The Bourbon County Sheriff’s Office Daily Reports can best be viewed with a computer.
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Obituary Of Helen Clark Rhodes Sexton
Helen B. Clark Rhodes Sexton, a former resident of Pittsburg, Kansas and more recently of Ft. Scott, Kansas, passed away Friday, February 9, 2018, at the Guest Home Estates in Ft. Scott.
She was born January 28, 1925, the daughter of Edward D. Clark and Dora Anna Whiteside Clark, at Moundville, in Vernon County, Missouri. She moved with her parents to Kansas in 1941.
Mrs. Sexton worked at Key Work Clothes in Ft. Scott for ten years. In 1958, she completed a course in cosmetology and owned and operated her own salon on South Main Street in Ft. Scott for thirteen years. She closed her salon and went to work at Day and Zimmerman, KAAP, at Parsons, Kansas, as an explosive operator, and in quality control. She was a graduate of the Medical Self Help Training Class at the plant.
Her hobbies covered a large territory. She loved sewing, arts, and craft shows, and making homemade candies, cookies, and cakes for her family and friends during the holidays. She kept several scrapbooks and family picture albums from when she was in her teens. In 1997, she wrote and had published, The Ninth of Twelve from the Usta Place, the story of her life. She was a member of the First Baptist Church of Ft. Scott.
In 1945, she was united in marriage to Hubert A. Rhodes at the old First Christian Church in Ft. Scott by the Rev. Wilbert Dunlap. To this union, two children were born.
On May 17, 1970, she was married to Harley Sexton.
Survivors include her children, Gary Allen Rhodes (Carolyn Butler), of Ft. Scott and Sherri Rhodes Stenseng (Russell), of Eldorado, Kansas; three grandchildren, Trenton Rhodes (Summer), of Ft. Scott, Rusty Stenseng, of Eldorado, Kansas and Kristi Evans (Blake), of Wichita, Kansas and four great-grandchildren, Nova and Easton Rhodes, Logan Stenseng and Isabel Roark and numerous nieces, nephews.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Harley, a grandson, Marcus Rhodes, three brothers and eight sisters.
Funeral services will be held at 2:00 P.M. Wednesday, February 14 at the Cheney Witt Chapel. Burial will follow in the Memory Gardens Cemetery.
The family will receive friends on Wednesday from 1:00 P.M. until service time at the Cheney Witt Chapel. Memorials are suggested to Care to Share and may be left in the 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.
Obituary Of Shirley Mae Soto
Shirley Mae Soto, age 79, a resident of Ft. Scott, Kansas passed away Thursday, February 8, 2018, at the University of Kansas Medical Center in Kansas City, Kansas.
She was born December 30, 1938, in California, the daughter of Lee Wurtz and Pauline Sharp Wurtz. Shirley married Paul Soto. Shirley lived the majority of her life in California where she worked in a poultry plant and later as an inspector for the U. S. D. A.
Following her retirement, she moved to Ft. Scott. She then provided care for elderly. She enjoyed her cats.
Survivors include her two children, James Bentley of Ft. Scott and Paula McClurg (David) of Fresno, California; and two step-children, Paul Soto and Cindy Soto, both of California; and several grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Also surviving is a brother, Jerry Wurtz, of Oklahoma. Her husband, Paul, preceded her in death on March 11, 2017.
Family and friends may meet at the Cheney Witt Chapel at 2:00 P.M. on Tuesday, February 13 before going to the West Liberty Cemetery for burial. Arrangements are under the direction of the Cheney Witt Chapel, 201 S. Main, Ft. Scott, Kansas.
Bourbon County Sheriff’s Department Daily Reports Feb. 9
Jeff DeLaTorre Hired As FSHS Activities/Athletic Director
Jeff DeLaTorre was hired as Fort Scott High School Activities/Athletic Director at a USD 234 Board Meeting Tuesday.
Currently, he is the assistant principal at the school.
He will assume his new duties July 1.
The following is an interview DeLaTorre had with fortscott.biz.
What do you see as the strengths and challenges of the school you will be helping lead?
” Fort Scott High School has a great tradition of having successful athletic and activity programs. We have great kids and strong community support. My goal is to help those programs remain strong and maintain success and to continue to give our community a sense of pride in our high school.”
What is your career experience?
