Photo of McDonald’s Restaurant, 2224 S. Main, Fort Scott, following the renovation in December 2018 of the business site.
After 46 years with McDonald’s Restaurant, 19 of those here in Fort Scott, owner Mark McCoy is retiring.
As of May 1, Glen Nichols, Pittsburg, is the new owner.
“He is a great gentleman,” McCoy said of Nichols. “He owns restaurants in Pittsburg, Chanute, Parsons, Independence, Coffeyville, Baxter Springs and Columbus.”
Facebook photo.
“I am an active person, retiring is not in my vocabulary,” McCoy said. “Mo (his wife) and I will continue to be active in the community.”
Because of his job at McDonald’s, McCoy moved here from Kansas City 19 years ago, he said.
“We have enjoyed living here and will continue to do so,” McCoy said.
The quick-service industry has changed over the decades, he said.
“When I started with McDonald’s 46 years ago, we didn’t have a breakfast menu,” he said. “The restaurant I started with didn’t have indoor seating….the majority of people employed there was 20ish and under.”
More recently McDonald’s has opened self-serve kiosks, mobile order and pay and Uber Eats, a delivery service, he said.
“We don’t have an Uber Eats in Fort Scott, we don’t have an Uber service,” McCoy said.
Currently, at Fort Scott McDonald’s Restaurant there are 55 employees, he said.
Many are older employees.
“The majority of the quick-serve industry are older, more mature folks (employees),” McCoy said. “That has evolved over the years in the U.S.”
McCoy plans to travel and visit family in California.
“I have two brothers and a daughter in California,” he said. “We hope to be able to travel.”
Karen Cook has had nearly a 30 year career in elementary education, during which time she was nominated as Teacher of the Year. Prior to teaching, Cook worked for Western Insurance as a Computer Programmer and Program Analyst.
Mrs. Cook is an alumna of Fort Scott High School and was the co-Salutatorian her graduating year. She earned her associate of arts in general studies from Fort Scott Community College in 1973 and was the co-Valedictorian that same year. After graduating from FSCC, Cook married and started a family with her husband, Garry Cook. They have two children, Trisha Whitehead and Christopher Cook. After eleven years, Cook chose to return to school in pursuit of a teaching degree. In May 1986, Karen Cook completed her goal by graduating Summa Cum Laude from Pittsburg State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in elementary education.
Mrs. Cook is heavily involved in community service by being a Mother Advisor for the International Order of the Rainbow for Girls, serving on the KNEA Scholarship Committee, membership in the Order of Eastern Star, with which she has held numerous offices including Worthy Matron, and participation in St. John’s United Methodist Church as the Sunday School Superintendent and Lay Leader
Ellen Fairchild (right)
2019 Outstanding Young Alumna
Ellen Fairchild is currently the Director of Nursing for Assisted Living at Fort Scott Presbyterian Manors of Mid-America. A native of Fort Scott, Fairchild has previously worked as a wound care nurse, a medical/surgical nurse, and a pediatric nurse at Via Christi and Mercy Hospitals. She has earned many awards and accolades for her energetic and compassionate approach to nursing.
Mrs. Fairchild earned her associate of science in nursing (RN) degree in 2015. During her time at FSCC, she participated in many campus activities or organizations such as choir, orchestra, Student Nurse Organization as Recording Secretary, and Phi Theta Kappa as Chapter Vice-President and Delegate to International Convention then the following year Chapter President. Her initiative on campus earned her the Phi Theta Kappa Professionalism Scholarship in 2014 and the Student Nurse Organization Professionalism Award in 2013 and 2015.
Mrs. Fairchild and her husband, Lane, reside in Fort Scott with their three children, Levi, Aiden, and Lizzy.
