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.
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.”
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.
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.”
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.”
Fort Scott Walmart will be going through a store transformation for over three months, starting soon.
People may have noticed containers delivered to the parking lot’s north part, in front of the garden center.
Containers are beginning to arrive for the transformation of Fort Scott Walmart, which is set to start soon.
About 40 containers will be parked there in the next few weeks and fences around them will go up. These will be used for the store transformation.
Heather, the store manager, said it will be a “total store transformation….to a store of the future.”
“The store will be brighter, more spacious, easier to navigate…. (and) more energy efficient technology, reducing the environmental impact and providing a safer environment,” she said at a recent Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce Coffee, hosted by Walmart, where she made the store transformation announcement.
“We don’t anticipate being closed at all, however, hiccups do happen,” she said in an interview with fortscott.biz.
The expected completion is in November 2024, approximately 14 weeks, she said.
“We will move everything (in the store), but it will be worth it in the end,” she said.
The store of the future will continue to have both associates-manned registers and self-check-out registers, she said.
“There have been mixed reactions on the self-check,” she said. “Some people love it because you can be in and out quickly.”
“Some feel it takes away jobs,” she said. “But since I came in 2018 when there were 170 associates…there are now over 200.”
Storage containers line up in Fort Scott Walmart’s parking lot in this July 26, 2024 photo.
“The ballots will be different for each precinct and township as there are committee and township officers on the ballot,” Bourbon County Clerk Jennifer Hawkins said. “The Bourbon County website has been updated to include VoterView which will allow residents to enter their information to see the correct sample ballot.”
She provided a sample ballot for Marion Township for Republicans and Democrats.
The following are features on the candidates from those who responded to the fortscott.biz questionnaire: The primary election is August 6, not August 8
The newly formed Bourbon County Community Theatre is adding an additional performance to its production of “Holy Mother of Bingo!” by Patrick Walsh., according to director Angie Bin in a press release.
Due to popular demand and nearly sold-out performances for Aug. 2 and 3, BCCT is adding a third performance for 7 p.m. Aug. 1 at the Ellis Fine Arts Center at Fort Scott Community College.
A scene from the Bourbon County Community Theatre “Holy Mother of Bingo” from its Facebook page.
The interactive murder mystery comedy involves five real rounds of Bingo with prizes donated from many businesses in the area.
In a scene from Holy Mother of Bingo,
Tickets are $12 for adults and $10 for children and senior citizens. The purchase of a table of 7 or 8 gives audience members a $2 discount per ticket. Tickets are available at bcct.ludus.com, from the Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce, or at the door if tickets remain. Seating is limited.
The show is directed by Bin with Assistant Director Mark Bergmann.
More information can be found on the Bourbon County Community Theatre Facebook page. BBCO Community Theatre, LLC is a non-profit community organization formed last year whose mission is to bring education, community, and culture to southeast Kansas through theatre.
Bourbon County Community Theatre President Matthew Wells said he has been involved in the performing arts his whole life and it brought “joy…to the community and… brotherhood and bonds… amongst those who participated in the community theater.”
A scene from the Holy Mother of Bingo Theatre production rehearsal from its Facebook page.
Kathy and Tracy Dancer own the former Scottish Rite Temple, 110 S. Main. Submitted photo.
The former Scottish Rite Temple, 110 S. Main, is in a constant stage of revitalization.
Kathy and Tracy Dancer, who purchased the building at a public auction, plan an “ongoing effort to revitalize the building and increase the useable commercial space. We also want to improve the energy efficiency of the building.”
Terry and Kathy Dancer. Stock photo.
The work will be a combination of restoration and renovation.
“The first project is new signage for the front of the building,” she said. “We will be removing the blue plastic lettering designating the building as the Scottish Rite Temple and replacing it with a new sign for the cafe and retail store. We are also installing a new ceiling and lighting in the south half of the building.”
The ceiling is being replaced in the south half of the building. . Submitted photo.
“Because the building is part of the historic district, we are working with the Fort Scott Design Review Board,” she said. “Any changes to the exterior of a building in the historic district including painting, windows, and signage must go through the Design Review Board. They have been very helpful during this process and a great source of feedback for our plans.”
Completed mural in the south side of the building by local artist Rudy.Castillo. Submitted photo.
New windows, heating, and air conditioning are coming.
“Next, we will be installing glass windows in archways to restore the storefront appearance,” she said. “The new windows mean you will be able to see into the cafe and retail store if you are walking or driving down Main Street.”
” We are also adding several new HVAC… Once HVAC is installed, we will be moving and expanding our retail store into the south portion of the building. Moving the retail store to the south side of the building will more than double the amount of space we have for the Mercantile and Market store. The additional space will allow us to add new vendors and craftspeople to the retail store.”
“New HVAC will also be installed for the Speak Easy space we created on the second floor,” she said. “This will allow us to operate the Speak Easy year round.”
