Tag Archives: featured

Church news, Food, Fort Scott

Free Food Distribution on August 17 by Family Life Assembly Of God Church

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Fort Scott Middle School, 1105 E. 12th.
Family Life Assembly of God Church is partnering with Convoy of Hope in Springfield, Missouri to distribute non-perishable food to the community.
The distribution will be at Fort Scott Middle School on Saturday, August 17 starting at 10 a.m.
“We know that as school starts a lot of families are really struggling with buying school supplies, school clothes, and a grocery bill. This is just a small way we can help be the hands and feet of Jesus,” said Pastor Justin Eichenberger.
 Eichenberger, 26, is the new pastor at Family Life Assembly of God Church in Fort Scott, since October 1, 2023 .
Eichenberger said ” I believe Jesus has called me to care for people.”
For Eichenberger, the best thing about being a pastor is “Seeing God move in people’s hearts and lives.”
This church is a satellite of FamilyLife Assembly of God (FLAG), Pittsburg, Kansas.

“We meet on Sunday mornings at 10 am in Fort Scott Middle School-1105 E 12th Street,” he said.

To contact the pastor:
Pastor Justin Eichenberger
620-232-3524
Bourbon County, Schools

USD 235 New Admin, Educator: Miller, Bolton

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Dustin Miller. Submiited photo.

Dustin Miller, 50, is the new Dean of Students at West Bourbon Elementary School, Uniontown.

Miller is a 1992 graduate of Uniontown High School, earned an associate of science degree at Fort Scott Community College in 1994 and a bachelor of science in education from Pittsburg State University in 2006 in K-6th grade and also 5-8 grade mathematics.

He is currently working on a Master of Science in Education from Emporia State University (projected: Fall, 2024)in educational administration.

“The 2024-25 school year will be my 19th year in education,” he said.  “My first year I taught 5th grade at Truman Elementary in Nevada, Mo.  The rest of my career has been at USD 235. Upon completing my Master of Science Degree in the Fall of 2024, I will become the Principal of West Bourbon Elementary.”

Positions  he has held

  • 5th Grade (6 years: 1st year was at Truman Elementary in Nevada, MO)
  • 7th & 8th Grade Math (2 years)
  • Title I (10 years serving West Bourbon Elementary)
  • Junior High Football

“As an educator, one of the best things is the opportunity to inspire and shape the minds of students, watching them grow and learn new things. It is incredibly rewarding to see students succeed and know that you played a part in their development.”

“One of the biggest challenges for educators is meeting the diverse needs of students in increasingly complex learning environments. Each student has a unique learning style, background, and capabilities, making it challenging to create personalized learning experiences for everyone. Additionally, managing large class sizes, keeping students engaged, and addressing individual needs can be a constant challenge for educators.”

In addition to teaching, he has taken on coaching students.

He served two years as an assistant coach for junior high track, two years as co-head coach in high school baseball, one year as assistant coach of high school track, nine years as assistant coach in high school football, and 13 years as assistant coach of high school basketball (women). 18 years with the program, 13 years as head coach.

“I am an active member of the Marmaton Community Christian Church in Redfield.  I serve my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ as an Elder, Sunday School Teacher, and Wednesday night youth group leader.”

He has been married to his high school sweetheart, Carrie for 31 years and they have four sons.

Trenton (30), is married to Aubri and has two children: Josie & Ruthie.

Gavin (26), is married to Shelby and has two children: Bennett & Isla.

Hayden (23) and Korbin, (20) who is engaged to Haley Steeley.

 

