Fort Scott, Schools

FSHS Performing Arts: Finalist For Excellence Award

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Congratulations to the Fort Scott High School Performing Arts Program on being named a Finalist for the KSHSAA Performing Arts School of Excellence Award for the 2022-23 school year!

A total of 18 Kansas High Schools will receive recognition by the Kansas State High School Activities Association for outstanding performing arts programs. Schools were selected from a committee formed from the following associations: Kansas Music Educators Association (KMEA), Kansas Speech Communication Association (KSCA), and the Kansas Thespians (Theater).  Schools selected were chosen for scoring exceptionally high in Debate, Speech, Music, and Theater during the 2022-23 school year.
DeSoto High School was selected as the Award winner.  Fort Scott High School was named a finalist along with Lansing, Lawrence-Free State, Pittsburg, Shawnee Mission South, and Sterling.  Schools commended include Emporia, Maize, McPherson, Blue Valley West, Paola, Pretty Prairie, Rock Creek, Bishop Miege, Sylvan-Lucas, Washburn Rural, and Wichita Collegiate.
Special congratulations to our FSHS Performing Arts coaches and sponsors:
Band  –  Justin Robinson
Choir  –  Whitley Chesney
Orchestra  –  Carson Felt
Debate/Forensics  –  Tyler Slinkard
Theater/Drama  –  Angie Bin
Fort Scott High School was named a finalist for this award one previous time, following the 2018-19 school. We were also on the commended list for the 2020-21 school year.
Congratulations again to our sponsors and all of our students involved in these programs!  Outstanding job!

— Submitted by

Jeff DeLaTorre
Athletic/Activities Director
Fort Scott High School
Government, Kansas

Distributing Kansas Grown and Processed Foods to Underserved Communities

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John Root of Root’s River Valley Produce in Silver Lake unloads his produce at Harvesters in Topeka as part of the Local Food Purchase Assistance Program.

Kansas Receives Additional Funding for Local Food Purchase Assistance Program

MANHATTAN, Kansas — Kansas Department of Agriculture officials joined staff from Harvesters – The Community Food Network in Topeka on Wednesday morning to welcome deliveries of fresh produce purchased under the Local Food Purchase Assistance Program.

KDA has been awarded an additional $2,500,000 to further the state’s work under the U.S. Department of Agriculture Agricultural Marketing Service’s Local Food Purchase Assistance (LFPA) Cooperative Agreement Program. The additional funds will be used to purchase and distribute Kansas grown and processed foods to underserved communities and families across Kansas for an additional year.

“We have been proud of the success of the LFPA Program and are pleased to be able to extend it for another growing season,” said Kansas Deputy Secretary of Agriculture Kelsey Olson, who was present at Harvesters during the food deliveries on Wednesday. “Kansas-grown food is reaching communities across the state, which benefits not only those communities but also the farmers and producers.”

The purpose of the LFPA Program is to maintain and improve food and agricultural supply chain resiliency. In July 2022, KDA initially received $2,500,000 and partnered with Harvesters along with the Kansas Food Bank and Second Harvest Community Food Bank to purchase locally grown and processed produce, dairy, meat, and honey and distribute it to those in urban and rural communities facing food insecurity.

“LFPA has been a wonderful opportunity for our food banks to work with the Kansas Department of Agriculture and to partner with local producers around the state,” said Stephen Davis, President & CEO of Harvesters – The Community Food Network. “And our neighbors in need are really grateful for this fresh, nutritious Kansas-grown food to help feed their families.”

So far in 2023, the food banks have purchased local food from over 20 Kansas producers and have distributed nearly 800,000 pounds of Kansas-grown produce throughout the state in the first growing season of the program. According to Brian Walker, President & CEO of the Kansas Food Bank, local food purchased through the LFPA Program has already been distributed to 75 of the 85 counties the Kansas Food Bank serves. “These are mostly rural counties where fresh produce is limited so it’s been great for our communities.”

“We are grateful for the USDA and the Kansas Department of Agriculture for their support of this program that will help improve food security in Kansas on many levels,” said Chad Higdon, CEO of Second Harvest Community Food Bank.

