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Obituary of Wendell O. Arnold
Wendell Oliver Arnold, age 89, a resident of Ft. Scott, Kansas, passed away early Wednesday, March 5, 2025, at the Medicalodge in Ft. Scott. He was born July 1, 1935, in Ottawa, Kansas, the son of Oscar C.R. Arnold and Effie Lynne Walker Arnold. Wendell graduated from the Ottawa High School. He went on to attend Ottawa University and then graduated from Emporia State University. Wendell lived in Lawrence, Kansas, where he worked in various capacities for area restaurants and nightclubs. Wendell later moved to Ft. Scott to be near his sister. While in Ft. Scott, he made his home at the Cavalry Crossing Apartments before moving to the Medicalodge in August of 2024. Wendell never met a stranger and was kind and generous to all.
Survivors include his sister, Rosalyn Good, of Ft. Scott and his brother, Lytle Arnold, a resident of the Medicalodge in Frontenac, Kansas. Wendell was preceded in death by his parents, a sister, Florence May White and a brother, Joseph Arnold.
Rev. James Brackett will conduct graveside services at 1:00 P.M. Tuesday, March 11th at the Walnut Creek Cemetery in Wellsville, Kansas.
Memorials are suggested to the St. John’s Global Methodist Church 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.
Uniontown Will Get New Preschool Building, Fire Alarm System, and ADA Front Entrance
Voters yesterday approved an improvement plan for USD 235.
In 2021, Uniontown’s school district board of education had an engineering study in which they identified needs to be addressed, Superintendent Vance Eden said.
In November 2023 there was a bond issue put before the patrons of the district. That bond proposal failed, but the board felt that they still needed to address the issues pointed out in the 2021 study.
“The board came up with the money in the capital outlay fund to improve the agriculture department at the high school,” Eden said. “That took the majority of what they had in capital outlay.”
“The board didn’t have the cash to take on the other needs,” he said.
Yesterday, March 4, another bond issue was presented to the patrons for approval, that has a $1,250,000 price tag with no annual tax rate increases for property owners.
It passed, with 67 percent of “yes” votes
“I’m glad the community had some consensus,” Eden said.
The next step in the process is that the finance team works with the Kansas Department of Education, with engineering and architectural work being approved, he said. Then contractors are sought for the construction and bids are let.
There are three components to the project: a new preschool building, a new fire alarm system at the high school, and a new front door area at West Bourbon Elementary School that is ADA and security compliant.
The fire system and front door areas should be completed by the start of the 2025-26 school year, Eden said.
The build of the preschool will take from 6-12 months and will likely start in the fall 2025.
The preschool program will continue in temporary accommodations until the new building is completed, he said.
The Preschool Building
The current modular preschool building, which is nearing the end of its usable life, will be replaced with an on-site built facility that will house the preschool and two offices.
Kansas law requires the district to provide special education services for children ages 3 and 4. Slots not filled by special education students are funded by Kansas law for at-risk children.
“After that, we fill with other students, most commonly referred to as model students,” he said.
Up to twenty students for the morning session and twenty more in the afternoon can be served in the district.
Also housed in the new building will be the speech therapist and the school psychologist, “who spend the majority of their time in that classroom,” he said.
The High School New Fire Alarm System
The new high school fire alarm system will replace the outdated one that operates by manual pull stations, which does not notify the fire department should a fire occur while no one is in the building. The new fire alarm system will have heat and smoke detectors and notify the fire department immediately.
The New Entrance Doors At the Elementary School
The current doors do not always close and latch, in spite of frequent repairs, and are a security risk. In addition, they are not in compliance with Standards for Accessible Designs.
The Bourbon County Sheriff’s Office Daily Reports March 5
Obituary of Betty Ruddick
Betty Pauli Ruddick, age 91, resident of Ft. Scott, KS, passed away Sunday March 2, 2025, in Camdenton, MO. She was born July 3, 1933, in Manhattan KS, the daughter of Lowell Carl and Wilma Swart Pauli. Betty graduated from Paseo High School in Kansas City in 1951 and graduated from Drury College in 1955.
She met Alvin Matthews Ruddick at Drury College, and they married on July 16, 1955, in Kansas City, MO. Al and Betty owned the Ruddick’s, Inc. furniture store in Fort Scott until 2000.
Betty was a homemaker, worked at Ruddick’s, and worked at the Fort Scott Tribune. She volunteered with the Campfire Girls for 19 years, as a Rape counselor for 15 years and was instrumental in establishing the Bourbon County CASA program and worked as the director and a volunteer for many years. She was a longtime member of the FU Chapter of the PEO and was a member of the First United Methodist Church and participated in numerous committees and organizations within the church. Much of Al and Betty’s time revolved around their family, friends and life at their cabin at the Lake of the Ozarks.