Nancy Bolton is a new English Language Art teacher for 7-8th grade at Uniontown Junior/Senior High School.
She has a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education (K-9) from Pittsburg State University and a Master of Science in Education in Library Media (K-12) from Fort Hays State University.
She has been teaching since 1992, as a teacher for 5-8 English Language Arts, 4th grade, 7-8 Social Studies, and as a K-6 and K-12 Librarian.
She and her husband, Steve, have recently moved to Girard for his new position representing the Fellowship of Christian Athletes,  for Bourbon, Crawford, and Cherokee Counties. They were both involved in Ellsworth, KS as middle school youth leaders and FCA huddle leaders.
She is also a member of Beta Sigma Phi, PEO, Kansas Association of School Librarians, and a board member of Westminster Woods Church Camp at Fall River.
They are  “empty nesters” with twin adult children, Micah and Josiah. who graduated from Friend’s University in 2023. Micah is a band instructor at Goddard High School, Jr. High and 5-6th grade. He plays in the Wichita Wind Symphony as well as gives private music lessons. He is married to Maddison. Josiah is the middle school youth director at Eastminster Presbyterian Church, Wichita. He was a member of the cross country and track team while attending Friends and continues to mentor students from around the Wichita area on running while sharing his faith.
“The best thing about being an educator is seeing the students I’ve helped educate go on to successful lives and careers, some as doctors, lawyers, dental hygienists, brick layers, construction workers, HAVC operators, farmers and ranchers, nurses and so on. I also love sharing my love of literature and the written word.”
“The challenge in education is keeping up with technology and social media that students are exposed to,” she said.

 

 

Exercise, Fort Scott, Government

Fort Scott Fire Department Invites the Community to Join Them in a Stair Climb to Remember 9/11

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The Fort Scott Fire Department is promoting an event they perform every year amongst members to commemorate 9/11- the day the United States was attacked by terrorists, in 2001. Many firefighters on duty died that day attempting to help people.
“I thought this would be a neat tribute to get the public involved as well,” FSFD Deputy Chief Mike Miles said. “The purpose is to remember those who sacrificed  and served on September 11.”
Mike Miles. Submitted photo.
“We are also using this to start a scholarship for high schoolers who may want to venture into the Fire Service,” he said.  “We could provide them with tuition for the academy.  There would be steps and measures one would have to take to receive the scholarship. That will be discussed at a later date when we get the Junior Fire Fighter program going.”
“We would also use some proceeds to donate to the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation,” he said.
September 7, is the event, located on South Main Street, at the Fort Scott High School football stadium. Registration and walk-ups start at 8 a.m. The event will begin at 9 a.m.
There are three different options to participate.
“You can perform the stair climb, which would consist of 15 trips back and forth, up and down the stadium stairs. Or walk a 5k around the track or run a 5k through downtown and back to the stadium.”
One can register on the link provided on the fire department’s Facebook page.
“You receive a T-shirt with your registration and the cost is $25 for adults, $15 for kids.”
This t-shirt is for sale for the event. Photo taken from the Fort Scott Fire Department Facebook page.
“We have flyers also at local businesses and gas stations you can scan the QR code and it takes you to the registration page.”

 

Fort Scott, Schools

New USD 234 Teachers: Page, Coen, Williams

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This is part of a series of new teachers in USD 234 School District, Fort Scott. There are 24 new teachers and two new administrators in the district.

School starts for students on August 16.

There are five campuses in the district:

  • Fort Scott Preschool Center (serving pre-kindergarten students ages 3+)
  • Winfield Scott Elementary School (serving kindergarten through through second-grade students)
  • Eugene Ware Elementary School (serving third through fifth-grade students)
  • Fort Scott Middle School (serving sixth through eighth-grade students)
  • Fort Scott High School (serving ninth through twelfth-grade students)

According to its website, the district has nearly two thousand students enrolled within the district and over 350+ staff members.

Marcus Page and family. Submitted photo.

Marcus Page, 31, is a new biology teacher at Fort Scott High School.
He earned a  Bachelor of Science in Biology from Pittsburg  State University and a Master of Arts in Teaching from P.S.U.

He has been a middle school science teacher in Kansas City, KS for two years, a school science teacher in Olathe for one year, and the Director of Admissions at Fort Scott Community College since Spring of 2022.

“While at FSCC, I had the privilege of being a part of LEAD Bourbon County, allowing me the opportunity to meet many people within our community.”

His family attends Fort Scott Nazarene Church.

His wife is the communication instructor at FSCC and they have two children, Carter, age 6, who attends Fort Scott Christian Heights, and Ellie, age 1, who attends Happy Kids Daycare.

“By far the best part of teaching is getting to know the students and building a relationship with them to encourage them throughout their education.

