From left FSCC Basketball Coach Blake Cochran, Jon Barnes, Donnie Flowers, Tyler Zinn, John Montgomery, Lucas Kelley, J. M. Gregg, Aaron Williams, Andre Nelson, Dontrell Sanders, Jayden Davis, George Brocato, and Daemar Jones introduce themselves at the beginning of the March Madness Reading Challenge assembly.
It takes practice and lots of it, to do anything well, including reading.
That in a nutshell, is what the Fort Scott Community College Basketball Team told the students at Eugene Ware Elementary during an award assembly Wednesday afternoon.
During the month of March, students have been competing with other classes in reading the most minutes.
The classroom winners of each grade level were given a poster of the FSCC Basketball Team along with a promised extra recess, during the assembly held in the school gym.
The winners were: Carrie Southwell’s 3rd grade class with 3, 220 minutes of reading, Joyce Flanner’s 4th grade with 3,002 minutes and Jill Couch’s 5th-grade class with 2,232 minutes.
During the assembly, students were randomly picked from the audience to participate in a basketball throw challenge.
The winner of that challenge was Quadar Moreland, a fourth-grade student. Because of his win, all 4th-grade students were given autographed posters of the team.
Brenda Hill, an instructional coach at Ware, and Mary Mauer, a teacher, collaborated on the idea of capitalizing on basketball’s March Madness national competition to encourage students to practice reading.
Below are photos of the afternoon assembly.
Carrie Southwell gives her 3rd-grade students “high fives” following the announcement that the class read the most minutes for the reading competition.Students lined up to take a turn at getting the ball through the basketball hoop.
Some students needed a little extra help getting the ball through the hoop and the college basketball players helped.
Quadar Moreland gets some encouragement from the FSCC basketball team following his win of the basketball contest.Students look over the poster of the FSCC Basketball Team while waiting in line to get it autographed.
Ted Hessong was hired as the new superintendent for Fort Scott schools.
Ted Hessong, currently superintendent of USD 456, was hired Tuesday evening by the USD 234 Board of Education. He will begin June 2, 2018, and was hired on a two-year contract as the new superintendent in Fort Scott’s school system.
The following is a FortScott.Biz interview with Hessong.
What motivated you to get into education?
“My mom was a teacher at Fort Scott Middle School, which was a great example of what a teacher should be. I was also active in sports and I wanted to be a basketball coach since 7th grade.”
Education?
” I graduated from Fort Scott High School and earned an Associates Degree from Fort Scott Community College. I got my Bachelor’s Degree in Science Education from Pittsburg State University. I also received my Master’s in Building Leadership and District Certification from PSU.”
Experience?
” My first two years in education I was a science teacher and coach at Pleasanton Junior/Senior High School in Pleasanton, Kansas. I then accepted a position at Frontenac Junior High and High School teaching science and coaching, where I did my student teaching. I spent 17 years at Frontenac School district, where I went from a teacher to assistant principal for the 6th-12th-grade building. I then became the first junior high principal at Frontenac because we separated the junior high from the high school. The last five years at Frontenac I was the high school principal following the retirement of one of my mentors, Joe Martin. The past two school years I have been the superintendent at Marais des Cygnes Valley School District, which is composed of the communities of Melvern, Quenemo, and Olivet in Kansas.”
Family?
“I have three children.”
What interested you in the position in Fort Scott?
“Fort Scott has tremendous respect throughout the state of Kansas as a top-notch district. I thought it would be a good opportunity for me to return to my hometown to lead the district that really gave me my start in education.”
What do you feel you bring to the district?
“I feel my leadership experiences have prepared me to lead Fort Scott in a variety of areas to provide the best opportunities for the students of Fort Scott to experience success.”
What assets do you see in USD 234?
” The biggest asset Fort Scott has to offer is the teachers, staff, and students at Fort Scott. All these groups are what make Fort Scott an excellent school district.”
Any concerns?
“No concerns at this time.”
Any interests besides education, hobbies?
“My biggest interest is spending time with my family and friends. I also enjoy sports, playing golf and mowing.”