“I taught Physical Education at Yates Center High School from 1995-2000. Also coached basketball, baseball, and football. Moved to Fort Scott in fall of 2000. Taught World History and PE until 2005. Taught full-time PE from 2005 – 2011. Became the Assistant Principal in 2011 and have been in that role since then. Have been the head boys basketball coach at FSHS since 2000. In my time at FSHS I have also coached football, tennis, and baseball.”
What is your education?
” I graduated from Chanute High School in 1990. Graduated from Pittsburg State University in 1995 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Education. Earned Master’s Degree in Educational Leadership from Pitt State in 2009.”
Your family?
” I have been married to my wife Angie for 21 years. We have two sons – Kaleb (20 and a sophomore at Neosho County Community College in Chanute), and Jacob (16 and a sophomore at FSHS).”
Hometown: Chanute
Why did you choose education as a career?
” I always enjoyed working with kids and looked at education as an opportunity to make a difference in young people’s lives. I also had several teachers and coaches growing up that had a strong impact on me, and I liked the possibility of having that same impact on my students and athletes that I would work with.”
Amber Toth Hired As FSHS Assistant Principal
Amber Toth was hired Tuesday at the USD 234 Board of Education meeting to be Fort Scott High School Assistant Principal starting in July.
The following is an interview fortscott.biz had with Toth.
What do you see as the strengths and challenges of the school you will be helping lead?
“The high school has many strengths. We have an amazing staff who is always striving to get better. We are focused on rigor and excellence. We are also working really hard to get curriculum aligned across the district, not just in the building. We have leaders in place who have the best interest of kids in mind, even when those decisions are hard. We have amazing programs within the school that provide every student the opportunity to find their niche. But just like any school, there is always room for improvement. I think one of the challenges we face is ensuring our instruction is relevant in making students college and career ready. It is my goal to provide as many opportunities to ensure our graduates have bright futures and are employable. I want to see those students bring innovation and vision to Fort Scott. We are also in transition with a new accreditation process. Pieces of this will require us to alter what we do in some areas. I am looking forward to helping a wonderful team become the best school that we can be.”
Why did you choose education?
“I had amazing teachers. There are some special ones that come to mind. Mr. Warnock was my 3rd grade teacher and taught me to love exploring. Mrs. Beardmore was my 5th grade teacher and taught me to love people, even when it was hard. Ms. Zimmerman was my high school English teacher and she taught me a love of literature. Kathy Faulkenberry was my debate and forensics coach and she taught me my passion. I knew from a young age that I wanted to make a difference in the world. I love making a difference in the lives of kids. I couldn’t imagine myself in another field. The teachers I had, inspired me to change lives the way they changed mine.”
Where did you receive your education?
“I have a Bachelors in English Education from Pittsburg State University that I earned in 2000. I also have a Masters in Educational Leadership that I earned in 2011 from Grand Canyon University.”
What is your past experience?
“Before coming to Fort Scott, I was an Advanced Placement English teacher and the Advanced Placement Coordinator. I also taught debate and forensics, as well as speech. In those roles in Caney, I wrote $25,000 worth of grants to expand our AP program. I also began my journey on the National Speech and Debate Association District Committee for the South Kansas District and directed the school play.”
“Since coming to Fort Scott, I have taught Dual Credit Speech, Debate and Forensics. I also started the school pantry. I am also certified in Youth Mental Health First Aid. I have had the privilege of presenting several in-service sessions to the staff on subjects ranging from instruction, project based learning, and suicide prevention.”
Toth hales from Caney, Ks. graduating from high school there in 1995, then taught there for eight years.
Tell about your family.
” I have been married to my husband, Travis Toth for 17 years. He teaches Social Studies and is the assistant coach for debate and forensics at Fort Scott High School. Before teaching, he was a law enforcement officer.
We have four children. Darby will be graduating this year and attending Washburn University in the fall. She plans to study Psychology. Madison is a Sophomore this year. She is active in debate, forensics, drama, choir and was chosen to attend the Hugh O’Brian Youth Leadership (HOBY) conference this summer. Trent is in 6th grade. He is a hard working young man who enjoys competing in robotics, middle school forensics, plays, sports and was recently chosen to be a page next month at the state capital. Kennedy is in 2nd grade. She is competitive, tenacious, and loves to participate in Tiger Cheer.
