In preparation for the coming Christmas season, the Fort Scott Middle School will host their annual VIP Fall Extravaganza Monday evening, providing an opportunity for the community to shop from a variety of vendors while helping raise funds for the middle school.
Fall Extravaganza 2015
“It’s a family event,” organizer Stephanie George said of the extravaganza, which will be held from 5 to 8 p.m. and will include childcare provided by the Fort Scott Community College volleyball team.
In the USD 234 Board of Education meeting held Monday evening, George said the event is full of vendors, with 57 signed up, and she even had to turn some away because there is no more space. George added the event has spread from just local vendors to include others from Nevada and Junction City, for example.
“Now I just need lots of shoppers to come,” George said.
Some of the participating vendors include Pampered Chef, LuLaRoe Clothing, Thirty-One Gifts, Tourtillott Creations, Scentsy, Miller Feed & Farm, Gold Canyon, Briggs of Fort Scott, Care to Share and a number of other vendors selling clothes, food items, crafts and other goods.
Many vendors will also be holding raffles to give items away, with tickets costing $0.25 each. Briggs of Fort Scott also donated $150 that will be given away as two $75 prizes to employees of the school district who enter into the drawing at the extravaganza.
The Bourbon County Commission met with historian Arnold Schofield and resident Barbara Piene Tuesday morning to discuss the historical significance of an old iron bridge located over Indian Creek near Yale Road.
Recently, Piene has expressed a desire to spend some time working around the bridge and taking the necessary steps to nominate the bridge as a historical site on the National Register of Historic Places.
Currently, Bourbon County has two historic bridges, called the Military Bridge and the Long Shoals Bridge, but Schofield said the Indian Creek Bridge is unique even from those bridges in how it was constructed.
“It’s a beautiful setting,” Schofield said of the bridge, constructed in 1898 and closed to traffic except for walkers for the past few decades. “The bridge itself has excellent historical integrity.”
Schofield said some of the things considered are whether the bridge is damaged and if it still includes the original materials from its construction. Other than the damaged deck, he said the bridge is in excellent condition and even still has the original sign describing its construction.
For the bridge to be nominated as a historical bridge, the commission must send a letter of recommendation. Schofield said letters of support, which the Historic Preservation Association has offered to write, also help with the process, which can take 10-12 months before approval is given. In that time the site would likely be visited and must be evaluated by engineers.
“Personally, I think we’d be making a mistake not to try to get it on [the register],” said commissioner Harold Coleman.
But the commissioners said they needed to know the pros and cons of such an attempt and what the county would be responsible for before giving their recommendation.
Schofield said the county would have to keep the bridge in good repair and well-maintained, but that there are grants available such as through the Kansas Heritage Trust Fund that pays 80 percent of such costs. He added fundraisers and donations can also be used to pay such fees instead of the county if that is available.
The commission gave their unanimous approval for Piene to move forward with the application.
Going into last Saturday night’s game against the Hutchinson Community College Blue Dragons, Fort Scott Community College linebacker Dominic Cizauskas needed to accumulate 30 tackles in the last two games of the season to break the FSCC single-season tackle record.
Photo Credit: Fort Scott Community College
Because Cizauskas had averaged more than 17 tackles per game in his last three games, it appeared this record was in reach. Instead of making Greyhound fans wait until the final game of the season to break the record, Cizauskas had one of the best single-game defensive performances in Greyhound history. During the game, he accumulated 34 tackles and intercepted a pass early in the first quarter to become the record holder, surpassing Lavonte David, former ‘Hound and current NFL All-Pro football player for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Adding the 34 tackles from last Saturday’s game, Cizauskas currently has 131 tackles for the season, exceeding the previous record of 125 take-downs set by David in 2009 during the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) National Championship game. With one game left against top-ranked Garden City Community College this Saturday, Cizauskas will look to add to his tackle record and help the Greyhounds upset the Broncbusters.