Kansas Legal Services (KLS) provides legal advice and representation to victims of domestic violence and sexual assault, according to Eric Rosenblad, Project Director.
KLS is the recipient of a United Way of Bourbon County grant.
FortScott.Biz is featuring each of the agencies in a series.
The following is an interview with Rosenblad.
What services does KLS provide to our community?
” We provide legal help with restraining orders, family law matters and can also help with other legal problems such as housing, employment and debt problems that are caused by domestic abuse or sexual assault.”
Where is the KLS office and what are the hours?
“We are open Monday to Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. We are located at 408 N. Walnut, Pittsburg. Our mailing address is P.O. Box 1509, Pittsburg, KS 66762.”
What percentage of your budget is the United Way grant?
“The Bourbon County United Way grant represents about five percent of our funding for Victims of Crime project.”
Who are the board members?
“Our Southeast Kansas representative to the Kansas Legal Services Board of Directors is Mr. Charles Apt, Iola.”
Thomas Concrete Construction workers pour the footings for the Bartelsmeyer loft renovation Wednesday afternoon, in the alley behind the loft on north Main street. They will lay blocks on each side of the footings, then come back to pour the flooring, said foreman Luke Thomas.
Ad: Ward/Kraft, Inc, located in Fort Scott (KS), is currently looking for the following:
Sales/Business Development Representative
Production Member
Web Developer
(Scroll down for details of each position.)
Ward/Kraft is an industry leader while being one of the most innovative print manufacturers in the Print Industry.
Ward/Kraft is a family owned company that started over 40 years ago with customer service and good business values as a number one priority.
Ward/Kraft offers a competitive salary and a substantial benefit package to their members
Ward/Kraft want members to believe working at WK is a career and not “just a job”; this is shown with over 35% of current members having 10 or more years of service within the company.
If you have an interest in any of these positions, please contact Brad Matkin, Director of Corporate Recruiting, at 1-877-281-2485 Applicants may apply online at www.wardkraft.com under the employment tab or in person at our campus located at 2401 Cooper Street in Fort Scott, Kansas.
Sales/Business Development Representative
Ward/Kraft, Inc, located in Fort Scott (KS), is currently looking for a Sales/Business Development Representative. Ward Kraft is an industry leader while being one of the most innovative print manufacturers in the Print Industry.
Ward/Kraft is a family owned company that started over 40 years ago with customer service and good business values as a number one priority.
Ward/Kraft offers a competitive salary and a substantial benefit package to their members
Ward/Kraft want members to believe working at WK is a career and not “just a job”; this is shown with over 35% of current members having 10 or more years of service within the company.
Position Summary:
Ward/Kraft is seeking a highly motivated; career focused Sales/Business Development Representative with a strong desire to succeed and to be part of a top notch team. In this role you will help Ward Kraft continue to build our dynamic and expanding company through research, prospecting for new business, setting up appointments, meeting in person with decision makers, identifying, and pursuing businesses for specific markets and products, closing, building and maintaining distributor relationships. If you have drive, determination, a wiliness to learn, are dependable with the desire to grow, and a high degree of integrity and commitment we want to talk to you.
Position Qualifications:
Inside/outside sales experience is a plus
Excellent communication skills-strong and persuasive
Enthusiasm and flexibility
Works well alone as well as with a team
Ability to cold call customers (proper phone etiquette)
Presentation skills
Basic computer skills
Self-confident and self-motivated
Competitive and results-driven
Previous experience in the printing industry is a plus
Ability to stand for long periods of time
Schedule and Compensation:
Travel required-some overnights
Base salary plus commission
Weekdays 8am to 5pm (unless traveling)
Production Member
Position Summary:
Ward/Kraft is seeking a person who is highly motivated, energetic, and who is career focused to work on our production teams. This position is responsible for operating production machinery, producing superior quality products, and performing routine machine maintenance. This position is also responsible for maintaining quality standards, facilitating turn times and achieving top production goals.