Betty’s survivors include 3 daughters, Lisa Rucker and husband Ron, St. Louis, MO, Linda Burger, St. Louis, MO, Leslie Ogden and husband Chris, Lee’s Summit, MO; grandchildren Jeremy Ruddick (Nicole), Liberal, MO , Abby Simmons (Cody), Carl Junction, MO, Haley Trainor (Michael), Boston, MA, Aaron Rucker, Dallas, TX, Samatha Burger, Lee’s Summit, MO, Nick Ogden (Taylor), Lee’s Summit, MO, and Hannah Ogden, Mission, KS; great grandchildren, Cooper Ruddick, Jackson Simmons, Henry Trainor, Nell Trainor and Emma Ogden; sister-in-law Patricia Pauli, Shawnee, KS and many nieces, nephews, great nieces and great nephews .
Betty was preceded in death by her parents, husband Alvin M. Ruddick, daughter Lori G. Ruddick, brother William C. Pauli, stepmother M. Maxine Pauli, and stepsister Sharon Coyan.
Jay Lotterer will conduct funeral services at 11:30 am Monday, March 10th, at the Cheney Witt Chapel.
Burial will follow in the U. S. National Cemetery.
The family will receive friends from 10:00 until service time Monday morning at the funeral home.
Memorials are suggested to be made to either Bourbon County CASA or Ellna’s Adult Care and may be left or sent in care of the Cheney Witt Chapel, PO Box 347, 201 S. Main, Fort Scott, KS 66701. Words of remembrance may be submitted online at cheneywitt.com.
FSHS Talent Show Is March 28
THEATRE EDUCATION IN THE SPOTLIGHT IN MARCH
THEATRE EDUCATION IN THE SPOTLIGHT IN MARCH
Students at Fort Scott High School Lead Community Advocacy Efforts
(Fort Scott, KS, 2/27/25) – Students at Fort Scott High School are joining the national grassroots
effort called Theatre in Our Schools Month (TIOS) to advocate for the benefits of theatre
education in schools. Members of International Thespian Society (ITS) Troupe #7365 are
drawing attention to the need for increased access to quality theatre programs for all students.
To get the word out, students are participating in a number of theatre related activities. On Feb.
26 and 28 the troupe participated in community service activities at the Senior Center in
downtown Fort Scott. They have a Theatre in Our Schools Month Kick-Off Party on March 4 at
the Museum of Creativity and will present to the USD 234 Board of Education on March 10. On
March 6, the troupe travels to Topeka to meet with Thespians from across the state and Senator
Tim Shallenburger and Representative Rick James to celebrate and discuss Theatre Advocacy
Day in KS.
Throughout the month, the troupe will dress to represent various musicals on Musical Mondays
and wear theatre-related shirts on Theatre Shirt Tuesdays. They also have Improv Acting
Troupe practice on Tuesdays after school and FSMS Drama Club on Fridays after school. To
finish out the month, the troupe will see the FSCC production of “No Exit” on March 26 and hold
the annual FSHS Talent Show & Senior Minute to Win It at 7 p.m. on March 28. The Talent
Show is open to the public and tickets are $5 at the door.
The ITS is the theatre honor society for middle and high school students. These Thespians plan
and implement TIOS activities in their schools, in their communities, and with elected officials.
The presentations and activities explain how theatre education positively shapes students’ lives
by instilling necessary life skills. TIOS Month is an opportunity for students, parents,
communities, school boards, and elected officials to come together to and make theatre
education more available to all students. One of the key messages is that theatre skills help
students develop vital 21st-century skills like communication, collaboration, creativity, and
critical thinking, as well as social/emotional skills critical to students’ growth as young adults.
For example, according to The College Board, in 2015, students who took four years of arts
classes in high school scored an average of 92 points higher on their SATs than students who
only took one half year or less. But, according to the U.S. Department of Education, only 28
percent of high schools in high poverty areas offer theatre instruction.
According to a 2018 poll, 72 percent of Americans believe the arts unify our communities
regardless of age, race, and ethnicity, and more than 90 percent believe students should
Artmaking & Design for Social Impact Lesson Plan and Session Recording Available
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Ladies Informational Golf League and Sign-up Meeting is March 8
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Sending on behalf of Chamber member Diane Striler |
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Bourbon County Arts Council 33rd Annual Fine Arts Exhibit Starts This Thursday
The Bourbon County Arts Council will present its 33rd Annual Fine Arts Exhibit from March 6th through March 15th, at the Danny and Willa Ellis Family Fine Arts Center, on the Campus of Fort Scott Community College.
The Arts Council will host the Chamber Coffee at 8:00am on Thursday March 6th, at the Ellis Center. The Exhibit will be open to the public beginning Thursday March 6th through Saturday March 15th, weekdays from 12:00pm to 7:00pm, and on Saturdays, from 9:00am to 1:00pm. A reception to honor this year’s Juror and artists will be held on Thursday the 6th from 6:00pm to 8:00pm; the public is invited to attend and enjoy the opportunity to meet and visit with them about the art.
