Tag Archives: featured

Fort Scott, Schools

Cindy Satterfield: New Title 1 Teacher at Winfield Scott

Leave a comment

This is a series featuring the new teachers in our community.

Cindy Satterfield is the new Title 1 Teacher for Kindergarten through Second Grade at Winfield Scott Elementary School, Fort Scott.

Name:  Cindy Satterfield
Title of Position:  Title I Teacher for K-2 at Winfield Scott
Education:  BS Ed in Elementary Education from PSU in 1988, MS in Education from Missouri State University in 1998, and an MS with Licensure as a Reading Specialist from PSU in 2008
Experience:  Retired from Missouri with 29 years of experience. Six years as a 2nd-grade teacher in Bronaugh, and 23 years with the Nevada RV School District with years as a 2nd-grade teacher, 3rd-grade teacher, 3rd-grade Title I teacher, Literacy Coach, and an Instructional Coach.
Age:  51
Family:  Husband  – Married to Gary Satterfield for 30 years, a Plant Engineering Supervisor at 3M in Nevada.  Two sons – Jeremy, 26 and lives in Omaha, Nebraska where he works for Turner Construction out of Kansas City as a field engineer. ” He is engaged to be married to Olivia Culbertson on September 1 and we are excited to have her as our daughter-in-law!”  Her second son, Ben, graduated from Nevada High School. He will be attehnding Missouri State University this fall as a sophomore and is considering a degree in Physical Therapy.
Affiliations: She is a member of the Vernon County Retired Educators Association, Hannon Free Will Baptist Church, and the Women’s Auxiliary, and am also involved with Vernon County Relay for Life Team.
Why did you choose to become an educator?
“I chose education as a career for several reasons.  First, I truly love teaching children and find it gratifying to be able to make a positive difference in their lives.  It is important to raise our future generation to be well-rounded individuals with the skills they need to be successful no matter what path they choose in life.  As an educator, I also appreciate the opportunity to be a lifelong learner as I advance my education, attend professional development, and work with colleagues.  Every day is different and holds opportunities to be a positive influence in the life of another person.”
What is your first priority on the job?
“My first priority as I begin a “second” career in Kansas is to build positive relationships with students, their families, and my colleagues.  Adapting to the Kansas curriculum and getting familiar everything in a new district is also important, but I know it will come with time.  I am looking forward to a great year!”
Area News

Trailblazers: Discovery and Exploration

Leave a comment
Thursday morning Trailblazers practice a play to be performed for their parents, on Friday. The Fort Scott National Historic Site Youth Engagement Team helped with the program.

The Fort Scott National Historic Site’s Trailblazer Program ends August 10.

During this workshop, children were introduced to the National Park Service mission of caring for the nation’s natural and cultural heritage, according to the Fort Scott National Historic Site website: https://www.nps.gov/fosc/learn/news/trailblazercamp.htm

They searched for treasure in a mock archaeological dig, explored the prairie, and discovered methods used to preserve the buildings and artifacts of the fort. The students engaged in living history, learned flag protocol and worked on a play that they will present at the end of the week.  Also, there were green activities that taught children how to use resources wisely.

Fort Scott National Historic Site Ranger Ryan O’Connell takes a photo of the Trailblazer Camp participants Thursday morning. From left: Kaylee, Ana, Jordan, Jubilee, James, Nate, Timothy, Jude, Aiden, and Althea.
Bourbon County, Schools

New FSCC Ag Teacher and Meats Judging Coach: Sara Sutton

Leave a comment
Sara Sutton, FSCC Agriculture Instructor and Meats Judging Coach.

This is one of a series of profiles on new teachers in Fort Scott.

Sara Sutton is the new Fort Scott Community College  Agriculture Instructor and Meats Judging Coach.

Education: Sutton came to FSCC on a rodeo scholarship with Coach Chad Cross after graduation from Shawnee Mission North in the Kansas City area.  She then attended K-State on a rodeo scholarship, graduating with an agriculture degree in 2007. She earned a teaching degree and Masters in Educational Leadership from Pittsburg State University.

Experience: She taught biology at Cherokee then Uniontown high schools.

Family: Husband, Scott and twin daughters, Marley and McKinley, and son, Tucker. Her husband teaches vo-ag at Uniontown High School. Lynne Wheeler is her mother-in-law, and John and Irene Doll are her parents. “Scott and I could not do what we do without family support.”

Age: 37

Why a career in education?

“My high school biology teacher, Mr. Fluty, was my inspiration to go into teaching. I love science and agriculture and communicating things I’m knowledgeable about with people.