Key Qualifications:
Good mechanical ability
Superior trouble shooting skills
Quick learner-Problem solver
Self starter
Detail Oriented
Basic math skills needed (decimals, fractions, addition, subtraction, measurements)
Ability to work in a fast paced environment
Dependable, ambitious, energetic, and enthusiastic
Strong written and verbal communication skills are essential
Printing knowledge is a plus but will train the right candidate
Schedule and Compensation:
Three rotating shifts – every four weeks (shift premium is paid for “off-shift” workers)
Possible Saturday overtime
Six month performance reviews (90 day probation period)
Web Developer
Position Summary:
Ward/Kraft is seeking a person who is highly motivated, energetic, and who is career focused to work as our companies Web Developer.
Job Responsibilities:
Write code to generate web pages, access databases, and business logic servers
Work with designers and content writers
Test and document software for web sites
Write, modify, and debug software for web sites
Key Qualifications:
Detail Oriented
Ability to work in a fast paced multi-project environment
Dependable, ambitious, energetic, and enthusiastic
Works well in a team environment
Minimum of two years experience with CSS Framework would be a plus (Bootstrap, Foundation, Materialize)
Minimum of two years experience with Source Control System would be a plus (GIT, Subversion, Mercurial)
JavaScript, jQuery, Perl, HTML, Photoshop, Illustrator, and Web design security
Problem solver and good communicator
Schedule and Compensation:
Weekdays 8am to 5pm (some weekday meetings at 7:30am)
Some overtime hours (before/after hours and weekend work)
Six month performance reviews (90 day probation period)
If you have an interest in any of these positions, please contact Brad Matkin, Director of Corporate Recruiting, at 1-877-281-2485 Applicants may apply online at www.wardkraft.com under the employment tab or in person at our campus located at 2401 Cooper Street in Fort Scott, Kansas.
Don’t want to wait in line for your custom coffee?
At the Downtown Quarterly Meet and Greet at Common Ground Coffee Co. Tuesday morning, MacKenna Robinson said the coffee shop is beginning to offer online ordering.
“Online ordering is now at Common Grounds and in April, we are giving five-percent off (each order),” Robinson, assistant manager of the shop said.
Mackenna Robinson, assistant manager of Common Ground Coffee Co., 116 S. Main, speaks to the Downtown Quarterly Meet and Greet April 3.
Robinson also told the group that the coffee shop has been approved for a Blue Cross Blue Shield of Kansas Pathways to a Healthy Kansas grant, through the Healthy Bourbon County Action Team.
Common Grounds Manager Vicki Waldron and Mackenna Robinson, assistant manager and also Waldron’s grand-daughter.
The grant will allow the coffee shop to purchase more equipment to serve fresh salads, Vicki Waldron, the manager said in a later interview.
Robinson said the coffee shop will also be a part of a meeting to make a directory of food producers and local restaurants. The meeting’s purpose is to form collaborations to get fresh locally produced foods to restaurant tables. The Buy and Eat, Meet and Greet event will start at 5:30 p.m. May 3 at Memorial Hall.
To learn more about the May 3 event see the Healthy Bourbon County Action Team Facebook page.
To learn more about the grantor, BCBSKS, click here:
Other upcoming local events announced at the meeting:
The 2nd Story Festival of Arts and Ideas is scheduled for April 27-29 around venues in Fort Scott. It includes workshops, improv comedy performances and a festival finale event and fundraiser Saturday evening. For more information: https://www.2ndstoryartfestival.com Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Lindsay Madison asked the group to attend the 2- 3:30 p.m. Saturday event titled “Creative Placemaking: Building the Artist Community in Fort Scott” by Marc Wilson at the Empress Event Center, 7 N. Main in downtown Fort Scott.
There will be free outdoor movies offered at a location to be announced by Larry Gazaway, the city’s tourism manager. The movies are The Incredibles, May 25; Cars 3, June 22; Star Wars Night, July 20 and The Princess Bride, August 17.
Art walks by the Bourbon County Arts Council will be from 5-8 p.m. at the Liberty Theater patio, on May 18, June 15, July 27 and Sept. 14.
Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Lindsay Madison speaks to attendees at Tuesday morning’s Downtown Quarterly Meet And Greet, hosted by Common Grounds Coffee Co.
Smallville Crossfit is having a “Murph Challenge” on MemorialDay and Fort Games on June 23. See their Facebook page for more information.
