Lorna Carlton was born on January 14, 1916 and is a 1933 graduate of Fort Scott High School. A birthday card shower is requested by friend Jackie Warren and may be sent to Carlton at Guest Homes Estate of Fort Scott, 737 Heylman, Fort Scott, KS 66701
Submitted by Angie Bin
The Fort Scott High School Thespian Troupe #7365 gleaned several honors from the annual KS State Thespian Festival January 4-6, at the Century II Center in Wichita.
Twenty-six students attended with Thespian Director Angie Bin and sponsor Mark Bergmann. In addition, six Fort Scott Middle School Drama Club members attended on January 6, with sponsor Mary Jo Harper.
The troupe earned the highest honor awarded to Thespians in Kansas, the Gold Honor Troupe Award. To achieve this, troupe Historian Karina Kantilal, a junior, presented a notebook documenting the group’s productions, community involvement, and activities. The FSHS troupe also received a plaque for its 10-year anniversary as a troupe.
State Board Representatives senior Xavier Watkins and junior Hunter Adamson helped organize and lead the festival. Adamson received the honor of being elected by KS Thespian Directors to serve as one of five State Board Officers for the coming year.
“Getting the opportunity to hold the position of State Thespian Officer is such an honor,” Adamson said. “In the year to come, I hope to advocate for the importance of theatre for young people and bring about an awareness of the strength of the theatre department.”
As part of Adamson’s duties, she will attend leadership classes at the International Thespian Festival in Lincoln, Neb., in June and meet with the other officers throughout the year. She will then lead all state board representatives from Kansas schools to plan next year’s festival and will be in charge of the 2019 Festival.
Over the three-day festival, students also attended workshops and classes covering all aspects of theatre including acting, dance, technical theatre, theatre advocacy, stage combat and other related topics. Bin taught a workshop entitled “Let’s Play! Growing Theatre Kids,” using her research on children’s theatre to teach other schools how to cultivate a love for theatre among younger children in their communities.
Junior Darrick Green said, “I attended the Musical Theatre Stars dance workshop. It really showed me how profound these Broadway stars really are, how hard they have to work, how difficult choreography is and how much effort actually has to be released to achieve greatness.”
Students also watched productions of the top musicals and plays in the state, chosen to perform at the festival.
Junior Alyx Brooks remarked, “As usual, all of the workshops and plays were wonderful, however, one of my favorite workshops was a lighting workshop that helped me understand the different energies of lighting.”
Many students competed in individual events including sophomore Mesa Jones, junior Mary Gladbach, and senior Grant Coffman in Musical Solo; juniors Daniela Belcuore and Brooklyn Lyons in Musical Duet; and Brooks and Adamson in Duet Acting. The entire troupe competed in late night events including Improvised Acting, Speed Charades, and Creative Costuming.
The FSHS troupe plans to attend the International Thespian Festival at the University of Nebraska in Lincoln, June 25-30. Members are working throughout the year to earn the approximately $750 registration fee to attend.
Submitted by Krista Harding
The interest in purchasing locally grown food is strong. Many consumers are looking to buy farm-fresh items that have been picked at the peak of ripeness, in most cases that very day! Have you ever thought about trying your hand at selling a product at a local farmers’ market? If so, you will want to plan to attend the regional farmers’ market workshop planned for our area.
The Kansas Department of Agriculture, K-State Research and Extension and the Kansas Department of Health and Environment are hosting a farmers’ market workshop set for February 10, in Chanute at the Mid-West Fertilizer Agronomy Center – 3030 S. Santa Fe.
The farmers’ markets are a great avenue for growers to market their products. The market allows growers to have face-to-face interaction with consumers. However, there are legal, safety and financial considerations that growers need to understand before choosing to sell at a farmers’ market. The regional workshop topics will cover topics that growers need to know about before selling.
Highlighted workshop topics include:
Vendor Marketing and Communications
Growing in High Tunnels 101
Regulations on Selling Meat, Eggs and Poultry
Sales Tax for Vendors
KDA’s Division of Weights and Measures will also offer free scale certification at the workshop for attendees.
Registration for the workshop is now open and is $20 per participant. Registration includes lunch; however, lunch will only be guaranteed to those participants who register by February 1. Registration forms can be found at FromtheLandofKansas.com/FMWorkshop or at any of the Southwind Extension District office locations in Erie, Fort Scott and Iola.
