Bo Graham, 36, is the new Fort Scott High School Student Success Center Teacher.
“I became an educator because I had coaches and teachers that made a huge impact on my life,” he said. “I hope to do the same for the students and athletes I come in contact with! Bob Campbell was the main person who inspired me to teach. But I also had many others who played a role in that.”
Graham has been in education for 15 years, having graduated from Pittsburg State University with a masters of arts degree in education.
“The best part of teaching for me has been having students or athletes come back seven, eight or nine years later letting me know the impact I had on them. It makes every second worth it,” he said.
For Graham one of the challenges in education is technology.
“The greatest challenge I see in education is probably technology, and that being good and bad,” he said. “The technology you use to run school changes yearly. And with the use of computers, tablets, and cell phones good and not-so-good things can happen.”
Fort Scott is Graham’s hometown.
He has been married to Jamie for six years and has a 3-year-old daughter named Blakely.
In his spare time, Graham likes spending time with family, golfing, and watching Duke basketball.
While biking in our subdivision the other day, I came across this construction site. A group of donors are making it possible for Sgt. Stefan Leroy and his wife to have a new home. I later Googled Sgt. Leroy and found this article posted on the Gary Sinese Foundation website:
“On June 7, 2012 while deployed in Afghanistan, Stefan and his platoon were clearing improvised explosive devices (IEDs). Suddenly, two IEDs detonated and Stefan rushed to aid those injured by the blasts. While carrying an injured soldier to a Medevac helicopter, Stefan was struck by a third explosion. He lost both of his legs immediately.
“Stefan was transported to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center where he spent over a month in the hospital. He spent two years learning to adapt to his prosthetics, drawing strength from his friends and the other amputees at the hospital. Sixteen months after his last surgery in September 2014, he ran the Boston Marathon. “Stefan’s current living situation does not accommodate his wheelchair, causing him stress in his day-to-day activities. The Gary Sinise Foundation looks forward to providing Stefan with a specially adapted smart home to ease his daily challenges.” Actor Gary Sinese, most known for his performance in “Forrest Gump,” started this foundation to make dreams come true for our defenders, veterans, first responders and their families. His website claims that over 1,000,000 soldiers have returned from Iraq and Afghanistan “bearing the mental and physical wounds of war.” Thanks to donations to his foundation, fifty-seven homes are completed, and twenty more are under construction. I rode back to the site to talk to some of the workers. Everything in this house will be wheelchair-friendly, from wider doors to lower sinks. The painters praised the efforts of Mr. Sinese who used his public platform to help those in need. When I got home, I looked further into what drove this incredible man to give so sacrificially. I was excited by what I found. Speaking at a Knights’ of Columbus dinner, an organization with which he has partnered, Sinese said this: “When I think about the life and sufferings of Christ, when I think about the stories of the extreme hardships and heavy burdens that our military men and women and their families were willing to, and continue to bare, I can’t help but think about this verse: ‘For greater love hath no man than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.’” If there is a better motive for sacrificial giving, I don’t know what it is.
Join us for the Fort Scott Aglow Lighthouse Monthly gathering at
Rodeway Inn Conference Room, 101 State St., Fort Scott, KS
Tues. Sept 3, 2019 at 6:30-?
An interdenominational opportunity for like-minded believers to come together for worship, prayer, grow in God’s word, and to meet needs in Bourbon County.
We welcome our guest speaker: Linda Kay Woodworth.
Woodworth is the Kansas State Prayer Coordinator for Aglow International.
She has spent 35 years in Aglow, having held several positions on the North Area Aglow Board. Linda Kay lives in Topeka with her husband Bill.
She is a former high school language arts teacher, working now during the legislative session at the state capital as a senator’s office assistant.
At the age of 31, Woodworth found herself a single mother raising two small daughters, when she discovered Aglow. She loves to introduce people to the Holy Spirit and does so every month in the ladies’ prison.
She believes that the kingdom of God is not meat and drink, but righteousness, and peace, and JOY in the Holy Ghost. Romans 14:17. KJV.
Linda Kay and her daughter, Amber, will present a generation to generation message on what God is doing in their lives today. After a horrific motorcycle accident sent Amber and her husband into emergency surgery with numerous broken bones, God’s kingdom power showed up in the reality of Romans 8:11 KJV, and quickened their healing process. The doctor said it would take two years to heal. But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you. The quickening spirit of God is available for us! Come hear and see what the Lord has done.
Incredible testimony for the whole family! Feel free to invite some friends.
Fort Scott Aglow Lighthouse desires to bring the body of Christ together, (men and women and the youth) We are also in the preparation stage of expanding the Kingdom of God through centers that transform lives. We are getting food, clothing, pregnancy supplies, and shelter ready. Donations welcome!
September 9 is the kick-off event for the Fort Scott Community College Centennial Celebration, and the public is invited.
At 11 a.m. there will be an assembly at the Ellis Arts Center on the campus.
“We will have an assembly reflecting on the schools history, lunch, tree dedication, aerial picture, all free and open to the community,” Kassie Cate, Director of Strategic Communications & Student Activities, said.
“The school’s first day of classes was September 8th in 1919 so since the 8th is on a Sunday, so we are doing it on September 9th.”
From left: Carol Oakleaf, owner and Lori Lovelace, manager of Fort Scott Washateria, stand in front of the alterations/starch and press building still being completed.
Carol Oakleaf and Lori Lovelace are gearing up for the grand opening Sept. 7 of the Fort Scott Washateria, 501 S. National Avenue.
From Sept. 7 to 14, Lovelace said free washing and drying will be offered at the laundry mat with the signing up for a loyalty card.
“It’s free promotion of the business,” Lovelace said. “You have to provide your own detergent and drying sheets or buy them from us.”