The Good Ol Days Festival is May 31 – June 2 this year. The theme is “The Great Outdoors.” The parade is at 6 p.m. June 1 and there will be Friday night shopping again this year downtown.
There is a new website for tourism: www.visitfortscott.com/
Biking Across Kansas, a 559-mile ride will end in Fort Scott on June 16. Expected are about 850 cyclists.
There will be a Veteran’s Weekend Nov. 9-11 in honor of veterans. An 11 am. service at National Cemetery and a parade at 3 p.m. on Nov. 11 are some planned events.
Craw-Kan Telephone Cooperative’s Fiber Optic Internet is progressing to the downtown area this summer and project construction will ramp up in 2019, according to Zach Adams. He said the response was more than expected in the community.
Free tourism trolley tickets are available, businesses are encouraged to add coupons to the ticket envelope to advertise. Contact Gazaway at the tourism office, 231 E. Wall.
The Presbyterian Church will have a Sunday Serve Clean Up/Projects Day April 29 at 8:45 a.m.
The Fort Scott National Historic Site Civil War Encampment is April 21-22.
KOMB is hosting the 7th Annual Home, Sport, Farm, Garden Show at Arnold Arena at Fort Scott Community College April 13-14. There will be 56 inside booths and more outside. Call 620-223-4500 for more information. Children’s activities will also be available.
Attendees listen as each tells their name and the business/organization they represent.
The Lowell Milken Center for Unsung Heroes is collaborating with Fort Scott National Historic Site to bring “Mother” Mary Bickerdyke to area fifth-grade students.
There will be a woman’s luncheon April 25 at the Ellis Fine Arts Center at Fort Scott Community College. Vendor booth rental is $6. For more information contact Juley McDaniel at 620-223-2700 Ext. 5201.
An interactive story time at the library will start soon, contact K-State Extension Agent Joy Miller for more information.
Gary Palmer said he will be starting a retail printing business within the next 30 days. He will offer a discount to not-for-profit groups.
The townwide yard sale will be May 11-12.
In a recent conversation with Kansas Governor Jeff Colyer, City Manager Dave Martin said Colyer indicated the completion of the Hwy. 69 is a priority project. Martin also mentioned the positive movements in town: the Boiler Room Brewhaus expansion, the Liberty Theater building rehabilitation, the Hole in the Wall Liquor Store project, the Fort Scott Family Dental move to downtown, Bartelsmeyer’s renovating a downtown loft, progress on the old La Hacienda building, Arby’s Restaurant coming to the old Kentucky Fried Chicken facility, and the Fisher Park Project. Martin gave his cell phone number if anyone has questions: 620-644-2498.
The Third Saturday Marketplace in collaboration with Fort Scott Farmer’s Market needs volunteers to oversee the event once a month, said Lindsay Madison.
There will be a meeting at 4 p.m. Thursday, May 3 at the Empress Event Center, downtown, for senior citizens interested in senior housing options. Pat Wood will host the event, which includes drinks and hors d’oeuvres.
The meet and greet is hosted by the Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce the first Tuesday in January, April, July, and October each year.
Kansas State University’s 4-H Youth Development Department Head and State Program Leader Wade Weber can be reached at 201 Umberger Hall Manhattan, KS 66506, or phone: 785-532-5800, or [email protected]
The Kansas 4-H organization experienced budget cuts in the last few years, according to officials, and began a process to keep the youth organization going and growing.
Kansas 4-H implemented a “4-H Program Fee” effective October 2017. This is new since the 4-H organization has traditionally been free for participants.
“Many states have already implemented this type of fee – including Missouri and Oklahoma,” Carla Nemecek, K-State Southwind District Director and Agent said.
The organization gathered input on how to stabilize funding and grow the 4-H program, according to Wade Weber, Kansas State University’s 4-H Youth Development Department Head and State Program Leader.
“We hosted discussions as well as conducted a survey to gain feedback on program impact within K-State Research and Extension,” Weber said. “A task force of eight extension agents was formed to review all information and develop recommendations on how to move forward.”
The task force worked to provide a means to ensure a steady funding stream to grow the 4-H program, Weber said.
