Haley Jones, 28, is the new USD 234 Board of Education Administrative Assistant/Communications Coordinator, as of July 5.
The position is a combination of administrative assistant and communications coordinator, which is a new feature to the board.
“As administrative assistant, I perform various clerical tasks, take phone calls, filing, organizing calendars, and greeting those who visit the board,” Jones said. “With the communications coordinator position, I create/send out any important information or updates for our school district- via email, social media, texts, and our website. As well as reaching out to those in our community who are able to be of assistance in helping spread the word for us. I will continue to grow in this position and learn/take on new responsibilities.”
Jones was a para-educator at Fort Scott High School in early 2020, and then in late 2020 worked as an insurance customer service rep for Cobalt MedPlans until July of 2023.
Jones graduated from FSHS in 2013 and then graduated from Fort Scott Community College with an Associates Degree in 2017.
Her family is boyfriend, Derek Houdashelt and children nine-year -old Aiden Houdshelt and 8-month-old Kash Houdashelt.
“We are able to use ESSER (Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Funds) for more special education personnel and intervention assistance,” Brown said.
“The JAG program at Fort Scott HIgh School- a school to career program. This is evidence based and done with a career specialist.”
“JAG-K will help prepare students for successful futures,”according to its website https://jagkansas.org/ “We will partner with students to help them identify a career path compatible to their interests and skills and overcome the various challenges they face that put them at risk of not attaining educational and career success.”
“Enrolled students can eat free for the 2023-2024 school year,” he said.
“A new FSHS heating/air conditioning/venting system, with further energy improvements being performed at each of our district’s buildings,” Brown said.
Those who retired from the district this year:
Chris Sather, Amy Lybarger, Kelly Cox, Cristin Stark, Kristi Hartman, Carol Bingesser, Michelle Martin, Jane Hill, Becky Howard, Susan Carnes, Ramona Wilson, Debbie Endicott, Connie Billionis, and Stewart Guss.
This week marks the beginning of enrollment for the school year in U.S.D. 235.
Enrollment for Uniontown’s school district is two days:
Thursday, July 27th from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Friday, July 28th from noon to 7 p.m.
The district’s open house is August 15 from 4 to 6 p.m.
The first day of class for students is August 16.
New teachers in the district are Amanda Ostrander-preschool, Lakyn Rucker-first grade, Tyler Ericson-fourth grade, Jacy Walker-six grade, Alex Chesney-West Bourbon Elementary School Music, Ian Ballinger, high school social studies, Christal Martin-high school science student teacher, Abby Onelio, high school Spanish/,Multi-Tiered Systems of Support( she will work to support students struggling academically)and Carrie Sutcliffe-high school science.
Rebecca Sutterby is the new high school digital media contact and Nick Trim is the new School Resource Officer.
A series featuring new teachers for U235 started with new junior high/senior high principal Robert Onelio on July 17. Watch for profiles of the new teachers in the coming weeks.
“The district continues to consider bringing a bond to the voters for consideration,” said Superintendent Vance Eden. “We will start the strategic planning with the community this fall to try to establish some short and long-term, up to five year, goals. We’ll continue to work to improve ourselves as a district and support new hires as they join our team this fall.”
In May, the following retired from the district:
Rhonda Allen-elementary music, Jeanne Camac- jr/sr high counselor, Jean Cook-jr. high English and Language Arts, Betty Dennis-nurse, Amber Ericson-fourth grade, and Bonnie Rathbun-sixth grade.
One can order tickets online for the Osage ballet being performing at the Ellis Arts Center, Fort Scott Community College this weekend or at the door. The first performance is tonight at 7:30 p.m.
This scene in the ballet depicts the encounters with Europeans by the Osage, a tribe of Native Americans.
Wahzhazhe is the Native American name for the tribal people we know as the Osage.
A dance academy in Pawhuska, OK has created a ballet telling the 400 year-old story of the Wahzhazhe.
The performers are mostly from the Dance Maker Academy in Pawhuska, in Osage County, which is home to the Osage tribe.
