Obituary

Obituary Of Deborah Hawkins

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Deborah Lee Hawkins, age 66, a resident of Ft. Scott, Kansas, passed away early Thursday, January 25, 2018, at her home.

She was born January 7, 1952, in Lawrence, Kansas, the daughter of Roy Cameron and Dorothy Tilton Cameron. She graduated from the Ft. Scott High School with the Class of 1970. She married Gene Hawkins on June 9, 1979, at Ft. Scott.

In earlier years, she worked in the printing and insurance business. She later attended Ft. Scott Community College School of Nursing and became a Registered Nurse. She was then employed by the Nevada Regional Medical Center for several years. She loved gardening and tending to her flowers. She also enjoyed watching the wildlife around her rural home.

Survivors include her husband, Gene, of the home and two daughters, Amanda Hawkins (Steve Copsey), of Nevada, Missouri and Jennifer Hawkins, of Ft. Scott and two grandchildren, Ethan and Kinley. Also, surviving are two brothers, Mark Cameron of Kansas City, Missouri and Garry Cameron of Great Falls, Montana. She was preceded in death by her parents; two sisters, Joan Higgins and Ann Greenway and a brother, Charles Cameron.

Funeral services will be held at 10:00 A.M. Tuesday, January 30 at the Cheney Witt Chapel. Burial will follow in the Chapel Grove Cemetery.

The family will receive friends from 5 to 7 P.M. Monday evening 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.

Opinion

Oops! Moment

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Have you ever had an “OOPS!” moment? You know, when things don’t go exactly as planned? My husband and I had a few of those on our recent six-day drive into the heart of Mexico. Howard and Joyce, our Mazatlan friends, invited Dave and me to join them for a sight-seeing, shopping 1000-mile loop. Howard would drive. Dave would be on alert for road signs (frequently hidden behind trees or appearing only when rounding a sharp curve), warn Howard of topes (large, unmarked speed bumps) and pray. All of that came in handy. Without it, I fear this might be my obituary and not my weekly article.

The OOPS! road detours caused multiple delays and directional guessing games to find our hotels. More than once, we were back where we had started, all the while looking for a gas station when the warning light came on in Howard’s car. OOPS!

We were to spend nights in Tlaquepaque, Guanajuato and Zacatecas. Guanajuato, known for its underground roadways created from the old gold and silver mines. was a special thrill. Upon entering the city, Howard pulled to the side of the road and picked up Moises, a Mexican “guide” who navigated us through the archaic tunnels, pointing in the direction we needed to drive. Without him, we would be in Nicaragua. We tipped him well after he carried our heavier suitcases the two blocks from the parking lot up the cobblestone streets to our hotel.

Our rooms were ultra-contemporary, and the city beamed with entertainment. With its traveling minstrels, an orchestra performing in the nearby park, five Mariachi bands and performers doubling as statues, there was no end to the talent we saw.

The following day, per my request, we headed to Leon where over 100 leather stores boasted of their hand-made wares. Soon I found the eight-dollar wallet I wanted and we were on our way to Zacatecas where, according to Howard, the tourist attractions were unrivaled.

With no signs to the “Cuota” (toll road), we ended up on the Libre, the free, winding-until-you -throw-up, traffic-jammed, two-way road. Big OOPS! Our three-hour trip to Zacatecas took six. Once we arrived at our hotel, a converted bull ring, it was too late to tour. We would need to cram more in the next day, but OOPS! Not so fast. We learned that a bridge had been damaged by an overturned semi-truck, so we needed to cut our trip short and return the way we had come instead of completing our loop. We had traveled all day NOT to tour this city.

I’ve decided that our journey last week was kind of like life, except our OOPS! had no lasting effects. Many do. We plan our daily-weekly-monthly-yearly schedules and have our lives pretty well figured out until we are derailed by the unexpected. The OOPS! moments that change our directions: unfulfilled dreams; investments that go South; illness; divorce; a friend’s betrayal; a natural disaster; death.

Luke 12:16-21 is a parable about a rich man who had a plan. With no place to store his abundant crops, he tore down his barns and built bigger ones for his surplus grain. Pick it up in verse 18. “And I’ll say to myself, ‘You have plenty of grain laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry.’

 “But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself? This is how it will be with whoever stores up things for themselves but is not rich toward God.’”

In reality, my OOPS! moments were just “oops” moments, temporary detours which meant nothing in the scheme of life. Missing God, however? Now, that’s an OOPS! decision none of us can afford to make.