The task force members were Candis Meerpohl from Shawnee County, Monica Thayer from the River Valley District, Michelle Beran from Midway District, Melinda Daily from the Sunflower District, Allen Baker from Wichita County, Nancy Honig from Stevens County, Jodi Besthorn from Sedgwick County
and Brian Swisher from the Wildcat District, according to links provided.
A recommendation from this task force was to implement an annual 4-H program fee of $15 per member, beginning October 2, 2017.
“Funds from the 4-H Program fee are placed in a restricted funds account available for use only by the Kansas 4-H Youth Development Department,” according to Weber.
“Funds generated will strengthen our program priorities of volunteer development, project support, and program enhancement,” Weber said.
“K-State Research and Extension had to face several budget cuts over the past couple of years, and this would seem to be an option to help fund Kansas 4-H on a State level.” Carla Nemecek, Southwind District director, and an agent said. ” The Southwind District will not receive any financial benefit, as 100 percent of the program fee is directed to the State 4-H Program.”
Carla Nemecek is Southwind District Director and agent.
Southwind District encompasses Allen, Bourbon and Neosho Counties.
“Some counties were fortunate to have found donors who are offsetting the cost, but we do not know how long those donations will last,” Nemecek said.
“As a 4-H parent and Director for the Southwind District, I am sympathetic to those who are upset about the fee,” Nemecek said. “Kansas 4-H has always been free for anyone to join, so this is taking us down a path we have never been.”
A provision has been made for those for whom it would be a hardship to pay the $15 per child program fee, she said.
“There is a waiver process for those families or individuals who are not able to pay the fee,” Nemecek said.
Message from Weber on benefits for local 4-H programs:
In January Dr. John Floros, Kansas State’s College of Agriculture Dean presented highlights of 4-H Youth Development efforts in the last 12 months to a joint meeting of state senators and representatives.
Also in January, Dr. Floros, Dr. Greg Hadley, Associate Director of Extension and Applied Research and Weber conducted meetings with local leaders to tell of the progress made.
These findings are what they reported, according to Weber:
“Examples of National and State 4-H Funding Efforts Benefitting Local 4-H Programs:
• Kansas 4-H Foundation Expansion Grant – 2017 marked the conclusion of a five-year effort to expand 4-H youth and volunteer participation in 14 extension units. This effort resulted in an increase of 458 4-H volunteers. Evaluation data has been collected from the units and a framework for growing 4-H will be created based on the learning experiences of those involved and will be shared with local units for implementation.
• National 4-H Council Ag Innovators Experience– 2018 will feature 4-H teen leaders in the Cottonwood District reaching area youth with the “Monarchs on the Move Challenge.”
• National 4-H Council Youth Futures: College Within Reach Grant–The focus of this grant is on providing mentoring partnerships to underserved youth in Seward (2017) and Riley (2018) counties. Program results in reaching new audiences will be shared statewide for local unit implementation.
• National 4-H Council Science Matters Grant – Johnson County (2018) is currently collaborating with Bayer to inspire young people to become tomorrow’s science leaders. Program results will be shared statewide for local unit implementation.
Kansas 4-H Youth Development Program Fee Prioritization Survey
• When: Conducted October 19 – November 15, 2017 by the K-State Office of Planning and Analysis
• Who: 612 Respondents statewide: 67% were volunteers or parents
• What: Received input within the following program priorities:
1) Project support and enhancements (i.e. principles of engaged learning, communicate and connect learning opportunities, updating/refreshing existing project materials)
2) Volunteer Development (training materials and support for volunteers; tools for recruitment, growth, evaluation and accountability)
3) Program enhancements benefiting community clubs (including but not limited to updating and refreshing tools for use with youth and volunteer audiences)
4) Foundational Supports (accessibility to all Kansas youth, campus/community partnerships and improved marketing at statewide events, and promotional materials that can be used by local units)
Fast Enrollment Stats 2016-17
•74,837 Kansas 4-H Youth Impact: This includes all delivery modes and has had duplications removed.
• 17,796 4-H Community based Club Enrollment: This includes Cloverbuds (ages 5-6) who are enrolled through a Community Club.