My parents are Michael and Penny Coy and they still reside in Caney
My sister, Sarah Bahr and her children also moved to Fort Scott. Sarah is a drug and alcohol counselor for Crawford County Mental Health and an assistant coach for debate and forensics. She has two children that attend school within our district., Ashton Nave,freshman, and Graci Nave, 8th grader ”
Practice Your Faith by Patty LaRoche
My brothers and sisters, practice your faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ by not favoring one person over another. For example, two men come to your worship service. One man is wearing gold rings and fine clothes; the other man, who is poor, is wearing shabby clothes. Suppose you give special attention to the man wearing fine clothes and say to him, “Please have a seat.” But you say to the poor man, “Stand over there,” or “Sit on the floor at my feet.” Aren’t you discriminating against people and using a corrupt standard to make judgments?
Listen, my dear brothers and sisters! Didn’t God choose poor people in the world to become rich in faith and to receive the kingdom that he promised to those who love him? Yet, you show no respect to poor people. (James :2-1-6)
If you were to meet Jorge in a dark alley, chances are you would grab your pepper spray or concealed weapon and run for your life. His scowling face, pot-marked with years of hard living, cigarette, alcohol and drug damage, as scary as it is, belies his tender spirit.
He is my friend.
I met Jorge here in Mazatlan, Mexico, five years ago when I first joined a group that bi-weekly travels to the dump to feed the scroungers (their words, not mine). Jorge was our bus driver. I was terrified of him. We met again when I volunteered to help with a Bible study for youngsters who live in squalor in the outskirts of Mazatlan. Again, Jorge drove the van. Observing his love of children and dedication to spreading the gospel with his puppet ministry gave me a new vision of who this man is. As an accomplished guitarist, he also led (leads) the praise and worship at our church. It wasn’t long before I realized he is the heart and soul of the majority of ministries at La Vina Church.
For some reason, the two of us connected. Maybe it was because every year I take him clothes that Dave no longer needs or wants. Maybe it was because I have been pretty faithful in helping his ministries. Maybe it was because God just knew I needed to be smacked for being so judgmental when I first met him.
About twenty-five years ago, Jorge was a serious drug addict, derelict, alcoholic who played his guitar nightly in the brothels. (That’s not all he did when he was there.) From the minute he woke up until he crashed at night, Jorge was addicted. Year after year. Then came the evangelist’s tent revival. For five days, Fred Collum, himself a recovering addict, shared his testimony and gave a call for anyone who wanted to make Jesus the Lord of their lives to come forward.
Jorge showed up drunk on Fred’s last day, staggered up the aisle, barely able to stand, and then made an about-face, zigzagging his way out of the tent. A few weeks later, Jorge met Fred on the street and introduced himself as the drunk man who showed up at his final revival. Fred reached into his pocket to give Jorge some money but was stopped by Jorge’s words: “I don’t want your money. I want you to know that I was too ashamed to come to the front that night, but I went home, got on my knees and asked Jesus to be the Lord of my life. Since then, I have not had any cigarettes, alcohol or drugs.”
So began a friendship between the two men as together they started what now is the largest English-speaking church in Mazatlan and the one known throughout the state for its feeding centers and Bible ministries. Six days a week, Jorge drives a bus or van to a colonia to minister to the poorest of the poor. His life is all about blessing others. For me, my friend blesses me every time we are together.
But my biggest blessing? That Jorge never chose to judge me.
What’s Happening In Fort Scott This Weekend
Submitted by the Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 9
John Deere FSCC Tech Program Grand Opening – 8 AM at their new facility -2223 S. Horton St. ~Lunch served at 11:30pm—Ribbon Cutting at 12 pm.
IF Gathering at Community Christian Church Fort Scott 6:30 pm ~ 1919 Horton St, Fort Scott Additional sessions on Saturday.
Theology on Tap ~ Nate’s Place 7 pm – 750 S National Ave., Fort Scott “Why is it important to live locally?”
Fri & Sat – 10 am – 5 pm~ Livestock Sale – Fort Scott Livestock Market 2131 Maple Rd.~ Friday: Cows, Pairs & Big Bulls. Saturday: Stocker & Feeder Cattle.
Fri & Sat – The Prairie Troubadour 3rd Annual Symposium at Liberty Theatre, 113 S. Main St.
Fri, Sat & Sun – Art Project: New Faces New Neighbors – 8:30 am – 4:30 pm Fort Scott National Historic Site – History & Art come together. Kids create textile works of art that encompass the change of Fort Scott NHS throughout its history.