Airport, Fort Scott

Design Of Airport Runway Expansion In The Works

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The Fort Scott Airport Advisory Board discuss improvements at the facility Wednesday morning at city hall. From left, clockwise FS City Clerk Diane Clay, Bill Waldren, Matt McGhee, Greg Post, Mary Pemberton, Jim Gladbach and Kenny Howard, airport manager.

Fort Scott Airport is in the design stage of expanding its runway.

The FS Airport Advisory  Board met Jan. 24 for an update from Kenny Howard, the airport manager.

“We signed a contract for the design of the (runway expansion) project,” Howard told the board. “That part of the project should be done in April.”

The runway expansion designer is Olsson Associates, Lincoln, Nebraska.

“It will be paid for by the city and private donations,” Howard told fortscott.biz.

The design plan will estimate the cost of the runway expansion project, he said.

Once the cost is projected, grants will be sought to fund the expansion project, Howard said.

The current length of the airport runway is 4,400 feet, the proposed runway expansion would increase that to 6,150 feet, according to Howard.

In addition, the city has applied for a grant from the Federal Aviation Administration to rehabilitate the runway lights, Howard said. The estimated cost of that project is $290,000.

Howard said approximately 600 aircraft took off and landed at the facility last year.

Pilots file and cancel their flights using their cell phones, he said.

Most air traffic at the facility is between 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.

A property owner near the airport, Kenneth Merriman, told the board “the noise decibel is pretty bad over my house.”

Merriman lives one mile south of the airport.

Howard said a noise analysis done on the airport shows the noise is staying on the airport property.

“People that have concerns can come out and talk to me,” Howard told Merriman. He said 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. is the best time to reach him at the airport.

Area News, Submitted

Governor Sam Brownback Announces Plans To Stop KanCare 2.0

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Governor Sam Brownback and Lt. Governor Jeff Colyer on Wednesday announced plans to stop KanCare 2.0 and address concerns raised by legislators and other stakeholders regarding increased costs and the State’s ability to absorb those costs in future budgets.

As a result, they will be seeking to make improvements to the current KanCare program by either extending the contracts of the current three managed care companies for a period of three years or evaluating proposals received in response to the current bid solicitation without the cost increase drivers which have raised these concerns.  The Administration will work with the Kansas Legislature to determine the best path forward and provide certainty and improvements to the current program.

In either scenario, the State will seek to implement budget neutral improvements to KanCare such as work requirements, an IMD exclusion waiver, foster care pilots, behavioral health and primary care integration and improved work opportunities.

Additionally, the new Secretary of KDHE, Jeff Andersen will renew the agency’s focus on addressing problems with the program’s eligibility process.  A backlog of applications had slowed down the approval process for participants and reimbursement for providers.  The state is in the process of issuing a letter of noncompliance to the contractor in charge of the eligibility clearinghouse where applications are processed.

The plan would call for continued meetings and involvement by the KanCare Process Improvement Working Group.  The group will hold quarterly meetings with KDHE where participants and providers can discuss improvements and provide feedback.

“Keeping Kansans healthy continues to be a top priority,” said Governor Brownback, “We’re going to continue to work hard to make sure we have a program that works for Kansas.”

“With improvements to the current system of KanCare I feel we can continue serving Kansans by helping improve their health and well-being. We will continue to listen to participants and providers and work with the legislature to ensure we are increasing the quality of care and outcomes under KanCare,” said Lt. Governor Colyer.

 

Business, Fort Scott

Order Enchiladas By Jan. 25 To Benefit The Beacon

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YPL members making enchiladas in 2017. From left: Chris Petty, Jamie Armstrong, Bailey Lyons and Melissa Wise.

Tomorrow is the last day to order enchiladas to benefit The Beacon.
Bourbon County’s YPL

 (Young Professionals League)

will be making
HOMEMADE ENCHILADAS.
 
  • Enchiladas are $20 for a dozen and can be made of any combination of beef, chicken, or cheese.
  • Enchiladas will come packaged and ready to take-and-bake or freeze for later use.
Deadline to order is Thursday, January 25th 
 ~ All orders must be prepaid.
 
Order by calling Jessica Schenkel at 785-817-8877 
 
or Click HERE to order online. 

Drive-thru pickup is Saturday, February 3th from 2-5pm 
at Kennedy Gym (behind St. Mary’s School) 

Obituary

Obituary Of Willa Ellis

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Willa Jean Ellis, 87, of Fort Scott, passed away peacefully Monday afternoon, January 22, 2018, at her home. She was born March 25, 1930, in Rich Hill, Missouri, the daughter of Howard and Gertie (Williams) Marlin.

She married her childhood sweetheart Danny Ellis February 8, 1948, in Nevada, Missouri.