Dean Floros and Dr. Hadley provided the ability for the 4-H Youth Development program to hire a statewide volunteer development specialist while facing increasing budget challenges. This act affirmed the strategic support from administration to assist the 4-H youth development program in growing and modernizing.
Starting on Feb. 5, Shane Potter, New Volunteer Specialist, is tasked with refining the volunteer development process to ensure safe learning environments for youth and grow local 4-H volunteer capacity beyond the 6,000 existing adult 4-H volunteers statewide.”
Shane Potter is Kansas State University’s Volunteer Development Specialist. He started Feb. 5.
The new Fisher Park parking lot at 7th and Main streets will be located on the northwest corner and will accommodate 25 regular size parking spaces and 1-2 handicapped accessible spaces.
Frank Adamson started seeing the need for improvements of Fisher Park, when his daughter, Hunter, starting playing softball there, three years ago.
Eventually, others joined him in the pursuit to improve the park and today they are awaiting engineering specifications of the first step, making more parking spaces at the park located at 7th and Main.
The Fisher Park Project group received a grant this last month from a local industry, the Timken Company, in the amount of $5,200 for the purpose of helping offset engineering fees
Agricultural Engineering Associates, Uniontown, is currently working on those specifications.
Once received, the specifications will help with the process of getting more grants to fund future park improvement projects, according to Adamson.
In addition to the parking lot, also envisioned in the project are concrete pads for wheelchair accessibility, more bleachers for viewing games, tearing down an unused tower that obstructs sight for viewers, and reconfiguring of the south ball diamond to make it regulation size.
Adamson points to where the concrete pad for wheelchair accessibility is envisioned. In the middle of the picture is the unused green tower which will be demolished. The tower obstructs the view for fans of softball.More bleachers behind home plate are planned in this spot.Adamson stands in the spot that will be the home plate, once the south ballpark is reconfigured to make it regulation size.Adamson stands in the vacant lot at 7th and Main streets across from Fisher Park that will be the new parking lot for 25 vehicles and 1-2 handicapped accessible vehicles.
More parking spaces are first on the list for improvement at Fisher Park.
Twenty-five standard parking spaces and one or two van accessible spaces will be provided in an off-street lot across Main Street from the ballpark.
Those serving on the Fisher Park Project board are Adamson, Josh Jones, Bill Michaud, Tom Robertson and Rhonda Dunn.
For more information, see the Fisher Park Project Facebook page or contact Adamson at the Courtland Hotel & Spa at 620-223-0098
The concession stand currently has wheelchair accessibility and faces the south ballpark.Looking east towards the north ballpark in Fisher Park from the vantage point of the proposed parking lot.
Tri Valley’s Executive Director Tim Cunningham shows off the new logo of the organization at Thursday’s Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce weekly coffee.
Tri-Valley Developmental Services, a local provider of social services to people with intellectual or developmental disabilities, has begun a new marketing plan.
“We don’t tell enough of all the good things we do,” Executive Director Tim Cunningham told the Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce weekly coffee attendees Thursday morning.
“A lot of people don’t know we are a one-stop shop for services they could need,” he continued. ” A lot of people don’t know we strive to make people as independent as possible. A lot of people move people, we keep them in their hometown.”
Cunningham said TVDS started in 1974 and has been in Fort Scott since 1977.
They currently serve 53 individuals at the facility at 4305 Campbell Drive in Fort Scott’s Industrial Park.
Cunningham introduced Barb McCord who is the horticulture therapist at the facility, which houses a greenhouse.
McCord told the attendees there will be no auction fundraiser this year because it happens every other year and this is an off year, but she will be having a one day sale of plants in May.
Additionally, plants raised in the greenhouse were offered as a gift, one per person, when the attendees departed the coffee social.
TVDS Horticulture Therapist Barb McCord speaks to the Chamber coffee attendees. Behind her are the give-away plants offered to each person who came to the coffee, either a tomato or a marigold plant. The plants are from the greenhouse at the facility.
Cunningham said the annual Cruise Nite in Chanute has a goal to raise $25,000 this year, to provide homes for people with disabilities.
