Tag Archives: featured

Art, Bourbon County, Fort Scott Community College

Exhibit Donated to Gordon Parks Museum by Mercy Foundation

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Gordon Parks Museum Director Kirk Sharp holds the donated copy of the book,  Half Past Autumn, that was donated by Mercy Hospital Foundation.

The Gordon Parks Museum Foundation received the Gordon Parks Exhibit from the Fort Scott Mercy Hospital Foundation Board on June 20, 2019.

The exhibit includes 67 of Parks’ photos and poems along with a church pew of the AME Church,  a bronze bust of Gordon Parks and the book featuring Parks’ works, Half Past Autumn.

The bust of Gordon Parks that was donated to the museum.

The donated Gordon Parks Exhibit was formerly located at Mercy Hospital-Fort Scott until the hospital closed in December 2018.

Fort Scott native and world-renowned photographer and artist Gordon Parks,  donated the collection of his work to Mercy Hospital-Fort Scott in 2002 to be displayed in honor of his parents, Sarah and Andrew Jackson Parks, according to Kirk Sharp, Gordon Parks Museum Director.

Prairie Land, a photograph by Gordon Parks taken in 1948,  was donated to the museum.

The exhibit pieces will be rotated out periodically for public view and when not in use, will be stored in the museum’s archives.

Blue Dawn, by Parks in 1995, was donated.

“On behalf of the Gordon Parks Museum Foundation Board along with myself, we are extremely beyond excited and greatly honored to receive the collections here at the museum from the Mercy-Fort Scott Foundation Board,” Sharp said.

The Frisco Railway Station, Fort Scott, KS by Parks in 1949 was donated.

“Our goal with some of the collections is to eventually create a community travel exhibit on a temporary loan-out basis for local schools, organizations and businesses for the community to view,” he said.

The pew donated from the Mercy Foundation Board to Gordon Parks Museum.
The plaque on the donated pew.

Work is beginning to create new space to display as much of the exhibit as possible, along with starting a Gordon Parks Travel Community Exhibit, he said.

“The Gordon Parks Museum Foundation would like to give thanks and gratitude to the Mercy-Fort Scott Foundation Board for its great gift to us and the community of Fort Scott,” Sharp said.

The Gordon Parks Museum is located on the campus of Fort Scott Community College, 2108 S. Horton.

The museum is located inside the Ellis Fine Arts Center at FSCC. The museum is funded through donations and through the support of FSCC, Sharp said.

The annual Gordon Parks Celebration is Oct. 3-5, 2019 and will be a celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Gordon Parks film, The Learning Tree.

A sign near the front of the Gordon Parks Museum at FSCC gives a synopsis of Park’s accomplishments.
Fort Scott, Schools

Martin Altieri: New Winfield Scott Assistant Principal

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Martin Altieri, 38, is the  Winfield Scott Elementary School Assistant Principal, starting July 22.

 

“My duties will be assisting (Principal) Ms. McGhee, who will be back in full capacity,” Altieri said.  “I will assist with school operations, providing support to staff and students in order to meet their social, emotional, and educational needs, and helping to implement district curriculum and technology initiatives.”

Altieri has seven years teaching middle school social studies in the Shawnee Mission School District and served nine years in the U.S. Army.

He earned a Bachelors in Secondary Education from Emporia State University and a  Masters of Science in School Leadership from Baker University.

Altieri’s hometown is Prairie Village, KS.

He has three children Morgan, 9; Marilyn 6; and Calvin, 4.
His parents are Michael and Joan, and he has two brothers – Matthew and Daniel.

Altieri has been involved in his community as a volunteer at Veteran’s of Foreign Wars (VFW) and Salvation Army. Additionally, he has coached baseball and soccer.

How did you become an educator?

“I have always enjoyed teaching and coaching and viewed education as a way to give back to the community and share my experiences and love of history with others.”

Did someone inspire you to teach?

