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What’s Happening in Fort Scott
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Governor Kelly Directs Flags be Flown Half-staff for Patriot Day
In accordance with Executive Order 20-30, in recognition of Patriot Day, September 11, 2020, and in accordance with a proclamation from the White House, Governor Laura Kelly has ordered flags throughout the State of Kansas to be flown at half-staff for the entire day on September 11.
“Nineteen years ago, today, our country experienced a tragedy that took the lives of so many of our fellow countrymen and women. My thoughts are with our friends, family members, and first responders who lost their lives on this infamous day,” Governor Laura Kelly said. “Each year, we are reminded of the true bravery of those first responders and emergency workers who arrived at on the scenes of these terrorist attacks and gave everything to help others. We are reminded of the strength of our nation when we come together to support one another in times of crisis.”
To receive email alerts when the governor orders flags to half-staff, please visit https://governor.kansas.gov/newsroom/kansas-flag-honors.
Strengthening communities: Grant writing workshop planned
(Yates Center, KS) – Do you know how that playground equipment at the park down the street was purchased? Or the new sign leading visitors to a local landmark? How about initial money for a festival? In any community, chances are that someone, or a group of individuals, wrote a grant proposal and received funding to help with the project.
Individuals and community groups can learn more about writing successful grant proposals at a workshop planned in Yates Center, KS on Thursday, November 5, 2020. The workshop is presented by Nancy Daniels, a community vitality specialist with K-State Research and Extension and the author of many grant proposals. The training will be at the Yates Center Community Building, 713 S. Fry Street, from 9:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. and includes lunch. The cost to attend is $40.
“This workshop is for everyone, whether they’ve never written a proposal before and have no idea where to start, to those who have experience but are looking for ways to improve their approach,” Daniels said. “The magic that happens in a local community when people find out they don’t have to wait to get something done, that they can do it themselves, is incredible.”
Participants also learn from each other, Daniels said, adding that even experienced grant writers pick up tips and are reenergized after coming together with peers in their communities. Participants are encouraged to bring their grants or grant ideas to share.
Workshop topics include:
- Sources of data for community needs (where do you find the numbers to back up your request?);
- Where to find grants;
- The five common elements of a great grant proposal;
- Practicing the grant writing elements.If you have questions, please contact Carla Nemecek at the Southwind Extension District Iola Office, 620-365-2242 or email [email protected]. Details and registration are available at www.southwind.k-state.edu
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Carla Nemecek
Southwind Extension District
Director & Agent
[email protected]
620-365-2242
1 North Washington, Iola, KS 66749
…
Bob Jackson: Chaplain For Boubon County Sheriff’s Office
After serving as a Bourbon County Sheriff Deputy for over 33 years, Bob Jackson recently completed a master’s degree in chaplaincy.
“After completing my bachelor’s degree in Religion / Christian Counseling, I continued on to achieve my MD in Chaplaincy because I believed chaplaincy was a good fit for me,” Jackson said.
“I have served this community for the past thirty-three-plus years in law enforcement and believed, for now, God wanted me to continue serving Him in law enforcement serving the sheriff department as both a deputy sheriff and the department’s chaplain,” he said.
“I believe that God has called me to serve Him in two different areas,” Jackson said. “He has called me to serve Him as the Chaplain for the Sheriff Department in which the department has never had one. And, I believe that God has placed me in Uniontown, Ks, as the School Resource Officer as well. Since the start of school, I have felt such a overwhelming desire to serve these kids and the teachers. I believe that God’s will is for me to repair the damage that has been done over the past several weeks between our communities and law enforcement.”
His duties include ministry on the job and with fellow officers.
“My duties as a chaplain will be to minister to those who are experiencing the loss of a love one, or a friend,” he said. “To be there for my fellow officers and their families, when they are experiencing difficulties dealing with the stress that comes with law enforcement. The biggest duty of all is to have compassion for all as God has for us. These are just a few examples and certainly not all of the duties that a chaplain will perform.”
Jackson received both a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree through Liberty University online. His bachelor’s degree in May 2017 and master’s degree in May 2020.
Rinehart Church Corn Maze On Saturdays in October
Rinehart Christian Church will be offering their Corn Maze event again this year the first four Saturdays of October (3, 10, 17, & 24) from 11 AM-4 PM. This is an event for the whole family to enjoy together with activities including the maze, hayrides, a corn pit, lawn games, pumpkin painting, duck races, and fire pits. Admission to this event is completely free, with a hot dog lunch included from 11 AM- 1 PM.
We have a heart for families, and that is what drives this event. We want to provide an opportunity for families in our community to enjoy time together. We believe serving families is one of the best ways we can serve God.
To make this event as safe as possible, we have moved every event outside this year.