There are about 24,000 Osage people throughout the world, Randy Tinker-Smith, the ballet producer said.
Tinker-Smith said the 20 children dancers in this ballet are from different tribes, not all Osage.
The ballet is “an artistic expression of who we are,”Tinker- Smith, who is Osage, said. “We are not history, we are still here.”
They performed the Osage story at the Smithsonian Institution in 2012, she said.
The scene that resonated with viewers there, was the last one, where the performers demonstrate walking in two worlds, the Osage world and the other white people world, she said.
The ballet is the story of tradition, adaptation, tragedy, triumph, survival, and the enduring spirit of the Osage people, told by the Osage Nation, according to a press release from the FSNHS.
“This is not our story to tell, but it is our responsibility to provide a platform for these stories to be told,” said Carl Brenner, FSNHS Chief of Interpretation and Resource Management.
“This area was their native homeland,” Brenner said. “This (ballet) is part of a Native American series (at the Fort). We will continue to talk about this.”
“We jump started our relationship with the Osages,” Jill Jaworski, FSNHS Superintendent said. “There are a lot of doors being opened for having conversations with the Osage. We are looking to update our exhibits and are asking ‘What would you like shared?'”
Ballet: an Osage Tradition
The first five prima ballerinas in the United State were Native Americans, two of them Osage, Tinker-Smith said.
Lavender Sarroll, a mom accompanying the ballet troupe, said her daughter, Lilliana Guillen, 17, has been dancing since she was six years old at the Dance Maker Academy.
The ballet still is emotional for her, Sarroll said.
“To this day, when they get to the place in the ballet, where they rise from defeat, I cry every time,” she said.
Sarroll said the Wahzhazhe have their own government and language.
Doors are opened to a college education for some through the ballet.
Several of the ballet performers are offered dance scholarships to colleges, including her daughter, Sarroll said.
Logistics
Fort Scott National Historic Site and the Friends of Fort Scott National Historic Site, Inc. offered special access for the media to the Wahshazhe ballet producer, Randy Tinker-Smith, and for viewing rehearsals on Wednesday, July 19.
The rehearsal was a prelude to the three performances, today, Friday, through Saturday at the Danny and Willa Ellis Family Fine Arts Center on the Fort Scott Community College campus, 2108 Horton St.
There are 50 people involved in the production of the ballet, but some parents accompany the group, with a total of 70 people. Most arrived on Wednesday and are staying in the FSCC Residential Halls.
Thursday was the dress rehearsal, then the performances are today, Friday at 7:30 p.m. and Saturday at 7:30 p.m. with a Saturday matinee at 3 p.m.
Youth tickets are just $15, adults are $35. Go to Friends of the Fort Facebook page or at OsageBallet.com.
Or one can take a chance, wait, and hope it’s not sold-out and purchase tickets at the door.
There is a question and answer session following the ballet.
Learning More
The performance is for those who are interested in Kansas and American history, Native American culture, the arts and dance, and those wanting to experience something spectacular and different from anything they have seen before, according to the press release.
Killers of the Flower Moon-The Osage Murders and the Birth of the FBI, a story on a tragic part of the Osage tribe is a book that has been made into a movie and will be open in theaters this years, Tinker-Smith said.
“Mollie Burkhart is in the book,” she said. “Her grand-daughter is in the ballet. This movie, we can let people know, we are still here.”
Krysta and Wyatt Hulbert purchased Bartelsmeyer Jewelry on June 30, 2023
The store is located in the historic downtown Fort Scott district at 22 N. Main St
Bartelsmeyer Jewelry is now owned by Wyatt and Krysta Hulbert. Submitted photo.
“I’ve been working at the jewelry store for 13 years, and I hated the idea of the store closing it’s doors when John Bartelsmeyer decided to retire,” Krysta said. “My husband and I have been working along side John and Cindy for almost a year now to plan for us to take over the business. We are so excited that we have finally been able to make all of those plans a reality.”