“My mother, Joan. She went to college to become a teacher but opted not to enter the education field. She always said it was one of her biggest regrets.”

 

What is the best part of teaching for you?

“Developing relationships with students and parents. Seeing students excited to learn and looking forward to going to school. Watching students grow as young people and develop lifelong skills.”

What are the greatest challenges?

“Meeting the needs of students and ensuring learning is taking place for all students. Helping students deal with challenges outside of school.”

Business, Fort Scott, Housing

Stout Building-Going, Union Block Building-New Apartments

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Flexbuild has demolition containers in front of the Union Block Building on North Main Street in Fort Scott’s Historic District.

There will be lots of activity at the corner of First and Main Streets in the next few weeks, according to Paul Wagner, Co-Founder of Flexbuild, Merriam. Flexbuild is the general contractor for the demolition of the Stout Building and the renewing of the Union Block Building in downtown historic Fort Scott.

The Union Block building, three storefronts at 18, 20 and 22 South Main are in the “build-back” phase, now, following demolition phase, Wagner said. The project is slated for completion for the end of 2019, he said.

“The buildings have been gutted by Skitch’s Hauling, Excavation, and Demolition,” Wagner said. “He has done a great job.”

These buildings will be transformed into 25 market-rate apartments ranging from 750 to 1,100 square feet in size. In addition, there will be a community room, exercise room, and an office area.

“The community rooms will be in the front, where the glass is,” Wagner said. “Everything else will be apartments. These are nice accommodations. In the back of the north building, there will be a courtyard for residents.”

“Just recently we got the building permit (from the city),” Wagner said. “Westar (Energy) is moving the electrical lines out of the way, to keep us safe. And  we got the state fire marshall approval, which is a big step.”

Flexbuild is moving from demolition to reconstructing on the Union Block Building and is currently working with a local quarry to fill the crawlspace under the buildings, he said.

Tony Kresnich, Flint Hills Holdings, holds the contract for the project, Wagner said. Neil Sommers, Louisburg, is the architect.

“We are trying to do as many local subs as possible,” he said. “Electrical, plumbing, HVAC, concrete, masonry, painting and carpentry. Between subs and my workers, there will be 15-20 workers.”

The Stout Building, National Avenue and First Street will be demolished in the next two weeks, according to the general contractor for the project.

The Stout Building, at National Avenue and First Street, will be completely demolished and a parking lot/park rebuilt on the spot, Wagner said.

The Union Block buildings were built in the 1880-90s, Wagner was told.

 

 

 

Fort Scott Community College

Burris Hall Expanded at FSCC

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Burris Hall on the campus of FSCC is being expanded and the old section updated.

There is construction going on at Fort Scott Community College, 2108 S. Horton this summer.

“There is a new addition to Burris Hall, the ag department,” FSCC President Alysia Johnston said. “They are classrooms mostly, a couple of offices and refurbishing the old section and a new roof. Concrete and some steel (materials) are going up now.”

Steel is being erected for the addition to Burris Hall.

A 3, 800 square foot addition is being added to the agriculture department,  known as Burris Hall, said Cory Spear, superintendent for Crossland Construction.  Crossland Construction of Columbus is the general contractor for the project.

The addition will be approximately 50 foot by 80 foot, and include three offices, a kitchen area and a commons area, he said.

The old segment of the building has been gutted and the offices and classrooms are being updated, Spear said.

The project broke ground on May 20 and will be completed on
August 10,  barring inclement weather, he said.

“We’ve already had two weeks of weather dates since we started,” Spear said.

There are 30 employees working on the construction project, he said.

 

Materials are lined up ready to be used outside the construction site at Burris Hall. Masonry and steel workers were busy in this photo on June 13.

 

Crossland Construction, Columbus, is the general contractor for the expansion of Burris Hall.