Deb Needleman, a Chamber member, leads the announcement segment of the weekly coffee.
The Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors are Greg Motley, chairman; Needleman, past chairman; Gina Shelton, finance chair; Geoff Southwell, chairman-elect business, and resource division Chair; Alysia Johnston, workforce development division chair; David Lipe, grassroots division chair.
Angelyka and her dad, Daniel Simonds, pick up Easter eggs in the preschool section of the Kiwanis Easter Egg hunt March 24.Fort Scott Kiwanis members hide eggs in plain view at Gunn Park for the smallest egg hunters.
Fort Scott Kiwanis members annually hide candy and prize-filled plastic Easter eggs in Gunn Park for the enjoyment of area children.
The Easter egg hunt is planned for the weekend before Easter, according to Kiwanis President Scott Flater.
Gunn Park is divided into varying age groups of children and then the eggs are “hidden” in that area, which is marked by a sign.
Prior to the hunt, the Easter bunny makes rounds to see the children.
The Easter bunny, this year portrayed by Carmen Flater, gets a little help from her husband Scott before appearing to the children.The “calm before the storm”, when Kiwanis members hide the eggs in Gunn Park.
Following are the family members with preschool children around the perimeter of the area marked off. They are waiting for the 11 a.m. signal to begin the hunt.
Phil Gorman, Fort Scott Kiwanis Treasurer gives the crowd instructions before the egg hunt begins.Fort Scott Firemen Alex Schafer and Dale Bolinger wait for the 11 a.m. time for them to signal the beginning of the hunt by sounding the truck’s loud horn.In the preschool area of the Easter egg hunt, parents and children take off following the sounding of the horn by the Fort Scott Fire Department truck.
The hunt was over in approximately five minutes.
Fort Scott Kiwanis have several community outreaches, in addition to the Easter egg hunt.
The philanthropic group also serves a pancake feed on Shrove Tuesday, and a golf tournament in April, all to benefit the youth of the community, Flater said.
Kiwanis is a global organization dedicated to change the world, one child, one community at a time, he said.
With money raised, they help the Court Appointed Special Advocates, and help the local school district, USD 234 with the backpack initiative, the indigent fund, and scholarships for Fort Scott High School seniors, he said.
In addition, the organization has helped rebuild the “fairy house” and the entrance archway at Gunn Park and planted 1000s of trees in the city of Fort Scott throughout the years, he said.
Board members of Fort Scott Kiwanis are Flater, president; Dale Johnson, secretary; Phil Gorman, treasurer; Mike Cheney, vice-president of programs; Gerald Hart, Bob Eckles, Mark McCoy and John Townsend.
Denise and Bobby Duncan are opening their residence located at 102 S. National Ave., to the public this evening at 6 p.m. to answer questions and concerns about their recent closure of the Beaux Art Center.
“We are hoping to have documents ready….there has been a lot of misinformation,” Denise Duncan said.
The event is “especially for people in the historic district,” Duncan said. “And people that rent historic buildings.”
Both she and husband, Bobby will be there, she said.
The Duncan’s have had several discussions about the building with city officials that have been unsatisfactory, she said.
Denise Duncan contends that because their residence is a historic building, a code footprint is not needed. Additionally, they contend that the code footprint provided to the city is incorrect, she said.
“The code footprint regulation, K.A.R. 22-1-7, defines minimum features… for an objective evaluation by uniform application of state law using minimum resources. It also makes the code footprint available to assist local fire and building officials (to) view new construction and changes in use,” according to http://firemarshal.ks.gov/division/prevention/plans-review-code-footprint.
“The State Fire Marshall verified that it (their building) is on the state historic register,” she said. “Since it is on the historic register they are giving the city power to make waivers, exceptions, and variances on such matters.”
The City of Fort Scott hired Zingre and Associates P.A. to make the code footprint.
“Zingre’s code footprint is full of errors,” Duncan said.
Among Zingre’s biggest concerns is lack of proper egress width for stairways and doors based on the calculated occupant load of the building and how this load would spread out among the building’s two exits, according to his letter to the city, which was provided by Duncan.