Ty Covey (center)
2019 Outstanding Sophomore
Ty Covey is this year’s Outstanding Sophomore and is very deserving of that honor. As a Uniontown native, Ty has been making an impact academically and in other people’s lives. Ty has had many honors over the years including numerous honors while in high school and even more at his time at Fort Scott Community College (FSCC). During his time as a Greyhound, Ty has been an Ellis Foundation Scholar, R.E. French Family Educational Foundation Scholar, FSCC Endowment Scholar, Kansas All-Academic Team, Phi Theta Kappa Semi-Finalist Scholar, 2nd High Point Individual at Cowley Co. “Snow Bowl” competition. and has maintained a 4.0 GPA for four semesters!
Ty has been very active on and off campus during his time at FSCC. He has been a very active member in Phi Theta Kappa, Greyhound Student Council, FSCC Quiz Bowl (Captain), and FSCC Band and Choir. Ty has also been work-study and on the Board for the Gordon Parks Museum, Ellis Foundation Mentor, volunteered at the National Cemetery, and active in his faith through the Frist Missionary Baptist Churhc in Uniontown.
After graduating from FSCC, Ty plans to transfer to Pittsburg State University where he has already received five scholarships including Transfer Scholar Leadership Program, Viola M. Hutcherson Scholarship, Academic Achievement Award, Alumni Legacy License Plate Scholarship, and Phi Theta Kappa Recognition Award.
“I have been a positive role model at FSCC. I’ve been engaged in the classroom, around campus, and in the community. As a soon to be FSCC Alumni, I will do my best to continue to represent the Greyhounds”.-Ty Covey
In the attached photo from L-R isMarvin Taylor, Executive Committee.Marri Krupco, 2nd District CommanderJake Campbell. Sergeant at ArmsMarilyn Gilmore, AdjutantJames Collins. ChaplainMyra Jowers. Service Officer/Judge Advocate.Earl Adams. Vice Commander.Carl Jowers. Commander.Roger “Skipper” Brown. Executive CommitteeDarrell Spencer. Finance Officer.Ken Lyon. Historian.
At the American Legion Post 25 General Membership meeting on Monday, May 6, 2019, three new members were read in:
Laverl Turley, USAF Veteran.
Vincent “Scott” Dorsey, USMC Veteran
Leslie Montee, USAF Veteran.
There were 27 members and guests in attendance at our General Membership meeting. This is a record attendance in my two years at Post 25.
The winner of the Marlin M1 was Chris Jones of WardKraft. The winning ticket was pulled by Chaplain James Collins.
May 9. Thursday. 6 pm. Post 25 Color Guard meets at Memorial Hall. Any Post 25 Legionnaires or SAL member can join the Post 25 Color Guard.
May 9. Thursday. 7 pm. Baseball meeting of all interested students, parents and Legion members. Five more players are needed to form the Fort Scott Post 25 American Legion Baseball team. Players must be between 15 and 19 and live in Fort Scott.
The installation of your Post 25 2019-20 Officers on May 7 was conducted by 2nd District Commander Marri Krupco.
The female Legionnaires receiving a license plate frame are (L-R)Myra Jowers. USAF, Deb Lust. Army, Marilyn Gilmore. USAF, Leslie Montee. USAF, Amanda Collins. Army, Jennifer Johnson. Army, Marri Krupco. Navy.
Post Commander Carl Jowers gave each female Legionnaire a customized license plate frame that showed their branch of service and the words “Women are Veterans Too.” Commander Jowers believes that in today’s Legion, no Post can be successful if they do not recruit and retain female Veterans as members.
A close-up of the army vets frame.
There are three other female Legionnaires who could not attend last’s night’s meeting. They are Patsy Ferrell, Navy, Jessica Allison, Army and Faye Brown, Army. They will each receive a female Veterans license frame at a time and location convenient for them
“Come out for a great time with us on Wednesday evening, May 15th,” Ginger Nance, Executive Director of Fort Scott Presbyterian Village, said. “See the sale bill attached for many great items at the auction. More is being added daily so there will be some great surprises on auction day! Get your dinner tickets early, we always sell out on auction day!”