John Bartelsmeyer has been a jeweler for over 60 years. Submitted photo.
“The jewelry store has been in John’s family since 1963, when his father purchased the store from Mr. Newberry,” she said. “In 1991, John Bartelsmeyer purchased the store from his father M. H. Bartelsmeyer.”
“My husband Wyatt and I are keeping the name Bartelsmeyer Jewelry for the jewelry store,” she said. “We know that the store’s name carries with it a history of honesty and integrity, and we are excited to carry on that legacy.”
The inside of the jewelry store. Submitted photo.
Krysta has been learning the ropes for all those years as an employee.
” I do a little bit of everything at the store from sales and customer service to jewelry repair and office management,” she said. “My specialty, and one of my favorite things to do, is designing custom jewelry. I love to work with customers and help them create one-of-a-kind jewelry that you won’t find anywhere else! At the jewelry store we also specialize in engagement rings, jewelry repair and restoration, ring sizing and watch repair.”
Anything new on the horizon?
“We have lots of new ideas for the future of the store,” she said. “One of our biggest and most exciting plans is to update our website to offer our jewelry for sale online! John will continue to work at the store in the mornings during the week. We will also be adding a new team member to our crew. My husband, Wyatt Hulbert, will soon be working full time alongside John to learn jewelry repair and take over the bench jewelry work when John decides he is ready to fully retire.”
Cindy and John Bartelsmeyer have been working with Krysta and Wyatt Hulbert to transition to new owners of the jewelry store. Submitte photo.
At the Fort Scott Community College Board of Trustees meeting on July 17, Dr. Jason Kegler was approved as the new president.
At the meeting, Alysia Johnston, prior president, was honored by the board for her eight years of service.
Thirty-nine candidates applied for the position when Johnston announced her retirement in April. The field was narrowed down to three, with Kegler being selected.
Dr. Kegler assumes his duties next week as FSCC’s new president with a firm resolve to keep students as the No. 1 priority, according to a FSCC press release.
“One of my goals will be to work directly with the faculty and staff to ensure we maintain the perspective ‘students first,’” he stated in his letter of application and echoed in public forums last week. “… Oftentimes within higher education, we create ‘unintentional roadblocks’ for students. We need to review the student experience with the intention to streamline and simplify the process.”
Kegler, who earned his doctorate of education from Baker University, comes to FSCC from his job as associate vice president for student life at Pittsburg State University, his post since July 2014, according to the press release. He also serves as a deputy for the Allen County Sheriff’s Office.
Kegler was selected from a group of three finalists after a fast-tracked selection process, according to the press release.
“The board took into consideration our interview with Dr. Kegler and survey comments from faculty, staff and community members,” said John Bartelsmeyer, trustee chairman. “We also evaluated his background in the education field and other accomplishments outside the education field.
“Dr. Kegler has the ability to communicate effectively with many various and diverse situations. He is a good listener and has the desire to do the right thing. The board is looking forward to a productive and effective working relationship with Dr. Kegler.”
Kegler, originally from Kansas City and now resides in Fort Scott with his family, has a thorough understanding of the community college system having served as dean of students at Neosho County and director of student life, head women’s basketball coach, and director of admissions/marketing and admissions counselor at Allen County, according to the press release.
“I will just ask for a little ‘space and grace’,” Kegler said of advancing to his first college presidency. “… But I promise you no one will be more passionate about the job.
“Individual characteristics necessary to succeed in the role of president at FSCC include the ability to resolve conflict, communicate vision and treat everyone with respect. Each of these characteristics, I display daily.”
Kegler earned a master’s in organizational leadership from Fort Hays State University in 2009 and a bachelor’s in psychology from the University of Saint Mary in Leavenworth in 1996. He taught leadership classes at both Allen County and PSU.
He and his wife, Terra, a paraeducator and volleyball coach at Fort Scott High School, have three children, all in the USD 234 system, daughter Raveyn and sons Dierks and Kyron.
