This information submitted by The Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce.
FRIDAY & SATURDAY February 2 & 3
10:00 am – 5:00 pm~ Livestock Sale – Fort Scott Livestock Market 2131 Maple Rd.~ Friday: Cows, Pairs & Big Bulls. Saturday: Stocker & Feeder Cattle.
8:30 am – 4:30 pm ~ Art Project: New Faces New Neighbors Fort Scott National Historic Site, Old Fort Blvd. Fort Scott, KS 66701 Join us at Fort Scott NHS as youth from around the region display their art in the “New Faces, New Neighbors” display. The artwork explores the stories of change at Fort Scott NHS throughout its history.
SUNDAY, February 4 ~ SUPER BOWL SUNDAY 5:30 pm ~ Philadelphia Eagles at New England Patriots
All Day ~Annual Superbowl Potluck Party – Holmtown Pub 206 N National Ave ~ Bring a dish in to share and enjoy a great night of Football with friends. Drink specials and games all day. 2:00 – 9:00 pm ~ Un Superbowl Party – The Boiler Room Brewhaus 102 S. National Ave ~ A safe (TV Free) place to get away from all the Super Bowl hoopla and discuss important stuff, like which beer to drink next.
One of my favorite television shows is “America’s Got Talent.” Two seasons ago, Simon Cowell, one of its judges, stunned the viewing audience when he disagreed with the other judges and admonished performer Johnny Manuel for daring to sing a Stevie Wonder song. “So, with all the trills and everything, I thought it was quite annoying.” The cameras panned the audience that grimaced at Cowell’s brusqueness.
But then Simon did the unexpected: He asked Manuel to perform 30 seconds of his first audition song. Manuel would be given another chance. And perform he did! “Even from what I just hear there, honestly, you are one of the best singers in this competition, so thank you,” Simon added after the second song. Then it was time for fellow-judge, the famous song-writer/singer, Seal, to speak. “You know, Johnny, you have such an incredible voice. It is undeniable. You hit notes that I could only dream of. I was always taught that you have to be ready at every situation. You never know when opportunity’s gonna knock on your door. Simon said to you, ‘Give me something a cappella,’ and you didn’t flinch.
“You just gave an incredible rendition, and so I’m gonna have to…” Seal said, as he stood, paused and slammed the golden buzzer. Gold-colored confetti and streamers appeared from the skies and filled the stage. Everyone knew what it meant. Each guest judge is given one chance per season to press the golden buzzer, insuring the act is sent straight to the semi-finals, regardless of the other judges’ opinions.
Probably none of us will ever know what it’s like to become a national celebrity because of a golden buzzer/second chance, but every day we are given opportunities to be ready and willing to take advantage of opportunities. Manuel could have made the excuse that he wasn’t prepared. He didn’t. He recognized a “do-over” chance as the only one he would get, and he performed his heart out.
Do we do the same, knowing our days on earth are numbered? To forgive a hurt. To intercede. To be joyful, no matter the circumstances. To be thankful. To build up and not tear down. To think of others more than ourselves.
Or how about this one? To share the good news of Jesus Christ.
In the Bible, Paul instructed his young mentoree Timothy just as Seal advised Manuel: to “be ready at every situation.” In 4:2 we read, “Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching.” No excuses.
I’m not prepared? Preach the word.
I’m not in the mood? Preach the word.
I’ll be mocked? Preach the word.
Manuel made no excuse. He recognized his time was short and did what needed to be done. I pray today I do the same.
Extension Update by Carla Nemecek, Southwind Extension District Director, Agriculture, Iola Office. Phone: 620-365-2242 [email protected]
The Southwind Extension District met for their annual organizational meeting on Tuesday, January 30, 2018.
After much discussion, a motion was made and seconded to bring Woodson County into the existing District that includes Allen, Bourbon and Neosho Counties.
There is a lengthy process that includes that Kansas Attorney General before the district merger with Woodson County will be finalized on July 1.
Board members learned that Lois Carlson accepted the 2017 Extension Board Leadership Award on behalf of Southwind at the annual partnership meeting in Lawrence.