“A challenge in education is having a healthy work/life balance. Now that I have two children at home it will be important to utilize my time at work to its fullest.”

Jessica Coen. Submitted photo.
Jessica Coen, 35, is the district- Early Childhood Special Education teacher at Fort Scott Preschool Center.
She earned a Masters In Art of Teaching, K-6th grade and undergrad in Unified Early Childhood from Kansas State University, has a bachelor’s in accounting through the University of Phoenix, and completed Applied Behavior Analysis training in 2023.
This is her second year teaching ECSE.
She has one year of experience in ECSE teaching at Paola Cottonwood Elementary and  6 1/2 years of experience working with Headstart and Early Headstart in Linn County.
“I have a busy house with five children Serenity,17, Kyle, 15, Bella,12, Jensen, 9, and Marek, 6 years old. ” My husband, Michael, and I  just celebrated our 18th anniversary. We also have 6 dogs and 6 cats.”
The best thing about being an educator for her is “being a part of a team (family, teachers, paras, etc.) to be part of their growth and success of reaching goals and development. It’s an awesome perk to get some great smiles, hugs, and ‘I love you’ from the students. I love the laughs and the dancing while we learn and grow.
A challenge as an educator, I think is… to make sure all needs are met. But we can always do our best each day.”
Courtney Williams. Submitted photo.

Courtney Williams, 24, is a new 5th Grade Math/Science Teacher at Eugene Ware Elementary School.

She earned a Bachelor of Science, in Elementary Education from Pittsburg State University.

This is her second year of teaching,  last year she taught first-grade rat R.V. Haderlein in Girard.

“I would love to find some ways to involve myself in the community since I have returned to Fort Scott!,” she said.

“I love meeting my students for the first time. To watch them come into the room and explore the space and introduce myself to them. I want to make a fun, exciting first impression so they know they will always be welcome into my classroom and I will be available when they need help.”

A challenge for her will be learning how to handle older students. “But I have confidence in myself and my new team to help me continue to grow my knowledge in the pursuit of education.”

 

Bourbon County, Elections

Unofficial Results of August 6 Primary Bourbon County Election: Final

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Note: The U.S. Senate, U.S. House of Representatives, Kansas Senate and Kansas House of Representatives races do not indicate the true winners, merely the votes they garnered in Bourbon County.
Kansas House of Representatives District 4 encompasses both Bourbon and Linn Counties.
In Linn County, these are the results for that seat, therefore although Jones won in Bourbon County, James had more votes counting both together.
STATE REPRESENTATIVE DST 4
          (VOTE FOR)  1
           RICK JAMES .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .     1,138   72.76
           JOSHUA JONES  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .       426   27.24
James won with a total of 2,212 votes to Jones 1,650.
In Bourbon County:
“In the following results, Undervote is someone who chose to vote for fewer than the allowed candidates (such as listed as “Vote for 1” and they left it blank) overvote is someone who voted for more than the allowed candidates,” Bourbon County Clerk Jennifer Hawkins said. The write-in board counted late into the night.
To view the total voting, including precincts:
Unofficial Results
Bourbon County, Primary 2024, Aug 06, 2024
All Precincts, All Districts, All Counter Groups, All ScanStations, All Contests, All Boxes
Total Ballots Cast: 2818
20 precincts reported out of 20 total
2024-08-06


All Precincts
United States House of Representatives District 2 (Dem)
432 ballots (0 over voted ballots, 0 overvotes, 21 undervotes)
Nancy Boyda 262 votes  63.75%
Matt Kleinmann 149   36.25%
Total 411 100.00%
Overvotes 0
Undervotes 21

United States House of Representatives District 2 (Rep) (Vote for 1)
2386 ballots (7 over voted ballots, 7 overvotes, 119 undervotes)
Jeff Kahrs 370   16.37%
Michael A. Ogle 104   4.60%
Derek Schmidt 1246   55.13%
Shawn Tiffany 424   18.76%
Chad Young 116   5.13%
Total 2260 100.00%
Overvotes 7
Undervotes 119