Here is information about the agriculture department from the FSCC website:

 

Farm & Ranch Management at FSCC

Since 1975, the FSCC Department of Agriculture has strived to assist students in developing the skills and knowledge necessary to get a job, develop a family business, or transfer to a four-year university. In addition to the celebrated programs with John Deere, Livestock Judging, Meat Judging and Rodeo, the department offers courses on livestock, soil science, animal science, dairy, poultry, agriculture machinery, meat evaluation, equine science, agriculture technology, agribusiness marketing, feed, horse training, plant science, farm and ranch management, horseshoeing, and product marketing.

 

Suggested curriculum for the Farm and Ranch Management Certificate

Suggested curriculum for the Associate of Applied Science in Farm and Ranch Management

Ready to get started?

For more information, please contact Blake Davis at [email protected] or 620-223-2700 ext. 3290.

Kansas DegreeStats

Kansas DegreeStats is an interactive online tool that reviews cost and earnings data from real graduates for each undergraduate degree program offered at a public college or university in Kansas.

Gainful Employment

Please click here for more information about gainful employment for the farm and ranch management certificate.

Ascension Via Christi, Fort Scott, Health Care

Cason: Via Christi Beginning to Explore Facility Options

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Randy Cason, Ascension Via Christi Hospital President speaks at the grand opening of the Fort Scott Emergency Department on Feb. 28.

Ascension Via Christ came to Fort Scott to fill in the void of emergency care, following the closure of Mercy Hospital.

The following is an update on the facility options for the Fort Scott Emergency Department, from Randy Cason, president of Ascension Via Christi Hospital in Pittsburg. Ascension Via Christ opened the local emergency department on Feb. 28, 2019.
“Ascension Via Christi stepped forward to meet the Fort Scott community’s immediate need for close-to-home emergency, laboratory and diagnostic imaging and we continue to explore and discuss options beyond our two-year lease agreement,” Cason said in a press release. “Our goal is to establish a sustainable model of care that best meets the needs of all the patients and families we serve in Ft. Scott and Southeast Kansas. However, we are still in the beginning stages of the exploration process of potential facility options.”
The door to the Emergency Department in Fort Scott.
The facility is operating out of the former Mercy Hospital building currently, which is located at 405 Woodland Hills on Fort Scott’s south side, just off Hwy. 69. The emergency department faces the south side of the building.
Ascension Via Christi took over operations of the emergency department in February 2019, following the closing of Mercy the end of December 2018.
From left: Tawny Sandifer, Ascension Via Christi Chief Nursing Officer; Naomi Powers, Director of the Emergency Department in Fort Scott and Pittsburg; Jessica Cobb, RN Nursing Manager, Fort Scott and Pittsburg; Kayla Stewart, RN Coordinator Clinical Program. The photo was taken during the opening of the emergency department in February 2019.
People who are interested in working with Ascension Via Christ can visit www.viachristi.org/jobs
Bourbon County, Government, Kansas

Reimbursement Being Sought From Feds For Flooding Damage

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The Marmaton River on May 23, 2019, nearing the level of the bridge on North National Avenue.

Governor Laura Kelly sent a request this month to President Donald Trump to ask for a  presidential declaration for public assistance for 63 counties in Kansas following recent months of record rainfall and severe weather causing flooding, flash flooding and tornadoes beginning April 28, according to a press release from the governor.

Bourbon County was one of the counties listed in the request.

“The county declared on the 23 of May,” Will Wallis, Bourbon County’s Emergency Management Director said. “It was orchestrated by the commission with their signatures and mine. It will help the county as far as reimbursement funds to public roads and bridges.”

The federal public assistance program helps pay for the restoration of public infrastructure and associated costs caused by flooding and tornado damage, according to the press release.

“It will pay us back for qualified roads, bridges, culverts, low water crossings and bridges but only if each one of them qualifies,” Wallis said.

“The (federal) government pays back 75% the state (government)10%,” he said. “This is a bare minimum.  If we can get mitigation funds involved, it could be more.”

