Area News, Entertainment

Winter Hours For Fort Scott National Historic Site

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The leaves are changing for fall and winter, so are the hours of operation at Fort Scott National Historic Site.
Beginning Thursday, November 1, the park visitor center, park store, and historic structures will be open daily from 8:30 am–4:30 pm through March 31, 2019.
The buildings are closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Day. The park grounds, walkways, and parking lot are open from ½ hour before sunrise until ½ hour after sunset daily.

Fort Scott National Historic Site is a fee-free park that offers a glimpse into the growth of our nation through a short film, interactive audio-visual programs, displays, the museum, and historic objects.

A walk through the fort reveals the significant role it played in the opening of the West, as well as, the Civil War and the strife in the State of Kansas that preceded it.
Park Rangers are on hand and happy to help you learn more about the area and plan your visit. For more information about Fort Scott National Historic Site programs, the candlelight tour, or other activities, please call the park at 620-223-0310, or visit our website at www.nps.gov/fosc.
Entertainment, Fort Scott

Fort Candlelight Tour Tickets On Sale Nov. 1

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Photo Credit: Doug Stremel

Fort Scott National Historic Site Announces Its 37th Annual Candlelight Tour

Featuring Audience Participation

Fort Scott KS – On December 7 and 8, 2018, Fort Scott National Historic Site (FOSC) will present its 37th Annual Candlelight Tour. Tours on December 7 will begin at 6:30 p.m. and leave every 15 minutes until 9:00 p.m.

On Saturday, December 8, the tours will start at 5:00 p.m. with the final tour leaving at 8:45 p.m.
Please arrive 10 minutes early to allow time to park, present/pick up your ticket, and get oriented.
Tickets go on sale Thursday, November 1st and are available by calling the Fort at 620-223-0310 (with a major credit card) or by stopping by the Visitor Center on Old Fort Blvd. They are $8.00 per person and non-refundable, children 5 and under are free.
It is recommended that you get your tickets early for your choice of tour times as this event frequently sells out.

Participants are advised to please dress for the weather and the terrain, as they will be outside and on sidewalks.

1,000 candle lanterns illuminate the site and 100 reenactors (plus yourself) bring the fort to life.

“This year’s tour will include audience participation. It will feature five stops around the site beginning with the fort’s construction in 1842 and ending with the auction of 1855, where the fort’s buildings were sold to the public two years after the U.S. Army abandoned Fort Scott,” shared Betty Boyko, Superintendent, FOSC. “We encourage everyone to dress up (in modern or period clothes) and step back in time,” continued Boyko.

During the tour, you have the opportunity to become a skilled contractor, hired to help build the fort; join in a dance; learn period etiquette and the language of the fan, and enlist in the U.S. Army stationed at the Fort.  You will also have an opportunity to bid on the buildings as the fort is sold at auction.

Fort Scott was an active military post from 1842-1853, which was a time of rapid growth and change in the country.  As Fort Scott was being built, the nation grew west, expanding all the way to the Pacific Ocean. With this growth, Fort Scott changed, the mission of its soldiers changed, the experience of its residents changed, the environment changed, and the nation changed. Soldiers and civilians at Fort Scott lived their lives to the fullest despite the constant change.

Entertainment, Fort Scott, Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce

Forks and Corks This Saturday, Nov. 3

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The 15h Annual Forks and Corks tasting event is this Saturday, Nov. 3 from 6:30 to 9 p.m. at Memorial Hall, 1 E. Third.
The cost is $25 person, $30 at the door.
A dozen Food vendors providing more than you can eat.
Huge selection of Wines, from dry reds to dry whites to red, white, or pink sweet style wines!
A great selection of Beers!
A fun selection of Liquor and Liqueurs!
Large selection of auction items and tons of FUN stuff going on.
Save $5/per person..Advance tickets at Chamber or from a Chamber Board member.