Kansas Senator District 13 (Dem) (Vote for 1)
432 ballots (0 over voted ballots, 0 overvotes, 49 undervotes)
Austin B. Stapleton 383  100.00%
Total 383 100.00%
Overvotes 0
Undervotes 49

Kansas Senator District 13 (Rep) (Vote for 1)
2386 ballots (1 over voted ballots, 1 overvotes, 196 undervotes)
Tim Shallenburger 1553   70.95%
Sam Owen 636   29.05%
Total 2189   100.00%
Overvotes 1
Undervotes 196

Kansas House of Representatives District 4 (Dem) (Vote for 1)
432 ballots (0 over voted ballots, 0 overvotes, 397 undervotes)
Write-in 35 100.00%
Total 35 100.00%
Overvotes 0
Undervotes 397

Kansas House of Representatives District 4 (Rep) (Vote for 1)
2386 ballots (0 over voted ballots, 0 overvotes, 88 undervotes)
Rick James 1074   46.74% (James won the district with 57%)
Joshua Jones 1224   53.26%
Total 2298 100.00%
Overvotes 0
Undervotes 88

County Commissioner District 1 (Rep) (Vote for 1)
793 ballots (0 over voted ballots, 0 overvotes, 91 undervotes)
Brandon Whisenhunt 702   100.00%
Total 702 100.00%
Overvotes 0
Undervotes 91

County Commissioner District 1 (Dem) (Vote for 1)
127 ballots (0 over voted ballots, 0 overvotes, 25 undervote
Clinton L. Walker 102 100.00%
Total 102 100.00%
Overvotes 0
Undervotes 25

County Commissioner District 2 (Rep) (Vote for 1)
1055 ballots (0 over voted ballots, 0 overvotes, 24 undervotes)
Jim Harris 375 36.37%
David Beerbower 656 63.63%
Total 1031 100.00%
Overvotes 0
Undervotes 24

County Commissioner District 2 (Dem) (Vote for 1)
180 ballots (0 over voted ballots, 0 overvotes, 160 undervotes)
Write-in 20 100.00%
Total 20 100.00%
Overvotes 0
Undervotes 160

County Commissioner District 3 (Dem) (Vote for 1)
125 ballots (0 over voted ballots, 0 overvotes, 16 undervotes)
Steven Houston 109 100.00%
Total 109 100.00%
Overvotes 0
Undervotes 16

County Commissioner District 3 (Rep) (Vote for 1)
538 ballots (0 over voted ballots, 0 overvotes, 11 undervotes)
Clifton Beth 152 28.84%
Leroy Kruger 375 71.16%
Total 527 100.00%
Overvotes 0
Undervotes 11

County Clerk (Dem) (Vote for 1)
432 ballots (0 over voted ballots, 0 overvotes, 410 undervotes)
Write-in 22 100.00%
Total 22 100.00%
Overvotes 0
Undervotes 410

County Clerk (Rep) (Vote for 1)
2386 ballots (0 over voted ballots, 0 overvotes, 382 undervotes)
Susan Walker 2004 100.00%
Total 2004 100.00%
Overvotes 0
Undervotes 382

County Treasurer (Dem) (Vote for 1)
432 ballots (0 over voted ballots, 0 overvotes, 399 undervotes)
Write-in 33 100.00%
Total 33 100.00%
Overvotes 0
Undervotes 399

County Treasurer (Rep) (Vote for 1)
2386 ballots (1 over voted ballots, 1 overvotes, 94 undervotes)
Jennifer Hawkins 1795 78.35%
Michael Hoyt 496 21.65%

County Register of Deeds (Dem) (Vote for 1)
432 ballots (0 over voted ballots, 0 overvotes, 418 undervotes)
Write-in 14 100.00%
Total 14 100.00%
Overvotes 0
Undervotes 418


County Register of Deeds (Rep) (Vote for 1)
2386 ballots (0 over voted ballots, 0 overvotes, 300 undervotes)
Lora Holdridge 2086 100.00%
Total 2086 100.00%
Overvotes 0
Undervotes 300


County Attorney (Dem) (Vote for 1)
432 ballots (0 over voted ballots, 0 overvotes, 420 undervotes)
Write-in 12 100.00%
Total 12 100.00%
Overvotes 0
Undervotes 420