“Fort Scott is where my family and I decided to make our home,” he stated. “… We felt Fort Scott provided our family with opportunities and chose the community as the place to establish our future long-term.”
The Fort Scott Substation fire in 2022. Submitted photo.
Following a fire at the Fort Scott Evergy Substation in August 2022 , Evergy is expanding its footprint.
Evergy is an electric utility company that serves eastern Kansas.
The company purchased property near Stanton Street and Old Fort Boulevard in March for the construction of a new substation, according to Kaley Bohlen, Evergy Communications Manager.
Evergy is currently located on Old Fort Blvd. on Skubitz Plaza and will expand their substation to the north and west of the current site.
Stanton Street is behind the current substation to the north and west.
Bohlen said Evergy doesn’t disclose real estate transactions, and are still reviewing options for access to National Avenue.
The existing Fort Scott Service Center utilized for personnel and offices will remain, according to Bohlen. Once the new Infantry Substation is built and operational, the existing Fort Scott Substation equipment and poles will be removed.
“The new Infantry Substation will be about 1.75 acres and will replace the former Fort Scott Substation that was damaged by fire last year,” she said. “The new substation will provide additional capacity to enhance electric reliability for the Fort Scott area, as well as strengthen the regional power grid. Automated switching capabilities and grid automation will help improve outage response times.”
“Construction has begun and is scheduled to be completed by the end of 2024,” she said. “Once the new substation is operational, we will decommission the current Fort Scott Substation and remove all structures and equipment that are no longer in use. The existing Fort Scott Service Center utilized for personnel and offices will remain. Once the new Infantry Substation is built and operational, the existing Fort Scott Substation equipment and poles will be removed.”
Robert Onelio, 42, is the new junior/senior high principal at USD 235.
Uniontown High School.
“I’ve always felt it was a calling to work in education” Onelio said. “It’s rewarding to see kids grow and learn but also over the years it’s even more rewarding to see former students succeed as adults!”
A challenge as an educator is ” nothing stays the same and you must find a balance between the tried and true and the new trends that come into education. All the while keeping in mind what is best for kids.”
He is married to Abby Onelio who is going to be working at Uniontown Junior/Senior High School as a Spanish Teacher. They have four children.
They will be commuting from their farm in Crawford County.
“As a family we are active in our church, 4H, and sports,” Onelio said. “Also, we enjoy traveling, camping, riding dirt bikes, and taking care of cows!”
He earned a Bachelor of Science in Education from Pittsburg State University in 2004, and a Master of Science in School Leadership from Baker University in 2011.
Onelio has 18 years total in the field of education in Arkansas City Public Schools: six years as a World History teacher, five years as an assistant high school principal, five years as a head elementary principal and two years as head middle school principal.
Connie Billionis is retiring from USD 234 School District after 42 years.
USD 234 Board of Education Building, 424 S. Main
“I worked as a secretary at Fort Scott Middle School for 13 years,” Billionis said. “I then transferred to the USD 234 Board of Education (office) as Deputy Clerk and Administrative Assistant to the Superintendent for the remainder of my career for a total of 42 years.”
There have been many changes since she started over four decades ago.
“Changes in technology made a huge difference in how I performed my job,” she said. “I started out typing student schedules on an electric typewriter. Attendance was recorded by collecting absentee slips every hour at the middle school and recording the information by marking boxes by hand in large leather books. And now, everything is completed on laptops, using two or more screens. All state reports, documents, board policy, board of education agendas, etc. are accomplished using the internet through multiple programs.”
The best aspect of her job has been co-workers, teachers, and students.
“I have made life-long friendships and memories with lots of laughter and a few tears along the way,” she said. “I loved seeing students grow and change before they moved on to the high school. It was great when teachers would come into the office to share a student’s essay or a student’s success. At the board office, I truly enjoyed keeping track of calendar events, preparing board agendas for monthly and special meetings, and assisting teachers with their professional learning opportunities. It has been an honor to serve the students, faculty, and staff at USD 234.”