When Cizauskas, a 6’2”, 242-pound freshman from Mukwonago, Wis., first arrived at FSCC in the spring of 2016, there was a buzz across the campus. Cizauskas was a highly-touted, explosive player with a high motor and the ‘Hounds hoped he could be a game-changer on the defensive side of the ball. Cizauskas has fulfilled these expectations.
According to Craig Richardson, FSCC linebacker coach, Cizauskas has grown into a smarter and better football player over the course of the season.
“His football IQ continues to grow every day. When he first came to the team, he would rely on pure athleticism,” said Richardson. “Now his understanding of the game and preparation puts him in a position to be successful. His success over the last several weeks is a credit to his dedication.”
Richardson says he has been impressed with Cizauskas’ performance and believes his work ethic puts him in a class with past Greyhound greats.
“Dominic is a tough, hard-working, blue-collar kid who makes plays that make you scratch your head wondering, ‘Did he really do that?’” said Richardson. “His motor never stops. He dominates games by utilizing proper technique and good reads to make up for his size and speed.”
In addition to his role as a linebacker, Cizauskas also plays on all of the Greyhounds’ special team units. He has averaged 13.1 tackles per game this season, with three forced fumbles and four fumble recoveries. Two of his pick-ups were returned for touchdowns in a 34-29 victory on the road against Ellsworth Community College.
Currently, Dominic is ranked in the top four players for several NJCAA defensive statistic categories:
Tackles (#2, with 131 tackles)
Fumble recoveries (#3, with 4 fumble recoveries)
Average tackles per game (#4 with 13.1 tackles per game)
The NJCAA has taken notice of Cizauskas’ efforts, naming him the Defensive Player of the Week twice in the last three weeks. He was also recognized by the Kansas Jayhawk Community College Conference twice in the past three weeks as conference Defensive Player of the Week.
Cizauskas and the ‘Hounds will finish their 2016 football campaign this weekend at 1:00 p.m. in Garden City, Kan., where they will play the NJCCA #1 ranked Garden City Community College Broncbusters.
The Bourbon County Commission canvassed the final election results Monday by counting the provisional ballots, deciding which ones could be included in the total count and which ones had to be discarded.
Provisional ballots were cast by voters whose names or other information did not match the information in their voter registration, as well as those who faced other issues at the voting stations.
Voters who had failed to register in time or did not have a photo identification when they voted were immediately rejected, but others such as those whose name or address had changed since their registration, who had filled out the incorrect ballot or had faced some clerical issue were often accepted at least in part.
The county commissioners went through 231 provisional ballots Monday, with commission chairperson Barbara Albright commenting she does not remember having so many at previous elections. County clerk Kendell Mason said this election brought out a large number of voters in Bourbon County.
“Our poll-workers did a great job,” Mason said of Election Day. “The voters were great to work with.”
Mason said she was frequently in contact with the different poll places in the county to make sure the process went smoothly. Prior to the election, Mason said the post office was helpful as well in making sure everyone received what they needed for mail-in votes.
The number of provisional ballots counted did not affect the end results of the local elections, though the commissioners did have to draw names for a couple positions in the Franklin township to break the ties.
Some of the official results locally included County Commissioner District 3 candidate Nick Ruhl receiving 982 votes to incumbent Harold Coleman’s 600 and Bourbon County Sheriff candidate Bill Martin receiving 3,629 votes to opponent Mike Feagins’ 2,425. A tie between Ed Murrow and Tom Ridge for the Franklin Township trustee was decided by a drawing, with Murrow being named the trustee. A similar tie for the Franklin Township treasurer between Lynda Murrow, Theresa Burke and Tom Ridge was determined to be won by Murrow.
Fort Scott Community College is pleased to announce that Dr. Laura Meeks will serve as FSCC Interim Vice President for Academic Affairs beginning November 21.
“I’m thrilled that Dr. Meeks will be working with us over the next several months,” said Alysia Johnston, FSCC President. “FSCC will greatly benefit from the knowledge, experience and expertise that she brings.”
Dr. Meeks has more than 30 years of experience in higher education administration. She recently returned to Fort Scott after retiring as the President of Eastern Gateway Community College in Steubenville, Ohio, where she served for 16 years. Before her tenure at EGCC, she served as President of Fort Scott Community College for eight years.