Forks & Corks Tasting Event

Mercy Hospital

Coping with the Holidays

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Mercy Hospice and Cheney-Witt Memorial Chapel partner to offer guidance

The holiday season can be especially difficult with the absence of a loved one. Mercy Hospice and Cheney-Witt Memorial Chapel are co-sponsoring a “Coping with the Holidays” program on Thursday, November 15 from 2-3:30 p.m. at the Cheney-Witt Carriage House at 301 S Main Street in Fort Scott.

 

The educational program is open to the public and will offer guidance for those who have experienced a loss and offers tips on how to make it through the holidays without a loved one. Caregivers and family members are welcome.

 

Facilitators for the program are Melissa George, Mercy Hospice chaplain, and LaShawn Noel, Mercy Hospice social worker & volunteer coordinator.

 

Refreshments will be provided by Cheney-Witt. Registration is not required.

For more information, contact Mercy Hospice at 620-223-8533.

 

Bourbon County, Government

The Bourbon County Commission Agenda for Oct. 30

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Agenda

Bourbon County Commission Room

1st Floor, County Courthouse

210 S. National Avenue

Fort Scott, KS 66701

Tuesdays starting at 9:00

Date: October 30th, 2018

1st District-Lynne Oharah Minutes: Approved: _______________

2nd District-Jeff Fischer Corrected: _______________

3rd District-Nick Ruhl Adjourned at: _______________

County Clerk-Kendell Mason

9:00-9:10-Justin Meeks-Executive Session-Personnel matters of non-elected personnel

9:10-9:55-Jim Harris

10:00-Patty Love-Executive Session

11:00-12:00-Justin Meeks

11:00-11:30-Executive Session-Privileged in the attorney-client relationship

11:30-12:00-Tables for Taste of Fort Scott

Tax Sale

Excess property from moves

Property Evaluations

12:00-1:30-Commissioners gone to lunch

1:30-1:45-Future of Bourbon County Health Care Update/Ambulance Update

1:45-2:15-NRP

2:15-2:25-Executive Session-Confidential data relating to financial affairs or trade secrets of a individual proprietorship

2:30-3:00-Business Accelerator

Justifications for Executive Session:

          Personnel matters of individual non-elected personnel

          Consultation with an attorney for the body or agency which would be deemed privileged in the attorney-client relationship

          Matters relating to employer-employee negotiations whether or not in consultation with the representative(s) of the body or agency

          Confidential data relating to financial affairs or trade secrets of corporations, partnerships, trusts and individual proprietorships

          Preliminary discussions relating to the acquisition of real property

          Matters relating to the security of a public body or agency, public building or facility or the information system of a public body or agency, if the discussion of such matters at an open meeting would jeopardize the security of such public body, agency, building, facility or information system

Obituary

Obituary of Joyce Ziegler

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Joyce Marie Ziegler, age 72, resident of Ft. Scott, KS, died Saturday, October 27, 2018, at the Olathe Medical Center, Olathe, KS.

She was born March 10, 1946, in Ft. Scott, the daughter of Joseph Marvin Taylor and Geneva Frances Hall Taylor. She graduated from Ft. Scott High School with the class of 1964.

She married William “Bill” Ziegler on August 12, 1967, in Ft. Scott. She worked for Western Insurance and later American States Insurance in Ft. Scott for many years. She then worked for Walmart briefly before working at Peerless Products her last 15 years before retirement.

Joyce enjoyed playing pool, gardening, reading novels, and baking cookies in bulk. She loved spending time with her grandkids and her cats.

Survivors include her husband Bill of the home; two children, Lisa Marie Ziegler, and Dennis Ziegler and wife Lisa, all of Ft. Scott; four grandchildren, Nakesha Young, Keagen Young, Tristen Ziegler, and Peyton Ziegler; two great-grandchildren, Kynden Miller and Kaesyn Johnson; two sisters, Leanna Taylor, Ft. Scott, and Nancy Holt and husband Kenny, Uniontown, KS; two brothers, Marvin Taylor and wife Dorothy, Ft. Scott, and Kenny Blake and wife Roann, Ft. Scott; and several nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by a brother, Richard Taylor; and her parents.

