FORT SCOTT, Kan. (Nov. 9, 2017) — Mercy Hospital Fort Scott will host a Diabetes Support Group on Monday, November 20 at 6 p.m. in the McAuley Conference Center. The session topic is “Diabetes Medications: A look at what’s new in the treatment of diabetes.”
Patty Ryan, Mercy R.N., a diabetes educator, will lead the discussion and share details about options that may work for you.
The support group is open to the public. No registration is required and family members are encouraged to attend. Light refreshments will be served.
To learn more about this topic or other important information regarding managing diabetes, join the Mercy Diabetes Support Group. The group meets the third Monday of every other month. Mark your calendar for meeting dates of 2018: January 15; March 19; May 21; July 16; and September 17.
For more information, contact Patty Ryan, R.N., at 620-223-8412.
A vendor from the 2016 Fall Extravaganza talks with a customer.
Bourbon County residents are invited to attend the annual VIP Fall Extravaganza, a one-stop shopping, and dining experience, according to Fort Scott Middle School VIP President Stephanie George.
The event is from 5 to 8 p.m. Monday, November 20 at Fort Scott Middle School, 1105 E. Twelfth Street.
“We make about $1000-1500 each year on this particular fundraiser,” George said. ” Combined with other fundraisers our parent organization has been able to help the middle school pay for lots of things over the years: laptops, iPad carts, other technology including software like Accelerated Reader and Flocabular, gift cards for teachers to purchase classroom supplies, microwaves for our students to use at lunchtime, an annual donation to Lori Nelsen’s sewing / textiles classes to purchase fabric and other materials for students who can’t afford them, an annual donation to the School Wellness Committee that works to better student and faculty wellness, and much more.”
Baked goods for Thanksgiving dinner, holiday gifts, holiday music, and a quick meal are some of the items that can be purchased.
Wreaths Across America will have a booth this year. It is a way to honor a family member or another local veteran with the purchase of a wreath for soldiers graves at Fort Scott National Cemetery during the Christmas season.
As an added incentive this year, any district employee who attends the Fall Extravaganza will have a chance to win one of four $25 cash prizes! The lucky winners will be drawn at the end of the evening (need not be present at 8 p.m. to win).
Free childcare will be available.
Participating this year are vendors:
A2Z Photography / Jana Butcher, American Doll Clothes / Janice Robb, Baby Hats, Blankets and Towel Toppers / Jayne F. Cooper, Baked Goods / Community of Christ. Baskets / Jacy Ermel, Bath Salts and Baked Goods / Marianna Daugherty, BBQ Dinner / Washington Workshop, Beaded Crosses and Christmas Décor / Linda Carpenter, Bids & Dibs / Angela Simon, Brandazzle Dezynes / Brandi Spainhoward, Cinnamon Rolls and More / Class of 2018 Parents, Crack Corn, Jams, jellies / Carol Bingesser and Clara Schofield.
Cutee Tutee Boutique / Alisa Nolan, Damsel in Defense / Cherri Burlingame, Farm Toys and Vintage Décor / William and Judy Wallis, Fishing Lures / Russell Hughes, FSMS Technology Products / Adam Feagins, Funky Junktiques / Jennifer Cox.
Gold Canyon / Tina Schilling, Homemade Pumpkin Rolls / Carmen Owen, Home Sewn Items / Micki Kraft, Jewelry and Photographs / Hugh and Janet Huffman, JP Custom Leather / Jim Pruitt.
K & J Blessed & Broken / Kellie Jackson, Kinede’s Mary Kay / Kinede Houdashelt, Little Luxuries LLC / Lynn A. Chaney, Local Book Authors / Joyce Love and Carol Russell, Locust Hill Lamanchas / Sue Reinecke, LuLaRoe Clothing / Victoria Forester.
Magnabilities / Melinda and Stephanie Miller, Maid in Marmaton / Stacey Atkins, Mixed Media Mosaics / Cindi Lipe, Monat Natural Hair Care / Barbara Baugher, Plain Jane’s Soap / Heather Mace and Pamela Walters, Pruvit / Brandi Pitts, Redbud Farms and Nurseries / Tara Allen.
Rodan & Fields / Brandi Pitts and Jena Russell, Scentsy / Geri Vincent, SeneGence Company (Lip Sense) / Rochelle Casner, Shirt Shack / Billy Webster, Sisters Craft Creations / Betty Haynes, Sugar Cookies / Lori Nelsen and Rosemary Harris, Sunshine Boutique / Georgia Brown.