As with all of life, there have been challenges.
“One of the biggest challenges has been the changes with each administration,” Billionis said. “I was fortunate to work with eight different superintendents, and each one made a change in the working environment.”
She does have plans for retirement.
“I’m looking forward to spending more time with my husband, Gary. I love to be with my grandkids, and I have a great time outside in the garden,” she said. “Just having an opportunity to relax and enjoy God’s beautiful world will be a blessing. The hardest part of retirement will be missing the day-to-day interaction with my office friends.”
The retirement reception for Billionis is on Monday, July 17, at 4:30 p.m. at the Board of Education office.
Robert and Kim Coon own A1 Towing. Submitted photo.
Robert and Kim Coon are the owners of A1 Towing Service and often that business leads to buying salvage lots and liquidations.
“Any time there is a semi (tractor/trailer) accident that one of our three locations work, we will bid on the cargo,” Coon said. “Often the cargo is undamaged and we can sell the items at a discount price in our community.”
He gave an example.
“In 2022 we sold 25 new residential heat and air-conditioning systems and insulation for a 30% of the value, to locals,” Coon said.
At the beginning of this year, Coon, worked a wreck that had some science lab cabinets that were unharmed.
“Opportunity came for us to acquire these bio cabinets, Kimberly (his wife) called and spoke with Gina Shelton (USD234 Board Clerk and Finance Director) about donating them if the school district could use them. Gina was instrumental in the process. I believe they are going to be used in two different science classes.”
“These bio cabinets couldn’t have a better home than USD 234 science labs,” Coon said. “Kim and I have six proud Fort Scott Tigers.”
Coon initially contacted the school district at the end of January, Destry Brown, USD 234 Superintendent said.
Destry Brown. Submitted photo.
“We then polled both principals and they felt they could use the cabinets in classrooms,” Brown said. ” In March, connections were made between Mr. Coon and the district to coordinate delivery. The cabinets were delivered on April 6, but the spaces they are to go in are either under construction with the heating, ventilation , air-conditioning energy projects, being used for summer programming, or being deep cleaned as we do in the summer months.”
Photo of the science cabinet. Submitted photo.
They intend to place them in the appropriate classrooms as soon as those spaces are ready, Brown said.
“We did not want to unpackage them before moving them to avoid damage,” Brown said. “Right now they are being stored at the district offices to protect them.”
The estimated value of the two science lab cabinets is $34,280 ($17,140 each) based upon estimates of comparable property, Brown said.
Usage will be to secure storage materials in classrooms.
“The middle school is adding programming related to a paint booth and this would allow for secured storage of that,” Brown said.
“They will be placed at the middle school and/or high school,” Brown said. “This will be determined after the principals return to contract for the 2023-24 school year.”
Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Lindsey Madison opens the FS Downtown Meet and Greet.
There are several community projects happening in Fort Scott.
At the Quarterly Downtown Meet and Greeton July 11, facilitated by the Chamber of Commerce, leaders of several of the projects gave updates. The event was hosted by Lyons Realty Group office.
Lindsey Madison, Chamber Executive Director, gave a summary of the upcoming events and promotions:
July 15: Christmas in July Sidewalk Sale
July 18: Patty LaRoche will present a book talk at Hedgehog.INK! from 7 to 8:30 p.m. LaRoche’s new book, A Little Faith Lift…Finding Joy Beyond Rejection will be featured.
August 4-6: Sales Tax Holiday Weekend, where participating businesses give customers a 9.4 percent discount on purchases.
Sept. 8-9: Town-wide Garage Sale
Sept. 9: Art Crawl by the Bourbon County Arts Council, the Artificers and more, from 2-6 p.m.
Sept. 16: Author Miranda Collins, Chanute, writer of Action Detective Mystery will be at Hedgehog.INK! at 2 p.m.
Sept. 21: Downtown Fall Fest, stores open until 8 p.m. for fall food snacks and shopping.