Dr. Meeks holds a doctor of philosophy degree in curriculum and instruction from Kansas State University. She also holds an educational specialist degree and master’s degree from Pittsburg State University and a bachelor’s degree from the University of Minnesota.
“I am honored to be returning to FSCC and I will do my best to serve the College until the new vice president is identified,” said Dr. Meeks. “I have a lot of respect for President Alysia Johnston and I am looking forward to working with her as well as the faculty and staff.”
Dr. Meeks continued, “I have great confidence in the leadership and the mission of FSCC. The administration, faculty and staff truly have a passion for teaching students and helping them succeed.”
Fort Scott Community College will host a welcome reception for Dr. Meeks at 3:00 pm on Monday, November 21 at the Danny & Willa Ellis Family Fine Arts Center, 2108 South Horton in Fort Scott. The event will be open to the public. For more information, please call 620-223-2700 or visit fortscott.edu.
The Fort Scott Community College Meats Judging Team won first place at the High Plains Intercollegiate Meat Judging Contest held on October 30, in Friona, Texas. Additionally, the team placed second in beef grading, second in lamb judging, first in pork judging, second in beef judging, first in total beef, first in total placings and second in the total questions division.
Photo Credit: Fort Scott Community College. From left to right, pictured are FSCC Meats Judging Team Members Adam Lattin, Katie Thoden, Chad McKibben, and Peyton Barrett with FSCC Meats Judging Coach Jenilee Martin.
FSCC will host a reception to celebrate the team’s success at 3:00 p.m. on Thursday, November 17, in the Heritage Room of the FSCC Dick Hedges Administration Building, located at 2108 South Horton Street in Fort Scott.
“The team worked hard throughout the year, trying to master the process that would land them the big win. We challenged each other more than any other team I have coached—in the end, that left the students more comfortable in their situation,” said Jenilee Martin, FSCC Meats Judging Coach. “Although the national contest would be challenging, the students went in with level heads. This allowed them to calmly place the classes at hand, which ultimately put them on top. I couldn’t be more proud of the students and their successes!”
Originally from Jasper, Mo., Martin served as a member of the FSCC Meats Judging Team in 2010, which was coached by Ryan Edgecomb. Over the last seven years, FSCC has claimed four of the national championship titles and two reserve national titles.
The 2016 team includes sophomores Peyton Barrett from Winchester, Kan.; Adam Lattin from Independence, Kan.; Chad McKibben from Lamar, Mo.; and Katie Thoden from Paola, Kan. At the national contest, Thoden placed first in pork judging, first in beef judging, second in total placings, first in total questions and first place individual overall. Barrett placed second in beef grading, fifth in lamb judging, fourth in pork judging, first in total placings and fourth place overall. Lattin placed fourth in lamb judging, fifth in beef judging, third in total placings and ninth place overall. McKibben placed first in beef grading and thirteenth place overall.
Two students received All-American Team honors—Thoden was named to the first team and Barrett was named to the second team.
“The All-American Award is perhaps the most prestigious award of the year because it honors the top eight performers in the classroom and in the cooler,” said Martin.
Additionally, McKibben was selected by his peers to receive the Rachel Hamilton Memorial Spirit Award for the team. This award was established to honor a member of each team whose winning approach exemplifies Hamilton’s love of meats judging.
Throughout the season, the team also competed in five other events including the National Western Stock Show in Denver, Colo.; Southwestern Stock Show in Fort Worth, Texas; Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo in Houston, Texas; Beef Empire Days in Garden City, Kan.; and The American Royal in Omaha, Neb.
Fort Scott and other parts of Bourbon County took part in honoring Veterans Day Friday with a series of events held at local schools, the college and the national cemetery as well as other places in order to show gratitude to veterans.
Fort Scott Community College recognized veterans by holding their first Veterans Day Walk around their lake beginning at 10 a.m. FSCC President’s Ambassadors walked the trail for an hour while members of the community were encouraged to participate when they could.