TFI Family Services / Libby Hayden, The Lavender Patch / Betsy Reichard, The Woodworking Dude / Shawn LaSota, Tourtillott Creations / Jenny Tourtillott, Tupperware / Kelly Hall, Unique and Useful Crafts / Ann Tebbets and Ruth Hawkins, Usborne Children’s Books / Elise Herman.
Walker’s Bakery / Jessie Combs and Leeta Walker, WellSpring Acres / Penny Moore, Wolfe Country Creations / Tena Tyler, Wreaths Across America / Schery Rupprecht, Young Living / Suzanne Griffin, Younique / Bridget McGilbray.
· 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
Around the county today, several programs to honor area military veterans were given by school children.
St. Mary’s Catholic School presented an outside ceremony Friday afternoon for veterans.
Kindergarten through fifth-grade students gathered outside near the school’s flagpole to sing patriotic songs, say the pledge of allegiance, say a prayer for the veterans and then gave each veteran who attended a piece of artwork they had made.
St. Mary’s Elementary School Music Teacher, Mrs. Gorman, introduces the students to the attendees of their tribute to veterans.The pledge of allegiance is recited by the students and the audience attending the presentation honoring veterans.Students point to the American flag as part of the song “It’s A Grand Old Flag.”Fifth-grade students at St. Mary’s thank veterans for their service during the ceremony at the school’s flagpole Friday afternoon.Students sing patriotic songs while veterans that attended the ceremony stand at the flagpole.
Students present artwork and some hugs to veterans who attended the tribute ceremony Friday afternoon at St. Mary’s Catholic School.
FORT SCOTT, Kan. (Nov. 10, 2017) – Mercy Hospital Auxiliary will host a book sale on Thursday, Nov. 16 from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. and Friday, Nov. 17 from 7 a.m. – 2 p.m. in the Mercy Hospital main lobby.
The book sale is the perfect opportunity to purchase gifts for holidays.
The two-day fundraising event will feature hundreds of books for all ages at exceptional savings. Soft back, hard back, and even coffee table books are available for purchase. Also for sale are stationary, music, home décor and items for the kitchen. Visa, MasterCard, Discover, and American Express are accepted. Mercy co-workers have a payroll deduction option, too.
The Mercy Hospital Auxiliary is a volunteer organization that raises money to benefit the hospital and provides scholarships for the nursing students at Fort Scott Community College.
Over the 12 years decade, Mercy Auxiliary has donated over $850,000 to Mercy Hospital for state-of-the-art equipment, supplies and upgrading of services for the patients’ benefit through vending machine sales, proceeds of sales in the Mercy Market Place gift shop, and other specialty sales. Collectively, auxiliary members volunteer the equivalent of almost 6 full-time co-workers in hours of service each year to the hospital.
Mercy Hospice and Konantz-Cheney partner to offer guidance
FORT SCOTT, Kan. (Nov. 8, 2017) – The holiday season can be especially difficult with the absence of a loved one. Mercy Hospice and Konantz-Cheney Funeral Home are co-sponsoring a “Coping with the Holidays” program on Wednesday, November 15from 2-3:30 p.m. in the McAuley Conference Center at Mercy Hospital Fort Scott.
The educational program is open to the public and will offer guidance for those who have experienced a loss and offers tips on how to make it through the holidays without a loved one. Caregivers and family members are welcome.
Facilitators for the program are Melissa George, Mercy Hospice chaplain; LaShawn Noel, Mercy Hospice social worker & volunteer coordinator; and Mike Cheney, Konantz-Cheney director.
Refreshments will be provided by Konantz-Cheney. Registration is not required.
For more information, contact Mercy Hospice at 620-223-8533.
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.
The weather cooperated to make the annual Fort Scott Holiday Open House well attended Thursday evening. Shopping, eating, and visiting with friends and acquaintances were highlights of the event.
A stuffed full-size Santa sits on a bench in front of The Iron Star store and gets a second look from Ernestine Eden.Diners enjoy a dinner at Papa Don’s during the Holiday Open House Thursday.Decorated Christmas trees were in abundance at the Liberty Theater.Carla Farmer enjoys a conversation at the Main Street Gallery.Shirley Palmer looks at merchandise at the Sunshine Boutique.Merchants offered appetizers during the Holiday Open House.Shoppers enjoy the sparkle of a Christmas tree at the Liberty Theater.Colors from downtown Fort Scott lights add ambiance to shopping during the Holiday Open House.Mary Eastwood takes a break to visit with Bob Eckles at her upholstery store, Here We Go AgainYoung shoppers look over merchandise at the Country Cupboard Thursday evening.Lora Holdridge shows off a Christmas treasure she found at the Holiday Open House.