Speakeasy was a term used during Prohibition for drinking establishments and illegal bars, Dancer said in a prior interview. “They were usually hidden away in a building and sometimes you needed a password to be allowed to enter. Fort Scott had several speakeasies including The Green Lantern, operated by J.D. McClintock.”
“The Speak Easy will reopen in the Fall after we have installed new HVAC. We plan on being open two evenings a week for cocktails and light food. We had an excellent response to our soft opening in the Spring so we are really excited to reopen on a regular basis. While we wait for reopen, we have been working on the cocktail menu and working with suppliers to provide additional Kansas made wines, beers, and spirits.”
“We will also be hosting another Murder Mystery Dinner in October. The dinner we hosted this past spring sold out quickly and was very well received. Tickets for the October show will be available in mid-August.”
They are in the process of applying for grants focused on energy efficiency to defray the cost of adding HVAC and energy efficient windows and lighting.
“We might need to adjust the scope of some of the work based on the grant amounts, but we still plan on completing these projects,” she said.
” The new ceiling and lighting for the south half of the building has already started,” she said. “New sign letters for the front of the building have been ordered and should be ready for installation in August. The HVAC and storefront will take a bit longer since we will be ordering equipment and materials for these projects.”
“We hope to have the work completed by late Fall this year,” Dancer said.
“Our other BIG project is the distillery. We are in the final stages of the Federal licensing process to open the distillery and then we will file for state licensing. We do not have a projected opening date yet but we hope to be in production by the end of this year.”
Artist rendition of the new sign at 110 S. Main. Submitted photo.
This is part of a series of new teachers in USD 234 School District, Fort Scott. There are 22 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)
The district has nearly two thousand students enrolled within the district and over 350+ staff members, according to its website.
Carolien Howell. Submitted photo.
Carolien Howell, 49, is a new second-grade teacher at Winfield Scott Elementary School.
She has a varied teaching experience.
First-grade teacher for 3 years at Grace Christian Academy in Saipan, Mariana Islands
PE/Art teacher for grades 1-5 for one year at Grace Christian Academy in Saipan, Mariana Islands
Third-grade teacher for 4 years at Grace Classical Academy, Springfield, MO
Fourth-grade teacher for 1 year at Polk County Christian School, Bolivar, MO
Substitute teacher in Wyoming elementary schools for 2 years.
Substitute teacher at Meadowlark and George Nettels Elementary Schools for 3 years.
She is involved in her church, Family Life Assembly of God in Pittsburg as a pre-kindergarten teacher, works with youth Sunday School, life group leader and host, and on the refreshments team.
Her husband, Bill Howell, works as the director of Family and Children’s Services at Crawford County Mental Health and they have been married for 27 years.
They have two sons. Liam, 14 years old, attending Pittsburg High School as a freshman, and Karsten,12, a 7th grader at Pittsburg Community Middle School.
“The rest of my family lives in the Netherlands, which is where I am from,” she said.
“I think that the best part of being an educator is seeing the growth in the students,” she said.
There are many challenges to being an educator, she said.
“One of the biggest challenges is managing and helping all the students when there are so many needs within the classroom.”
Aubri Motley. Submitted photo.
Aubri Motley, 28, will be a new special education teacher at Winfield Scott Elementary School.
” I graduated from Ottawa University with a bachelor of arts in elementary education and three years of experience as a para-educator in a school setting.”
She and her husband Levi have three children together and live on a small ranch with three dogs and a cat.
“From my experience as a para I think the best thing about being an educator is when you see the “aha moment” from a student because whatever they are learning is starting to click,” she said. “I am sure I will come across many challenges as a first-year educator but I am ready to tackle all of the challenges head-on.”
Codee Weddle and family. Submitted photo.
Codee Weddle, 25, is a new fourth-grade teacher at Eugene Ware Elementary School.
At Fort Scott Community College she earned an Associate in Science, from Ottawa University and a Bachelor’s in Arts in Education.
She was a paraprofessional for five years at Winfield Scott Elementary School.
She is a member of Fort Scott Nazarene Church, and she and her husband, Dalton, have two sons Porter (3) and Kallum (9 months).
“I love interacting with the kids and watching them feel excited about learning!” she said.
“A challenge I have had in the past is not being able to help more outside of school. Knowing what they go through and then expecting them to come to school as if everything is okay is heartbreaking.”
Liza Erwin, 29, is the new Fort Scott Community College Athletic Director, with an office in the Arnold Arena building.
She began duties on May 23.
Erwin earned a Master of Education Sports Management from the University of Arkansas, and a Bachelor of Science Recreation Administration and Leadership Studies from Pittsburg State University.
She is entering year 12 in intercollegiate athletics, with varied experiences.
“I most recently won a National Championship and Big Ten Championship at Northwestern University. Before Northwestern I worked at the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) in Championship Operations, Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association (MIAA) a Division II Conference Office in Kansas City, The University of Arkansas in the Office of Student-Athlete Success, and at Pittsburg State University.”