Onsite registration will open at 8:30 a.m. and the workshops will begin at 9 p.m. and conclude by 3 p.m.
In addition to this workshop, local growers are encouraged to attend the 2018 From the Land of Kansas Annual Meeting and Farmers’ Market Conference on March 1 and 2, in Manhattan. Registration is open at FromtheLandofKansas.com/FMConference and will close February 19.
Krista Harding is a K-State Research and Extension Agricultural agent assigned to Southwind District. She may be reached at [email protected] or 620-244-3826.
New opportunities for students to attend Fort Scott Community College on an athletic scholarship are here.
Woman’s golf and also men’s and women’s track and field programs will be offered in Fall 2018, according to Tom Havron, athletic director and dean of students, said.
“This is an opportunity for us to add to the student body and give students academic opportunities,” Havron said.
Ryan Pulsifer was hired as the new track and field coach.
“This is near and dear to my heart….I was a track and field coach for Neosho County Community College, Chanute,” Havron said.
“There is a possibility of using local talent on our team,” Havron said.
“Fort Scott High School has tremendous cross country and track teams. The local talent is high.”
Track has potential to add 50 to 90 students to the student body, and up to 15 for golf, Havron said.
Jeff Tadtman, current head women’s basketball coach, is the new women’s golf coach.
“Tadtman has had some experience coaching golf in a previous position,” Havron said.
FSCC has already signed two high school students for this team and is aiming for eight, he said.
For college, women’s golf is played during fall and spring semesters, Havron said.
“We were looking to add a woman’s sport,” Havron said. “Because of Title 9, it’s important to have things equal, to give opportunities to females.”
Havron said in addition to staff recruitment, people can apply for the athletic scholarships.
In addition to academics and sports, FSCC allows students opportunities to serve the community.
Havron said the athletic department prides itself on “producing a culture of community service.”
He cited such service as helping the middle school with several fundraisers, Beacon Adopt-A-Child, Angel Tree, reading programs at the elementary schools, line judges at the high school volleyball games, Upward Bound referees and shoe donations to a third-world country.
“We get multiple calls every month, people who need help,” Havron said. “The coaches are great to get this going.”
Following is the agenda for the Bourbon County Commission, Tuesday, Jan.9, starting at 9 a.m. The commission is located on the second floor of the courthouse at 210 S. National.
9-9:45 a.m. Jim Harris
9:30 Disposal of wreaths at the national cemetery
9:45-10:15 Commissioners consider and take action on any and all questions regarding the law enforcement project
10:30-11 Ben Cole-Sheriffs Dept. Wages
11-12 Justin Meeks
Noon-1:30 Commissioners gone to lunch
2-2:30 Ed Guss-City of Redfield/Fire Department
2:30 Employee handbook
Justifications for an 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
The Northwest Scott 4-H Club met for its regular monthly meeting on December 11, 2017, at the First Southern Baptist Church fellowship hall.
President Kaitlyn Hanks called the meeting to order with eight members present. The roll-call question was “What is your Christmas wish?” The secretary read the minutes from the last meeting, and the treasurer gave a report. Kaitlyn Hanks gave a project talk about performing arts and told us about her membership in the National Thespian Honor Society.
Abbie Collins did a demonstration about how to make Christmas bows. Members enjoyed both talks, but awarded the traveling trophy to Abbie Collins.
A motion was made and seconded for the meeting to adjourn. Presents were wrapped that had been purchased for eight children through the Adopt-A-Child program at the Beacon. After wrapping Christmas gifts, special holiday snacks were shared that the members brought.
Club Leader Rachel Wagner reminded members that the club will lead the flag salute on Dec. 15 at the Wreaths Across America ceremony at Fort Scott National Cemetery.
The Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce will have a new face welcoming the public at its office at 231 E. Wall and a new configuration of the building interior this year, along with some new divisions of the Chamber.
At the weekly Chamber coffee January 4, Lindsay Madison, executive director of the Chamber, said Vonnie Rickerson will replace Allyson Turvey as the administrative assistant in the Chamber office starting January 8.
In an interview following the coffee, Madison said the public area of the Chamber building will be enlarged and the administrative assistant will be shifted to the left of the front door, while the tourism section will be moved to the north part of the building.