Willa was a beloved mother and grandmother; a devoted wife and trusted friend to many.

Together she and her husband were strong supporters of the Fort Scott community including The Beacon, Ellis Family Performing Arts Center, and Ellis Park.

In the early 1960’s Willa and Danny started Midwestern Distribution with just three trucks. It eventually grew to 1,000 trucks and employed over 2,000 people. They sold the company to Leaseway Transportation in 1981 and started Multi Service Corp., a trucking and aviation credit card which is currently the largest aviation credit card in the world.

In 1998 Willa and Danny started the Ellis Foundation after the death of their daughter, Kathy Ellis-Adriance, The foundation has awarded over 4,000 scholarships and currently supports 738 students in college.

The Ellis Foundation will celebrate twenty years this June 2018 and has awarded over twenty-million dollars.

In addition to her husband Danny, Willa is survived by her son, Chris Daniel Ellis and wife Cathy, of Louisburg, Kansas; eight grandchildren, Daniel Marlin Ellis, Joshua James Shaffer, Christopher Charles Ellis, Nathan Cole Ellis, Sarah Freeman Spray, Sybil Claire Ramstad, Brooke Adriance Cade, and Erin Blaire Adriance; and ten great-grandchildren, Olive Madison Ellis, Emory Parker Ellis, Freeman Andrew Spray, Ellis Nicole Spray, Gabriel Rose Spray, Bennett John Ramstad, Davis Matthew Ramstad, Vivian Faye Shaffer, Leo Henry Cade, and Finlay George Cade.

Willa was preceded in death by her parents, a sister, Wanda June Taylor, and her daughter, Kathy Lyn Ellis-Adriance.

Following cremation, Rev. Reed Hartford will conduct funeral services 11:00 a.m. Saturday, January 27, 2018, at the Konantz-Cheney Funeral Home, with burial following in the Evergreen Cemetery.

The family will receive friends Friday evening, January 26, 2018, 6:00-7:00 p.m. at the funeral home.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Ellis Foundation for Memorial Scholarships and left in the care of the Konantz-Cheney Funeral Home, 15 W. Wall Street, PO Box 309, Fort Scott, KS 66701. Condolences may be submitted to the online guestbook at konantz-cheney.com.

Fort Scott

Planning Commission Business: Zoning

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The Fort Scott Planning Commission: from left facing the camera, Pam Hightower, Mitch Quick , Diana Endicott, Mark Lewis, Fort Scott Economic Director Rachel Pruitt and Darcy Smith. Not pictured: Carol MacArthur and Mark McCoy. Not present:  Jared Leek and Geoff Clark. With back to the camera is city clerk Diane Clay, left and administrative assistant Allyson Turvey, right.

The Fort Scott Planning Commission met Jan. 22 at city hall to recommend a new member and review the five-year comprehension plan they have been working on.

Members of the commission are Geoff Clark, Mark McCoy, Diana Endicott, Carol MacArthur, Pam Hightower, Jared Leek, Mitch Quick, Mark Lewis and Darcy Smith.

The group reviewed three chapters of the plan and made arrangements to finalize it and present it to the Fort Scott City Council in early March.

The group also discussed letters of interest to serve on Planning Commission from two interested residents, Josh Jones and Frank Adamson.

In the end, Jones was selected to serve.

“Tell Frank it’s nothing against him,” Diana Endicott, chairman of the group, said.  The group decided since his wife is on the city council it might cause issues.

The group will meet February 1 to discuss zoning the old trailer park property, Endicott said.

The function of the planning commission, according to the city’s website is to:

  • Review and adopt (as well as update) the Comprehensive Plan for the City of Fort Scott
  • Establish zoning districts and allowable uses
  • Review zoning regulations within the City
  • Review requests for special permits or conditional uses within certain zoning districts in the City

The Commission also reviews site plans for planned areas and is responsible for zoning within the three-mile limit of the City of Fort Scott.   They meet on an “as needed” basis.
There are 10 members who serve three-year terms. Seven members must reside within the city limits, three may live outside the city limit.

Submitted

KANSAS DAY PROMOTION Monday, January 29, 2018

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The Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce, 231 E. Wall

The Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce announces a Kansas Day promotion.

Kansas entered the Union as the 34th state on January 29 in 1861. On this 157th anniversary of Kansas Day, the Fort Scott Area Chamber would like to promote both our state’s history as well as local businesses.

Any person shopping a participating Chamber member retailer this Monday wearing a Sunflower or the word Kansas on their apparel will receive 10% off of your purchase.
The participating businesses will have a sunflower placed in the front of their store.