County Attorney (Rep) (Vote for 1)
2386 ballots (0 over voted ballots, 0 overvotes, 414 undervotes)
James Crux 1972 100.00%
Total 1972 100.00%
Overvotes 0
Undervotes 414


County Sheriff (Dem) (Vote for 1)
432 ballots (0 over voted ballots, 0 overvotes, 356 undervotes)
Write-in 76 100.00%
Total 76 100.00%
Overvotes 0
Undervotes 356


County Sheriff (Rep) (Vote for 1)
2386 ballots (0 over voted ballots, 0 overvotes, 32 undervotes)
Bill Martin 1199 50.93%
Nelson Blythe 1155 49.07%
Total 2354 100.00%
Overvotes 0
Undervotes 32

Bourbon County, Elections

Bourbon County Primary Election Results (unofficial) with All 20 Precincts Counted

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To view the complete results of the Bourbon County 2024 Primary Election:
Unofficial Results for Primary2024202408050137bdfx 99
The following are the results of the local contests with all 20 precincts counted:
In Bourbon County Josh Jones had more votes than Rick James, 1,224 to 1,974, but Rick James had more votes in the other counties and will replace Trevor Jacobs in the Kansas House of Representatives District 4 contest.
In the Bourbon County Commission:
District 1 Brandon Whisenhunt, Republican,  garnered 702 votes, Clint Walker, Democrat 102.
District 2 David Beerbower beat incumbent Jim Harris, both Republicans, 656 to 375 votes.
District 3 LeRoy Kruger garnered 375 to  incumbent Clifton Beth’s 152 votes, both Republicans.
Jennifer Hawkins won over Michael Hoyt 1,795 to 496, both are Republicans, in the County Treasurer position.
Bill Martin beat Nelson Blythe 1,199 to 1.155 for Bourbon County Sheriff, both are Republicans.
Bourbon County, Elections

Unofficial Early Voter Results of the Bourbon County August 6, 2024 Primary Election

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These were posted on the Bourbon County KS Facebook page in the last hour:

The Unofficial Early Voter Results

Tabulation of the totals of today’s votes is still being done, with 8 out of 20 precincts in at this time, according to Bourbon County Clerk Jennifer Hawkins.

They are expected in to be totaled in the next 1.5 hours, she said.

To view the remainder of the Unofficial Early Voter Results:

https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=939987451505091&set=pcb.939988138171689

Fort Scott, Schools

USD234 New Teachers: Hardesty, Vincent, Ragan

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This is part of a series of new teachers in USD 234 School District, Fort Scott. There are 24 new teachers and two new administrators.

School starts for students on August 16.

There are five campuses in the district:

  • Fort Scott Preschool Center (serving pre-kindergarten students ages 3+)
  • Winfield Scott Elementary School (serving kindergarten through through second-grade students)
  • Eugene Ware Elementary School (serving third through fifth-grade students)
  • Fort Scott Middle School (serving sixth through eighth-grade students)
  • Fort Scott High School (serving ninth through twelfth-grade students)

According to its website, the district has nearly two thousand students enrolled within the district and over 350+ staff members.

 

Tabitha Hardesty. Submitted photo.
Tabitha Hardesty, 41, is a new Special Education Teacher at Eugene Ware Elementary School.
She has 10 years of experience as a paraprofessional at Eugene Ware and is currently working towards obtaining a Bachelor of Arts in Education through Wichita State University.
“I’m in a Teacher Apprentice Program designed for paraprofessionals to go to school and work towards becoming a teacher.”
In her spare time she enjoys “supporting local fundraisers, especially if they support the students within our community.”
“Our faith and family are very important to us,” she said.
She is married to Kent Hardesty, owner of KtK Electric, LLC. “Together we have one daughter Kenzi, who will graduate from Pittsburg State University in December.”
She said the best thing about being an educator is building relationships with children. “Then assisting them in reaching goals that can be hard for them to achieve.”
“The biggest challenge is working with students that don’t come from the best situations. At the end of the day, I have to leave them and hope they will be okay.”
McKayla Vincent. Submitted photo.
McKayla Vincent, 25, is a new 1st Grade Teacher at Winfield Scott Elementary School.
She has a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology from Pittsburg State University and a Master’s in Elementary Education from Fort Hays State University.
She worked as a para-educator for a year and a half.
“Before that, I spent four years working with children at the Mental Health Center.”
In the community she participates in a church group, she said.
Her family is comprised of her mom and stepdad in Kansas City and her dad and stepmom in Sterling. She is originally from Sterling.
She has three older brothers and one younger brother, and a nephew and two nieces due in August.
“My dog Paisley is also a very important part of my family.”
What is the best thing about being an educator?
“Seeing students learn and grow!”
What is a challenge?
“Missing the students when they move on to the next grade.”
Mackenzie Ragan. Submitted photo.