SATURDAY, February 10
Coyote Calling Contest by The Fort Outdoors ~ 7 AM – 2522 Richard Rd, Fort Scott – Care to Share Fundraiser
Cupid’s Corner Children’s Crafts at Buck Run, 9-10: 30 am, ages pre-K to 5th grade.
FS High School State Scholars Bowl—All day
Kill Cancer with CrossFit Fundraiser- at Smallville CrossFit ~ 11– 12 pm ~ 13 S National.
Dance Party- Sharky’s Pub & Grub ~ 9 pm-1 am ~Live DJ- 80’s & 90’s Music.
FSCC Hounds Men’s & Women’s Basketball – Women start at 2 pm – Men at 4 pm.
FSCC Mens’ Baseball & Women’s Softball– Men start 1 pm LaRoche Baseball Complex, Women start at 2 pm.
SUNDAY, February 11
2nd Annual Farm Toy Show & Sales- 9 am-3 pm – Kennedy Gym Building – 705 S. Holbrook.
Valentines Cupcake Decorating Class- 2-4 pm – Crooner’s Cakery – with Robert Shaw/ SOLD OUT
Fort Scott Police Departments Daily Reports Feb.8
The Fort Scott Police Department’s Daily Reports can best be viewed with a computer.
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Study Shows Health Care’s Impact in Bourbon County
A good local health care system may itself be part of the prescription for maintaining a healthy rural economy.
In the year 2016, the healthcare sector accounted for an estimated 13.1 percent of Bourbon County’s total employment or about 1,246 jobs. In that same year, over one in four healthcare sector workers were employed at Mercy Hospital Fort Scott.
Those are just a couple of the finding published in a recent study by researchers at K-State Research and Extension and sponsored by the Kansas Hospital Association documenting the economic impact of the healthcare sector on a county-by-county level.
The report also noted that Mercy Hospital Fort Scott has a significant “ripple effect” or secondary impact on employment and income throughout other industries in Bourbon County. This occurs when the hospital’s employees spend their income locally for household goods and service. As dollars are spent locally, they are, in turn, re-spent for other goods and services.
For example, the 2016 study showed that Mercy Hospital’s 339 co-workers had an employment multiplier of 1.64. This means that for each job at the hospital, another 0.64 jobs are created in other businesses and industries in the county’s economy. The direct impact of those 339 hospital employees resulted in an indirect impact of 217 jobs (339 x 0.64 = 217) throughout all businesses and industries in the market area. Thus, the hospital employment had a total impact on area employment of 377 jobs (339 x 1.64 = 556).
Similarly, multiplier analysis can estimate the total impact of the estimated $28,493,000 direct income for hospital employees. According to the data in the 2016 study, Mercy Hospital Fort Scott had an income multiplier of 1.23, which indicates that for every one dollar of income generated in the hospital, another $0.23 is generated in other businesses and industries in the county’s economy. Thus, the hospital had an estimated total impact on income throughout all Bourbon County businesses and industries of $35,069,000 ($28,493,000 x 1.23 = $35,069,000) (numbers rounded)).
The study’s authors calculated economic multipliers for 13 healthcare sectors from dentists, to veterinarians, to home care services and estimated that health care services, directly and indirectly, accounted for 1,737 jobs throughout the county. Furthermore, they estimate that Bourbon County’s health care sector employees accounted for more than $75 million in total county income and over $21 million in county retail sales.
“As with most rural areas, the health sector in Bourbon County plays an important role in the economy,” said Reta Baker, Mercy Hospital Fort Scott president. “I think we tend to take our local health services for granted, just a little. We don’t realize how important health care is to the county’s economic well-being.”
That is exactly the point the reports are trying to get across, according to Dr. John Leatherman, an agricultural economist at K-State’s Office of Local Government and lead author of the report. He points out that access to affordable quality local health care services is essential to attracting and retaining local businesses and retirees.
“Research has shown time and again that local health care and education are two enormously important factors for economic development,” Leatherman said, “and both can be positively or negatively influenced by local action or inaction.” He said the local health care system has sometimes been the “tie-breaker” in industry location decisions and that retirees view quality local health care as a “must have” local service.
Tom Bell, president and CEO for the Kansas Hospital Association said, “Kansas hospitals are a critical piece of the economic engine in Kansas communities and a symbol of continued community cohesion. They are important not only for the healthcare services they deliver but for maintaining the overall economic vitality and viability of the communities they serve.”