Artists will have their work on display and for sale in this multi-media exhibit, in categories including Ceramics, Drawing & Graphics, Fiber Arts, Glasswork, Jewelry, Mixed Media, Painting, Pastel, Photography, Printmaking, Sculpture, and Watercolor. A “themed” category was added to the Exhibit, with this year’s theme being “Bridge the Gap”. An artist may create a piece in any of the above categories, in relation to the theme. This year, artists from Kansas, Missouri, and Oklahoma will participate in the Fine Art Exhibit. Local artists entered include Kathy Allen, Cally Bailey, Elaine Buerge, Steve Floyd, Oriah Freeman, Katie Hueston, Merl Humphrey, Bobbi Kemna, Julie Kibble, Dorothy Kivett, Terry Koester, Kadra Nevitt, Eric Popp, Elizabeth Ross, Kaitlynn Sampson, and Addison Smith.
Cash prizes awarded for category winners are given by the Bourbon County Arts Council in memory of E.C. Gordon, and by the generous sponsorship from these local businesses: The Artificers, Buerge Art Studio, City State Bank, Citizens Bank, Edward Jones-Jamie Armstrong , Front Door Realty-Diane Striler and Crystal Mason, H&H Realty, Landmark Bank, Lyons Realty, Mid-Continental Restoration, State Farm Insurance, Union State Bank, and Ward Kraft.
Joe Summers will serve as Juror for this year’s exhibit. He remembers the day he “became an artist” at the age of five and has pursued his passion for art since. His interests include drawing and painting, printmaking, and pottery. Joe attended Fort Sott Community College as a theater major. He received his Bachelors Degree from Pittsburg State University in 2003, and earned his Masters Degree in Ceramics from PSU in 2011. He is also a mural artist. Joe has been an art educator since 2003, teaching at Prairie View High School in LaCygne, KS for 18 years, and Royster Middle School in Chanute, KS for 3 years. In 2024 he was awarded the KAEA Middle Level Teacher of the Year. In the Fall of 2024, he became an art instructor at Neosho Community College.
Joe and his children started “Robot Art Across Kansas” in 2018; they created ceramic robots, and took them to cities and towns across Kansas “for others to find, keep, and enjoy.” He has continued this project with his students, and so far there have been over one hundred robots placed throughout Kansas, and as far away as Nashville, Tennessee. Joe and his family reside in Chanute, Kansas.
The Bourbon County Arts Council encourages everyone to come and enjoy an exciting collection of original artwork. The Danny and Willa Ellis Family Fine Arts Center is located at 2108 Horton St., in Fort Scott, Kansas. There is no admission charge for this event.
Freeman Hospital Groundbreaking Ceremony Near Frontenac is March 7
Continued Steps Forward
Groundbreaking Ceremony Set for Freeman Southeast Kansas Hospital
What: Groundbreaking for Freeman Southeast Kansas Hospital
When: 10:00 am Friday, March 7, 2025
Where: Take US Route 69 north through Pittsburg and Frontenac. Turn right off US Route 69 at East 600th Ave. – look for Freeman arrow signs for the turn (and large Chicken Annie’s restaurant sign). On East 600th Ave. heading east, the groundbreaking parking area is located to the left on 50-acre hospital site.
Background: Freeman Health System will break ground for the long-awaited Freeman Southeast Kansas Hospital Friday morning.
Freeman President and Chief Executive Officer Paula Baker, accompanied by a distinguished list of Frontenac, Pittsburg and Cherokee County dignitaries, will don hard hats and grab shovels to officially launch the state-of-the-art building’s construction.
The $168 million, 50-bed hospital will offer a full array of comprehensive care, including an emergency department, cardiac services and catheterization lab, an intensive care unit, maternity, pediatrics, outpatient/inpatient surgery – including robotic procedures – as well as medical and radiation oncology, among other key services. Overall, the hospital will create at least 500 to 1,000 new jobs in Pittsburg.
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About Freeman Health System
Locally owned, not-for-profit and nationally recognized, Freeman Health System includes Freeman Hospital West, Freeman Hospital East, Freeman Neosho Hospital and Ozark Center – the area’s largest provider of behavioral health services – as well as two urgent care clinics, dozens of physician clinics and a variety of specialty services. In 2024, Freeman earned dozens of individual awards for medical excellence and patient safety from CareChex®, a quality rating system that helps consumers evaluate healthcare providers and their experiences. U.S. News & World Report named Freeman Health System one of the Best Hospitals for 2022. With more than 320 physicians on staff representing more than 90 specialties, Freeman provides cancer care, heart care, neurology and neurosurgery, orthopaedics, children’s services, women’s services, and many others for all of the Four State Area. Freeman is also involved in numerous community-based activities and sponsored events and celebrations. Additionally, in the Joplin/Pittsburg areas, Freeman is the only Children’s Miracle Network Hospital in a 70-mile radius. For more information, visit freemanhealth.com.