Rinehart Christian Church is located at 9443 S 900 Rd in Richards, MO.
Here are directions from Fort Scott: Take 69 Hwy. north to the Hammond exit. Then go east two miles on Soldier Rd. The road turns to the north; follow the blacktop (245th St.) to the stop sign (Valley Road); then go east. This becomes Hwy. D in Missouri. Continue on Hwy. D through Stotesbury to 900 Rd. Go South 0.5 miles to the church.
Fundraiser Started For Gordon Parks High School in Minnesota
The Boiler Room Brewhaus, in collaboration with The Jolly Fox Brewery and The Gordon Parks Museum Announces the Launch of The“U&D Ale” Fundraising Campaign, benefiting the Gordon Parks High School.
Fort Scott, Kansas – The Boiler Room Brewhaus is excited to announce the launch of U&D Ale.
In close collaboration with The Jolly Fox Brewery and The Gordon Parks Museum we are creating a beer to help bridge the divide created by the death of George Floyd. Protesters, angered by Floyd’s death, took to the streets. Some smashed the windows of shops and other businesses and made off with merchandise. Arsonists, perhaps at the scene only to cause mayhem, set buildings on fire. The next day St. Paul Pioneer Press reported that 170 businesses were looted or burned on the evening of May 28 and the early morning of May 29. One of those “businesses” was Gordon Parks High School.
Fort Scott, Kansas and Minneapolis / St. Paul, Minnesota both have a connection to Gordon Parks and that was the inspiration of U&D Ale.
U&D Ale and The Fundraising Campaign, will launch Wednesday October, 14th 2020
After seeing the iconic photograph by Deveonte Joseph that Nathan Aguirre created on a street corner in St. Paul, Minnesota months ago, owner Barbara Ritter was so moved, she decided to research the story in more detail and read that one of the buildings damaged was that of Gordon Parks High School.
Ritter said, “Seeing that young man in his cap and gown in front of those damaged buildings, made me so sad for him and all the kids.”
Ritter whose brewery is located in Fort Scott, which was the boyhood home to Gordon Parks, immediately recognized the schools name as a familiar one.
After realizing the connection between the two cities, Ritter started thinking of ways to help the kids.
She contacted the Gordon Parks Museum in Fort Scott and asked if she could help the kids to rebuild the damage. The curator for the museum , Kirk Sharp, connected her with the high school and she asked them for permission to create a fundraising beer from her brewery and they were excited and welcomed the help.
As it turns out, much of the damage was covered by insurance, however there still remains a great need for resources.
Ritter said, “Those kids may not even know about Fort Scott, Kansas, and how proud we are to be the boyhood home of their namesake, but they will when we complete this campaign.”
After mentioning her fundraising idea to another brewery in a neighboring city, The Jolly Fox Brewery agreed to help the kids too.
So, on October 14th The Boiler Room Brewhaus, The Jolly Fox Brewery and The Gordon Parks Museum will launch U&D Ale. U&D stands for unity and diversity, a name that the school so brilliantly came up with. A substantial portion of all proceeds from the sale of the beer will be gifted to the high school.
Ritter hopes that the kids will be able to use the funds to do something positive and fun, while connecting our two cities.
The U&D Ale Campaign for Gordon Parks High School, will kick off at the Boiler Room Brewhaus located at 2 South National Ave. Fort Scott October 14th at 6:30 pm, with an evening of craft beer, hors d’oeuvres and a brief discussion about the campaign.
All invited guests will receive a commemorative pint glass that has the high schools design etched with the words, “Unity And Diversity.
In the words of Gordon Parks, “I’ve been asked if I think there will ever come a time when all people come together. I would like to think there will. All we can do is hope and dream and work toward that end. And that’s what I’ve tried to do all my life.”
About The Boiler Room Brewhaus: Since its inception in 2017 and subsequent opening on January 7th of 2018, the Brewhaus has been committed to providing great, small batch, craft beer to our community. The Brewhaus, located on the busy intersection of Wall St. and National Ave in Fort Scott, KS occupies the historic Downtowner motor lodge.
Fort Scotts first and only microbrewery, prides itself on great tasting beer, exceptional customer service and community involvement. The brewery is owned by Barbara Ritter and her husband Bryan is the Brewer, both U.S. Navy veterans.
About The Jolly Fox Brewery: The Jolly is a new brewery and restaurant located in Pittsburg, Kansas, that prides itself on quality craft beer, served with a delicious selection of unique menu items. Come for the great beer and food, stay for the welcoming atmosphere, staff and patio fun.
