Fort Scott

Kiwanis Members Will Meet at Gunn Park This Saturday For a Work Day

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The Fort Scott Kiwanis Club met earlier in the year for a work day at Gunn Park. Submitted photo.

Fort Scott Kiwanis resumes normal Tuesday noon meetings on Nov.17 at the Methodist Church.

In addition, the club has embarked on a continuing winter project to assist in Gunn Park improvements.

There will be a work party at 9:30 a.m. this Saturday morning.

The members will meet at shelter house #6.

 

“Don Tucker Chairman of the men’s Kiwanis club stated that the club is really encouraged by the volunteers who are making major improvements in the park and we want to do our share,” said member Ralph Carlson.

COVID-19, Fort Scott, Government, Schools

USD 234 News Release For BOE Meeting Nov. 9

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NEWS RELEASE

 

Monday, November 9, 2020

 

Members of the USD 234 Board of Education met at the Fort Scott Middle School Commons on Monday, November 9, for their regular monthly meeting.

President David Stewart opened the meeting.  The board approved the official agenda.  The board also approved the consent agenda as follows:

 

A.    Minutes

B.    Bills and Claims

C.    Payroll – October 20,  2020 – $1,414,951.80

D.    Financial Report

E.     Activity Fund Accounts

F.     Parent/Teacher Conference Attendance

G.    Fundraisers

 

One patron spoke during the public forum.  Ella Beth presented a report on the

Fort Scott High School Courtyard project.

Board members heard reports from the following:

·       Brenda Hill, KNEA President

·       Michelle Stevenson, Early Childhood Program

·       All building principals

·       Dalaina Smith, Director of Academics

·       Ted Hessong, Superintendent

·       Gina Shelton, Business Manager/Board Clerk

 

The board went into executive session to discuss employer-employee negotiations.  The board returned to open session.

Superintendent Hessong gave a Return-to-School update.  Board members approved the following changes to the Return-to-School Plan:

·       Classroom contact of an individual with lab-confirmed COVID-19 is not considered a close contact requiring quarantine if mitigation strategies are in place.

o   High-risk contacts are defined as those individuals with unmitigated exposure such as unmasked lunch exposure, social exposure, extracurricular activities including sports, home exposure, or other exposure outside of school setting, and as determined by a health officer or designated official.

o   Low-risk exposure is defined as mitigated classroom exposure (mask-in-place, appropriate hand washing/sanitation) and casual contact, as determined by the health officer or designated official, with mitigation standards in place.

·       Remote learners are eligible for extracurricular activities with mitigation strategies in place.

 

The board approved Blue Cross/Blue Shield for the district health insurance for 2021.

Board members shared comments and then went into executive session to discuss personnel matters for nonelected personnel and returned to open meeting

The board approved the following employment matters:

 

A.    Resignation of Heather Geiger, high school paraprofessional

B.    Resignation of Brenda Hathaway, high school cook

C.    Employment of Whitley Chesney as middle school/high school choir teacher for the 2020-21 spring semester

D.    Employment of Elizabeth Rose as a middle school paraprofessional for the 2020-21 school year

E.     Resignation of Sarah Bahr, high school assistant debate and forensics coach

F.     Resignation of Angie Kemmerer as middle school head volleyball coach, effective at the end of the 2020 season

G.    Transfer of Joie Moore, high school 6.5-hour cook, to a high school 6.5-hour ticket clerk for the 2020-21 school year

H.    Employment of Glenda Cooper as a high school 6.5-hour cook for the 2020-21 school year

I.      Resignation of Jacy Walker as high school head volleyball coach

J.      Employment of Mark Bergmann as high school assistant debate and forensics coach for the 2020-21 school year

The board adjourned.

Bourbon County, COVID-19, Schools

St. Mary’s Catholic School Receives SPARK Grant

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St. Mary’s Catholic School
St. Mary’s Catholic School has received SPARK funds to provide laptops for students and increased technological capabilities. along with a small transportation bus.
The Strengthening People and Revitalizing Kansas (SPARK) Taskforce is leading Kansas forward in recovery from the far-reaching effects of COVID-19, distributing funds provided from the U.S. Coronavirus Relief Fund, according to its’ website https://covid.ks.gov/spark-recovery-office/
St. Mary’s students enjoy lunch outside as an aid to social distancing at the school..Submitted photos.