Oakleaf and Lovelace give a tour of the Washateria to Lindsay Madison, Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce Director and Jody Hoenor, Bourbon County Economic Director on Wednesday morning.
The promotional first week of business will be to help customers get used to the highly technical washing and drying machines, Carol Oakleaf said.
Lovelace is the manager, Oakleaf is the owner and they have hired D.J. White as the manager-in-training, and Christina Walker as a part-time employee.
“It will be all hands on deck that week,” Lovelace said.
The hours will be from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. seven days a week. On Sunday mornings no assistant will be available, Oakleaf said.
In addition to the laundry mat, the business is offering a variety of other clothes cleaning services, which will begin at a later date, once the first week is over, she said.
Services such as pick up and delivery of laundry for both residential and commercial, alterations, starch and press, and wash-dry-fold of clothing.
The alteration building, separate from the main facility will also house the starch and press equipment for clothing.Work is not yet completed in the shed.
Community Clothes Closet
The Community Clothes Closet shed is adjacent from the laundry mat, north.
The Community Clothes Closet had an organizational meeting on Aug. 15, with about ten people attending, Oakleaf said.
Lovelace will be the director and Oakleaf the president of the philanthropic group that will sort, stack and distribute donated clothing to those in need.
The inside of the CCC shed is nearing completion.
Another meeting will put into place others needed on the board: secretary, treasurer and five directors, plus members.
“They will plan how to operate and chart the course for the clothes closet,” Lovelace said.
“A lot of people on the Beacon board were at the meeting,” Lovelace said. The Beacon is another helping agency that recently stopped accepting clothes donations.
The closet is “expensive and time-consuming,” Lovelace said. “We already have a set up (to launder and store the clothing). We are going to work with as many service organizations as we can,” to get it up and running.
Lovelace said they are already accepting clothing donations, even though the Community Clothes Closet building is not complete yet.
“We won’t be distributing until at least Oct. 1,” she said. “My sheds need to be finished.”
Contact Lovelace at 620.215.1314 for more information.
The Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT) is announcing a call for projects for the 2021 Transportation Alternatives (TA) Program.
KDOT’s TA Program provides funding for a variety of alternative transportation projects. These include the construction of pedestrian and bicycle facilities and infrastructure for non-driver access to public transportation, projects that enhance safety and mobility for pedestrians, bicyclists and transit riders, projects that improve scenic or environmental assets in the state, Safe Routes to School projects and more.
“We know how important these projects are to quality of life.” said Julie Lorenz, Secretary of Transportation. “We are hearing from Kansans at recent local consult meetings around the state about how much these projects matter to them for improved safety and mobility.”
An estimated $7 million in federal funds are anticipated to be available to award for Federal Fiscal Year 2021. All selected projects will be required to meet a minimum 20 percent local match and cover all non-participating expenses (e.g. right-of-way, utilities, design, etc.).
Important Dates:
Aug. 29 – TA Program materials, which includes the TA Program guide, the project application form and frequently asked questions with answers, are available for download at: http://www.ksdot.org/bureaus/burtransplan/TransAlt.asp
TA Program Workshops – KDOT will host two workshops to inform applicants about program requirements and expectations. Space is limited – please RSVP by 4 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 13, to [email protected] or (785) 296-5186 and indicate which workshop you would like to attend.
o Topeka: Sept. 20 – 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Eisenhower State Office Building, 4th Floor Auditorium, 700 SW Harrison, Topeka, KS 66603.
o Salina: Sept. 27 – 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Kansas Highway Patrol Academy, Classroom 58, 2025 East Iron, Salina, KS 67401.
Nov. 1 – Applications are due and must be postmarked by this date. Please submit one paper copy and one digital copy in PDF format on a USB flash drive, mailed to:
KDOT headquarters/Attn: Jenny Kramer, 700 SW Harrison St. 2nd Floor,
Topeka, KS 66603.
December 2019 – January 2020 – KDOT staff will conduct site visits.
Spring 2020 – Project selections and public announcement of awards.
For more information, please contact Jenny Kramer at [email protected] or call (785) 296-5186.
The Friends of Fort Scott National Historic Site (NHS) are once again hosting an 1800s Grand Ball. It will be held on Saturday, November 9, 2019, in Memorial Hall located in old downtown Fort Scott. The ball is only one part of the celebration for Veterans Day Weekend in Fort Scott. Along with 1800s period dancing and music, the ball will honor all veterans and current military personnel. All funds raised at the Grand Ball will go to support the activities of the Friends of Fort Scott NHS. The Friends provide support to the national historic site in a variety of ways, such as assisting with educational activities and programs for all ages as well as providing refreshments for special events. Tickets will be available at the Fort Scott Chamber starting October 16th.
The tentative schedule for the Veterans Day Weekend activities in Fort Scott are listed below.
Friday, November 8 – The Missourians Gospel Quartet, a special concert honoring veterans at Memorial Hall, 7 pm
Saturday, November 9 –
1800s Period dance lessons, Grand Hall on the grounds of Fort Scott National Historic Site, 10 am – 1 pm, free, street clothes
Parade Honoring Veterans, Downtown Fort Scott, 3 pm
1800s Grand Ball, Memorial Hall, doors open at 6:00 pm, Dancing from 7 – 10:30 pm
Sunday, November 10 – Elvis Impersonator Concert, TBA
Monday, November 11 – National Cemetery Services, 11 am
General information concerning the weekend will be continually updated at the Fort Scott Chamber website at www.fortscott.com.
“We would like to encourage everyone attending the Veterans Day Weekend activities to come and participate in the 1800s Grand Ball, and likewise, we encourage anyone attending the 1800s Grand Ball to take part in the other activities offered during the weekend in Fort Scott,” Dee Young, member of the friends group said.