Oct. 28: Halloween Parade. Festivities start at 10 a.m., children’s downtown parade on Main Street at 11 a.m.
Nov. 9-11: Holiday Open House, kick off on Thursday from 5-8 p.m. with continued open house on Friday and Saturday.
Nov. 25: Shop Small Friday/Saturday in Fort Scott.
Nov. 30 Candy land Christmas with parade and festivities downtown.
Bailey Lyons gave an update on the splash pad project: Concrete is being poured this Thursday on the big splash pad. On July 15-16 volunteers are needed to help with landscaping projects: bring gloves and tools. The group has raised approximately $325,000 for the project nearing completion.
The new historic mural that will be created on Skubitz Plaza will be unveiled in coordination with the Gordon Parks Celebration on Oct. 6. The mural was approved by the city’s design review board this week, Jerry Witt, owner of the mural site building said.
The multi-purpose pavilion to be on Skubitz Plaza is in the works, Madison said. The Farmers Market group will use the facility “and anyone else.”
The welcome arch to the city is being worked on by the Healthy Bourbon County Action Team and will go to the city’s design review board.
The Chamber Golf Classic is this Friday July 14 at Woodland Hills Golf Course. They are still accepting raffle items.
The Special Olympic Golf Tournament is July 29 at the same course.
The mountain bike race, the Marmaton Massacre Festival, will be Sept. 16 in Gunn Park.
The annual Naturalization Ceremony at the Fort Scott National Historic Site will be on a Friday in September to be announced.
Bourbon County Commission Chairman Jim Harris said it is asphalt laying season in the county, “please be cautious of workers.”
“Since 2019 we’ve lowered the mill levy by 9.6%…I will not vote for a mill levy increase,” he said.
There is a new format for speaking at the commission meetings, he said: People must sign up and they get 5 minutes each to speak. “We want peoples input,” he said. “It’s OK to disagree but be professional.”
Harris said there is a request for proposals for the overpass project on the south side of Fort Scott. The commission will be applying for state and federal funds for the project.
Rob Harrington, Bourbon County Regional Economic Development Director, said they have been working on a Star Bond and TIF project south of town, and it will be “huge to the community.” His office is at the former Mercy Hospital building, now owned by Legacy Health Foundation.
Kari West, Lead Customer Solutions Manager at Evergy, said the utility company hasn’t had an increase in five years and they are requesting one. Evergy purchased property north and west of their current location on Skubitz Plaza with plans to move to that site.
The Fort Scott Quarterly Downtown Meet and Greet at Lyons Realty Group,, 8 E. Wall, on July 11.
Woodland Hills Golf Course, 2414 S. Horton, Fort Scott.
The 6th Annual Bourbon County Special Olympics Golf Scramble is July 29.
Amy Bockerstette, a Special Olympian from Phoenix, AZ. Submitted photo.
“To date we have raised over $115,00 for Special Olympics Kansas,” Steve Anthony, tournament director said. “Because last year was such a huge hit for us we are bringing back former Major Leaguer Otis Nixon to our event.”
“Otis will be bringing with him Harlem Globetrotter Hollywood Brown, Golf Trick Shot Artist Rocky Shipe, and Olympic Medalist Arthur Culbreath,” he said.
They have a full field of sixty-two teams with 264 players coming from seven different states.
Tee times will start on Saturday July 29 at 7a.m. with the first wave of teams. The second wave will take off at approx 1:15 p.m.
“I want to thank Andrew Defebaugh and Chase Halsey for all of their help to make this tournament a success,” Anthony said. “The community is invited to come out starting at 7 a.m. to purchase raffle tickets for $1 each.”
Time Judy, Ben Cole, Steve Anthony and Nick Rule at the Special Olympics event three years ago. Submitted photo.
“We also have a golf cart we will be giving away that day to the lucky winner of one of our many raffle prizes we will have available,” Anthony said. “I can’t thank the community enough for always stepping up to raise funds for such a great cause.”
For more information please contact him at 620-215-2392.
