Fort Scott, Schools

Tiffnie Spears: New FS Fifth-Grade Teacher

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Tiffnie Spears. Submitted photo.

A teacher at Fort Scott Middle School resigned in August and  USD 234 had a fifth-grade teacher request to transfer to the middle school, creating a 5th-grade opening.

Tiffnie Spears is the new fifth-grade teacher at Eugene Ware Elementary School in Fort Scott.

Tiffnie Spears, 29, graduated from Fort Scott High School in 2009 and graduated from Wichita State University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Communications in 2013, then received her Master’s  Degree in Elementary Education from Western Governors University in April of 2020.

“I was born and raised in Fort Scott and, as soon as I graduated from Wichita State, moved back home to be near my friends and family,” she said.

” I was able to do my internship hours with Mrs. Malone in the Fall of 2019 and did my student teaching with Mrs. Stepps this past Spring semester.”

She has been married to her husband, James, since 2011 and they have a 4-year-old son named Jacoby.

“My family loves to travel and our goal is to get Jacoby to as many states as possible before he graduates high school,” she said.

 

How did you become an educator?

“There wasn’t much that got me as excited than seeing my son, niece, and nephews grow and learn new things so I just knew I needed to go back to school to be a teacher. I was torn between following through with being a communication major or an educator so going back to school was a pretty easy choice.”

Did someone inspire you to teach?

“It was my son who inspired me to teach. After Jacoby was born, I knew I wanted to not only help him to grow and learn every day but to have a positive impact on as many children as possible.”

What is the best part of teaching for you?

“The ‘Ah-ha!’ moments are the best and most rewarding moments for me. Being able to see the positive impact you’ve made in helping that student succeed means everything.”

What is the greatest challenge in teaching?

“Starting my first year in the classroom during COVID-19 has so many obstacles but the students are doing so great with the changes we are all being faced with.”

Obituary

Obituary of Raymond Harper

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Raymond Tyler Maxwell Harper, 19, of Fort Scott, passed away Sunday evening, September 13, 2020. He was born February 7, 2001, in Topeka, Kansas.

Ray attended Fort Scott schools, and worked for both Twister Trailers and Laco Guttering. He enjoyed fishing, carpentry and building things, and loved to be outdoors.

Survivors include his parents, Charles Ray and Connie Jean (Riley) Harper, of Fort Scott; numerous brothers and sisters: Melonie Harper, Donald Harper, Jessie Harper, all of the home, Nicole Hall and husband Derek, Tiffani Bradley and husband Keith, both of Uniontown, Kaylie Harper and husband Clayton Miller of Fort Scott, Jenna Clayton and husband Ty of Redfield, Elijah Roberts, Ethan Roberts, and Gloria Roberts, all of Texas, Taylor VanZant, Kristal Castillo, both of Fort Scott, Lorenza Burris of Pittsburg, Kansas, Angelica Gonzalez, Christina Ramirez, both of Girard, Kansas, and Cassidy Riley of Harrisonville, Missouri; grandmothers Leah Riley of Fort Scott, and Marguerite Harper of Kansas City, Kansas; great-grandmother Mary Ellen Harper of Devon, Kansas; numerous nieces and nephews.

Raymond was preceded in death by paternal grandfather Gary Harper and maternal grandfather Tommy Riley.

Jeff Michael will conduct graveside services at 1:00 p.m. Monday September 21, 2020, at the Centerville Cemetery in Fort Scott under the direction of the Konantz-Cheney Funeral Home.

A visitation will be held following the service at 3:00 p.m. at Gunn Park, Shelter #5.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Raymond Harper Fort Scott High School Cross Country Scholarship and may be left in the care of the Konantz-Cheney Funeral Home, 15 W. Wall St., P.O. Box 309, Fort Scott, KS 66701. Condolences may be submitted to the online guestbook at konantz-cheney.com.

Government, Kansas

Motor Carriers COVID 19 Relief Extended

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Governor Laura Kelly Issues Executive Order Allowing Continued Delivery of COVID-19 Recovery Supplies

 

TOPEKA – Governor Laura Kelly announced she has signed Executive Order #20-65, which extends temporary relief for motor carriers from certain rules and regulations allowing them to quickly deliver supplies necessary to assist Kansas in its COVID-19 recovery efforts.

 

“I want to thank motor carriers across the nation who have been working diligently throughout the pandemic to make sure medical supplies, food shipments, and other critical items reach those who need them,” Governor Kelly said. “I will continue following the lead of our federal partners to decrease the burden on our motor carriers, and ensure these supplies reach their destinations as quickly as possible.”

 

Executive Order #20-65 extends temporary relief for motor carriers from certain rules and regulations until rescinded, until December 31, 2020, or until the statewide State of Disaster Emergency expires, whichever is earlier. It is an extension of measures put in place by Executive Order #20-62. 

   

The order lifts certain weight restrictions and permitting requirements to allow needed medical supplies, food shipments, and other items to move through Kansas as quickly as possible. These exceptions apply only to motor carriers actively participating in COVID-19 response efforts.  