For more information, please visit agriculture.ks.gov/LFPA or contact KDA grants coordinator Brittney Grother at [email protected] or 785-564-6797.

The vision of the Kansas Department of Agriculture is to provide an ideal environment for long-term, sustainable agricultural prosperity and statewide economic growth. To achieve this vision, the agency advocates for sectors at all levels and provides industry outreach.

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Bourbon County, Fort Scott

Transportation Service Is An Option For All Bourbon County Starting August 28

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The Healthy Bourbon County Action Team is located at 104 No. National Avenue.

In recent months, a coalition headquartered in Fort Scott has been working to address transportation needs for all Bourbon County, including rural residents.

A service to meet these needs will start August 28 and is called BB-Go Transportation.

“BB-Go Transportation is an affordable option, $1 donation is suggested, but not required,” Rachel Carpenter,  the lead in the Local Health Equity Team (LHEAT), said. That entity is under the Healthy Bourbon County Action Team umbrella, whose office is at 104 N. National Avenue.

Rachel Carpenter is the lead for the Local Health Equity Action Team. Submitted photo.

“There is no restrictions on riders,” Scott Christiansen, Transportation Director at Southeast Kansas Community Action Program, said. “This is tax payer funded so there are no age or income restrictions.”

“The donations offsets what KDOT reimburses us for the service,” Christiansen said.

BB-GO Transportation will service anyone in Bourbon County on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays during the operation hours of 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

The LHEAT partnered with Southeast Kansas Community Action Program, Inc. to expand their transportation program to Bourbon County.

A photo of a SEK-CAP bus taken from the SEK-CAP website.

To schedule a ride, call 620-724-6350. 

The rides are are a first come, first served basis.

To have the best selection of times, schedule 1 to 7 days  in advance.

Same-day rides given are based on availability.

BB-GO Transportation will be wheelchair accessible.

Drivers will be certified with the Kansas Department of Transportation and will meet all training and safety requirements.

The funding is through federal, state and local funds.

“The Federal Transit Administration and Kansas Department of Transportation 5311 Grant supplies 70% of the operating costs, and 30% comes from local matching funds from the Local Healthy Equity Action Team (LHEAT) grant through Kansas University Medical Center’s Communities Organizing to Promote Equity program,  Peerless Products, Southeast Kansas Mental Health Center, and Community Christian Church,” she said.

Jody Hoener is the Southeast Kansas Regional Community Lead for LHEAT.

“The Healthy Bourbon County Action Team’s  coalition Local Health Equity Action Team  has been developing both upstream and downstream approaches to address the Social Determinants of Health (SDOH) in Bourbon County,” Carpenter said.

This service adds options for those without a car.

“Currently, there is only one option for public transportation in the county that services the City of Fort Scott,” Carpenter said.

The cost of this transportation service can hinder people from social activities, medical appointments, jobs, dining and education, she said.

 

 

Bourbon County

Writers Encouraging Writers: Seminar Oct. 21

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Writers Seminar – Writers Encouraging Writers
Saturday, October 21, 2023 8:45-12:30
HBCAT Offices – 104 N National Fort Scott, KS*

Sponsored by: Wednesday Writers Group** and Hedgehog.INK! Gently Used Books and So Much More…

Fill out the form below and return to Hedgehog.INK! 16 S Main, Fort Scott, KS. 66701. ([email protected]) 620-670-2752.

Checks may be made
payable to Hedgehog.INK! or pay [email protected]/events.
Name: __________________________________ Phone #:___________________
Address: ________________________________ Email: _____________________

High School or College Student: _____ Yes _____ No
(There is no registration fee for students but they do need to fill out a registration form to attend the seminar).

*HBCAT offices are located at 104 N. National, Fort Scott, KS.
north of Brickstreet Barbeque. A parking lot is available
across the street to the east by the splashpad.

**Wednesday Writers meet every Wednesday from 1:30-3:00 at
Hedgehog.INK! bookstore. “Our goal is to provide a community
of support for active and potential writers with knowledge,
support and encouragement.”

Registration Form

Early Bird Registration: $40 / After October 13 – $45 / Students are Free

Multi – Author Fair
A Multi-author book signing event will be held
from 1:30-3:00 at Hedgehog.INK!
Gently Used Books and So
Much More, located at 16
S. Main Fort Scott, KS.