Mackenzie Ragan, 23, is a new third-grade Teacher at Eugene Ware Elementary School.

She attended Fort Scott Community College and received an Associate of Science, then transferred to Pittsburg State University and graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Education.

“There are many amazing things that come with being an educator! I think that the best part is watching students have lightbulb moments and celebrating those moments with them,” she said.

Entertainment, Exercise, Fort Scott

Bike Repair Stations Installed in Riverfront Park Donated by the Fort Scott Rotary Club

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Riverfront Park, North National Avenue, past the orange bridge over the Marmaton River.

Riverfront Park has slowly been transforming from the unmaintained area it once was to a public space for concerts, weddings, and other gatherings and also beautiful tree-lined walk/bike trails.

Along the trails are resting areas and as you go under the Hwy. 69 Highway, some colorful historic murals have been painted by  local artist, Stephen Toal.

City workers install the bike repair station that was donated to Riverfront Park by the Fort Scott Rotary Club. Submitted photo. Pictured during installation were city employees Norman Mackley and Chris Tourtillott.

 

Recently another enhancement has been added to the park.

“Due to the increased bicycle traffic, the need for bicycle repair and the ability to air tires has been met by the Fort Scott Rotary Club,” said Jerry Witt, president of the Riverfront Authority, which oversees the area. “Two bicycle repair stations have been added to the park. One station has been installed on the Belltown Walking trail on the north side of Marmaton River and a second station has been installed on the south River Loop Road.”

One of the new bike repair stations at Riverfront Park.

 

“The concrete foundations were funded by the Riverfront committee at a cost of $2,400.,” he said. “The repair stations consist of a bike rack, air pump, and various tools  and were funded and donated by the Fort Scott Rotary Club.”

Fort Scott, Government

Fire Department Training Facility To Be Completed In September

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A1 Towing and Recovery LLC provided manpower and equipment to stack the containers for the future FSFD Training Center. Submitted photo.

Regular training helps firefighters build competence in emergencies.

The Fort Scott Fire Department has never had its own training facility, crews have trained in the station bay areas, online,  and in a small storage shed area near the Hawkins Public Safety facility, FSFD Deputy Chief Mike Miles said in a press release.

“New recruits need better training opportunities, with real-life situations translating to better service when an emergency happens,” Miles said. He believes it will help with retention, morale, more opportunities to go train on new skills or different skills, and will relieve frustration to have better training opportunities.

“Regular training in a dedicated facility helps firefighters build confidence in their abilities and competence in handling emergencies,” Miles said in the press release. “This confidence translates into better performance and decision-making during real incidents, ultimately leading to a more effective emergency response and better outcomes.”

The FSFD has planned a site that is currently open space on the southwest corner of the Hawkins Public Safety Facility at 17th and Judson Streets. It is unused currently.

Judson and 17th Street corner is the site of the new Fort Scott Fire Department Training Center. Seen in this photo on the left, is the new training center in progress.

“We are hoping to have it completed by the end of September,” he said.  ” We still have concrete to pour for work areas and then we will go inside and start to construct the layouts we desire for training purposes.”

He said the rooms will be set up like living rooms, bedrooms, kitchen, entanglement areas, etc. where search and rescue skills can be practiced.

Miles has sought to let the neighborhood know of the plans the department has.

He sent letters to surrounding neighbors to invite them to the station to answer questions and discuss the plans for the training facility. He said positive feedback was received from that endeavor with a “couple of concerns of smoke.”