 

Technology
“We will use the money to buy laptops for our students to use at school and also to be used at home if we were to be shut down again by the state,” Principal Josh Regan said.  “We will also be purchasing new laptops for our computers with software upgrades that are capable of bringing remote learners, who have been required to isolate or quarantine, into our classroom via Zoom.”
Josh Regan. Submitted photo.
Cameras and WIFI access
 ” We have purchased Swivl cameras to make that experience more seamless and interactive for remote learners with SPARK FUNDS as well,” he said. ” We are also updating our WiFi access points throughout our school to accommodate more devices on the system.”
Purchase of small bus
“We were given funds to assist in the purchase of a small bus for the school, based on transportation needs and difficulties especially due to COVID,” Regan said.
Church news

Church Holiday Bazaar Nov. 14 at 1818 S. Main

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The new Family Life Center at First Southern Baptist Church is the building to the right.

Fort Scott  First Southern Baptist Church is having a Holiday Bazaar and bake sale this Saturday, Nov. 14, from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the new Family Life Center, 1818 S. Main.

Handmade and Creative Crafts and homemade baked goods!

Ornaments Baked Goods

Unique Gifts Gift Baskets

Wood Creations

Breakfast – 7 TO 10:30 A.M.

Biscuits & Gravy, Cinnamon Rolls

Lunch – Soup & Sandwiches 10:30 – 4:00 P.M.

Kraut Soup Chicken Salad

Taco Soup Hot dogs

Chicken noodle Soup BBQ Sandwich

Dine in or Carry Out

For more Info:

Contact: Ida Ford 417-262-3948 or

Terri Williams 620-215-3202

Hope to See you there!!!!!!

Fort Scott Southern Baptist Church Holiday Bazaar is this Saturday, Nov. 14 from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the new Family Life Center, 1818 S. Main

Handmade and Creative Crafts and homemade baked goods!

Ornaments Baked Goods

Unique Gifts Gift Baskets

Wood Creations

Breakfast – 7 TO 10:30 A.M.

Biscuits & Gravy, Cinnamon Rolls

Lunch – Soup & Sandwiches 10:30 – 4:00 P.M.

Kraut Soup Chicken Salad

Taco Soup Hot dogs

Chicken noodle Soup BBQ Sandwich

Dine in or Carry Out

For more Info:

Contact: Ida Ford 417-262-3948 or

Terri Williams 620-215-3202

Hope to See you there!!!!!!

Bourbon County, Schools, Sports

UNIONTOWN HS FOOTBALL RESULTS WEEKS 9 AND 10

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Adelay Martin. Submitted photo.

The playoff post-season has gone well for the UHS football team! Here’s the results of the two playoff games:

On October 30, 2020, the Uniontown Eagles played Troy and defeated them with a score of 51-14, setting a new record for points scored in a playoff game for UHS. The team had 453 total yards of offense and 7 touchdowns. Drew Perry had 31 carries for 234 yards with 4 touchdowns and completed 4/7 passes for 41 yards. Treden Buckman had 24 carries for 181 yards and 3 touchdowns. Luke Perry had 2 receptions for 26 yards, and Jake Harvey had 1 reception for 19 yards.

On the defensive side, we held Troy to 174 total yards and forced 2 turnovers. Jake Harvey had 10 tackles, 3 tackles for loss, 1 sack, and 1 pass breakup. Drew Perry had 5 tackles and 2 pass breakups, Hunter Schaaf also had 5 tackles, and Joey Marlow had 3 tackles, 1 fumble recovery, and 1 interception. Tyler Harvey scored 6/7 extra points, and 1 field goal for 33 yards.