Fort Scott Presbyterian Village is located at 2401 S. Horton,
Fort Scott, KS 66701, and can be reached at (620) 223-5550.
Jack William Hixon, age 93, resident of Ft. Scott, KS, died Tuesday, May 7, 2019, at Via Christi Hospital, Pittsburg, KS.
He was born on January 31, 1926, in Redfield, KS, the son of Henry Lee and Clara Bernice Briggs Hixon. He married Edith Judy on January 15, 1949, in Ft. Scott.
Jack worked for Ray Shepherd Motors for over 40 years. When not working, he enjoyed fishing. He loved spending time with his family, especially his grandchildren. He was a member of Grace Baptist Tabernacle.
Survivors include his wife Edith of over 70 years; a son, Fred Hixon and wife Susan; a daughter, Rebecca Zimmerman and husband Doyle, all of Ft. Scott; two granddaughters, Jennifer Clark and husband Jim, Girard, KS, and Jill Hensley and husband David, Ft. Scott; five great-grandchildren, Jack, Jill and J.D. Clark, and Cali and Carter Hensley; and several nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by a brother, Vern Hixon; two sisters, Ruth Brown and Lena Smith; and his parents.
Rev. Paul Rooks will conduct funeral services at 10:00 AM Friday, May 10th, at the Grace Baptist Tabernacle.
Burial will follow in the Mt. Orum Cemetery.
Memorials are suggested to Grace Baptist Tabernacle and may be left in care of the Cheney Witt Chapel, PO Box 347, 201 S. Main, Ft. Scott, KS 66701. Words of remembrance may be submitted to the online guestbook at cheneywitt.com.
Maxine Engle, age 89, a resident of Ft. Scott, Kansas, passed away Monday, May 6, 2019, at the Medicalodge of Ft. Scott.
She was born April 8, 1930, in Leon, Kansas, the daughter of John David Wagner and Violet Genell Hartman Wagner.
Maxine first married Earl Dean Priest. Following Earl’s death in 1956, Maxine married James W. McKinney; he too preceded her in death in 1971. She later married David Engle. He died in 1994.
Throughout her lifetime, Maxine worked at a variety of jobs. She worked as a waitress and as a sales clerk. She also worked for a time with the Bourbon County Sheriff’s Department and as a truck driver. She enjoyed crocheting, making jewelry, doing crafts and tending to her many houseplants. She was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.
Survivors include her four children; Linda Chambers and husband, Gerald, of Ft. Scott; Judy Hall, of, Mineola, Iowa; Earl Dee Priest, of Gas, Kansas and Mark McKinney and wife, Jane, of Ft. Shaw, Montana; fifteen grandchildren and numerous great-grandchildren with a great-great-granddaughter on the way. Also surviving is a brother, J. V. Wagner, of Moran.
In addition to her husbands, she was preceded in death by a son, Tony Priest; a son-in-law, Dennis Hall; three brothers, John Wagner, Jr., Melvin Wagner and Wilbert Wagner and a sister, Florine Stewart.
Funeral services will be held at 11:00 A.M. Saturday, May 11th at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, 2109 Jayhawk Rd. in Ft. Scott.
Burial will follow in the Pleasant View Cemetery in Blue Mound.
The family will receive friends Saturday from 10:00 A.M. until service time at the church.
Words of remembrance may be submitted to the online guestbook at cheneywitt.com. Services are under the direction of the Cheney Witt Chapel, 201 S. Main, Ft. Scott, Kansas.
Bruce Edwin Hemphill, age 68, a resident of Ft. Scott, Kansas, passed away Saturday, May 4, 2019, at the University of Kansas Medical Center in Kansas City, Kansas.
He was born October 11, 1950, in Lamar, Missouri, the son of Emmett David Hemphill and Beulah Marie Slates Hemphill.
Bruce married Jamie Marie Lowry on October 3, 1985, at Ft. Scott. Bruce served with the United States Air Force for eleven and a half years where he served as a boom operator on mid-air refueling missions.