Participating stores include Bids & Dibs, Common Ground Coffee Co., Country Cupboard, Courtland Hotel & Spa, Iron Star Antiques & Such, J&W Sports Shop, Main Street Gallery & Gifts, Papa Don’s Pizza, Ruddick’s Furniture, Sekan’s Occasion Shop, Shirt Shack, and Sunshine Boutique.

Celebrate Kansas Day and thank a local owner for doing business in our wonderful state!

Obituary

Obituary Of Lula Mae Piotrowski

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Lula Mae “Lou” Piotrowski, age 80, a resident of Ft. Scott, KS, died Monday, January 22, 2018, at Medicalodge of Ft. Scott.

She was born February 18, 1937, in St. Paul, KS, the daughter of Chares “Bud” and Vera Mudd Groner. She graduated from St. Paul high school. Lou married Robert “Pete” Piotrowski on June 6, 1959, in St. Paul.

She worked as a seamstress for Key Work Clothes. She then worked for many years as the bookkeeper for the family business, Sunflower Supply.

She enjoyed collecting dolls, sewing, crafts, refinishing furniture, making miniature furniture, and flower gardening.

She loved spending time with her grandchildren.

She was a member of Mary Queen of Angels Catholic Church, St. Anne’s Altar Society, and participated in the Adoration Chapel for many years.

Survivors include her husband Pete; three children, Patty West and husband Terry, Redfield, KS; Robert “Bob” Piotrowski and wife Julie, Ft. Scott; and Mary Younggren and husband Mike, Ft. Scott; a brother, Warren Groner, Pittsburg, KS; seven grandchildren: Chrystal Cowan and husband Josh, Ashlee Piotrowski and fiancé Taylor, Gregg Piotrowski, Kayla Collins and husband J.D., Heather Chavis and husband Josh, Emilee Piotrowski and Zach, Casey Proctor and husband Travis; seven great grandchildren, “the grandkids who made her great”, Raylee, Laramee, Jace, Cheyann, Caroline, Hayes, Jackson, and one more on the way; and numerous nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by a brother, Joe Groner; three sisters, Mary Ann Groner, Ruth Read, and Virginia Payne; and her parents.

Father Robert Wachter will conduct the Funeral Mass at 10:00 am Monday, January 29, at Mary Queen of Angels Catholic Church. Burial will follow in St. Mary’s Cemetery.

The Rosary will be prayed at 5:30 pm Sunday, January 28, at the Cheney Witt Chapel.

Visitation will follow from 6:00 until 8:00 pm.

Memorials are suggested to either St. Mary’s Catholic School or Mercy Hospice and may be left in the care of the Cheney Witt Chapel, PO Box 347, 201 S. Main, Ft. Scott, KS 66701. Words of remembrance may be submitted to the online guestbook at cheneywitt.com.

Area News, Submitted

Kansas Creative Arts Accepting Grant Applications

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Kansas Creative Arts Industries Commission now accepting applications for grant programs

TOPEKA — The Kansas Creative Arts Industries Commission is now accepting applications for its two main grant categories, The Strategic Investment Program and The Arts Integration Program.

The Strategic Investment Program recognizes the important role creative organizations play in building and sustaining cultural and economic vibrancy in Kansas. By funding a variety of professional and organizational development opportunities that impact cultural programming, these grants support initiatives that use the arts to enhance community vitality, revitalize neighborhoods, generate local business, create and preserve job opportunities and impact tourism.

The Arts Integration Programs support the role the arts play in all levels of education, community service, and workforce development. This program provides funding for educational institutions, arts organizations, and community service non-profits to use the arts to increase student success, foster creative thinking, develop critical job skills, and enhance community development.

The deadline for application submission is March 30, 2018, with review dates in early-mid April 2018. The main grant period is from May 1, 2018 to June 30, 2019, however, projects with an end date prior to June 30, 2018 may have a start date of Jan. 1, 2018. This will be the final round of the fiscal year.

STRATEGIC INVESTMENT PROGRAM

Strategic Investment Program grants are awarded in three categories:

  • Organizational Development:This category provides funding for professional development opportunities for Kansas based arts organizations that help strengthen business practices, increase organizational viability and promote long-term sustainability.
  • New and Expanded Works:This program provides funding for new or significantly expanded productions, exhibitions, programs or events by Kansas-based nonprofit arts organizations. Projects should either be an entirely new type of program for the organization designed to diversify its services or an expansion of an existing program designed to significantly enhance the quality of current offerings.
  • Equipment and Technology: This program provides funding to purchase equipment, materials, and/or technology upgrades to expand or improve an applicant’s organization.