Finally, officers were elected – Chairman, Kathy Brazle; Vice-Chairman, Jim Smart; Secretary, Lori Shue; Treasurer, Job Springer.
The next meeting will be held March 27 at 6 pm at the Moran United Methodist Church.
Marilyn Jane Love, age 73, a resident of rural Redfield, Kansas, passed away Wednesday, January 31, 2018, at the Mercy Hospital in Joplin, Missouri.
She was born October 2, 1944, in Ft. Scott, Kansas, the daughter of Lawrence Homer “Jack” Query and Alberta Mae Duncan Query.
Marilyn graduated from the Ft. Scott High School with the Class of 1963.
She married Charles A. Walker on February 4, 1966, at Ft. Scott.He preceded her in death on April 25, 2000.She later married Gerald Love on February 16, 2001, at the Mt. Orum Baptist Church near Redfield.
In earlier years, Marilyn had worked for the Western Insurance Company and then for the Pittsburg, Kansas, and Stillwater, Oklahoma school districts.She was later employed by Wal-Mart in Ft. Scott for over twenty-five years.Marilyn loved her God and her family.She was a member of the Mt. Orum Baptist Church and was also active with the Redfield Ruritan.She also enjoyed taking care of her animals.
Survivors include her husband, Jerry, of the home; and her children, Shane Walker (Jana), Shane Walker (Crystal Sprague) and David Johnson (Christina) all of Ft. Scott; and her grandchildren, Olivia, Grace, Audrey and Ella Walker, Kirryn Sprague, Korbyn and Kayley Reyes, Rosa Martin and Kaden Johnson.Also surviving are two brothers, Dwayne Query (Clyda), of Rochelle, Illinois and Robert Query (Lori), of Ft. Scott a sister, Marjorie Schwalm, of Ft. Scott and several nieces and nephews.She was preceded in death by her first husband, Charles Walker and her parents, Jack and Mae Query.
Rev. Jeff Cokeley will conduct funeral services at 10 A.M.Monday, February 5 at the Cheney Witt Chapel.Burial will follow in the Pittsburg Garden of Memories Cemetery.
The family will receive friends from 1 to 3 P.M. Sunday 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.
Fort Scott High School Art Instructor Ellen Kendrick explains the process of the setting up the components necessary to display art in the new gallery at the school. Senior Art Student Berkley Chavis is at right.
Walking the halls of Fort Scott High School, visitors notice the glassed-in area with art displays near the entrance to the school.
In the recent building renovation, the planners designated a gallery space for student artwork, FSHS Art Instructor Ellen Kendrick said.
Kendrick said all the components for displaying student artwork came together just before Christmas.
“To have this space is amazing,” Kendrick said.
The January exhibit was photography and ceramic art by students.
Berkley Chavis shows her two photography projects, one of a horse and one a dog.Kayley Reyes shows her two pieces. The one at left is entitled “Broken”, the other is unnamed, she said.
Seniors who have their photos displayed in the gallery currently: Ethan Burrel, Grace Keating, Kaley Reyes, and Berkley Chavis.
Senior Emily Hill shows her ceramic artwork in the gallery Tuesday morning.
Art students who have pottery in the gallery are Emily Hill, Berkley Chavis, Kharsyn Dwyer, Blaice Hopkins, Denton Fritter, Madison Cook, Kelsie Nelson, Andy Bryant, Kaidon Shelton, and Ashton Nolan.
Kendrick said the gallery display will change each month.
The February exhibit will be more ceramics and drawings, instead of photographs.
She said her family helped with the gallery lighting and display furniture.
“Jack and I set the lights in place,” she said. “Jack and Sam made the pedestals.”
Jack and Sam are her sons.
“John (her husband) helped with the lighting system as well. I couldn’t have done it without them,” she said.
Governor Jeff Colyer, M.D. was sworn in as the 47th governor of Kansas at 3 p.m. today in the Capitol rotunda in Topeka, accompanied by First Lady Ruth Colyer and their daughters, Serena and Dominique. Governor Colyer attended mass in Hays this morning with his classmates from Thomas More Prep-Marian High School. He then visited West Side Alternative School, which is also in Hays.