Funeral services will be held at 10:00 Thursday, November 1st, at the Cheney Witt Chapel. Burial will follow in the Marmaton Cemetery.

The family will receive friends from 5:00 until 7:00 Wednesday evening at the Cheney Witt Chapel. Memorials are suggested to Lee’s Paws and Claws and may be left in care of the Cheney Witt Chapel, P.O. Box 347, 201 S. Main, Ft. Scott, KS 66701. Words of remembrance may be submitted to the online guestbook at cheneywitt.com.

Area News

Step Back In Time To Cato

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Courtesy Cato Historical Preservation Society
Tours of Cato, the first town in Crawford County are hardly new.
Susie Stelle started helping John Spurling organize Cato Fall Tours in 1985.
Stelle is president of the Cato Historic Preservation Association.

With Spurling, she started giving informal tours of the town, located northwest of Arcadia for several years prior.

Organizers of the upcoming Cato tour this Saturday, Nov. 3, plan to take visitors back to the mid-1800s through music, history, and re-enactments.
Activities on Saturday will begin at 9 a.m. and continue through the day.
Ralph Carlson, a member of  a music group called “Old Fuss and Feathers”, will perform in the church at 9:30 a.m.
There will also be presentations in the restored 1869 rock school by Anna Portwood Swank and her sister, Elizabeth Portwood Thompson, and husband Jaime Thompson.
Souvenirs and homemade baked goods will be available at the Cato Store, headed up by Stelle.
Proceeds from the tour will benefit the continued restoration and preservation of the Cato School and Cato Christian Church and this year’s newly constructed cabin, donated by the Coonrod family.
 At noon, there will be ham and beans cooked by Bob “Buck” Rowland of Arma. The meal also includes cornbread.
There will be an open fire for those who choose to bring their own hot dogs.
Drinks will be provided, all for a nominal fee.
At 12:30 p.m. a quilt raffle will take place. The quilt was donated by Sue James of Galveston, TX.
Sue’s husband, Dale, attended all eight grades of the one-room Cato school.
At  1 p.m. hayrides are offered by Joe Bournonville to visit area cemeteries and other sites related to Cato’s history.

 

On Friday, Nov. 2,  approximately 600 youngsters will have a field day, organized by Katharine Spigarell.
 School children from Uniontown, Fort Scott, Girard, Arma, Frontenac, Pittsburg and new this year, Liberal, Mo. will come to Cato.
A tour guide will direct groups of kids to various stations to observe living history exhibits such as blacksmithing, wagons and farming, schoolhouse games, area history, civil war weaponry, and Native American culture.
The Cato HPA has a Facebook page and website located at www.catoschool.com.
Directions to Cato, KS: On 69 Hwy., turn west on 720 Avenue, one mile north of the Arcadia turn-off (one mile south of the Bourbon County line. Go west one mile, then turn north for one-half mile, then left one mile to Cato.
Contact a CHPA board member for more information
email Marilyn Flagg: [email protected]
Board members include:
Susie Stelle, Mary Portwood, Richard Coonrod, Lily Coonrod, Jerry Coonrod, Ralph Carlson, Joe Bournonville, Anna Portwood Swank, Katharine Spigarell, Marilyn Coonrod Flagg, Elizabeth Portwood Thompson, Floyd Feezel, Donna Hashagen, Bob George, Jamie Thompson, Buck Rowland.

