffering caused by poverty, and issues relating to poverty, and promote family values through partnership with local and state agencies.
The FSCM Outreach Center is located on the second floor of The Bourbon County Senior Citizens Center, 26 N. Main and was founded in 2014, with Schellack at the director.
Reyna Valenzuela, 21, was hired as a Fort Scott High School English Teacher for 2020-21.
She graduated from Pittsburg High School in 2016 and from Pittsburg State University with a Bachelor’s Degree in English Education in May 2020 and will be starting a Master’s in English Literature in the fall.
“I worked at St. Mary’s Colgan as a YES Tutor for a year and a half, following that I worked for two years on campus as a writing center consultant,” she said. “I also did my internship through PSU at Northeast High School as well as completed my student teaching at Northeast.”
Valenzuela was born in Fort Hood, Texas and has lived in Arma, KS since she was three-years-old.
Her interests include reading, Greek Mythology, British Literature, watching YouTube, and Netflix, her cat, and hanging out with her family.
In addition, she loves softball, baseball, and football.
“So I look forward to cheering students on at their games in the future,” she said.
Becoming a teacher was a realization for Valenzuela.
” I wasn’t always sure what I wanted to do, I switched my dream career a lot when I was younger,” she said. “Eventually though, after watching my mom become a teacher and having an amazing AP Literature teacher during my senior year of high school, I realized that this was the field for me. I wanted to have the chance to make a difference in a student’s life as my mom, Tina Valenzuela, and my AP Literature teacher, Mrs. Johnson, did in mine. Because of this, I’ve worked hard through college to learn as much as I could so I could become a successful educator who makes a difference and helps her students in positive ways.”
“Seeing how much they both loved to teach and how they put everything they had into the classroom was incredibly inspiring and I don’t think I would have come this far without them,” she said.
The best part of teaching for her are the students, she said.
“Getting to know them, watching them grow, and succeed, they are the reason I want to teach so I guess it only makes sense they are the best part of teaching.”
Some of the challenges of teaching is continuing to learn and grow as a teacher “so that you are still providing students the most effective methods of learning is what I would consider one of the greatest challenges in teaching; because as humans we like routine, and so making sure that you’re constantly changing and evolving is something that can be a struggle, but it’s worth it, in the end, to watch students grow,” she said.
On Friday, May 15, 2020, Kansas Gas Service responded to a gas odor call after a report of a lightning strike that damaged two structures in the 600 block of S. National, according to a press release from KGS.
Fort Scott Fire Department and Fort Scott Police Department had National Avenue blocked off between 6th Street and 7th Street that morning as a result of the gas leak, according to Aimee Moore, who lives in the block that was affected.
Moore had cameras on her house that caught the lightning strike. They are included at the end of this feature.
KGS technicians performed inspections and turned the gas off at two properties until the customers completed necessary repairs to the customer-owned equipment, Dawn Tripp, KGS Media Relations said on Monday afternoon.
“Kansas Gas came out and shut off the gas line before removing the meter,” Moore, said. Stoughton Inc. completed the repairs and ran the pressure test. Fort Scott Code Enforcement personnel gave the okay and Moore waited until KGS put the meter back and turned it on.
As a reminder, if you smell natural gas or have a natural gas emergency, leave the area immediately. Then call 911 and Kansas Gas Service at 888-482-4950.
Moore submitted the following information and links to the recent lightning strike in Fort Scott.
“Friday, May 15, 2020, at 9:37 a.m., lightning struck Dr. Steve Mitchell’s office at 624 South National Ave and caused a gas leak,” she said.
“The current traveled through our electrical lines and also caused arcing to blow out our gas line at 612 S National Ave.,” Moore said. “Pictures fell off of our wall and also at the florist next to us, Flowers by LeeAnn.”
Moore submitted the following links of the lightning strikes.
Larry Davolt is the new principal of Fort Scott Christian Heights. Submitted photo
Larry Davolt, 53, will be the new principal at Fort Scott Christian Heights School, effective June 1.
“I have been the secondary science teacher at FSCH for 28 years,” Davolt said. ” I have also taught math and Bible classes.”
The principal position is responsible for the day to day operations of the school, he said.
In addition to 28 years of experience is in the classroom, Davolt also pastored a rural church for 15 years, he said.
He earned a bachelor’s degree in education from Pittsburg State University and completed some graduate work through the Institute for Creation Research, and is currently working online for a master’s degree in school leadership.
Davolt’s hometown is Independence, KS.
He has been married for 32 years, has three grown children, and seven grandkids.
His hobbies are working on cars and houses.
In addition, for the last five years, he has worked part-time for Mercy/Bourbon County Emergency Medical Service.
For Davolt, seeing the way God uses former students to make a difference in society, is the greatest part of teaching.
His greatest challenge?
“Following a legend,” he said, referring to Terry Chance, who is retiring. ” I have worked with Mr. Chance for all of my teaching career, I know the excellent job he has done, and the difficulty of the position.”
Hannah René Reel, 20, is the Fort Scott Community College Outstanding Sophomore for 2020.
She is the daughter of Jeff and Andrea Scott and Jon Reel, and hales from Fort Scott.
While at the college, Reel was involved as Presidents Ambassador, Vice President of Greyhound Student Government, Christians on Campus, TRiO, TRiO tutor, Phi Theta Kappa and in addition she is involved as a Make-A-Wish Ambassador, American Heart Association Ambassador and children’s teacher for Fort Scott Church of the Nazarene and its’ Vacation Bible School.
What are the most important things you have learned while at FSCC?
“How to be a good leader, learn how to prioritize, and that relationships with people are everything.”
Any life lessons learned?
“Not be afraid to be who I am..found my passion in teaching.. faith is the greatest path you can find.”
What is your major?
“Associates of Science at (FSCC) and gain a Bachelors in Communication with an emphasis in Communication Education for Secondary Education at Pittsburg State University.”
What is your ultimate career goal?
“Get my masters to become a Speech teacher at a community college.”
Tell about your experience getting your education online during the pandemic.
“My experience of education online was very difficult, but it taught me to rely on my knowledge and understand I had teachers and staff that were there for me to help in any way possible.”
Abby Helt, 23, will be the new Fort Scott High and Middle School Choir Teacher for 2020-21.
Helt received a Bachelor’s of Music Education from Kansas State University and student taught in the Shawnee Mission School District.
Her hometown is Lenexa and her parents and family all live in the K.C. area.
Helt has been involved in her community as a member of the Kansas City Choir, Te Deum.
The following is an email interview with the new teacher:
How did you become an educator?
“I have always wanted to be an educator throughout my whole life. My sisters and I would play ‘school’ all the time growing up, and I’ve always been very musical. I want to be able to instill that passion for music in my students, whether it be just a hobby or a potential career.”
Is there someone who inspired you to teach?
“My high school choir director really inspired me to teach music because he made the choir class such a welcoming environment where everyone was able to be themselves. I want to create that in my classroom.”
What is the best part of teaching for you?
“The best part of teaching is getting to know the kids and watching them grow from the first day of school to the last day of school/when they graduate.”
What are the greatest challenges in teaching?
“As I am still fairly new to my career, I have not experienced any great challenges!”