Governor Colyer said, “This public school is a unique partnership with the High Plains Mental Health Center that ensures special needs kids have the same opportunities for success as any other Kansan.”
When asked about his inauguration, Governor Colyer said, “Throughout my life, I’ve been blessed with the opportunity to serve in a variety of ways including as a doctor, humanitarian and lieutenant governor. I’m excited to begin serving Kansans in an even greater way today as the governor of this beautiful state.”
Dr. Colyer is a fifth-generation Kansan from Hays who is dedicated to making a difference in people’s lives on the personal, state, national and international level. Over the last 25 years, Dr. Colyer has volunteered, as a surgeon, in dangerous war zones such as Afghanistan, Iraq, the Balkans, Libya, and Africa. He was an International Medical Corps volunteer and the only surgeon in southern Rwanda during the genocide that killed 800,000 people.
Dr. Colyer also served as a White House Fellow under President Ronald Reagan and President George H.W. Bush in international affairs.
Submitted photos. Fort School High School Choral Director Meredith Reid leads a choir rehearsal Tuesday, accompanied by Pat Harry on the Steinway piano.
Fort Scott High School Choral Director Meredith Reid began a fundraising project to restore the school’s 1925 Model L Heirloom Steinway piano last summer.
The cost of the restoration is $30,000, and Reid’s fundraising has secured $15,000 so far.
“We could get rid of this and get another piano of lesser value,” Reid said. “But this is such a gem.”
The piano is not stuck away in a corner somewhere.
“We use it every day,” Reid said. “We have over 100 high school kids in the choir and we have choir every day. These students are who it is impacting.”
“Pat Harry is our accompanist, she is the best of the best,” Reid said. “Really she is more than that. She is a collaborator both musically and educationally. It’s appropriate to give her the best.”
The high school orchestra class also uses the piano and students use it for practice after school, especially at this time of the year, music contest season.
“It’s a testament to our community and our program to have a Steinway,” Reid said.
The Steinway piano has been in the school district for over 40 years.
There is a mystery surrounding the origins of the piano because no one knows who donated it to the school.
“I talked to Allan Drake (the school’s former business manager) to see if he had any file on it,” Reid said. “I then asked the school board office, they couldn’t find any documentation since there is no purchase history.”
“We talked to former music teachers Charlotte and Larry Swaim,” she said. “Larry knew it had been donated when he first started teaching in the 1970s.”
Whatever the origins may be, the importance to the school’s music program is invaluable.
“It’s an acoustic piano, which means it hits the strings inside the instrument which creates the sound,” Reid said.
It’s a “far superior sound” than a digital sound on an electric keyboard, she said. “The (piano)soundboard is solid spruce. You can’t recreate that in something that’s digitalized.”
“There is a lot more nuance for the accompanist,” Reid said.
The school Steinway is American made, with each part being handmade, she said.
“Each (piano) has a serial number,” she said. “They can tell you all the details. Steinway still keeps records of it.”
A piano technician visited the school Friday.
“He said the Steinway brand is created in such a way as to be rebuilt,” she said. “Not all pianos were made that way. The lesser pianos don’t last that long.”
“It seems like we are putting a lot of money into it, but if we buy a lesser brand, we’ll have to replace it because I won’t last as long,” she said.
“We have received grants from the Bourbon County Arts Council, Fort Scott Area Community Foundation, and the City of Fort Scott, she noted. “Currently, we are looking for more support from organizations, businesses or individuals to donate in any amount to the project. The full project will cost $30,000. We now have $15,000 raised and need $15,000 more.”
Reid’s goal is to raise the funds to send the piano to be restored at the end of the school year in May, and “potentially get it back by next Christmas,” she said.
The fine arts are at the heart of our community in Fort Scott, and restoring the Steinway grand piano will continue this legacy for decades to come in both the community and the school, she noted.
A brand new Steinway of this size would cost $78,400, she said.
“We need $30,000 to completely restore our Steinway. It will be playable for another 50 years at least.”
Reid’s phone number is 620.238.0673 or email her at [email protected].