Copies of the full report have been distributed and are available free of charge at the Kansas Rural Health Works Web site at: www.krhw.net.
Mercy Hospital Fort Scott is an acute care hospital with 46 licensed beds, offering comprehensive medical, surgical, OB/GYN, pediatric, home care and hospice services. Inpatient care is provided with 24/7 physician coverage. In 2017, Mercy Hospital Fort Scott received The Leapfrog Group’s prestigious A rating. Mercy Clinic Fort Scott is located on hospital grounds as well as Mercy rural health clinics in Arma and Pleasanton.
Mercy, named one of the top five large U.S. health systems in 2017 by Truven, an IBM Watson Health company, serves millions annually. Mercy includes 44 acute care and specialty (heart, children’s, orthopedic and rehab) hospitals, more than 700 physician practices and outpatient facilities, 40,000 co-workers and more than 2,000 Mercy Clinic physicians in Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri, and Oklahoma. Mercy also has outreach ministries in Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas.
Last Day To Support After Prom Fundraiser
Today is the last day to order Valentine Truffles in support of 2018 Fort Scott High School After Prom Fundraiser.
$5 for one-half dozen, $10 for a dozen truffles.
Order and pay through Buck Run Community Center, 725 Scott Ave.
Phone: 620- 223-0386
Area Youth In Career and Technical Education
February is Career and Technical Education (CTE) Month.
Carpentry, heating and air conditioning, masonry and welding classes at the Career and Technical Education Center in Pittsburg, which offers Fort Scott Community College classes have seen a rise in enrollment, according to Kris Mengarelli, CTEC Executive Director.
“I do not have a current number of high school students for this spring, but (I do) for Fall 2017 – I know enrollment is up for the Spring semester,” he said.
Mengarelli is glad to see the increase.
“There are significant opportunities in the trades workforce,” Mengarelli said. “Trade businesses are in need of skilled workers to fill the demand of a workforce that is moving toward retirement. In addition, according to Association for Career and Technical Education, students involved in CTE courses are more engaged, graduate at higher rates and go on to post-secondary education.”
The statistics for the fall semester at CTEC that Mengarelli produced:
In heating and air conditioning, there are 10 male students whose average age is 23. None are high school students. The students are from Bourbon, Crawford, Allen, and Anderson counties.
For masonry, there are 17 students, 15 males, and two females with an average age of 18, from Crawford, Cherokee, Montgomery counties and two out of state students. Eight are high school students from Pittsburg, Girard, and Southeast.
For construction trades, there are 23 students, 20 males, and three females with an average age of 18. They are from Crawford, Labette, Allen, Anderson, and Cowley counties and two out of state students. Nine are high school students from Pittsburg and Girard.
For welding, there are 61 students, 57 males, and four females with an average age of 21. They are from Crawford, Cherokee, Bourbon, Johnson, Anderson, Linn, Miami counties and out of state.
There are 32 high school students in this group, from Pittsburg, Frontenac, Northeast, St. Mary’s Colgan, Southeast, and Girard.
For more information contact:
Kris Mengarelli
CTEC Executive Director
[email protected]
(620) 232-5644
Kim Coates
Carpentry Instructor
[email protected]
(620) 232-5644
Nacoma Oehme
Masonry Instructor
[email protected]
(620) 232-5644
Davis Oehme
Welding Instructor
[email protected]
(620) 232-5644
Chris Sterrett
Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning & Refrigeration (HVAC) Instructor
[email protected]
(620) 232-5644
The theme for CTE Month is Celebrate Today, Own Tomorrow! This month provides CTE programs an opportunity to demonstrate how CTE makes students college and career ready and prepares them for high-demand career fields, according to a Kansas Department of Education press release.
CTE in Kansas helps meet the needs of business and industry through the development of the foundational knowledge and skills aligned to the Kansas workforce.
Kansas has 16 Career Clusters for students to choose from, and there are 35 Career Cluster Pathways, according to the press release.
A Career Cluster is a group of occupations similar in skill set and training.
Career Cluster Pathways are focused on specific areas of study leading to a particular area of industry or business. These occupations fall within seven career fields in Kansas — agriculture; business; design, production, and repair; family and consumer sciences; health; media and technology; and public services.
Kansas schools have 2,606 pathways across these fields.