There is no fee
for the Book
Signing event.

Bourbon County, Government

Bourbon County In KS Drought Emergency

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Governor Updates Declaration of Drought Emergency, Warnings and Watches for Kansas Counties

The Governor’s Drought Response Team examines conditions; and recommends updates to the Governor

 

Governor Laura Kelly has approved updated drought declarations for Kansas counties with Executive Order #23-04.

“Kansans have been resilient in the face of drought this past year,” said Governor Kelly. “Even with some regions receiving significant rainfall, I strongly encourage all Kansans to continue to be mindful of ways we can conserve water and minimize fire hazards.”

The drought declaration placed 55 counties into an emergency status, 18 counties in a warning status and 32 into a watch status. This action was recommended by Connie Owen, Director of the Kansas Water Office and Chair of the Governor’s Drought Response Team. While most of western Kansas have seen relief from drought in the last two months, central and southeast Kansas have continued to be dry, with nearly 30 percent of Kansas currently in extreme or exceptional drought.

“We are still seeing the effects of the drought conditions from the past year. With drought conditions persisting throughout parts of the state, we are continuing to see stressed surface and ground water supplies, negative effects on crop production and elevated wildfire risk,” said Owen. “The Governor’s Drought Response Team will continue to monitor the drought conditions across Kansas and make recommendations to Governor Kelly as conditions change.”

Through an interagency agreement between the Kansas Water Office, Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks and Kansas Division of Emergency Management, counties in emergency stage are eligible for emergency use of water from certain state fishing lakes. These counties also become eligible for water in some federal reservoirs.

Individuals and communities need to contact the Kansas Water Office for a water supply request prior to any withdrawals from lakes. These requests will in turn be referred to the appropriate office to obtain necessary permits to withdraw requested water.

 

This Executive Order shall remain in effect for those counties identified until rescinded by Executive Order ending the declaration or revising the drought stage status of the affected counties.

 

Effective immediately, Executive Order #23-04:

 

  • Declares a Drought Emergency, Warning or Watch for the counties as identified below;
  • Authorizes and directs all agencies under the jurisdiction of the Governor to implement the appropriate watch, warning or emergency level drought response actions assigned in the Operations Plan of the Governor’s Drought Response Team.

 

The Governor’s Drought Response Team will continue to watch the situation closely and work to minimize the negative drought-induced effects on Kansans.

For more detailed information about current conditions, visit the Climate and Drought webpage on the Kansas Water Office website at kwo.ks.gov.

County Drought Stage Declarations:

Drought Emergency: Allen, Anderson, Barton, Bourbon, Butler, Chase, Chautauqua, Cloud, Coffey, Cowley, Crawford, Dickinson, Edwards, Elk, Ellis, Ellsworth, Finney, Ford, Gove, Graham, Greenwood, Harvey, Hodgeman, Jewell, Kiowa, Lane, Lincoln, Lyon, Marion, McPherson, Mitchell, Montgomery, Morris, Neosho, Ness, Norton, Osborne, Ottawa, Pawnee, Phillips, Pratt, Reno, Republic, Rice, Rooks, Rush, Russell, Saline, Sedgwick, Smith, Stafford, Sumner, Trego, Wilson, Woodson.

 

Drought Warning: Cherokee, Clay, Decatur, Douglas, Franklin, Geary, Johnson, Kingman, Labette, Linn, Miami, Osage, Pottawatomie, Riley, Shawnee, Sheridan, Wabaunsee, Washington.

 

Drought Watch: Atchison, Barber, Brown, Cheyenne, Clark, Comanche, Doniphan, Grant, Gray, Greeley, Hamilton, Harper, Haskell, Jackson, Jefferson, Kearny, Leavenworth, Logan, Marshall, Meade, Morton, Nemaha, Rawlins, Scott, Seward, Sherman, Stanton, Stevens, Thomas, Wallace, Wichita, Wyandotte.

 

# # #

 

Government

KDOT accepting applications for Innovative Technology Program

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The Kansas Department of Transportation is now accepting applications for the fall 2023 round of the agency’s Innovative Technology Program.

The Innovative Technology Program provides financial assistance to governmental and non-governmental organizations for innovative transportation-related projects that promote safety, improve access or mobility and implement new transportation technology.

“Innovative technology” is broadly defined as any technology that does not currently exist in the local community of the project. This allows local communities to determine what projects to submit based on their specific needs.

All transportation system projects are eligible, including roadway (on and off the state system), rail, aviation, unmanned aerial systems (UAS), bicycle/pedestrian, public transit, software and technology infrastructure. Candidate projects should include investments that provide transportation benefits and are not eligible for other KDOT programs. This round of grant funding has an overall budget of $2 million, with a maximum awarded amount of $1 million per project.

A few past approved program projects include: A pedestrian warning system with radar speed signs in the city of Little River; traffic signal upgrades allowing for vehicle-to-infrastructure communication on Greenwich Road in the city of Wichita; and a performance measurement system for the Mid-America Regional Council, in coordination with Operation Green Light.

A project concept must be submitted and approved by KDOT before an application is provided to the applicant. The deadline to submit project concepts for consideration this program year is Nov. 17 and the application deadline is Nov. 30. A facts sheet is available on the program at https://www.ksdot.gov/Assets/wwwksdotorg/bureaus/divInnovTech/Innovative_Technology_FactSheet.pdf. The project concept submission form is available at https://forms.microsoft.com/g/FThTTFKQ5s. Both documents are also on KDOT’s homepage.

Please contact Matt Stormer, [email protected], with any questions.

Bourbon County, Business

The Healthy Bourbon County Action Team to Award $49,000 in Grants

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Health is economic stability. The Healthy Bourbon County Action Team, Inc. (HBCAT) aims to increase access to wealth building opportunities to Bourbon County residents through our local and regional partnerships at the Action Team’s Center for Economic Growth.

Providing local businesses expertise and guidance, particularly in these very turbulent times, has shown to be a critical resource to
increase the number of business start-ups and number of available quality jobs.

HBCAT will be awarding nine grants totaling $49,000 on August 23 rd in their office at 104 N National Fort Scott, Kansas 66701 at 12 pm. The event will be broadcast live on Facebook and is also open for the public to attend in person and celebrate the grant awardees.

With the support of the Patterson Family Foundation, the HBCAT has awarded a total of $195,000 to low-income, minority owned, women owned or food-based businesses in the past two years. Each grantee is a client of the Pittsburg State Small
Business Development Center (PSU SBDC) at the Action Team’s Center for Economic Growth.

There has been a total of four grant cycles in the past two years.
Please join us in congratulating following businesses:

Restaurant/Food Retail Recipient ($7000):
Brick Street BBQ
Brick Street BBQ, a women-owned start-up has a mission is to bring quality BBQ to Bourbon County.
“Fork tender and delectable” describe the smoked offerings found at Brick Street BBQ. It’s not just the meats that get a new twist, but also the sauces which come in nontraditional tasty flavors. They have a wholesale agreement with E3 Meat Co. to sell E3 Beef Products.

Lotus Express
Lotus Express, a minority-owned business, is a staple Chinese restaurant in Fort Scott. Families can dine in with generous servings and affordable prices, or they can take out and eat it at home watching their favorite movie!

Lotus also has a drive-through for those on-the-go families that need a quick, quality meal. Lotus’ menu has many different options of Chinese entree staples like General Tso, Sweet and
Sour, Chicken Lo Mein, and the local favorite, Meme’s Chicken. All meals are cooked from scratch and made fresh for their customers. Lotus is looking forward to establishing local connections through
farmers/ranchers and other small businesses to support the community.

7 Low-Income, Minority, or Women Owned Startup Businesses Recipients ($5,000 each):
The BEE Better Health Club
BEE Better Health Club, a low-income startup, will provide a variety of fitness classes at their gym located just south of Fort Scott, Kansas. Some of the classes offered are group fitness, personal training, kid sessions, and nutrition training. At this health club, the community members are tight-knit, which will serve as accountability for everyone to strive for a healthier life. This gym will increase access to physical activity in Bourbon County, giving another option for community members to better their
health. There are different memberships offered that will fit the different needs of the clients. BEE Better Health Club will also offer classes for youth. The importance of routine fitness throughout the
summer is important, especially for youth .

Country Kids Daycare
Country Kids childcare, a women-owned establishment, is available to children aged 3 months to 12 years of age. Country Kids encourages positive childhood development by providing opportunities for children to meet new friends, try out new activities and learn through play. Children’s happiness,
security, social and cognitive development are Country Kids Daycare main objectives.

Morning Birds Daycare
Haley Ellis is the owner of Morning Birds Daycare, a woman-owned childcare provider, and has recognized the need for childcare in Bourbon County. She decided to open a KDHE-licensed daycare,
Morning Birds Childcare, LLC, on August 28th, 2022. At Morning Birds Childcare, the children’s health and education are priorities. Haley makes sure that the kids are active and eating healthy foods. The daycare will be accepting DCF in the near future. She makes sure that she has the max capacity for infant care, because of the great need in Bourbon County.

Organized by Karis
Karis Poyner started the business Organized by Karis, a woman- and minority-owned startup business at the beginning of 2023. She realizes the importance of having a clean, quality place
to live. The clients she helps often aren’t able to clean or organize their belongings, or they don’t have the time and energy. She’s providing the services to fulfill that need and reduce
health risks that can come from irregular cleaning.

Refine MedSpa
Kayla Boyd, owner of the woman-owned startup Refine MedSpa, received services at HBCAT’s Center for Economic Growth. With the beauty industry growing quickly, the need for more advanced
medical spas is increasing drastically. The business will be offering these advanced services to Bourbon County and surrounding areas, including Botox®, filler, micro needling, cryotherapy, and vitamin
injections. Laser hair removal, other laser therapies, and additional advanced medical spa services are planned as future offerings. Refine MedSpa’s goal is to increase their patients’ happiness with their complexions and health. Refine MedSpa will have affordable prices for these luxurious services that will attract people from all over.

Hulbert’s Jewelry dba Bartlesmeyer Jewelry
Krysta Hulbert worked with the Center for Economic Growth team to prepare loan documents to open this new woman-owned business. Krysta is the sole owner of the business. After learning the unique skills from John Bartelsmeyer, her husband will become a full-time employee. Hulbert’s Jewelry will
purchase the inventory from Bartelsmeyer as a part of the business acquisition. “We are keeping the name Bartelsmeyer Jewelry for the store,” she said. “We know that the store’s name carries ahistory of honesty and integrity, and we are excited to carry on that legacy.”

Tiny Green and Herbs
Tiny Greens and Herbs, LLC is a new woman-owned microgreens business located in Fort Scott, Kansas.
Tiny Greens and Herbs will provide Bourbon County families and community members with convenient, year-round access to locally grown, nutrient-packed greens and herbs. This startup produces sustainably grown microgreens, which are tiny, immature vegetable and herb plants that are packed with up to 40 times more nutrients than their full-grown counterparts. Sometimes these nutrients are referred to as phytonutrients, phytochemicals or antioxidants. These plant-produced compounds provide health benefits to the body. Along with antioxidants, microgreens are loaded with vitamins, minerals, flavor, and are easy to prepare and fun to eat!

The HBCAT grant program is funded by the Patterson Family Foundation with the intent to increase access to local resources that help provide opportunity for economic stability and reduced poverty, with a broader goal of encouraging upward mobility in employment. Each applicant is required to enroll with
the Small Business Development Center at Pittsburg State University (PSU SBDC.)

Located at the university’s Center for Economic Growth, the applicant will work with a local team to develop a
sustainable business plan with three-year financial projections.
To build more resilient food systems, grants to food retail, restaurant and farmer/rancher have an additional eligibility requirement to build and document wholesale relationships.
Supporting local foods and local food production offers multiple benefits:
• Providing incentives for entrepreneurship and innovation;
• Expanding consumer choice and fresh food access;
• Improving negotiating power to local producers;
• Supporting rural economic revitalization; and
• Protecting the food system against severe shocks through decentralization of production.

According to Smart Growth America, in today’s world, business growth is driven by collaboration among
many types of entities that must interact frequently and work together creatively. Operating within this
new model, the Center for Economic Growth is a multi-partner collaboration of the HBCAT, Fort Scott
Area Chamber of Commerce, PSU Small Business Development Center (PSU SBDC), Southeast
KANSASWORKS and multiple local business owners.
PSU SBDC is available to businesses in southeast Kansas to provide technical assistance for the
development of business plans needed to secure capital and increase the chances of successful
ventures. Southeast KANSASWORKS is the Local Workforce Development Board (LWDB) that serves 17
counties in southeast Kansas, including Bourbon County. Southeast KANSASWORKS contributes to
economic growth and business expansion by ensuring the workforce system is job-driven, matching
employers with skilled individuals.
For more information about services provided at the Center for Economic Growth, please contact Rachel
Carpenter by emailing [email protected]
Find us on social media! On Facebook, Instagram and Twitter #healthybbco
Background of The Healthy Bourbon County Action Team:
The Healthy Bourbon County Action Team is a Blue Cross Blue Shield Pathways to Healthy
Kansas Community. Its mission is to increase access to healthy food and physical activity,
promote commercial tobacco cessation, enhance quality of life and encourage economic
growth. The problems of health inequity and social injustice are complex in nature and
inextricably linked to key economic indicators. A healthy workforce is a prerequisite for
economic success in any industry and in all cities.

Contact information:
Jody Hoener, President and CEO
The Healthy Bourbon County Action Team, Inc
620-215-2892
[email protected]

Rachel Carpenter, Program Coordinator
The Healthy Bourbon County Action Team, Inc
620-215-2562
[email protected]

Mary Hunt, Interim Operations Director
Southeast KANSASWorks
Desk: 620-232-1222
Cell: 620-670-0006
Website: www.sekworks.org

Dacia Clark, Assistant Director, PSU SBDC
[email protected]
785-445-2537

Lindsay Madison, President and CEO
The Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce
[email protected]
(620) 223-3566

Continue reading The Healthy Bourbon County Action Team to Award $49,000 in Grants →

Obituary

Obituary of Edgar Graham

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Edgar Henry Graham, Jr. died Sunday, Aug. 20, 2023, at St. Luke’s Hospital East in Lee’s Summit, Mo., where he was being treated for issues likely related to his years-long battle with NASH cirrhosis.

 

Known as “Ed” or “Eddie” depending on when you got to know him, he was born on Feb. 17, 1955, in Iola, Kan. Ed grew up in Uniontown, Kan., and attended school in the USD 235 district, graduating as high school valedictorian in 1973.

 

Ed married Nancy Sue Russell Graham in 1971 and the two remained married until his death. Their son, Christopher Andrew, died shortly after he was born.

 

Marrying and enduring tragedy at age 16 was not easy for Ed or Nancy, but the pair persevered through many trials and together had three more children between 1980 and 1991: Nicholas Adam (Karen), Douglas Russell (Kristen), and Krisanna Georgia Elaine.

 

Ed and Nancy have nine grandchildren: Leia, Piper and Isabelle from Nick and Karen in Uniontown; and Gabby, Andrew, Ellie, Katherine, Peter and Daniel from Doug and Kristen in Girard, Kan.

 

Ed was preceded in death by his parents, Laura Graham and Edgar Graham, Sr., an infant son, Christopher, and a sister, Ruth Townsley.

 

In addition to his wife and children, he is survived by his sisters, Betty Oharah (Jerry) of Overland Park and Nancy Corrao (Patrick) of Edgefield, South Carolina.

 

Ed took pride in being a provider for his family. He started his professional life following in his father’s footsteps, building many homes throughout the area. Toward the end of his tenure as a full-time contractor, he co-founded Big Sugar Lumber.

 

In the early 1990s, Ed branched out from construction and built a successful insurance agency in Fort Scott. Later, as an American Family Insurance district manager based in Salina, Kan., he coached agents throughout the western half of the state.

 

Ed had a passion for civil service and was often considered a level-headed voice of reason by his colleagues. He served on the Fort Scott City Planning Commission, the USD 235 school board, the Fort Scott Community College Board of Trustees, and the Southeast Kansas Education Service Center (Greenbush) Board of Directors.

 

Rev. Marty Dewitt will conduct funeral services at 10 a.m. Monday, Aug. 28, at the Uniontown Missionary Baptist Church, where Ed grew up attending with his mother.

 

Burial will follow at the Centerville Cemetery, with a message from Bro. Paul Rooks of Grace Baptist Tabernacle, where Ed and Nancy were members.

 

Visitation will be held from 2 to 4 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 27, at Cheney Witt Funeral Chapel.

 

In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to Care to Share, which has provided invaluable support to Ed’s grandson Peter throughout his ongoing leukemia treatment and may be left in care of the Cheney Witt Chapel, PO Box 347, 201 S. Main St., Fort Scott, KS 66701. Words of remembrance may be submitted to the online guestbook at cheneywitt.com.

Obituary

Obituary of Garold Billionis

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Garold (Gary) Billionis, 77, passed away unexpectedly on August 17, 2023.  Gary was born in Pittsburg, Kansas on June 25, 1946.

 

Gary graduated from Pittsburg High School in 1964 and served proudly in the United States Air Force from 1968 to 1972.  Gary attended Pittsburg State University, graduating with a bachelor’s degree in education in 1973 and a master’s degree in 1977.

 

Gary Billionis was a lifelong educator and coach.  He taught in Coffeyville, Altamont, and Parsons, before moving to Fort Scott to teach middle school physical education.  Gary coached many sports, including high school football and track.  Gary was the Director of Student Activities and Intramurals for ten years.

 

During his 30-year career, Gary served on many committees relating to middle school education and athletics. In 1994, Gary was named a Kansas Master Teacher by Emporia State University. He also served as the Chairman of the National Intramural Sports Council, Director of Program Development for the National Middle School Activities Association, and received the Champion for Children Award, the Dale E. Hammons Outstanding Teacher Award, and the Kansas Association of Middle Level Education Oasis Award, along with several other honors.

Gary was a member of Community Christian Church.

 

Following his retirement from education, Gary was elected to the Fort Scott City Commission in 2003 and served as the mayor of Fort Scott from 2004 to 2007.  He was first elected to the USD 234 Board of Education in 2013 and served in that capacity until the time of his death.

 

Gary is survived by his wife of 40 years, Connie.  He is also survived by two sons, Matthew Simpson and wife Spring, Nicholas Billionis, and daughter-in-law, Michelle Billionis.  In addition, Gary is survived by two brothers, Mike Billionis and wife Vicki, and Rick Billionis and wife Val.  Gary leaves behind his beloved grandchildren, Marin, Grace, and Amelia Billionis, and Tarin and Kinley Simpson.  He was preceded in death by his beloved son, Thomas; parents, Robert and Waynith Billionis and by Connie’s parents, Wayne and Bonnie Meek.

 

Funeral services are planned for Saturday, August 26, at 10:00 a.m. at Community Christian Church, 1919 Horton, in Fort Scott under the direction of the Konantz-Cheney Funeral Home.

Burial will be in Evergreen Cemetery in Fort Scott, Kansas, immediately following the funeral service.

Condolences may be submitted to the online guestbook at konantz-cheney.com.

 

Obituary

Obituary of Richard Peoples Jr.

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Richard Wayne “Ricky” Peoples, Jr., age 36, a resident of Ft. Scott, Kanss, passed away Monday, August 21, 2023, at his home.  He was born March 24, 1987, in Ft. Scott, the son of Richard Wayne Peoples Sr. and Cynthia Jean Page Peoples.  Ricky graduated from the Ft. Scott High School.  Throughout his life, Ricky worked at a variety of odd jobs including lawn care.  He enjoyed going to stockcar races and tractor pulls.  Many memories were made traveling throughout the country with his family.

 

Ricky will be lovingly remembered by his many family members and friends.  He was preceded in death by his mother.

 

Following cremation, a private burial will take place at a later date in the Evergreen Cemetery.

Arrangements are under the direction of the Cheney Witt Chapel, 201 S. Main, Ft. Scott, Kansas.  Words of remembrance may be submitted to the online guestbook at cheneywitt.com.

Bourbon County Local News