” We start preliminary damage assessments tomorrow (June 14) that will determine if we have met our county threshold which is $57, 000 dollars,” Wallis said. “We are very sure we will meet the threshold without any problems.”

 

The Federal Emergency Management Agency’s damage assessment includes the following types of damage: debris needing removed, the number of roads closed, the number of bridges unusable, the number of miles of roads damaged and public building, vehicles and equipment damaged, among others.

In addition, damage to recreation areas are assessed as follows: debris removal, damage to parks and facilities at parks.

An impact statement is included in the assessment: for essential services affected (EMS, law enforcement, fire departments), farmers unable to get in their fields, health and safety issues such as hazardous materials, contaminated water supply, etc.

For the full assessment document click below:

Damage Assessment Questionnaire

 

William Wallis, the Bourbon County Emergency Manager, KCEM, can be reached at

[email protected]

or in person at  210 South National, Fort Scott, Kansas 66701

or by phone: Office # 620-223-3800 ext. 124 or Cell # 620-224-8165

 

Business, Fort Scott

Lavender Patch Fest II June 15

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Devin and Betsy Reichard, owners of the Lavender Patch. Submitted photo.
This year,  Lavender Fest II is this Saturday, June 15 from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. The cost is $5, with children five-years-old and under free.
Activities include live music from Bob Pavey Lovett and Red Letter Edition, a bluegrass/gospel band that has played at Silver Dollar City.
They are back by popular demand, Betsy said.
There will be a demonstration from Martha Scott on making lavender wands/bottles and little lavender baskets.
Betsy Reichard and Martha Scott, right, discuss the lavender bottles that Scott will be making for the festival.
“You also have the opportunity to make your own or buy one from her,” Betsy said.
Betsy Reichard will be giving demonstrations on making lavender wreaths and present “I have lavender, now what do I do?” she said.
Tours of the lavender fields, as well as info on how to plant lavender, will also be given.
“In addition, we will have lavender plants available to plant,” Reichard said.  “For those who would like to take a bundle home, we will once again have you-pick lavender bundles for $5.”
There will be outdoor games, picture taking opportunities, and the chance to sit, relax, and enjoy time with friends and family. she said.
Lavender plants.
A sign welcomes to the Lavender Patch, 2376 Locust Rd.
What is the Lavender Patch?
“The Lavender Patch is a small family owned lavender farm located just east of Ft. Scott city limits on Locust Rd,” Reichard said. ” We have over a thousand lavender plants and 20 varieties. Our farm is a Kansas agritourism farm and we welcome visitors to walk through the fields, take pictures, pick a lavender bundle and visit our gift shop our hours of operation which is 9 a.m.to 1 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday in June and in July it will change to 9  to noon. Thursday through Saturday, people may also call and an appointment can be made for other days and times.”
The Lavender Patch gift shop sells all things lavender.
When did it start?
“We decided to start our lavender farm in 2009 and spent the year researching, connecting with other lavender farms, and making plans. In 2010 we planted our first few plants to see if this is what we wanted to do. In 2011 we moved so did not do anything addition with the lavender but in 2012 we started planting in mass with lots of help from family and friends. Through the years we have had our struggles and just to get plants to live was our goal! However, in 2016 we switched to a new area on our farm and are having much more success!”
Why a lavender farm?
“We bought this property in 2008 since we had always wanted to live in the country. In 2009 we went to California to see Davin’s brother Daryl, his wife Erlinda and their family.  Erlinda had visited a lavender farm in California and thought it would be a neat thing to do. Knowing that we had bought this property and that they (Daryl and Erlinda) planned to move back to Kansas, Erlinda had the idea this was something we could do together as a family. While in California, we all visited the same lavender farm Erlinda had gone to previously. We talked to the owners, toured their farm, and then started our research. While on that trip, we decided on the name The Lavender Patch although Erlinda was the one who originally came up with it. “
 
New this season? 
“We have added more plants and replaced many that died this winter from winter kill. Lavender doesn’t like to have ‘wet feet’ so this rain we have had has been a challenge. We have had some of our plants that have struggled and others didn’t make it. We do have some new products in our gift shop, including some lavender scone, bread, and cookie mixes.”
 