Applicants for a grant under the Strategic Investment Program must make a compelling case as to why this particular self-identified activity or opportunity was selected, how it will have a substantial impact on their work and community, and how it will enhance the national reputation of Kansas.

Guidelines and additional information can be found here:
http://kansascommerce.gov/707/Strategic-Investment-Program

 

ARTS INTEGRATION PROGRAM

Arts Integration Programs are awarded in three categories:

  • Visiting Artists:This category provides funding for eligible organizations to engage and deepen the impact of arts programming on local and underserved audiences through exposure to and interaction with professional visiting arts. Presenters may book artists in any discipline, not just in performing arts. Projects should strive to integrate an arts discipline into non-arts content areas; help interpret an exhibition, performance, or presentation; and support community development goals and objectives. Booking artists on the Kansas Touring Roster allow for a $1,000 credit for the applicant organization: http://www.kansascommerce.gov/705/KS-Roster
  • Note: KCAIC will review applications for roster inclusion in early March. Please check the website at that time for an expanded list and encourage qualified artists to apply. In addition, Visiting Artists grants featuring roster artists will be accepted and reviewed year round up to 30 days prior to proposed activities.
  • Integrated Arts Education:This category supports new or expanded educational programming that integrates arts learning into the non-arts curriculum and content areas to address emerging technologies, areas of skills shortages, STEM curricula, workforce readiness, and increase student performance.
  • Innovative Partnerships:This category supports innovative programming between arts organizations and non-arts organizations to impact a variety of community and/or economic development goals. Arts organizations are encouraged to partner with other community entities (hospitals, prisons, etc.) to develop arts-centered programs that address community needs such as public health, transportation, tourism, unemployment, aging, corrections, etc.

 

Guidelines and additional information can be found at http://kansascommerce.gov/666/Arts-Integration-Program

 

To review the application process, as well as program and category specific policies and guidelines visit KansasCommerce.gov/CAIC. Applications can be submitted online at https://kansascaic.submittable.com .

 

Grants will be reviewed by peer panel and awarded at the quarterly commission meeting in April.

 

All grants are made possible through a partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts and are subject to KCAIC and NEA standards and regulations.

 

For more on the Kansas Creative Arts Industries Commission go to KansasCommerce.gov/caic.

###

 

Contact:

Peter Jasso

(785) 296-2178

[email protected]

Business, Fort Scott

6th at Lowman Street Closed For “Tiny House” Water Line Work

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The tiny houses at 6th and Lowman Streets will likely be completed April 1, the owner said.

The tiny houses at 6th and Lowman Streets will be completed April 1, according to Mike Rogers, the owner.

This is a little ahead of schedule, he said.

Monday evening crews were finishing the sheetrock and today the inside painting will begin Rogers said.

Also today the City of Fort Scott will be laying water and sewer lines to the four houses, he said.

That work will close 6th Street at Lowman Street until water/sewer work is completed, estimated to be Wednesday afternoon, if all goes as planned.

There are four houses with 782 square feet each. Each house has two bedrooms and one bathroom, with appliances included.

There will be a small yard with privacy fence and designated off-street parking for each unit.

Rogers said a “ballpark estimate” for each rental is $650 per month including appliances, trash, and lawn care.

To inquire about renting, call 620-223-5598 or email [email protected]

To see the previous Fort Scott.Biz story:

New “Tiny” Houses In Production

 

 

Area News, Bourbon County, Fort Scott, Submitted

FSCC Auctions Cabins

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FSCC Construction Trades cabins are for sale.

Fort Scott Community College (FSCC) is accepting bids for the sale of four cabins built by the FSCC Construction Trades program in LaHarpe, Kan.

Cabins are available to be viewed at the former Diebolt Lumber location at 2665 Nebraska Rd. in LaHarpe.

Bids are being accepted online at our Cabin Auction Form. Only those bids submitted on-line through this link will be accepted, all others will be considered null and void.

The minimum bit is $2,500. Highest bidder and dollar amount will be updated once daily each business day by 10 a.m. on the website. Bidding will end Friday, February 9 at 10 a.m. at which time the bidder will be notified by the FSCC business office and arrangements made for payment.  Payment is expected in full by 5 p.m., Friday,  February 16. The bidding forms can be found at fortscott.edu/auction.

No removal of property is allowed until payment has been made in full. Purchaser is responsible for removal and any equipment needed to remove cabin.

FSCC reserves the right to refuse any and all bids.    Removal to be completed by purchaser by February 28. For more information, please contact Julie Eichenberger at 620.223.2700 ext. 5130 or [email protected].

 

Bourbon County Local News