Following his time with the military, Bruce worked in maintenance for various manufacturing businesses. He then served as a service technician for Peddinghaus Corp. for nineteen years. While with Peddinghaus, he traveled throughout the United States and Canada and even made a service trip to England. He later worked in maintenance for Sugar Creek Packing and Russell Stover. Because of his time with the Air Force, Bruce had a love of airplanes and enjoyed attending air shows.
He also enjoyed stock car racing and was an avid NASCAR fan. He loved fishing with his children and grandchildren and watching programs on the History and Discovery channels.
Survivors include his wife, Jamie, of the home; his six children, Mary Reynolds and husband Brian, of Maple Falls, Washington; Christopher Lowry and wife Renee, of Long Island City, New York;Michael Waring and wife Alicia, of Nevada, Missouri; Cynthia “Squirrel” Hemphill-Witham and husband Adam, of Ft. Scott; Sean Hemphill, of Ft. Scott and Nicholas Hemphill, also of Ft. Scott; nine grandchildren, Jeff Reynolds and wife Malia, Thomas Reynolds and wife Monica, Alexys and Rachael Lowry, Ryan, Kale, and Idessea Waring and Koda Miller and Crysta Witham; four great-grandchildren, Beckett and Sawyer Reynolds and Jaxon and Ashlynn Reynolds; as well as several adopted grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Also surviving are his mother, Beulah Hemphill of Lamar, Missouri; his sister, Barbara Lee, also of Lamar and Clifford Hemphill, of North Carolina.
He was proceeded in death by his father, Emmett D. Hemphill, former Police Chief of Lamar, Mo.
Private burial with military honors will take place in the U. S. National Cemetery in Fort Scott, Kansas.
Memorials are suggested to the Bruce Hemphill Memorial Fund and may be left in care of the Cheney Witt Chapel, 201 S. Main, P.O. Box 347, Ft. Scott, KS 66701. Words of remembrance may be submitted to the online guestbook at cheneywitt.com.
Merchandise specials and giveaways are part of the Fort Scott Munitions Customer Appreciation Days, which is in conjunction with Fort Scott’s Good Ol’ Days, May 31-June 1.
The business is located at 523 E. Wall, near the intersection of Hwy. 69 and 54.
“We’ll have store deals and giveaways going on all day,” Dustin Doherty, Fort Scott Munitions Marketing Director said.
“Everyone is invited, it is free to attend as a spectator,” Doherty said. “There is a registration fee for the car show entries.”
Free lunch is provided for everyone, he said. “We are having 1,500 hamburgers and once we run out, then lunch is over.”
“We will have tons of in-store specials, we are even giving away a gun in store with appropriate registration and all that fun stuff,” Doherty said.
“We are having this annual event for several reasons, first and foremost it’s for our customers,” Doherty said. “It’s something that we do for them and their families. We want to give them good deals in our shop and feed them lunch and provide a family friendly event for them, which is where the car show comes in. It’s been very successful in the last couple of years and it keeps growing. We’ve added several new things this year such as bringing Tanto in a day early to host a defensive shooting course, which we are selling tickets for at the shop. And we are doing a burnout contest as well, which should be a lot of fun.”
“We’ve had more businesses in town support the event as well as meeting with the city of Fort Scott to work in conjunction with Good Ol’ Days and the committee that runs that event”, he said.
“We are hoping to grow our car show and customer appreciation day alongside with Good Ol’ Days, maximizing exposure and bringing as many people to town as we can to ‘cross-pollinate’ and gain exposure for not only the events going on that day but to all participating businesses and organizations.”
These people will be at the Customer Appreciation Days:
The “American Rebel” group and Corvette;
The 2nd Amendment muscle car, designed by Danny “The Count” Koker of the TV show Counting Cars, and owned by Andy Ross, musician, and host of “Maximum Archery” on the Sportsman Channel, will be on display.