 
Obituary

Obituary of Beverly Fae George

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Beverly Fae George, age 82, a resident of Ft. Scott, Kansas, passed away Sunday, October 28, 2018, at her home.
She was born January 22, 1936, in Ft. Scott, the daughter of Harvey Henry Loy and Goldie Agnes Turner Loy.
Beverly graduated from the Ft. Scott High School with the Class of 1953.  She married Delbert Lee George on August 1, 1953, at El Paso, Texas.
In earlier years, Beverly worked as a bookkeeper for Litwin’s and then Hinkley Beverage.  She later worked in customer service for Ennis Business forms where she retired in 2001.  In addition to working at Ennis, Beverly also served as bookkeeper for Country Cupboard for over thirty years.
She enjoyed reading and doing crossword puzzles.  She enjoyed spending time with her family especially when celebrating the Fourth of July.  She had been a member of the First Christian Church Disciples of Christ since the age of three.  She faithfully served her church as Deaconess, Sunday School Teacher, Board Secretary, Treasurer and Historian.
 
Survivors include her three children, Cynthia Crown and husband, Darrell, of Parsons, Kansas, Anthony George of Ft. Scott and Ellaine Ericson and husband, John, also of Ft. Scott; seven grandchildren, Joshua Crown, Kevin Crown and wife, Lyndsey, Zachary George and wife, Allie, Derek George, Bethany O’Brien and husband, Aaron, David Ericson and Jonah Ericson and two great-grandchildren, Samantha George and Quaid O’Brien with one more great-grandson, Hoyt George on the way.  Also surviving are special in-laws, Ken Fortney, Herbert Miller, Shirlee Mayfield, Cleta Mayfield, Jay & Mauritta Mayfield and Mary and Jim Cullor as well as numerous nieces and nephews.
Her husband, Delbert, preceded her in death on May 5, 1983.  She was also preceded in death by five brothers, Nelson, Willard, Henry, Olan, and Roscoe Loy and two sisters, Myrtle Strader and Selma Fortney.
 
Rev. Reed Hartford will conduct funeral services at 10:00 A.M. Friday, November 2nd at the Cheney Witt Chapel.  Burial will follow in the U. S. National Cemetery.  The family will receive friends from 5 to 7 P.M. Thursday at the Cheney Witt Chapel.  Memorials are suggested to Care to Share 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.
Bourbon County

Learn Why KanCare Matters Nov. 1

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Join us in Fort Scott

On November 1st, the Alliance for a Healthy Kansas will be hosting a community conversation in Fort Scott about why expanding KanCare matters.

Access to health care is vital to the health of our neighbors and family – and to our community ‘s economic future. There are many questions about how we’ll move forward as a community, and what we will do as Kansans to ensure everybody in our state can get the health care they need.

That’s why our work continues.

We want policymakers and community leaders to know we won’t give up. Will you join us on Thursday, November 1st at 6:30 pm?

When:
November 1, 2018
6:30pm – 8:00pm
Where:
Empress Event Center
7 North Main Street

Let us know you’ll be attending, and we’ll look forward to seeing you there!

To register on Facebook, click here.

Bourbon County, K-State Extension

Health Insurance Help Through K-State

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Joy Miller AttachmentsSat, Oct 27, 12:16 PM (2 days ago) to Joy Attached is my news column for next week. Thank you for publishing it. Joy Joy Miller, RD, LD Family and Consumer Science Extension Agent Adult Development and Aging Family Resource Management K-State Research and Extension Southwind Extension District 210 S. National Fort Scott, KS 66701 Office: 620-223-3720 Fax: 620-223-0332 [email protected]

Need Health Insurance? I’m Here to Help.

Fall is the season for health insurance plan enrollment or re-enrollment. You may be like most people—confused and uncomfortable when it comes to understanding or making decisions about health insurance coverage. Help is available.

The Health Insurance Marketplace is a service that helps people shop for and enroll in health insurance. It provides health plan shopping and enrollment services through healthcare.gov, call centers, and in-person assistance.

Navigators, such as myself, are trained, unbiased assisters that can help you compare health insurance plans, assist you with online application process, and help provide answers to your Marketplace questions. Navigators are available year-round to answer questions or complete Special Enrollment applications for those affected by a life changing event.