“We want to be good neighbors, training times will be during the daytime hours… nontoxic smoke…always mindful of the weather conditions before considering any burn…maybe a couple of times a year with actual live fire,” he said.

He said they did look at other areas for the location of the facility, but didn’t find a suitable location or landowner contacting them back.

“Having the training center on-site at the FSFD gives us more flexibility,” he said “If we get called out during a training evolution we can leave the site and not worry about our gear. Water, bathrooms, and all the equipment are already on site.”

The Fort Scott Police, Bourbon County Emergency Medical Service, and other agencies will also be able to use this facility as a training opportunity, he said.

“This will be a major benefit to the service FSFD provides to the community and only make us stronger,” he said. “The capital improvement budget set forth by Fire Chief Dave Bruner allows for this project to be completed.”

A1 Towing and Recovery LLC provided manpower and equipment to stack the containers for the future FSFD Training Center. Submitted photos.

A1 Towing and Recovery LLC volunteered company time, equipment, and employees to help with the project.

“It’s exciting to see the Fort Scott Fire Department wanting to continue practice/training to stay at the peak of their skills that our community depends on,’ said A1 owner, Robert Coon.

Fort Scott, Schools

New USD 234 Teachers: Oxholm, Prine, Jones

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This is part of a series of new teachers in USD 234 School District, Fort Scott. There are 24 new teachers and two new administrators in the district.

School starts for students on August 16.

There are five campuses in the district:

  • Fort Scott Preschool Center (serving pre-kindergarten students ages 3+)
  • Winfield Scott Elementary School (serving kindergarten through through second-grade students)
  • Eugene Ware Elementary School (serving third through fifth-grade students)
  • Fort Scott Middle School (serving sixth through eighth-grade students)
  • Fort Scott High School (serving ninth through twelfth-grade students)

According to its website, the district has nearly two thousand students enrolled within the district and over 350+ staff members.

 

Submitted photo. Chris Oxholdm.

Chris Oxholm , 34, is a new Fort Scott High School Special Education teachers.

He earned degrees from the Mass. College of Liberal Arts (BA), and Colorado Christian University (MEd) and has four years of teaching experience.

In his spare time, “You can catch me with Ashley and the kids down at the Pool! We are new to Kansas but we love this cool town so far!”

They have been married since September 3, 2016, and have three children; Charles (6), Frannie (4), and little Emma (2).

“We also live with our Nanny, Miss Dana, and our two Standard Poodles, Fenway and Wrigley. “

“The best part about being an educator, for me, is seeing progress in students that have worked on something that they struggle with.”

“My biggest challenge as an educator has been maintaining the same energy all day.”

Amanda Prine. Submitted photo.

Amanda Prine, 37, is a new 2nd-grade teacher at Winfield Scott Elementary School.

She has a bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from Missouri Southern State University and a master’s degree in Educational Leadership from Northwest Missouri State University.

She is entering her 14th year in education.

“During that time, I have worked as an elementary teacher and as the director of an early childhood center.”

She is a parishioner of St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Nevada, MO, where her family resides, and has recently finished a term serving on her local Parks and Recreation Board.

She and her husband, Lee, have two daughters, Aubrey and Lynleigh “as well as three dogs and two cats.”

” Aubrey will be entering her senior year in Nevada this school year and Lynleigh will be joining me in Fort Scott as she enters first grade!”

She said the best thing about being an educator is making a positive impact on our students and getting to witness the moment that learning concepts click for them as they learn something new.

For her the most challenging thing about being a teacher is “managing our time so that we can best meet the needs of each student while accounting for different levels of learners and learning styles.”