“We’re here to celebrate and to commemorate those who have committed their services to our country,” FSCC student services assistant Francis Schafer said prior to the walk. “We honor them today.”
FSCC office assistant Karri Johnson, whose husband is buried in the Fort Scott National Cemetery, said even footsteps in honor of the veterans can show support.
“We just wanted to make sure to honor everyone who has served and show our appreciation,” Johnson said. “We are walking for our veterans who are no longer with us and who are with us.”
The college also had a wall of photos honoring veterans inside Bailey Hall.
The local national cemetery also held a memorial service Friday, with Cmdr. Matthew Jones, United States Coast Guard, giving the address and using it as an opportunity to thank those who served abroad or at home, those involved in administrative duties, maintenance of vehicles and equipment, food and fuel providers and chaplains.
“Thank you for sacrificing your peaceful dreams and your daytime wonderings to remembering the terror of war,” Jones said, saying those in the service had to learn to die to themselves for the good of the team and their mission to protect their country.
Jones also thanked those who did not serve in the military but have expressed gratitude and encouragement to veterans.
“We thank you for your support and your encouragement,” Jones addressed those in attendance. “It makes service worth it… Thank you for being a nation that we are proud to have served.”
Others in Fort Scott also held services, such as the Fort Scott Middle School, Winfield Scott and St. Mary’s Catholic School. The local Veterans of Foreign Wars post held a lunch for veterans after the national cemetery ceremony.
Veterans Day, 2014, at Fort Scott National Cemetery.
Auditions for a children’s community theatre production of “The Best Christmas Pageant Ever” are from 6 to 8 p.m., November 14 or 15, at the Beaux Arts Centre, 102 S. National, in Fort Scott.
The play, written by Barbara Robinson, is based on the classic children’s book of the same name.
“In this hilarious Christmas classic, a couple struggling to put on a church Christmas pageant is faced with casting the Herdman kids—probably the most inventively awful kids in history. You won’t believe the mayhem – and the fun – when the Herdmans collide with the Christmas story head on!” according to publisher Samuel French.
Auditions are open to kids in grades kindergarten through 12, and no preparation is necessary to audition. Rehearsals are on Sundays from 1 to 4 p.m. and Monday through Thursday from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Performances are December 10 and 11, at the Beaux Arts Centre.
The performances are a fundraiser for the Fort Scott High School students traveling to New York City for a Broadway tour and workshops over Spring Break. There is a $30 performance fee per actor to offset production costs.
The production is directed by Angie Bin, current FSHS Drama Director and former FSCC Children’s Theatre Director. The high school students are also seeking local business sponsorship to help fund the production. Interested parties and anyone with questions about auditions may contact Bin at 620-719-9622 or at [email protected].
During their meeting Tuesday morning, the Bourbon County Commission approved a request for $9,400 from Schwab-Eaton engineers to complete a study on a bridge just south of Fulton in need of repairs.
The money, which public works director Jim Harris said will come from the special road and bridges budget, will include a site visit, a cost estimate for replacing the bridge, investigation of a grant opportunity, the possibility of repairs instead of replacement and the alternate routes available for during bridge closure.
“I don’t believe we have much choice, do we?” commissioner Harold Coleman asked.
Harris said the bridge, which goes over the railroad tracks and was built in 1939, is on the critical list along with about four other bridges in the county. For those bridges, Harris said it is likely fruitless to spend a couple thousand dollars just to refurbish them when they are in need of a more drastic overhaul.
“You can’t just go in and do some repairs,” Harris said.
Schwab-Eaton has said they are prepared to begin immediately, which commissioner Lynne Oharah agreed “the sooner the better,” so decisions can be made concerning how to react to the study.
The commissioners also voted unanimously to adopt a resolution to approve the sale of certificates of participation for the equipment lease purchase for the new law enforcement center.
The certificates cover $1,753,000 of the $1,788,000 needed to purchase the jail cells, including an interest rate of 3.42 percent. Oharah pointed out they will probably not get a lower interest rate since those rates have begun to move upward again after months of record lows.