  

View E.O. #20-65 here.

Bourbon County, Schools, Sports

Uniontown Football and Volleyball Sept. 11-12

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Adelay Martin. Submitted photo.

Submitted by Adelay Martin, UHS Sports Media Reporter

UHS Football

On Friday, September 11, the Uniontown Eagles’ football team faced the Wabaunsee Chargers. The Eagles were defeated 20-14, bringing their record to 1-1.

Hunter Schaaf rushed 26 times over 118 yards and scored 1 touchdown, and Drew Perry rushed 16 times over 102 yards scored the other touchdown. Perry also completed 4 out of 8 passes over 12 yards.

“The past couple of weeks, we’ve come out and we’ve dug ourselves a hole by turning the ball over to start the game and giving up an easy score. That’s my fault as a head coach for not having the team ready to go at the start of the game,” says Coach Stark. “This past week, we played a pretty poor first half and Wabaunsee really put it to us; they deserve a lot of credit. They’re a well-coached team, and they have some pretty talented players. They wanted to win the game more than what we wanted to the entire first half. After going into halftime down 13-0, I challenged the team and they came out and played the second half with much more heart and passion than in the first half. The second half, we were a different team. Unfortunately, we dug ourselves too big of a hole to get out of.

“One thing I am proud of is how hard we played in the second half. At one point in the second half, we were down 20-7 and we went on a 23-play scoring drive to put ourselves down one score in the fourth quarter. We overcame multiple penalties and we easily could have quit, but we didn’t, and we got into the endzone.

“One thing we have to improve on is how many penalties we’ve been having. I take responsibility for that as head coach for not having the team ready to play a clean, mistake-free game. In order to win in the future, we’re going to have to do a much better job of starting the game off strong and playing a clean game and eliminating our mental mistakes of false starts and holding penalties. I’m confident we’ll get those things corrected and be ready moving forward.”

JV Volleyball

Members of the Junior Varsity Volleyball team competed at the Moran JV Tournament on Saturday, September 12. The tournament was modified, moving to just pool play within each gym. Uniontown swept their pool with three wins!

Uniontown defeated SCC in two matches with scores of 25-17 and 25-23. Kristy Beene scored 9 points, and Skyler Coulter was 3/3 on attacks with 1 kill.

Uniontown also defeated Northeast, with scores of 25-15 and 25-19. Landry George scored 15 points, and Rylee Coulter was 6/8 on attacks with 1 kill.

Lastly, the Lady Eagles defeated Pleasanton with matches scoring 25-10 and 25-18. Hannah Moore scored 12 points and Landry George was 7/7 on attacks with 2 kills.

Let’s congratulate our Junior Varsity Volleyball team!

-Adelay Martin, UHS Sports Media Reporter

Government, Kansas

Grant For Historic Kansas Properties

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Governor Laura Kelly Announces $500,000 Grant to Protect Historic Kansas Properties

~National Park Service awards $500,000 Paul Bruhn Historic Revitalization Grant to the Kansas Historical Society~

 

TOPEKA—Governor Laura Kelly today announced a new program that will assist Kansans who own historic properties in communities with populations under 30,000. The National Park Service has awarded the $500,000 Paul Bruhn Historic Revitalization Grant to the Kansas Historical Society. The Historical Society’s Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) will develop this new sub-grant program, Kansas Rural Preservation.

 

“Kansas is home to many historical and cultural sites that tell the story of our state and our country’s past,” Governor Laura Kelly said. “Thanks to the National Park Service and the Kansas Historical Society, we can be assured that markers that are part of our history will be protected for future generations to learn from and enjoy.”

 

More details about the sub-grant program and applications will become available this winter at kshs.org/20430. Or contact Katrina Ringler, SHPO grants manager, at 785-272-8681, ext. 215; [email protected]; to be placed on a notification list for further details.

 

Kansas was among eight recipients to receive the Paul Bruhn Historic Revitalization Grants this year. A total of $4.8 million was awarded in 2020 to support the preservation of historic buildings in rural communities across America. Now in its second year, the Paul Bruhn Historical Revitalization Grants are named for a former executive director of the Preservation Trust of Vermont.

 

Congress appropriates funding for various programs, including the Paul Bruhn Revitalization Grant, through the Historic Preservation Fund (HPF). The HPF uses revenue from federal oil leases on the Outer Continental Shelf to assist preservation projects in all states, territories, and many tribal lands. For more information about the Paul Bruhn Revitalization Grant, find more at go.nps.gov/revitalization.

 

Fort Scott, Fort Scott National Historic Site

FLY THE U.S. FLAG TAKING NEW SUBSCRIPTIONS

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Submitted by  FRIENDS OF FORT SCOTT NATIONAL HISTORIC SITE, KELLEY COLLINS, 417-684-2484

 

The Friends of Fort Scott National Historic Site Inc. is taking new subscriptions for their “Fly the U.S. Flag” project. The Friend’s U.S. flag project provides homeowners and businesses, within the city limits of Fort Scott, the opportunity to fly the Stars and Stripes on five different flag holidays without the hassle of purchasing, erecting, and storing a flag and pole. You don’t even have to remember the holiday!