Taylor Jones. Submitted photo.
Taylor Jones, 23, is a new Spanish teacher at Fort Scott High School.
She earned a Bachelor of Arts, Modern Languages; emphasis in Spanish language and culture  from Pittsburg State University class of 2023 and is a 2019 FSHS graduate.
“I am in the Transition to Teaching program through Fort Hayes State University, which will take me from a restricted teaching license to a professional teaching license while also getting my Masters of Science in Education,” she said.
Her community involvement includes volunteering with Core Communities in Fort Scott since November of 2023.
“I enjoy watching a variety of sports, music, and theatre events at the high school and college level. I also have been going to the Pittsburg Presbyterian Church since college, singing in the choir, playing instruments, and helping with the tech team.”
She is the eldest child of Joshua and Karen Jones and has a twin sister, Madison, and a younger brother, David.
“The best thing about being a new educator is the opportunity to make a meaningful impact on students’ lives while continuously learning and growing in the profession,” she said.
“One challenge of being a new teacher is balancing the various student needs while learning the ins and outs of the job.”
Bourbon County, Business

New Agriculture Drone Business: Seeding, Analysis, Counts, Prescription, and Identification Services

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SEK Agra Drone. Submitted photo.

Christopher Catalano began his agricultural drone business, SEK Agra Drones, in the Spring of 2024.

Submitted photo. of Christopher Catalano with his drone.

“SEKAD came about being asked if my drone can perform stand counts and can I pilot a DJI T40 spraying drone by a local Bourbon County grower,” he said. “This question sent me down a rabbit hole realizing with all the new drone agricultural technology, there are specific application scenarios that can save growers time and resources.”

The services SEKAD provides are:

Aerial Seeding – SEKAD can spread seed and granular commodities via a DJI T40 Drone for both blanket and spot-specific applications.

Goal: Aerial spreading cover crop seeds over an existing crop at the end of the season has proven to be very beneficial for growers.

Crop Health Analysis – NDVI (Normalized Difference Vegetation Index) & NDRE (Normalize Difference Red Edge) images are generated by SEK Agra Drone’s M3M Drone which uses the reflection of light in the near-infrared (NIR) and red bands of the electromagnetic spectrum to create a color-coded image of vegetation cover especially for crop nitrogen status. Vegetation indices identify areas of a field that are underperforming allowing immediate action applying pesticides, fertilizers, etc. with accurate informed decision making backed by data.

A drone view map. Submitted photo.

Goal: Measuring the amount of chlorophyll in plant leaves, NDVI/NDRE is often used to assess nitrogen stress independent of the amount of soil nitrogen penetrating the lower canopy of plants. Often used to create variable rate nutrient application maps pre and post-application.

Prescription (Treatment Maps) – Correlating with crop health analysis, data collected via drone of a crop is stitched together creating a detailed aerial GPS map. Prescription maps are delivered as a .shp (shape file), PDF to upload onto your equipment’s computers and tablets, laptops, etc. for accurate boots-on-the-ground analysis.

Stand Counts – Plant population count and emergence percentage across a field help make advanced decisions for replanting or additional inputs for augmented growth. Row crops for stand counts: Canola | Corn | Cotton | Soybean | Trees | Vegetables.

Goal: With the heavy Spring rains Bourbon County received this year, many fields already planted with corn were in V2-V5. Stand counts proved beneficial in determining re-capitalization of replanting washed-out portions of local grower’s fields.

Weed Identification – Identification of green on brown weeds and other unwanted growth in a field with GPS location map generation. Weed ID data can be used for spot spraying applicators with the option of providing treatment to hard-to-reach locations.

Goal: Treatment on hillsides, waterways, rough terrain, and smaller plots, resulting in chemical savings, and wear and tear on a ground rig.

Submitted photo of a drone over a field.

He services Fort Scott | Radius encompassing Bourbon County-Kansas City Metro-Wichita-Joplin-Northwest Arkansas and everywhere in between.

His unofficial employee is his son high school senior, Gavin.

“He works for a local Bourbon County Farm and takes to the sticks flying agricultural drones with a second-natured expertise. Gavin brings youthful enthusiasm with an understanding of row crop health and ailments.”

“The agricultural drone industry is consistently evolving year over year bringing new innovations to ‘Smart Farming.’ SEKAD’s goal is to always provide added value to a grower or producer avoiding being a solution looking for a problem. The more connected we become with our local growers, the more vetting of innovative technologies can be applied utilizing a drone. We have a partnership with another business to utilize spraying of fungicides, herbicides, and pesticides via drone when requested.”

Submitted photo.