Coach Stark was incredibly proud of the team. “Some media outlets had predicted that Troy would upset us in the first round. Troy has a really good tradition and a really good program history. They won the state title in 2016. We were able to take control of the game pretty early on. We knew Troy had a really talented quarterback, so our plan was to run the clock, run the ball on offense, and limit big plays on defense. We were able to force a couple of turnovers, we were able to run the ball and establish the ground game early. We ran for over 400 7 we didn’t have a single turnover. Our lineman really set the tone. The 51 points we scored were the most ever by the team in a playoff game. The previous record was 50, set in 2015.”

On Friday, November 6, the Eagles defeated Northeast Arma 45-0. This game won Uniontown its first regional title since 1998, and posted the school’s first shutout in the post-season since 1982. Offensively, the team ran 326 total yards and had 5 touchdowns. Drew Perry had 10 carries for 100 yards with 3 touchdowns and 2/3 on passing for 15 yards. Treden Buckman had 15 carries for 146 yards with 1 touchdown. Jake Harvey had 4 carries for 27 yards, scored 1 touchdown, and had 1 reception for 19 yards. Hunter Schaaf had 6 carries for 46 yards, and Cade Goodridge had 2 receptions for 15 yards.

The team defensively held the Vikings to 39 total yards and forced 2 turnovers. Zach Franklin had 11 tackles, 4 tackles for loss, and 2.5 sacks. Korbin Miller had 7 tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss, and 0.5 sack. Ian McClure had 5 tackles, 4 tackles for loss, and 1 sack. Jake Harvey had 10 tackles and 1 tackle for loss. Drew Perry had 2 tackles and 1 interception, and Hunter Schaaf had 8 tackles, 1 tackle for loss, and 1 interception. Tyler Harvey scored 5/5 extra points and 1 field goal for 30 yards. Byron Fry had 3 tackles and 1 blocked punt, and Riley Warner had 3 tackles and 1 blocked punt, which was recovered for a touchdown.

Coach Stark said of the game, “Not only did we win a regional title on Friday night, but we finished the season undefeated in our league. Our defense had their best game of the year, only giving up 39 yards, and we forced 2 turnovers. Because of the effort of our linemen up front, I feel like our game against Arma was the best game of the year. Our guys play with great effort, technique, and determination, and it really shows.

“While we are excited about our wins these past two weeks, we are even more excited about the opportunity to play Olpe in the sectional round of the payoffs. Olpe is ranked number one in the state, and they beat us earlier this season 48-2. That was a really close game until halftime; I believe, this time, that we’ll play them tight for a full four quarters and that it’ll be a close game.”

The Sub-State game is at Olpe on Friday, November 13, so making the drive could be difficult, but any support for our Eagles will be appreciated!

Fort Scott

Larry Lyons: Fort Scott Veteran’s Day Parade Grand Marshall

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Larry Lyons, submitted photo.

Laurence Lyons (Larry Lyons) will be the Grand Marshall for the 3rd Annual Veterans Day Parade Saturday at 3 PM.

 

Laurence Lyons served in the U.S. Air Force from 1959-1979.

He joined the United States Air Force in 1959 entering Pilot Training at Spence AFB, GA, completed at Vance AFB, OK graduating in the Class of ’61 Delta

Lyons was awarded the honor to enter B-52 training.

He attended Nuclear Weapons Deliver School, Wichita,  Air Force Survival School, Reno, NV,  Transitioned at Castle AFB, CA

Lyons was assigned to Columbus AFB, MS as the youngest ever Combat Ready B-52 pilot.

In   October ‘62, he flew the first B-52 Airborne Mission during the Cuban Mistle Crisis carrying nuclear weapons.

In 1964, Lyons married Miss Pat.

He was assigned to Griffiths AFB, NY flying the B-52, then assigned to Naha AFB, Okinawa flying C-130 combat missions over Laos.

Lyons was assigned Headquarters NORAD, Colorado Springs as Senior Director at the Space Defense Center, Cheyenne Mountain 1971-1974.

“A memorable experience was to have the honor of tracking Santa Claus on his trip around the globe reporting to local news outlets,” he said.

He was assigned unaccompanied to Johnson Island in the mid-Pacific as Commander of Space Track Stations.

His family relocated to Fort Scott for the year.