Egress is an exit, according to the dictionary.
The Duncan’s will explain these contentions and others this evening at the meeting they are hosting.
Denise Duncan shows how the Zingre calculation was incorrect in the measurement of the front door to the Beaux Arts Centre. Zingre did not measure the door, merely assumed it was the standard 32 inches, she said. This measurement error cuts the number of people allowed at one time in the building, which drastically affects their business, she said.The measurement of the front door is 42 inches, which would allow more people to be in the building at the same time. Duncan contends Zingre did not measure the door while at her residence to design the code footprint.Denise Duncan looks at the code footprint document designed by Zingre and Associates P.A. This stairway on the south side of the building is not listed as an exit in the footprint.This is the west staircase which leads down to the main level from the upper level and is not shown as an exit on the code footprint.This window is the exit that the code footprint shows as the only exit on this floor which has three staircases that lead down, Duncan said. It is a window on the main level of the building.This is the first page of a three-page letter that accompanied the code footprint design sent to the city in January 2018 by Zingre and Associates, P.A, provided by Duncan. The fourth paragraph states the biggest concern of the architects.The second page of the letter from Zingre and Associates P.A. to the City of Fort Scott. Listed are other points that need to be addressed by the Duncan’s in regard to their building.The third page from Zingre to the city.Following is the code footprint produced by Zingre and Associates P.A. for the city, dated Jan. 17, 2018.This is the lower level of the Beaux Art Center as shown in the code footprint.The main level of the Beaux Arts Centre.The upper level of the Beaux Arts Centre. This level has three stairway exits that are not designated as exits on the code footprint, a point of contention with the Duncans. The small triangle at the bottom of the design, notes the only exit listed on this floor, a window.The code footprint legend of the Beaux Arts Centres.A letter from Fort Scott Community Development Director Rhonda Dunn, which stated that a copy of the completed plan was sent to the state fire marshal. Denise Duncan said they should have had the report to look over and discuss with the city before it was sent.This is Duncan’s response to Dunn’s letter, saying there were many error and omissions in the code footprint. The letter tells the city of Duncan’s intent to close the business, the Beaux Arts Centre.Page 2 of the Duncan letter to the city.Denise Duncan highlighted the parts of this Kansas Municipality and Code Officials Brochure, which lists groups of buildings that must provide a code footprint. She contends that none of these apply to the Duncan building.
The board of the Friends of the Fort Scott National Historic Site face the camera following the weekly Chamber Coffee Thursday. Front from left is Vonnie Rickerson, Marlene Braker, back from left is Martha Scott, Reed Hartford, and Kelley Collins. Not pictured is Joyce Gobl, Matt Wells, Katie Wells and Shaylynn Clements.
Members of Friends of Fort Scott National Historic Site hosted the weekly Chamber Coffee Thursday to highlight their organization.
FFSNHS President Reed Hartford told the coffee attendees that they are a non-profit, separate from the historic site.
The organization can raise funds and spend money on advertising, two actions that the historic site cannot do, Hartford said.
In 2009 the group began to support activities of the site.
Some of their accomplishments are: promoting FSNHS as one of the wonders of Kansas, providing a community Fourth of July ice cream social, providing lunch for new citizens following the naturalization ceremony, and providing refreshments at the end of candlelight tours.
Since 2010 the FFSNHS group has sponsored a Friends Fest as a fundraiser.
This year it is this Saturday, March 31 from 6 to 9 p.m. at Liberty Theater, 113 S. Main.
Tickets are $35 and can be purchased the Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce, 231 E. Wall.
The group is bringing reenactor Randy Otto as Sir Winston Churchill.
Randy Otto as Sir Winston Churchill. Churchill was a primary character in many major events of British history in the 20th century.
For more information, contact Martha Scott, 620-224-9924.
The sponsors of the event are City State Bank, Union State Bank, Landmark Bank and Jim and Connie Banwart.
The following is a gallery of coffee attendees interacting prior to the announcement segment of the event.
At each coffee, members give a donation to the Chamber of $1 and tell about an event coming up in the community. The group that hosts the coffee gets extra time to tell about their business or organization.