Betsy Reichard can be reached at620-223-1364

Business, Fort Scott

Ultra High Speed Internet Now Available Through Craw-Kan

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A map of the Craw-Kan Telephone Cooperative coverage ability for the Fort Scott area. Submitted photo.
Craw-KanTelephone Cooperative, Girard,  is offering ultra high-speed internet, high definition television and unlimited telephone service over 100% buried fiber optic FTTH network to residences and businesses inside the city limits of Fort Scott, mostly on the west side of town.
“Our first customers inside the city limits of Fort Scott we installed in early 2018,” Zach Adams,  Craw-Kan Marketing Manager said.  “We will attempt to complete the rest of the city limits of Fort Scott in 2020.”
Craw-Kan conducted a  business  study prior to coming to Fort Scott.
“After extensive study, it was determined that the demand for a new Internet Service Provider in the City of Fort Scott was adequate to make a successful business model,” Adams said.   “Partnership’s with Bourbon County and the City of Fort Scott proved helpful in making it easier for Craw-Kan to expand into Fort Scott. “
A landline purchase is not required.
“Customer’s in Fort Scott are not members of the cooperative and thus are not required to have landline telephone service and do not receive the benefits of cooperative membership,” Adams said. “It is required however that a customer subscribes to the internet if they wish to subscribe to our cable tv or telephone line.”
What are the costs involved?
“No installation for internet, cable tv (up to 3 TVs), no equipment rental fees and we provide remote management of our gateway router free of charge,” Adams said. ” Customer only pays for monthly service charges.  All internet and telephone is unlimited usage – we do not bill overages or long distance.”
Residential internet service ranges from approximately $50 to $70 per month, cable TV service approximately $40 – $100 per month, plus extra for movie packages, according to the Craw-Kan website:
Call 620-724-4542 for more information or to place an order.
Bourbon County, Business

Dawson Minor: Young Entrepreneur

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Dawson Minor. Submitted photos.

This is part of a series featuring young people who found a need and are seeking to fill it with a business venture.

To nominate local young entrepreneurs, send name, phone number/email and the name of who is nominating and why, to [email protected].

Dawson Minor, 20, of Fulton is the owner of 4 Clover Mowing business.
The business began as a dream when he was a small boy.
“From the time I was very small, I have had a fondness for any kind of self-propelled equipment, no matter the size,” Minor said.
“Even before I had the concept of mowing grass, lawn mowers were the first machines that I could actually drive,” he said.
In second grade, when he could barely reach the pedals, he began mowing the family yard and farm lot.
” I loved mowing,” Minor said.  “I often dreamed of mowing for other people and having my own business.”
In early March 2013, after “a lot of thinking and discussing with my parents” Minor decided to start a small mowing business since he enjoyed mowing lawns and being outdoors.
“I started with a John Deere LA120 riding lawn tractor,” he said.
“My first year in the mowing business turned out to be a great learning experience, ” Minor said. “It helped me to understand that having the ability and chance to do something that I truly enjoy is not only measured by money.”
 “Within the second year in business, I soon realized that my role of being the kid who mows the yard was rapidly changing to the responsibility of a young businessman,” he said.
 “My number one responsibility in grounds-keeping has always been customer service,” Minor said. ” I never intend to give up quality for quantity in order to increase profits.”
” I have been blessed with the growth of my business and great customers.”
“I  currently employ two very hard working and dependable individuals, Drew Wright and Garrett Thompson, which I value and trust impeccably,”  he said.
His service area includes Bourbon, Linn, and Vernon counties.
“I have learned customer satisfaction is not only the success of a business, but it is also truly the reward of a business,” Minor said.
Minor can be reached at 620-238-9613 or  [email protected]
Bourbon County, Business

New Union Station Owners Welcomed by Ruritan

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Uniontown Ruritan sponsored a ribbon cutting for Union Station Convenience Store on May 11. From left: Ruritan member Joe George, Ruriteen member Luke George, Ruritan members Lawrence and Raymond George, owners Ronni and Dane Clayton, Ruritan members Henry Homan and Mark Warren and community member Linda Wilson.