About The Gordon Parks Museum: The mission of the Gordon Parks Museum is to honor the life and work of Gordon Parks, internationally-known photographer, filmmaker, writer, and musician; and to use his remarkable life story to teach about artistic creativity, cultural awareness, and the role of diversity in our lives. After Gordon Parks attended the first ever Gordon Parks Celebration in 2004, he gifted the Gordon Parks Center with 30 of his photographs. This spectacular group includes many of his iconic works such as American Gothic, Tuskegee Airmen, Flavio, Ali Sweating, Ingrid Bergman on Stromboli and many others.
In 2006, after his death, his personal effects and other memorabilia, per Gordon’s wishes, were given to the Museum. This valuable collection included many of his awards and medals, personal photos, paintings and drawings of Gordon, plaques, certificates, diplomas and honorary doctorates, selected books and articles, clothing, record player, tennis racquet, magazine articles, his collection of Life magazines and much more.
Since that time, more gifts have been given by his family and friends such as his camera, gifted by his daughter Toni Parks; his film camera and tripod, donated by his son David Parks; a collection of photographs of Gordon donated by Patricia DuBose Duncan, and much more. These gifts have made this collection substantive and significant and we are proud of Gordon’s faith in us to preserve and protect his legacy.
About Gordon Parks High School: St. Paul native Gordon Parks’ life and work as a photographer, film-maker, writer, and civil rights activist provides us with a model for the kind of thoughtful, active, and successful citizens we are dedicated to helping our students become.
We offer flexible programming, media-infused courses and curriculum, a supportive advisory program to help keep our students on track for graduation, and a host of community partnerships, internships, and job support activities for our students. We are a small, orderly, and friendly school where it is impossible for students to be invisible or to get lost in the shuffle.
Gordon Parks staff are specialists in providing students with hope and possibility through a rigorous curriculum. Students can fulfill state and district graduation standards requirements in many ways—from studying Documentary Film and nonfiction writing with our English department, to hands-on applied experiences in Algebra and Chemistry and community-based art, social studies, and environmental studies programs. Just to name a few!
At Gordon Parks, students are expected to practice thinking in real ways as a part of their daily experience school experience. We expect them to be full participants in their own educations and to take themselves and their possibilities seriously. The bottom line is that effort makes the difference. As the great American poet Maya Angelou writes, “Nothing works unless you work.”
At Gordon Parks we work together to make it work for our students.
PHOTOGRAPH BY GORDON PARKS, THE LIFE IMAGES COLLECTION/GETTY
U234 Board of Education Special Board Meeting Minutes of Sept. 9
NEWS RELEASE
Wednesday, September 9, 2020
Members of the USD 234 Board of Education met at the Fort Scott Middle School Commons on Wednesday, September 9, for a special board meeting at 5:30 p.m.
President David Stewart opened the meeting.
Superintendent Hessong gave an update on the Return-to-School Plan.
Board members approved handbooks for the 2020-21 school year.
Board members went into executive session to discuss personnel matters and returned to open meeting. The board approved the following employment matters:
A. Employment of Tiffnie Spears as a Eugene Ware fifth grade teacher for the 2020-21 school year
B. Employment of Charles Townsend as a Eugene Ware paraprofessional for the 2020-21 school year
C. Employment of Judy Warren as a Eugene Ware paraprofessional for the 2020-21 school year
D. Employment of Natasha Lindo as a preschool paraprofessional for the 2020-21 school year
E. Employment of Dillon Duffy as a regular route van driver for the 2020-21 school year
F. Employment of Michelle Brittain as middle school 8th grade Team Leader for the 2020-21 school year
G. Employment of Jaci Cosens as the middle school 7th grade Team Leader for the 2020-21 school year
H. Employment of Adam Feagins as a mentor teacher for the 2020-21 school year
I. Employment of Jannah Farrington as middle school mentor teacher for the 2020-21 school year
J. Resignation of Stephanie Cummings as a middle school teacher aide, effective August 31, 2020
The board adjourned.
Friends Of The Fort Meet Sept. 14
The Friends of Fort Scott National Historic Site want to invite the public to their Annual Meeting this Monday, September 14 at The Fort Scott National Historic Site at 7 p.m. It will be held outside on the Fort grounds so we can social distance and you must wear a mask.
The Bourbon County Sheriff’s Office Daily Reports Sept. 10
American Legion Auxiliary Meets Tonight
Submitted by Carl Jowers
A reminder that Auxiliary Unit 25 will be meeting tonight, Thursday, September 10 in Memorial Hall at 6 pm. Bring a guest and potential new member.
I will have the 2021 Auxiliary membership cards at the meeting. Dues are $25. If you have already paid your 2021 dues, let me know and I’ll mail your card to you.