What is the priority in the new job?

“Teaching, I love teaching. I will teach ag calculations, animal science, intro to feeds and ag tech management.”

“I’m looking forward to building the program. Jennalee Martin and Ryan Edgecomb were great and I want to continue on that.”

 

Bourbon County, Schools

WBE New Fourth Grade Teacher: Jackie Shadden

Leave a comment
Jackie Shadden is the new fourth-grade teacher at West Bourbon Elementary School in Uniontown. She is pictured in her classroom, getting ready for the first day of school on August 30.

Following 13 years as a fifth-grade teacher in Nevada, Mo., Jackie Shadden is the new fourth-grade teacher at West Bourbon Elementary School, Uniontown. Her hometown is Fort Scott.

“My mom, Ruby Gerant, inspired me to become a teacher,” Shadden said. “She taught for quite a few years as a high school English teacher in Uniontown.”

“I love learning and sharing knowledge with others,” she said. “And it’s always been a joy to be around kids.”

Shadden attended Fort Scott Community College, then Pittsburg State University where she earned a bachelors and masters degree in education.

She married David Shadden and had two kids, Seth, age 10-years-old and Hailey, 8.

“My husband and I care for my family’s farm, where we raise cattle,” she said.

“I am hoping to become more involved with my community since I will be teaching closer to home,” Shadden said.

Area News

New Ranger Wants the Opportunities of The Fort To Be Known

Leave a comment
Carl Brenner, new Chief of Interpretation and Resource Management at Fort Scott National Historic Site, started July 22.

The new Fort Scott National Historic Site Ranger has been around.

From Shenandoah National Park, VA to Grand Canyon National Park, AZ to Pinnacles National Monument, Yosemite National Park, Golden Gate National Park-all in California to Lake Meredith National Recreation Area in the Texas  Panhandle, Carl Brenner has been all across America.

As of July 22,  Brenner is the new Supervisory Ranger and Chief of Interpretation and Resource Management at FSNHS.

“I came to Fort Scott to continue my journey,” Brenner said. “I grew up in St. Louis, MO. I love the history close to home.”

Brenner is ready to become a part of Fort Scott.

“I’m ready to begin engaging with the community-schools, hospital, veterans, all civic organizations here in town,” he said. “And reaching out to other communities to bring them here.”

He wants to tell the story of the fort and its opportunities.

Brenner has a passion for the National Park Service.

“The park service story is the story of America,” he said. “It’s our responsibility to share that story.”

“Growing up I never realized you could have a job in the park service,” Brenner said. “Learning about nature and the cultures, being able to share them can be a career.”

That’s what his father, John Brenner, taught him, which inspired him. His first supervisor, Barb Stewart,  also ” instilled the values of what the park service is and the possibilities that exist.”

The N.P.S became his family, he said.

His personal family is a wife, Maggie, who is still packing up their belongings in Texas, and his dogs, a German Shepherd and a Golden Retriever.

Brenner has been welcomed by the community, he said, and he is impressed with the number of activities that go on in town.

He will have to coordinate with all the activities to “have people come and enjoy the fort,” he said.

This week is Trailblazer Week at the fort.

Brenner believes this is an exposure to the fort and a pathway into a career for youth.

“I’d like to start doing that with schools, the curriculum at the schools,” he said. “Try to build pathways for people to learn about resources  and opportunities with the park service.”

 

 

Bourbon County, Schools

West Bourbon Elementary School Has A New Leader

Leave a comment
Vance Eden.

Uniontown schools have enrollment August 8 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. and again on August 9 from noon to 7 p.m.

The school district has its’ first day of school on August 30.

Uniontown native Vance Eden, 33, is the new principal at West Bourbon Elementary School, as of July 1.
” My first priority is to make sure every student and teacher have the things they need to have the best possible start to the school year,” Eden said.
Eden attended Uniontown schools from kindergarten through twelfth grade.
He then attended Pittsburg State University attaining a Bachelors Degree in Elementary Education and Masters Degree in Educational Leadership.
He taught seven years,  four years as a 6th-grade teacher and three years teaching Title 1. He served as assistant principal in Webb City, Mo. for four years.
He and wife, Rachel have two children, a son-Scout, 6 years old and a daughter-Rhuey, age 4. They are members of Community Christian Church.
Why did you choose education for a career?
” Working in education is a great way to be a positive impact on the kids and families of the community where you live,” Eden said.
Bourbon County

Local Woman In Story Of San Antonio’s Stolen Shark

Leave a comment
Jamie Shank is surrounded by media after arriving back to the San Antonio Aquarium Saturday from getting the shark, “Helen” from the thief’s home. The next step was to acclimate the shark into a quarantine pool. Submitted photo.

2008 Uniontown High School graduate Jamie Shank was in the national news this week.

As the assistant husbandry director at the San Antonio Aquarium Shank was responsible for getting a shark back after it was put into a  baby stroller and stolen from the aquarium last Saturday.

“I wasn’t on duty when the shark was stolen but was involved in getting the shark back,” Shank told FortScott.Biz. “I went with the police to bring the shark back.”

“She is still in quarantine for observation to make sure she is eating right,” Shank said. “She was stored with other fish in  (the suspect’s) garage.”

The shark, Helen.

Click below to see the whole story:

https://www.cnn.com/2018/07/31/us/shark-stolen-san-antonio-aquarium-trnd/index.html

Shank, whose parents, Mark and Lisa, still live near Redfield, said she wanted to be a marine biologist since she was nine years old and continued her education to do so.

After many opportunities, she ended up at San Antonio Aquarium two and a half years ago.

“I love my job,” Shank said. “I love what I am doing.”

 

 

 

 

Entertainment, Fort Scott

Pickleball: Ping Pong on a Tennis Court

Leave a comment
The outside pickleball courts are located up the stairs, just north of the water tower at 9th and Burke streets.

It is a cross between tennis and ping pong and was invented in Seattle in 1965.

It’s pickleball.

Played with a short wooden paddle and a whiffle ball, in Fort Scott there are two places to enjoy the sport.

One is indoors at Buck Run Community Center, 735 Scott Avenue, and the other is an outside court at 9th and Burke street, near the water tower. Paddles and balls are available at Buck Run.

The outdoor courts are a first-come, first served basis.

“We are lucky we have two places to play,” Janice Allen, a local player said.

Pickleball is taught as part of the physical education curriculum at Fort Scott Middle School, “And all kinds of kids show up at the water tower to play,” Allen said.

Teams can be found playing at the outside court at 6:30 a.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays and also at 6 p.m.

At Buck Run, 9 a.m. Monday through Friday people play and also Saturday morning at 8 a.m., she said.

There are four courts at the water tower site.

“You can go and watch,” Allen said. “We have a good time.”

Submitted photo

“I’m 77 years old,” Allen said. “It’s an excellent exercise and social game. And I’ve lost 25 pounds since I started playing a year-and-a-half ago.” The outside court opened in 2017.

Submitted photo.

The pickleball court is two-thirds the size of a tennis court, scoring is like for ping pong, serving is underhanded and a person can only score while serving. There are four courts at the water tower location.

Submitted photo. Pickleball can be played outside at night as well because of lights at the court.

“You don’t have to go with people,” Allen said. “We’ll rotate you in and out of the game. Someone will help you get started.”

“You need to wear shoes with tread, cross-training shoes, not running or walking shoes,” she said.

Bourbon County, Business

Farmer’s Market Tomato Festival July 28 At Skubitz Plaza

Leave a comment

Taste the glossy red fruit tomorrow at the farmers market to see which is your favorite!

Tomatoes for sale at Fort Scott Farmers Market.

The annual Fort Scott Farmers Market Tomato Festival is Saturday, July 28 at Skubitz Plaza, starting at 8 a.m.

The public is welcome to bring in their tomatoes for the contest as well, Stacey Atkins, president of the FSFM said.

“People can sample tomatoes and vote for their favorite,” Atkins said. “It’s always fun to sample the produce.”

Vendor Stacey Atkins chats with a customer July 21 at her booth. Atkins sells eggs, baked goods, and lemonade.
Chet and Linda Bower sell produce from their farm.
Linda Murrow changes the billboard of what she sells as she runs out of produce. Murrow sells produce, baked goods, and lemonade.
Mary Yoder sells baked goods, homemade jellies,  relishes and cherry tomatoes.
Roman Shetler sells produce, honey, maple syrup, relish and produce.
Ronnie Brown sells nuts, jellies, fruit, produce and baked goods.
Micki Kraft sells homemade sewn products.
Chet Bower shows some of his carrots he grew on his farm.

 

Fort Scott, Schools

USD 234 Civil Rights Investigation

1 Comment
Fisher Park, located at Main and 7th streets.

An anonymous complaint against USD 234 was filed on June 14, 2016, with the U.S. Department of Education, according to the government education website:  https://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/docs/investigations/open-investigations/tix.html?queries%5Bstate%5D=KS.

“There has been a Title IX complaint against the school district,” USD 234 Superintendent Ted Hessong, said.  “There is an investigation currently and the school district is unable to comment more specifically at this time.”

The investigation pending is regarding Title IX Athletics, according to the website.

The Office of Civil Rights at the U.S. Department of Education works to ensure equal access to education and resolve complaints of discrimination, according to its’ website https://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/docs/howto.html

In June 2018,  City  Attorney Bob Farmer was asked by the Fort Scott City Commission to send USD 234  a letter to be sent with the school district’s paperwork on the case to the Office of Civil Rights, according to the city commission minutes of June 19, 2018.

In the letter Farmer sent, the city stated it had no plans to build a clubhouse or dressing room at Fisher Park because there is no funding at this time to do so, according to the minutes.

The city owns Fisher Park and allows the USD 234 to use the facilities there for the FSHS girls softball program, Hessong said.

“The OCR wanted a letter from the city stating that the city has no intention of building at Fisher Park,” City Manager Dave Martin said.

“We have been unable to find out who filed the complaint,” Martin said. “The state will not tell the person who turned them in.”

Hewitt Field at Fisher Park. The FSHS girls softball program uses the facilities in the spring.
Don Hewitt Field at Fisher Park. The ballpark is three blocks north of Fort Scott High School.
The concession building at Fisher Park.
Fort Scott High School, 1005 S. Main.
Bourbon County, Government

New Gas Line For Uniontown

Leave a comment
The city of Uniontown’s Council received a grant to replace the natural gas pipeline in the town.

The Uniontown City Council has been active in recent years to improve the town’s infrastructure.

A project to widen and deepen the town’s ditches to keep water going where it should, a water line replacement project and this year a natural gas line replacement project has been initiated by the council. Uniontown’s population is 272.

The city of Uniontown was awarded $201,000 in 2017 with Community Development Block Grant funds to replace a natural gas transmission line, according to kansascommerce.gov/CivicAlerts.

The city will contribute $201,000 in matching funds for this project.

NPL Foreman Pat Wier, Parker, left, tells USIC employee Mason Adams, Sugar Valley, right, where the pipeline project is, on Tuesday morning. USIC locates electric meters for entities.

The Uniontown project started June 12.

“We are trying to get it done by September 1,” NPL(Northern Pipe Line) Foreman Pat Wier, said. “So far, we are up to date, but we have a lot of work to be done.”

The two-man crew is replacing PVC pipe with PE pipe. The crew is comprised of Wier and Edmundo Rodriguez, Lenexa.

“PE is a federal requirement,” Wier said. “PVC is not recognized anymore. We are laying new pipe in portions of the city where the PVC is.”

The crew worked late into the night on Thursday to get resident Bill Griffith hooked back on to gas after a day spent laying pipe on the town’s southeast side.

“Once started, we couldn’t quit,” Wier said. “There are a few late nights.”

The usual hours for the crew is 7 a.m to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, Wier said.

Edmundo Rodriguez, left, an NPL employee, chats with Mason Adams, USIC employee during work on the pipeline just south of Nita Campbell’s property Tuesday morning.

Next for the crew is replacing 3,700 feet of two-inch steel pipe south of town.

“That is exposed,” Wier said. “We’ll be replacing and putting pipe underground for safety.”

Recently, a brush mower in this area ran over the steel riser and “caused a pretty good (gas)leak,” Wier said. “That’s why we are doing all this.”

During the FortScott.Biz interview a Kansas Corporation Commission Inspector, Jon Bolinder, turned up at the work site.

Kansas Corporation Commission Office of Pipeline Safety Inspector Jon Bolinder of Topeka stopped by the Uniontown gas line project Tuesday morning.

Bolinder is with the Office of Pipeline Safety for the KCC, he said.

Bolinder said all projects submit a construction notice to KCC. He was on his way to the Coffeyville area and made a stop in Uniontown to view the project.

“We come out and make sure they are following code when installing,” Bolinder said. He also said it helps him “in my head, when I am doing the paperwork on the project.”

The Small Cities Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program allows the Kansas Department of Commerce to distribute federal funds to Kansas cities and counties looking to improve their community.

To receive CDBG funds, a project must meet at least one of the following federally mandated criteria, according to the website:

  • The project benefits low- and moderate-income individuals.
  • The project removes or prevents slum or blight condition.
  • The project eliminates an urgent need created by a disaster when local funds are unavailable.