Turvey will change from a Chamber employee to a city employee.
“She will work 1/3 time for tourism, 1/3 time for economic development and 1/3 times for community development,” Madison said.
The enlargement of the public area is the result of Fort Scott becoming a regional tourism center with the State of Kansas.
“There are two other regional tourism centers in the state,” Madison said. “So there will be a lot more materials and signage, so there will be changes to the building.”
Also new this year, the Chamber board is adding an Ambassador Group “to be more in touch with our members,” Madison said. At the coffee meeting, she asked for volunteers to be an Ambassador.
Madison said the Chamber has selected a new mission statement as a result of the tourism section coming under the city direction.
Supporting businesses, building community and promoting town spirit is the new mission statement at the Chamber.
Announcements from the first Chamber Coffee of the year:
Pictured above, the attendees of the weekly Chamber coffee mingle before the meeting began.
Each week attendees may pay $1 and tell about an upcoming event, with proceeds going to support the Chamber trolley car.
The average attendance is 40-60 people, according to Madison.
Submitted by Christopher Petty
You may have heard that Tyson Foods has had an interest in constructing a processing plant in Kansas. While there are no immediate plans to do so, it may be a possibility in the future. Farmers within an approximate 60 mile radius of the processing facility may be able to become contract poultry growers.
To learn what it might be like to be a contract poultry grower, plan to attend a poultry grower meeting on Thursday, January 18, beginning at 6 p.m. at the Thayer Senior Center in Thayer, Kan. This program is hosted by the Southwind Extension District of K-State Research and Extension and the Allen and Neosho County Farm Bureaus. The program will feature K-State Research and Extension Poultry Specialist Dr. Scott Beyer. Dr. Beyer will be on hand to discuss a variety of topics such as a typical day in the poultry production, contracts, rules and regulations, management and facilities.
Space is limited, so please call the Southwind Extension District Erie Office at 620-244-3826 to register. For additional information, contact Southwind Extension District Agent for Livestock Production and Forage Management, Christopher Petty by e-mail at [email protected].
Evelyn Lucille Reynolds, age 95, a former resident of Uniontown, KS, died Thursday, January 4, 2018, at Windsor Place, Iola, KS. She was born on June 5, 1922, in Elgin, KS, the daughter of Charles C. and Bertie Macher Mumbower.
She married Willis J. Reynolds on August 17, 1940, in Nevada, MO. He preceded her in death on October 16, 2009.
Lucille was employed by USD 235 School District as a part-time custodian from 1967 until retiring in 1984. She loved outside work including gardening with her husband. She was a member of the First Missionary Baptist Church of Uniontown since 1960.
Survivors include her son, Jimmy L. Reynolds, Uniontown; as well as several nieces and nephews. Besides her husband, she was preceded in death by two brothers, Gilbert and Bob Mumbower; and two sisters, Minnie McBride and Beulah Sipe.
Rev. Marty DeWitt will conduct funeral services at 10 AM Monday, January 8, at the Cheney Witt Chapel. Burial will follow in the Uniontown Cemetery. Memorials are suggested to the First Missionary Baptist Church of Uniontown 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.
| 6 | The Bunker Conceal Carry Class, 8 am, $75 fee |
| 6 | Boiler Room Brewhaus Grand Opening, 11 am, 102 S. National Ave., music, food & craft beer |
| 8 | Informational Breakfast: Stay Strong, Stay Healthy Strength Training Class for Older Adults, Buck Run |
| 9 |
Quarterly Downtown Meet & Greet, Papa Don’s, 10 N. Main St., 8:30 am
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| 10 | Breakfast Bingo at Buck Run Community Center 9 -10 am |
| 11 | Chamber Coffee, Mercy Health for Life 8 am |
| 11 | Biggest Loser Competition Begins at Buck Run, $15 |
| 11 | Thursdays Card Players at Buck Run Community Center 6-9 pm |
| 12-13 | Livestock Sale, Fort Scott Livestock Market, 2131 Maple Rd., 10 am |
| 12 | Theology on Tap, Papa Don’s Pizza, 10 N. Main St., 7 pm |
| 13-14 | Youth Basketball Tournament- hosted by FSHS Booster Club. Start early Saturday morning through 5-6pm Sunday evening |