Her professional accomplishments:
– Winning the 2023 DI Women’s Lacrosse National Championship with Northwestern University Lacrosse.
– Winning the 2023 Big Ten Women’s Lacrosse Tournament
– Winning the 2023 Big Ten Women’s Lacrosse Regular Season
– 2023 IWLCA Coaching Staff of the Year
– 2022 DI Women’s Lacrosse National Semifinalist
– Executed First NCAA Championship to Return post Covid-19 Pandemic Shutdown
– Executed first Neutral Site MIAA Volleyball Tournament
-Secured First Corporate Sponsorship for MIAA Men’s and Women’s Basketball Tournament
– Chair of the Student-Athlete Experience Committee at the University of Arkansas
The duties of the current FSCC Athletic Director position are to lead the department she said.
About the college:
FSCC offers more than 35 fields of study, ensuring every student finds their passion. Earn credits to transfer to a four-year institution or pursue an associate degree or certificate, according to the college website.
A group of like-minded Fort Scottians have banded together to do theatre in Bourbon County.
It all started with a social media suggestion.
“Bourbon Co Community Theatre came about based on a suggestion on Facebook for a community theatre in Fort Scott,'” said Angie Bin, who is the public relations person for the group. “Melissa Guns took that suggestion and ran with it, creating a list of interested individuals who met for the first time last summer.”
The group set about organizing.
They created a list of bylaws and a board and established its non-profit status. The current officers are President: Matthew Wells, Secretary: Sandy Abati, Treasurer: Danette Popp, Public Relations: Angie Bin, Production Coordinator: Katie Wells, and At-Large Board Members: Barbara Woodward, Eric Popp, and Regen Wells.
The first production is called Holy Mother of Bingo! by Patrick Walsh and will be at 7 p.m. on Aug. 2 and 3 in the lobby of the Ellis Fine Arts Center at Fort Scott Community College. 2108 S. Horton.
Ellis Fine Arts Center on the campus of Fort Scott Community College, 2108 S. Horton.
“The immersive murder mystery allows audience members to play five full rounds of Bingo with prizes donated by local businesses,” according to a press release from Bin.
“Pioneer Drama describes the show this way, “’An innocent bingo fundraiser at the Our Mother of Mercy church goes awry when parishioners mysteriously drop dead!” according to the press release. “‘The evidence suggests well-calculated murders, but who is to blame? Tensions rise as everyone begins identifying suspects. Past feuds rear their heads as the members of the parish try to state their innocence one by one. Who could be behind the elaborate spree? The disgruntled choir director? The magician turned youth minister? The ex-convict that has recently turned to the power of prayer? It couldn’t be one of the Cookie Cadets selling their beloved cookies! Everyone’s a suspect… even the audience in the zany comedy that takes interactive theatre to a whole new level!'”
Tickets are $12 for adults and $10 for children and Senior Citizens. A purchase of an entire table of 7 or 8 gives audience members a discount of $2 on each adult ticket. Tickets are at bcct.ludus.com, at the Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce, or at the door, but seating is limited and advance purchase is suggested.
More information can be found on the Bourbon County Community Theatre Facebook page. BBCO Community Theatre, LLC is a non-profit community organization formed last year whose mission is to bring education, community, and culture to southeast Kansas through theatre.
The production is directed by Angie Bin along with Assistant Director Mark Bergmann. Bin is the drama teacher at Fort Scott High School.
“We wanted our first actual production to be a fun family-friendly show that would generate a lot of interest in the community, but also be a show that our very limited budget could afford,” Bin said.
They formed a committee to select their first production.
“We had a script-reading committee that read many murder mystery-themed plays and decided on Holy Mother of Bingo! as the best choice. It is a brand new play that just recently won the 2024 Shubert Fendrich Memorial Playwriting Contest. We have cast members ranging from elementary school to senior citizens.”
Bin praises the cast.
“Even though we have several adults who are in their very first production ever, this has been a stellar cast to work with,” she said. “Everyone has been so energetic and willing to help out the production of the show in so many ways.”
A live Bingo game will weave through the play.
“Cast members have been very proactive about meeting with local businesses to request donations for prizes for the live Bingo games that take place during the show and we have so many tremendous prizes from a very large number of local businesses,” Bin said.
Notable roles include the character of Father Ron Culpepper played by Ben Self, Sister Helen played by Katie Wells, Marabelle Manson portrayed by Regen Wells, and Detective Quinn played by Bradley Whitehead, she said.
One of the prizes for bingo during the murder mystery: cookies by Bree Spurgeon, owner of B-Licious Cookies LLC. from the theatre groups Facebook page.The gift basket with a pink gnome is from Flowers by Leanna, another Bingo prize. Submitted photo.A gift basket from After Effect Salo as a Bingo prize. Submitted photo.