The American Legion Auxiliary motto is “Service, Not Self.” The mission of the American Legion Auxiliary is to support The American Legion and to honor the sacrifice of those who serve by enhancing the lives of our veterans, military, and their families, both at home and abroad. For God and Country, we advocate for veterans, educate our citizens, mentor youth, and promote patriotism, good citizenship, peace and security.
American Legion Auxiliary membership is open to the mothers, wives, daughters, sisters, grand-daughters, great-grand-daughters, or grandmothers of a member of The American Legion, currently serving active duty military and deceased veterans who served in the United States Armed Forces. Female Veterans can also join the American Legion Auxiliary as well as their spouses.
Please call 620.215.1688 for more information on joining the American Legion Auxiliary.
Fort Scott Public Library Program News
Submitted by Valetta Cannon
Fort Scott Public Library
Youth Librarian & Assistant Director
End of Summer Statistics
From the end of May through the middle of August, 112 Fort Scott children and teens read a combined total of 2,984 books, 204 chapters, 28,562 minutes, and 4,688 pages as a part of the library’s summer reading program. Additionally, 33 children and teens took the 1,000 Minute Reading Challenge from August 1 – 31 and read a combined total of 29,867 minutes. Seventeen local volunteers, most of whom were retired or current educators, read or demonstrated craft projects for live and pre-recorded videos, which were shared with the community. Nine local restaurants and grocery stores donated gift certificates or coupons for free food and goods. The library won a $500 grant from the Dollar General Literacy Foundation and a $250 grant from the Walmart Community Grant program. Hammond United Methodist Church also supported the summer reading program with a $25 check. Thank you to our amazing community for their commitment to literacy, our library, and local families!
Weekly Virtual Storytimes:
Join Miss Val on Facebook or YouTube at 10 am on Tuesday mornings for Virtual Storytime! The library offers storytime packets filled with craft supplies and pre-packaged snacks, and those may be picked up through their curbside service. Email Miss Val at [email protected] to schedule a storytime packet pickup.
Weekly Teen & Tween Program:
Teens and Tweens, meet with Miss Val weekly on Zoom – Wednesdays at 4:20 pm! Meetings include book discussions, online games, crafts, virtual escape rooms, and other educational activities. The library provides curbside pickup at least once monthly of supplies for teen program participants. These include craft supplies, pre-packaged snacks, games, and paper activities. To participate or to order supplies email Miss Val at [email protected]. You’ll also need to email her for the Zoom password. The Zoom link is:
Teens may take the ongoing reading challenge and earn prizes for every 200 minutes or pages they read. For more information, contact the library.
1,000 Books Before Kindergarten
Join the library’s free early literacy program and help steer your child toward academic success! To sign up, email Miss Val at [email protected]. Tell her your child’s name and age (children from birth to Kindergarten qualify), the parent’s name, and contact information. Then keep track of your child’s reading. Every 100 books read earn a free book, sticker, and printout of your child’s photo. The library currently offers program rewards through its curbside service. Participants may send a photo of their child to the library for each 100 book milestone reached, and choose from a list of reward books. Then they may schedule a pickup time for their goodies. Photos are posted to the library’s Facebook page (with parental permission).
Book Lending Services
Wondering what books to choose for your children? Check out a grab bag! Each bag contains 10 books, along with goodies such as stickers or bookmarks. They are a curated assortment of books chosen by Miss Val, according to a topic. To check out a book bag, you must have an active library card in the SEKnFind system with no restrictions, and must call or message the library to reserve the bag, and then set up a day & time to pick it up from the curbside service (or coordinate with someone else to pick it up, using your card). Once you have the bag, you may keep the goodies and the bag itself. The books will be due back in the library’s dropbox in 3 weeks. There is no limit to how many bags you may reserve at one time. Each book bag is created for a specific age range, either Birth – 1st grade or 2nd – 5th grades. When you reserve one, you should specify which topic(s) and age range(s) you want, as well as providing your library card number. Current topics are: Bears, Boys’ or Girls’ General Interest, Cats & Dogs, Character Building, Classics, Community Helpers, Dinosaurs, Disney, Dragons, Fall, Fantasy, Farm, Food, Jungles, LEGO, Magic, Ocean, Pirates, School, Silly Stories, Superheroes, Vehicles, and Zoo Animals.
Looking for books by a specific author but don’t know or want to think up which titles to choose? Let the library staff be your personal book shoppers! Just call 620-223-2882 and tell them you would like to do a 10 book grab. Provide your library card number* and the author’s name, and they will pick out 10 books by the author.**
*Active, unrestricted library account required with Fort Scott or a SEKnFind
library.
**If not enough books are available from FSPL, they may order some from other libraries by that author, choose books by similar authors to make up the difference, or choose as many as possible, up to 10.
For more information on programs and services, visit the library’s website at: