Despite the cold and wet start Saturday morning, Fort Scott businesses and organizations still provided festivities for families in honor of the Easter holiday.
The Buck Run Community Center again provided their annual Easter Eggstravaganza, giving children an opportunity to color eggs, make crafts, try Easter snacks and participate in other activities.
In just the first hour Saturday morning, about 30 children participated. Director Tom Robertson said each annual event, which includes similar festivities for other holidays such as Christmas, Halloween and Valentine’s Day, brings about 40 children.
This year, the community center partnered with Walgreens, who provided free photo shoots with the Easter bunny at their location once the events at Buck Run were complete. Walgreens employees said usually between 50 and 75 people participate in such photo opportunities.
Though the weather was a concern, families still turned out in their Easter outfits to have their photographs taken with the Easter bunny.
During this Easter week, the First Presbyterian Church hosted the weekly Chamber Coffee, informing attendees of their special services in honor of the Holy Week as well as other community events they participate in.
Pastor Jared Witt, who has been at the church for about four years, said the church added two services in honor of Easter, including one held Thursday in honor of Maundy Thursday, or the last Lord’s Supper, as well as a Good Friday service. A spirituality center is also available for anyone who would like to stop by at any point over the weekend.
Throughout the year, Witt also explained that they take three weekends away from the normal church services and instead enter the community to do different service projects such as cleaning or construction work for the city, local organizations or elderly residents, with skilled workers of the church helping organize and lead the projects.
“It’s one thing to sing a hymn near someone,” Witt said. “But a totally different thing to paint together for four or five hours.”
The next project day will be held May 22. While Witt said they likely have enough projects for that day, they will accept ideas for service projects for future work days.
Witt said their elder-run church has seven staff members as well as a number of deacons, who lead the church’s compassion ministry, and elders, who help lead the church body. Currently, they are looking for someone who might be interested in taking on the position of youth minister.
Other announcements during the Chamber Coffee included:
This week, a New York archivist is in town to help the Gordon Parks Museum get new prints of the Parks photos on display, which should soon be ready for exhibition once again.
The Chamber of Commerce will hold their annual banquet March 31. The event is still accepting items to be sold in the live auction during the event.
Musical artist Branford Marsalis will provide a concert at the Fort Scott Community College Thursday, April 7. Tickets at $30 apiece or $20 for students remain available.
My Father’s House is in the process of considering expansions for their services such as by adding an emergency shelter and a thrift store as well as a vehicle. Members of the community who might have buildings they could donate or sell at a reasonable price are requested to contact My Father’s House.
Work continues to be done on the Riverfront Project as local and out of town groups have participated in the project by picking up debris such as rocks and sticks. Groups are welcome to volunteer their services. The project is also currently waiting to hear if their applications for a lookout tower and shelter are accepted.
The Sleep Inn & Suites hotel of Fort Scott was recently announced as a recipient of a prestigious 2016 Platinum Hospitality Award from one of the world’s largest hotel companies, Choice Hotels International, Inc., franchisor of the Sleep Inn brand.
“The Sleep Inn – Fort Scott’s commitment to excellence and outstanding guest service has earned it this well-deserved recognition as one of the best hotels among the Sleep Inn brand,” said Steve Joyce, president and chief executive officer for Choice Hotels International. “We here at Choice Hotels are very proud to award this distinguished honor to the Sleep Inn – Fort Scott.”
Platinum Award status represents a tremendous accomplishment for a hotel and its entire staff. Each year, only the top three percent of the hotels in the Sleep Inn brand are eligible to receive this elite distinction. As a top performing property among the company’s more than 5,200 United States franchised hotels, the Sleep Inn – Fort Scott is among the top performers within their brand.
As one of the company’s top franchised hotels operating under the Sleep Inn flag, the hotel has demonstrated an exceptional focus on guest satisfaction and dedication to providing superior service. Additional award criteria are evaluated by Choice Hotels through its official property ranking reports. Sleep Inn – Fort Scott is a national leader within the brand as it has held a Top 5 ranking since it gained eligibility in October of 2015 and is currently ranked as the #1 Sleep Inn property in the US.
For more information or to make your reservation today, visit www.choicehotels.com.
Fort Scott Community College will host its 40th annual Aggie Day on Friday, April 1. Approximately 1,400 students representing more than 80 schools will compete in the contest, which is facilitated by FSCC’s Agriculture Department. The department offers a variety of programs for students, including agriculture, farm and ranch management and John Deere Tech, as well as activities such as livestock judging, meat judging, collegiate farm bureau and rodeo.
“Our agriculture instructors and students always look forward to Aggie Day, and we’re especially thrilled because this year marks the 40th anniversary of the event,” said FSCC Agriculture Instructor Ryan Edgecomb. “We are excited to showcase students involved in FFA and 4-H programs across the Four States.”
Students will compete in a variety of areas, including agronomy, entomology, farm management, floriculture, food science, livestock, meat evaluation, milk quality and products, nursery/landscape, poultry and speech. Trophies will be awarded to the top three teams in each contest. Plaques will be awarded to the top three individuals in each contest, and medals will be presented to those earning fourth and fifth place.
Sponsored by Purina Animal Nutrition, Honor Show Chow and Winfield, this event is the longest running interscholastic competition in the region.
“It is an honor to have Purina, a company with such great values and reputation, as our sponsor,” said Edgecomb. “We thank them for their support of agriculture and the youths of southeast Kansas.”
Teams should pre-register online at fortscott.edu/aggieday before Friday, March 25. Registration for the event will begin at 7:00 a.m. on Friday, April 1, at the Arnold Arena on the FSCC campus in Fort Scott, Kan.
For more information, please call Ryan Edgecomb, FSCC Agriculture Instructor, at (620) 223-2700 ext. 3280.
After announcing his resignation earlier this month, Fort Scott city commissioner Lucas Cosens was recognized Tuesday night during his final meeting before his family moves away to Cleveland so he can continue medical school.
Mayor Cindy Bartelsmeyer presented a plaque and key to the city to Cosens, thanking him for his service to the community during his almost three years as a commissioner.
“We have appreciated you so much,” Bartelsmeyer said. “You’ve been an asset to the commission. We’re going to miss you.”
City Manager Dave Martin praised Cosens, saying he was always willing to ask hard questions and hear both sides of an issue.
“I appreciate the time working here for the city,” Cosens said. “And it will be an experience not easily forgotten.”
The city leaders wished Cosens well as he continues his medical education at Kent State University with the goal of moving from practicing as a chiropractor to more traditional medicine.
“It’s been an honor and privilege to serve in this wonderful town,” Cosens said.
Dr. Randy Nichols has been approached and considered to fill in the open position left by Cosens.
Other Topics:
The commission approved a low bid of less than $4,800 to replace three sets of fire fighter bunker gear to continue rotating through worn gear. The replaced gear will be used as back-up equipment.
The commission approved water treatment plan supervisor Michael Mix’s request to go to bid for a new sludge tank as well as improvements to be made at the plant to correct the process of transporting dirt from the water to the wastewater plant, since that dirt can no longer be put back into the Marmaton River.
Fire Chief Paul Ballou gave an update on Lake Fort Scott’s need for a tornado siren in that area. The lake community raised more than $5,000 through a memorial fund in honor of John Scott, who died in 2015, to help fund the project while the Bourbon County Commission decided Tuesday morning to also provide $5,000. The city will support the project as well, which will cost the entities a total of between $16,000 and $18,000. New Wave Broadband has offered to let the siren be located near their new tower at the lake, which would also provide the needed energy.
The city of Fort Scott has begun looking into the option of selling Second Street Park, citing reasons such as the number of parks already owned by the city, the small number of people who use the park, the number of times the police department is called to that area as well as the fact that the area floods. Martin clearly stated they are moving forward slowly and are looking for feedback from the community on the idea.
The commission approved increasing their annual donation to the Bourbon County Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) from $2,000 in 2015 to $2,500 this year.
Despite a cool start to the day, the weather warmed nicely for families and volunteers participating in the Fort Scott Kiwanis annual Easter egg hunt held at Gunn Park Saturday morning.
“I thought it was a decent turnout,” Phil Gorman, Kiwanis club treasurer, said of the event that has been held for decades.
About 200 children, divided into three age groups, hunted for about 2,000 eggs that had been placed earlier that morning. While some eggs had candy in it, some held coupons to businesses around town such as Fort Cinema and local restaurants while others signaled that they had won a different prize. Quinten Irsik, 4, was awarded the grand prize for finding a specific egg.
Gorman said they would not have been able to put on the event without those business that donated coupons as well as funds that were used to purchase the eggs, candy and prizes.
Those donors included individuals and entire businesses representing Farmers Insurance Group, Iron Star Antiques, Farm Bureau Insurance, Rogers Body Shop, Heidricks True Value, Don’s Spirits, R & R Equipment, Big Sugar Lumber, Fort Scott Lumber, Dairy Queen, Diehl Banwart Bolton CPAs, Flowers by LeAnna, Marsha’s Deli, McDonalds, Edward Jones, Liberty Theater and Country Cupboard.
The Fort Scott Police Department also participated in the event Saturday and the Easter Bunny was also present for photo opportunities.
During the weekly Chamber Coffee Thursday, Tri-Valley Developmental Services provided an update on the services they provide to Bourbon and neighboring counties as well as upcoming events and fundraisers they are holding this spring.
The non-profit organization began in 1975 with families interested in providing services to those with disabilities that hinder them from participating in the community, when their only option was to stay with family members or go to the state hospital.
Since that beginning, Tri-Valley has served Bourbon, Neosho, Woodson and Allen counties by providing services to those individuals through transportation, day services, residential care, employment services, horticultural therapy and case management.
Executive Director Tim Cunningham said they currently serve more than 200 people across the four counties.
“We’re involved in every aspect, 24/7, of the people we serve’s lives,” Cunningham said.
Cunningham said their organization has faced financial difficulties because of the economy, which led to cuts in their budget and number of employees. But they continue to provide services with help from fundraisers such as their upcoming, 3rd annual Cruise Night Event, April 12, with will include dinner and prizes as well as live and silent auctions for $45 a ticket. Their goal is to raise $25,000 that evening.
Tri-Valley is also selling $50 raffle tickets for a drawing on June 24th, when they will be giving away a 2016 Ford F-150 Platinum. The funds from each of the fundraisers will go towards sponsoring homes Tri-Valley provides.
“We definitely appreciate everything that you guys do in the community,” coffee hostess Gina Shelton said.
Other announcements included:
The Knights of Columbus will be hosting their final fish fry of the Lent season Friday evening, from 5 to 7 p.m., at the Kennedy Gym.
The Pioneer Kiwanis will host an Easter egg hunt at Gunn Park Saturday, with the hunt starting at 11 a.m.
On Good Friday, the Life Point Assembly of God church will host a service in partnership with other area churches, while an Easter sunrise service will be held at the downtown gazebo.
The 2nd Story Festival of Arts and Ideas will be held in Fort Scott, April 8-9, with numerous hands-on activities available as well as guest speakers.
The Lowell Milken Center for Unsung Heroes continues to sell bricks for $100 each for a fundraiser for the Unsung Heroes Park located next door to the new building. The names of sponsors will be engraved on those bricks which will be placed in the park.
During a surprise statement Tuesday, Fort Scott graduate and resident Adam LaRoche announced his intentions to retire from Major League Baseball after 12 seasons of playing.
Photo Credit: ESPN
The first baseman and designated hitter signed a two-year contract with the Chicago White Sox during the 2014 off-season, but told his coaches and fellow players Tuesday, with just over two weeks before the 2016 season starts, that he intends to retire from the game, citing personal reasons. By voiding the contract, he would walk away from the contract’s remaining $13 million promised him for the 2016 season.
He did agree to give it one more day before confirming the decision, though players and coaches were quoted in other articles as saying he seemed confident in his decision. In a post on Twitter, LaRoche, 36, said, “Thank u Lord for the game of baseball and for giving me way more than I ever deserved! #FamilyFirst.”
“We’ve always known this was a high-character guy,” White Sox general manager Rick Hahn was quoted as saying in an MLB article published Tuesday. “And if this is the end, then this is a guy who had a very solid, extensive big-league career and, in the end, was playing this game for the right reasons and not strictly the economic ones.”
A follow-up MLB article published Wednesday stated LaRoche signed retirement papers, though the club had not yet sent them to the league office, granting him a little more time to decide. That article said LaRoche decided to retire when the club requested that his son Drake, 14, not spend as much time with him and the team as he had in past years.
Drake had become known as the 26th man on the team, having his own locker at the ball field and being a constant presence with the team during practices and games. The White Sox executive vice president Ken Williams, who made the request, said the club did not wish to set such a precedent, though adding the team was fond of the teenager.
Other MLB players such as Bryce Harper of the Washington Nationals expressed support for his family-focused decision on Twitter.
LaRoche has a career batting average of .260 with a total of 255 home runs over 12 seasons with teams such as the Atlanta Braves, Pittsburgh Pirates, Arizona Diamondbacks, Washington Nationals and the Chicago White Sox. His average statistics dipped during the 2015 season when he batted just .207 with 12 home runs, both his lowest in the majors other than an abbreviated 2011 season that ended when he had shoulder surgery.
LaRoche played in just two spring training games this month as back spasms during the first week of March forced him to rest.
LaRoche and his wife Jennifer and children Montana and Drake are Bourbon County residents at the E3 Ranch and active members of the community, such as by investing in the LaRoche Baseball Complex. LaRoche is also a co-owner of the hunting show “Buck Commander” along with other athletes and celebrities.
With the busiest of the tornado and storm season ahead, Bourbon County commissioners and attorney Justin Meeks discussed the need for tornado sirens in areas of the county during their meeting Tuesday.
Emergency Director Will Wallis informed the commission that the city of Fort Scott has nine sirens while other areas such as Bronson has two, Uniontown has two, and others such as Fulton and Mapleton have one in their areas. Other areas such as Redfield, Hiattville and likely Garland do not have sirens, as well as Lake Fort Scott.
“We live in a very volatile area when it comes to storms,” Meeks said.
After the death of John Scott in May of 2015, a memorial fund was set up in his honor to raise funding to purchase a tornado siren for the Lake Fort Scott area. About two-thirds of the needed $17,000 has been raised, and residents of the area asked if the county could provide the remaining approximate $5,000.
Because Lake Fort Scott and other areas such as Hiattville and Garland are unincorporated, they are unable to seek grants to pay for the sirens, such as other areas like Bronson, who recently paid for sirens with grants.
Commission Chairman Barbara Albright said the county has an opportunity to assist a community that has a safety issue, but Meeks pointed out that, by doing so, the county would be setting a precedent they would need to follow consistently in future years when requests come in.
Meeks said they could create a budget line item annually that could be used to help other communities in a similar way in future years, focusing on safety issues such as sirens as opposed to other projects that fit in the current, parks and recreation item.
“I have some mixed feelings about that,” commissioner Harold Coleman said, saying he does not like the idea that the rest of the county is helping pay for a tornado siren for one area.
With such a tight budget already, the commissioners decided not to commit to an action at the moment that would require a budget item of about $5,000 each year.
“Once you start down that road you have to be consistent,” Meeks said.
The first stage of a project begun months ago now nears its completion as the quiet zone construction project in Fort Scott wraps up at the intersection of Wall Street with the railroad tracks.
Fort Scott City Manager Dave Martin said Wednesday that the city had submitted a letter stating the project was complete to Burlington Northern Railway and was nearing the end of the waiting period for approval. If that approval is granted, trains could stop blowing their whistles within a quarter mile to the north and south of that intersection at almost any time.
Martin said businesses located on that side of town have looked forward to this quiet zone for some time. In the future, such zones could also be installed at other major intersections.
“A long time coming,” Martin described the project, saying it had been in the city’s plans for years.
The project included putting in curbing and sidewalks at the intersection and adding a median. The road located at the northwest corner of the intersection was also paved while another road was relocated.
Trains may still blow their whistle if they stop to take on or let off workers.
Martin also said with the warmer weather, work on the National Avenue project has picked up as more equipment is regularly seen in the area where the road is closed for construction.
“That project, everybody forgot, was scheduled to be a year-long project because they are replacing everything,” Martin said, installing large pipes and also improving curbing and drainage.
Martin said the crews have run into a lot of rock but they still plan to be completely done by August.
A number of families came to Fort Scott Saturday and Sunday for a round of the Southeast Kansas Little Britches Rodeo, with 85 young contestants vying for points to help them move closer to the national finals in Oklahoma later this year.
Both local and out of state participants between the ages of 5 and 18 years of age competed in three age groups—little wranglers and junior and senior boys and girls—in a total of 27 events such as bull riding, bronco riding, barrel racing, flag racing, team roping, goat tying and others.
Though overcast with some showers, the weather stayed clear enough for the event to be held outside at the Bourbon County Fairgrounds both days.
The mission statement of the SEKLBR states its intent is to “provide a safe, fair and rewarding rodeo opportunity for the youth in the SE Kansas region.”
Sheriff William K. Martin of the Bourbon County Sheriff’s Office completed participation in the 109th session of the national Sheriffs’ Institute (NSI) held in Aurora, Col., Feb. 22-26. The NSI is the only national executive development program designed for sheriffs. This no-cost program is co-sponsored by the National Institute of Corrections (NIC) and the National Sheriffs’ Association (NSA).
Submitted Photo
Sheriff Martin joined 20 other sheriffs from across the country for training on contemporary challenges facing America’s sheriffs today. In light of those challenges, the sheriffs explored the role of the local sheriff in providing effective leadership for the public good in such areas as public safety, criminal justice system policy, community relations and organization effectiveness and efficiency.
Hilary Burgess, NSA Manager of Training, said, “Sheriff Martin is a leader with vision for the Bourbon County Sheriff’s Office. It is an honor to have Sheriff Martin join the more than 2,700 graduates of the NSI since 1973.”
The NIC is a division of the U.S. Department of Justice, Bureau of Prisons. It is the primary federal source of technical assistance, training and information services for state and local corrections. NIC provides a wide variety of services to the nation’s jails, most of which are the responsibility of sheriffs.
The NSA is a non-profit professional association located in Alexandria, Va. NSA represents the nearly 3,100 elected sheriffs across the nation and has more than 20,000 members, including law enforcement professionals, state and federal government employees, concerned citizens, students and others. Since 1940, NSA has served as an information clearinghouse for law enforcement professionals. NSA also provides management training for sheriffs and their personnel in court security, crime victim services, domestic violence, homeland security initiatives, jail operations and traffic safety. Additionally, NSA administers the highly successful National Neighborhood Watch and Triad programs.