“Blue Line Bears will be here again,” Doherty said. “Megan, a young woman from Florida who hand sews teddy bears from fallen officers uniforms and presents them to the children of those officers, to help them with closure and the grieving process. It’s a very emotional and pure non-profit. And now, not only we have worked with them but Landmark National Bank in Fort Scott has also helped with raising money for this organization.”
“Landmark is doing a fundraiser for them on May 15th for Kansas’ National Law enforcement day being declared for the 15th,” he said.
“Hank Strange will be attending,” Doherty said. “Hank is a podcast, content creator and YouTube personality that promotes the second amendment (of the U.S. Constitution) while providing enjoyable/engaging content for gun enthusiasts alike.”
“It will be a great day and we hope everyone in the area will be able to attend all events going on that day,” Doherty said.
Saturday, June 1, the scheduled events:
8 am – Car show registration begins
9 am – Car Show Voting begins
10 am – Kris “Tanto” Paronto (ammo
tin and book signing); Car show Pre-Registration Check-in Cutoff
11 am – Kris “Tanto” Paronto (ammo tin and book signing); Car show Registration Ends
12 pm – Kris “Tanto” Paronto (ammo tin and book signing); Free Lunch Begins The lunch ends when there are no more hamburgers.
1 pm –
2 pm – Car Show voting ends
2:30 pm – Car Show Awards presented, Charity Motorcycle Raffle Winner announced
2:30 pm – Burnout Contest on Clarke Street
Customers line up to enter Fort Scott Munitions during customer appreciation days June 2018.
Tickets for the charity motorcycle raffle will be sold all day leading up to the drawing/winner announcement.
Cars are lined up for the Fort Scott Munitions Customer Appreciation Days 2018.
Carla Nemecek is Southwind District Director and agent.
Machinery represents an ever-present danger on the farm.
While machines save valuable time and are essential to productivity, use of farm machinery is hazardous, making them the source of most injuries and deaths on American farms and ranches.
While manufacturers design and build safety features into their machines, hazards cannot be completely eliminated without interfering with function. Timely maintenance, responsible use, and comprehensive safety awareness training are ways farmers can protect themselves and others from injury or death when working with and around agricultural machinery.
The primary responsibility for machinery safety rests with the operator. Operators must be aware of potential hazards with the specific piece of machinery they are operating. Safe operators respect machines for the work they perform and the dangers they present. Use these eight simple steps to be a safe machinery operator.
Be aware. Recognize where and what the hazards are.
Be prepared. Replace worn parts promptly and do daily pre-operational checks. Include preseason checks. Take advantage of the off-season to do additional maintenance work. This gives you time to order any shields and other parts you may need. Anticipate problems.
Read the operator’s manual. The simple tips and precautions in this publication are no substitute for the operator’s manual for each piece of machinery. If the manual is missing, contact your dealer or check online to get another one.
Shield all moving parts. Make the machine as safe as possible.
Respect PTO and hydraulics. Remember that any machine that is powered by a power takeoff driveline (PTO) or has hydraulic systems is inherently dangerous.
Shut it off. Before servicing any machine, disengage the PTO, turn off the engine, remove the key, and wait for all parts to stop moving.
Watch yourself. Try to avoid particularly hazardous jobs if you’re physically ill or mentally distracted. Fatigue and stress cause many accidents.
Use a machine only for its intended purpose.
With more consistently warmer temperatures, farmers will be in the field and on the roads. Pay special attention to slow moving vehicles, as the machinery operator has limited visibility.
To emphasize farm safety, the Southwind District will offer a Tractor Safety training on Tuesday, May 21 in cooperation with Fort Scott Community College for youth ages 14-15. For more information about farm or machinery safety or for details on Tractor Safety Training, please contact the Southwind Extension District at www.southwind.ksu.edu
Carla Nemecek
Southwind Extension District
Director & Agent [email protected]
620-365-2242
1 North Washington, Iola, KS 66749