Lyons was back to the cockpit at Dover AFB, DE flying the C-5 Transport.

“A particularly memorable mission was to transport a full field hospital to Guatemala after the 1968 earthquake,” he said. ” We were honored on landing to be met by the President of Guatemala and General Staff who came onboard to personally thank our crew.”

He was assigned to Denver, CO serving at Buckley Field as Operations Officer at the Space Track Site for classified satellite missions and Senior Director of Space Defense Center.

Lyons retired from the United States Air Force in 1979and ” settled in Fort Scott to live happily ever after.”

Entertainment, Fort Scott National Historic Site

Fort Scott NHS’s 38th Annual Candlelight Tour Goes Virtual

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Fort Scott National Historic Site glows during a past annual candlelight tour event.

 

 

Fort Scott Kan. – Enjoy Fort Scott National Historic Site’s 38th Annual Candlelight Tour from the warmth and comfort of your own home. The virtual tour will air on the park’s web page (www.nps.gov/fosc) and Facebook (www.facebook.com/FortScottNPS) at 7pm central time on Friday, December 4, 2020. There is no cost or fee for participating and Rangers will answer questions during and immediately following the program

 

This year’s virtual tour will share images of the traditional 1,000 candle lanterns around the parade ground and will feature six stops exploring 1840s health and safety, law and order, and equal treatment. Was there equality between officers, enlisted soldiers, and even, their horses?

 

1840’s soldiers at Fort Scott lived in isolation because of being distant from towns, other outposts, families, and friends. They also faced inequality because Officers were paid more and had nicer, more spacious, living quarters. If officers were sick, they could be treated in their quarters and if in trouble, they were subject to house arrest. Enlisted soldiers were paid a fraction of an officer’s salary, and they shared bunks in a room with 25 other soldiers. If they were sick, they were treated at the hospital in an open group setting and if in trouble they were sent to a cell in the guardhouse. Both also enjoyed the holidays differently.

 

Fort Scott was an active military post from 1842-1853, which was a time of rapid growth and change in the country. As Fort Scott was being built, the nation grew west. With this growth, Fort Scott changed, the mission of its soldiers changed, the environment changed, and the nation changed. However, the soldiers at Fort Scott continued to serve faithfully, despite the constant change.

 

Fort Scott National Historic Site hopes you enjoy our virtual Candlelight Tour as much as our other virtual events this year (all available on www.nps.gov/fosc) and we hope to see you in person for all of our on-site events in 2021.

 

From November 1-March 31, Fort Scott National Historic Site, a unit of the National Park Service, will be open for its winter hours of operation. The site exhibit areas and historic buildings are open daily from 8:30 am-4:30 pm. The park grounds are open daily from ½ hour before sunrise until ½ hour after sunset. To find out more or volunteer at the Fort, please contact the park at 620-223-0310 or visit our website at www.nps.gov/fosc.

 

Bourbon County

Mobility Scooter and Wheelchair Lift To Give To A Veteran

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The Fort Scott American Legion was gifted a mobility scooter with a vehicle wheelchair lift with the requirement that they be given to an area Veteran.

I have had some interest in these two items, but it was concluded that due to its large size, the mobility scooter would not work well in an assisted living environment plus the inquiring parties did not have an interest in the lift.

While the mobility scooter and lift will be given to a Veteran, there are a few conditions prior to taking possession of the scooter and lift.

  • Proof of the Veteran’s service and identity are required.
  • Both the wheelchair and lift go together as a matched set.
  • It is the responsibility of the Veteran to pick up both the wheelchair and lift and have the lift installed on a vehicle.
  • The wheelchair and lift are “on loan” to the Veteran and must be returned to the Fort Scott American Legion in good working order when the Veteran no longer needs them.
  • If it is determined that the Veteran is not the primary user of the electric scooter and lift, they must be returned to the American Legion in good working order.

Photographs of the mobility scooter and wheelchair lift are attached.

If you know of a Veteran who needs a mobility scooter with vehicle lift, please ask them to contact American Legion Post 25 Commander Carl Jowers at 620-215-1688.

Bourbon County Local News