Uniontown Ruritan sponsored a ribbon cutting to welcome the new convenience store owners, Ronni and Dane Clayton.

The Clayton’s took over ownership of Union Station Convenience Store from Ron and Susan Eldridge in April 2019.

The store sells gasoline, food, and beer and is located on Hwy. 3, one mile south of the Hwy. 54 junction.

The store is a gathering place for locals in the morning, unofficially called “The Liars Club.”

Hours are 5 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday, 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Saturday and 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sunday.

For more information: 620-756-4884.

 

Fort Scott, Government, Housing

Lyle Brittain: Fort Scott’s New Codes Officer

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Lyle Brittain, Fort Scott Codes Enforcement Officer.

Living in cities and towns has both benefits and responsibilities.

A property owner is responsible for keeping his/her property in a habitable condition, grass at a reasonable height and free of debris, among city codes.

The Fort Scott Codes Department provides information and assistance regarding permits, zoning, and Fort Scott codes and regulations, according to the city’s website.

Lyle Brittain, 25, was introduced at the Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce Weekly Coffee on May 30 as a new codes officer for the city.

Brittain earned an associates degree in business from Fort Scott Community College in 2014, and has owned a landscape business for 12 years he said.

His duties in the codes officer position are to inspect properties for compliance of grass height, proper electrical and gas systems, and additionally, issuing building permits, he said.

“We drive up and down streets,” Brittain said. “We will take complaints (about properties) and they will be addressed as soon as we can.”

The codes department can be reached by calling the city office at 223-0550. The hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.

“We are allowed on private property unless the owner tells us to leave,” Brittain said.

“We don’t want to make people mad,” he said. “We introduce ourselves and let them know if they don’t get the codes violation done, there will be a legal letter coming.”

“The letter will give a certain amount of days to get the issue resolved, say for instance grass getting too high (on a property),” Brittain said. “If the city  has to use its’ resources of manpower and machine to resolve the issue, it’s $300.”

A code the public may not know about concerns properties that are deemed uninhabitable.

“You can’t live in a house without electricity or water or sewer services,” Brittain said. “That’s considered an uninhabitable condition.”

The Fort Scott Codes Department is located in the basement of Memorial Hall at 1 E. Third.
The door the City of Fort Scott Codes Department at Memorial Hall, 1 E. Third.

Rhonda Dunn is the Fort Scott Director of Finance and Codes, and Adam Harrison is the newly created codes supervisor.

Lyle is married to Liz Brittain and the son of Bill and Michelle Brittain.

Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas, Health Care

CHC/SEK Update by Krista Postai

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Krista Postai, President & CEO of Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas headquartered at 3011 N. Michigan, Pittsburg, KS 66762.

Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas is considering its options looking to the future of the Fort Scott center. They currently have a two-year lease with Mercy Hospital.

 

“We did formally request land from Mercy behind the existing hospital facing Horton Street and they have tentatively agreed to provide us space for a new 25,000 sq. ft. building,” Postai said.  “Nothing formal has been signed but I understand the Mercy attorneys are working on it. This news has been shared with staff and we’ll start working on the design late in June.”

 

“We hope to fund it with a USDA low-interest loan they make available for rural communities like Ft. Scott,” she said. “It will have space for medical, dental, behavioral health services and a pharmacy. We hope to have it completed by January 2021.”

 

Recruitment is ongoing for the health center, she said.

 

“We do continue to work on staff recruitment for another physician and a psychologist or LSCSW, so if anyone has a relative that wants to move home we have a good opportunity for them,” Postai said.