The county will not make their first payment until March 1, 2018. The remaining $34,000 not covered by the certificates will be paid for by the county, likely from the revenue generated by the sales tax approved for the project.
During the weekly Chamber Coffee held Thursday morning, the Fort Scott Area Community Foundation gave a total of $21,000 to local organizations to support their causes in Bourbon County.
Chairperson of the foundation Blake Hudson and member Patty LaRoche distributed the checks, which went to organizations including the Mercy Health Foundation, the Gordon Parks Museum, the Riverfront authority, Friends of the Fort, Bourbon County Inter-agency Coalition, Fort Scott Middle School, CASA, Bourbon County Senior Citizens, Care to Share, Partners in Change, USD 234 and the Lowell Milken Center.
The foundation has been in existence since 2007 and continues to give grants to non-profit organizations each year, using a selection process to decide who will receive funding. This year the money was given specifically for causes such as the hospital’s new mammography equipment, fares for Pitt-Taxi for the senior citizens, the schools’ art and mentor programs and even for Buck Run Community Center and pool passes for low income families.
Hudson said they are constantly seeking donations toward the endowment fund that provides the money they distribute. Currently they are nearing the end of a fundraising campaign which is trying to take advantage of a $75,000 matching gift. About $10,000 more is needed by early December.
The Fort Scott Community College women’s basketball team’s strong start to the season continued Tuesday evening with a narrow win over the State Fair Community College Roadrunners.
The Lady Greyhounds (4-0) remain undefeated in coach Jeff Tadtman’s first season at FSCC after a 59-56 win over the Lady Roadrunners (1-2), despite trailing SFCC by one point at halftime. But stronger defense as well as good shooting gave the ‘Hounds a ten point lead in the fourth quarter, only for the Roadrunners to battle their way back to within two points in the last nine seconds of the game.
Sophomore Jordyn Danzer led all players with 16 points for the ‘Hounds, making seven of seven free throws, while sophomore Natalia Ready added 14 points, including two back-to-back three pointers at the beginning of the final quarter.
But while the girls found success, the men’s team dropped their second game in a row. Although coming to within seven points late in the game, the ‘Hounds eventually lost to the Roadrunners, 78-56.
Roadrunners’ sophomore Willie Jimerson, Jr., led his team and the entire game with 27 points, while the Roadrunners finished with more than a 50 percent field goal average. The ‘Hounds made just 29 percent of their shots.
Freshman Tyler Zinn led the Greyhounds with 17 points, while freshman Chrision Wilburn added 13 points.
See FSCC’s sports page at their website for more details of the teams and their schedules, including upcoming weekend games, at http://www.fsgreyhounds.com/landing/index.
After months of campaigning on the local as well as the state and national level, new leadership as well as incumbents were again voted into office after Bourbon County residents turned out to vote.
The non-official results were slow in coming Tuesday evening as votes from nine different poll stations in Bourbon County were brought to the courthouse, with a group of people watching local and national election news together at the courthouse waiting until almost 9 p.m. before local results were announced.
While many of the candidates for Bourbon County positions ran unopposed, the sheriff’s position and 3rd District County Commissioner were decided, with Sheriff Bill Martin being reelected, receiving 3,552 votes to opponent Mike Feagins’ 2,352, and Nick Ruhl being selected over incumbent Harold Coleman for the commission seat, receiving 961 votes to Coleman’s 577.
More than 6,000 of the 11,643 registered voters in Bourbon County cast votes, more than 1,000 taking advantage of early voting while more than 4,000 voted on Election Day. Results will become official after canvassing, which will likely be accomplished by the end of the week.
Other approximate results from Bourbon County included presidential nominee Donald Trump receiving 71 percent of the votes, United States Senate incumbent Jerry Moran receiving 72 percent, United States House of Representatives incumbent Lynn Jenkins receiving 76 percent, Kansas Senate District 12 incumbent Caryn Tyson receiving 76 percent and Kansas Senate District 13 incumbent Jake LaTurner receiving 63 percent of the vote.