For $35 annually, the Friends will install a 3’x5′ flag on a 12-foot staff at your home or business on each of the following Flag Holidays in 2021:

Memorial Day

Flag Day

Fourth of July

Labor Day

Veteran’s Day

Sign up by October 8, 2020, and you will also get Veteran’s Day 2020 included in the offer–SIX DAYS for the price of FIVE!!!

Agreements can be obtained at the Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce or can be emailed to you. Contact Kelley Collins at 417-684-2484 or Martha Scott at 620-224-9924 for further information.

All proceeds support programs at Fort Scott National Historic Site. These include Symbols of Sacrifice, a Citizenship Ceremony, Candlelight Tour, Youth Engagement, and many others.

Show your patriotism and help our local National Park by lining the streets of Fort Scott with our nation’s symbol!

The U.S. Flag Project is a yearly project sponsored by the Friends of Fort Scott National Historic Site. This offer is for new subscribers only. Current subscribers will be mailed a renewal notice in January for the 2021 season.

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Bourbon County, Government

Ks. Hwy. 3 From US 54 to K-39 Closed Sept. 21-22

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A close up of a map Description automatically generated

Section of K-3 to close for pipe replacement project

 

The Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT) will close a section of K-3 in Bourbon County to replace four crossroad pipes on Monday and Tuesday, Sept. 21-22, weather permitting.

 

K-3 will be closed to through traffic between K-39 and U.S. 54 from 7:30 a.m. until 5:30 p.m. both days. Traffic should use alternate routes.

 

Persons with questions may contact KDOT Superintendent Derrick Shannon, (620) 901-6550, or Public Affairs Manager Priscilla Petersen, (620) 902-6433.

 

Obituary

Darrel George Celebration of Life on Sept. 20

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Darrel George, age 66, a resident of rural Uniontown, Kansas, passed away March 21, 2020.

\A celebration of Darrel’s life will be held from 4-6 P.M. on Sunday, September 20th at the Bourbon County Fair Pavilion.

Friends and family are encouraged to bring a lawn chair and enjoy food and fellowship.

Private burial took place in the Uniontown Cemetery.

Donations to the Bourbon County Fair Association are still being accepted and may be left in care of the Cheney Witt Chapel, 201 S. Main, Ft. Scott, KS 66701.

Bourbon County, Entertainment, Exercise

Tri-Yak-A-Thon Competition Scheduled For Oct. 10

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Tri-Yak-A-Thon winners in a past competition. Submitted photos.

The Gunn Park Trail volunteers are hoping to hold an annual multi-sport competition on Oct. 10 at 10 a.m. in the park.

“We may not be able to hold the Tri-Yak-A-Thon this year,” Penny Pollack-Barnes, spokeswoman for the group, said. “In these uncertain times, we decided to hold the event if we have enough interest in the event.  If we have 40 registered participants by September 26 we will hold the event, assuming we don’t experience a COVID surge and the weather cooperates.  So far, we have nine registered participants.”

“We will be observing social distancing recommendations at the event,” she said.  “We expect participants to help us in our efforts to make sure our event does not result in the spread of the Coronavirus.”

A runner in a prior Tri-Yak-A-Thon. Submitted photos.

Triathalon competitions are multi-sport events that require all-around fitness for the solo participants, Barnes said.

“The variety in activities allows team members with different skills to participate,” she said.  “We make the event ‘off-road’ to show off Fort Scott’s wonderful trail system.”

Kayakers in a prior Tri-Yak-A-Thon, navigate the Marmaton River. Submitted photos.

“The Tri-yak-A-Thon is a race where participants run on Gunn Park’s beautiful trails, kayak up and down the Marmaton River, and then tackle the trails again on a bike,” -Barnes, said.  “We will donate all proceeds from the 2020 Tri-Yak-A-Thon to Fort Scott Paws & Claws.”

“The goal of the event is to have fun and raise money to support the animal shelter,” she said.  “The trail run is a 5K, the kayak portion is another 5K, and the bike portion is a 10K.  Participate as a relay team, or if you are tough enough, you can do the entire race as a solo participant.  You must bring your own kayak, life jacket, helmet, and mountain bike.  Riders must wear a helmet.”

The race starts during a previous Tri-Yak-A-Thon. Submitted photos.

The cost is $35 for individual participants and $75 for each team.

 

Packet pickup will be from 8:00 to 9:45 AM at Shelter House #6.  

Registration will only be available online this year.  Participants must register before the event to avoid people congregating at the registration area.  Online registration will close on September 26.

Registration is online at https://www.trireg.com/tri-yak-a-thon.

Kayaks are lined up waiting for the kayaking leg of the Tri-Yak-A-Thon in a prior competition. Submitted photos.

The race will begin at 10:00 AM. 

“Whether you enter the race or just come and cheer, please join us and support our park, our trails, and our animal shelter,” Barnes said. “While much of the race occurs out of view on the trails, the participants go through our staging area multiple times.  This offers many opportunities to cheer people on.”

Bourbon County Local News