When you buy health insurance through the Marketplace, you may qualify for financial assistance to help pay your monthly premiums and cost sharing. You will qualify for financial assistance if you meet the following:

  • You can’t get health insurance that covers your basic needs through your job (or a family member’s); Medicaid; Medicare; the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP); or the Department of Veterans affairs (VA)
  • The amount of money your family expects to make in the year you apply for assistance falls within certain income ranges.

Open enrollment in the Health Insurance Marketplace begins November 1 and ends December 15. You can preview 2019 plans and prices. Now is the time to explore your health coverage options. You can go to healthcare.gov to A benefit in working with a Navigator is help in determining if qualifications are met for financial assistance to lower the cost of premiums.

Each year, health insurance options change along with coverage and costs. I am here to assist you in the process and help you understand the system, rules, and options. To assist people in these programs, it is required to go through training and certification on a yearly basis to become a Navigator for the Marketplace or a Senior Health Insurance Counselor for Kansans (SHICK) to provide unbiased assistance.

  • Help you apply and enroll in a health plan with savings or apply for Medicaid/Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP)
  • Required to provide fair, impartial, and accurate information
  • Statewide assistance may also be available

Find free, in-person enrollment assistance from a Navigator serving your community

They can assist you with the online application and help compare plans to find the best one for you. During open Enrollment, Kansans need to evaluate whether to enroll in coverage, stay on their current policies, if available, or enroll in different policies. It is also important for consumers to understand the network requirements of the various plans and to check that their providers of medical services are in the plan’s network.

 

Consumer Assistance Hotline is 1-800-432-2484 or www.ksinsurance.org

Fort Scott, Schools

FSHS “Bright Star” Nov. 6, 8 and 10

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Fort Scott High School Performs Regional Premiere of New Musical “Bright Star”

Fort Scott High School is proud to announce performances of the regional premiere of the new musical “Bright Star” at 7 p.m. on Nov. 6, 8, and 10 and at 2 p.m. on Nov. 10 at the high school auditorium.

“Inspired by a real event and featuring the Grammy-nominated score by Steve Martin and Edie Brickell, Broadway’s Bright Star tells a sweeping tale of love and redemption set against the rich backdrop of the American South in the 1920s and ’40s. When literary editor Alice Murphy meets a young soldier just home from World War II, he awakens her longing for the child she once lost. Haunted by their unique connection, Alice sets out on a journey to understand her past – and what she finds has the power to transform both of their lives. Propelled by an ensemble of onstage musicians and dancers, the story unfolds as a rich tapestry of deep emotion, beautiful melodies and powerfully moving performances. An uplifting theatrical journey that holds you tight in its grasp, Bright Star is as refreshingly genuine as it is daringly hopeful,” says publisher Theatrical Rights Worldwide.

Alice is played by FSHS junior Mesa Jones, a talented singer, dancer, and actress who was recently featured in the Kansas State Thespians all-state production of “Bring It On.” Her love interest, Jimmy Ray, is played by junior Levi Bin. Other feature solo roles include Billy Caine, played by sophomore Noah Martin; Margo, played by senior Morgan Rohr; Lucy, portrayed by junior Addy Labbe; Daddy Caine, played by junior Caleb Watkins; and the Mayor, portrayed by junior Dominic Canon.

“We first saw this new musical at the high school premiere of the show at the International Thespian Festival this summer and I was instantly drawn to its heart-wrenching yet heart-warming story and its foot-tapping music,” said FSHS Drama Director Angie Bin. “I knew we had the perfect students to play these challenging roles and I am so proud of how hard they have worked.”

The show is also directed by FSHS Choral Director Meredith Reid and choreographed by Delynn Abati, assistant to the FSHS Dance Team.

Tickets are $5 for children and $7 for adults and are available at the FSHS office at 1005 S. Main and at Common Ground at 116 S. Main in Fort Scott. Doors open 30 minutes before show time and seating is limited so audience members are encouraged to buy tickets in advance.

For more information, please contact Angie Bin at [email protected] or 620-719-9622.

 

 

 

 

Bourbon County Local News