I see you…I see you, professional football player, as you kneel down during the playing of the National Anthem…I see you, with your arm raised in protest…I see you thinking you are doing something to unite people over social and racial injustice. I see you…
But, more than that, here is what I really see…
I see a man pushing the wheels of his wheelchair as he returns home from a foreign land unable to function as he once did, due to fighting to protect you as you kneel on the ground.
I see a young widow, dressed carefully in black, mourning the remains of her husband, hugging a coffin on the tarmac of an airport. I see that same woman clutching a perfectly folded flag to her bosom as taps is played at his graveside. I see her young son, tears streaming down his face, knowing his father would never come home again.
I see graveyards full of tombstones, here and overseas, with names of those fallen, with dates showing a much-too-early death. I see so many, from so many different wars and conflicts, crosses and stones. They are too numerous to count.
I see the sacrifices made, the hearts broken, the tears shed, the shattered lives all in the name of freedom… all in the name of that red, white and blue piece of cloth that you choose to protest.
Social and racial injustice? You who make millions of American dollars for playing a game in a country where you have more opportunity to make a better life for you and your family than anywhere in the world? Really? The hypocrisy of it astounds me.
First of all, if you really want to protest, give your money and time to make changes. Give to those less fortunate than you. Help those people get an education, buy them food and shelter. Show them opportunities to make better decisions. Teach them that they have a purpose in life. If you really want to protest injustices…
Protest the treatment of veterans, who have to wait extremely long periods of time for healthcare, who are living under interstate bridges in boxes, who are committing suicide. Today over twenty of them will take their lives out of hopelessness and despair.
Protest the people whose goal in life is to make sure an unborn baby doesn’t see the light of day. There will be around 3,500 of them today. There is no greater injustice than that.
Protest the loss of religious rights as some atheist complained so much that public prayer by a group of young players on an athletic field is not allowed.
When I see that flag, when I hear that song, when I sing those words, I give homage to those who died for this land, who continue to protect this land, who don’t know if and when they will ever see their loved ones again. Some say that they died for your freedom so that you can take a knee. I say they died for your freedom so you can stand proudly and be thankful that God has blessed you enough that you can live in a country of so much opportunity.
Go ahead…Go ahead and kneel…Go ahead and be ungrateful.
I am watching…as are millions and millions of others.
We don’t see a protest of unity… we see a protest of disgraceful ignorance.
Fort Scott High School Thespians announces auditions for “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” for children in kindergarten through eighth grade. Auditions are from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. on Nov. 13 or 14, in the high school auditorium.
Performances are at 2 and 7 p.m. on Dec. 9, and at 2 p.m. on Dec. 10. Rehearsals will mostly be from 5:30 until about 7:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday in the high school auditorium.
Roles include: Narrators, Grinch, Max the Dog, Cindy Lou Who, Lou Who, Betty Lou Who, Mayor of Whoville, Assistant to Mayor, Clerk, Shopper, Sue Who, Drew Who, Police Man and Whos. No preparation is necessary for auditions and actors only need to attend on one of the audition nights. Children will perform theatre warm-ups, read from the script, and sing and dance to a short song segment. The show is primarily a play, but does include two songs, including a solo from Cindy Lou Who.
Thespian Director Angie Bin will oversee the production with leadership from FSHS Thespians in all artistic director positions. The show serves as the major fundraiser for students attending the International Thespian Festival next summer in Lincoln, Neb. Those who are cast will have a $25 participation fee. Please contact Angie Bin at FSHS with questions.
KDOT U.S. 69 Hwy. expansion roadwork last week, as seen from Eagle Road.
Kansas Department of Transportation and Bourbon County Public Works have both been working on roadways south of Fort Scott.
People who use Calvary Road will soon have access again, according to Priscilla Peterson, Public Affairs Manager with the Kansas Department of Transportation District 4.
Cherry Grove Baptist Church sits at the intersection of Calvary Rd. and U.S. 69 Hwy. where the access is closed currently.
“Right now they are doing a re-route behind the church,” Peterson said. “If the weather is good, the Calvary Road access should be opened by the end of the month.”
KDOT personnel makes an effort to contact people before limiting access to a road, Peterson said.
The Calvary Road closure is part of the improvements being made to U.S. 69 Hwy.
The six-mile highway expansion to a four-lane upgradeable expressway, with access points, was started in March 2017 and is scheduled for completion November 2018, according to Peterson.
Two-way U.S. 69 Hwy. traffic is being maintained while building the new lanes, she said.
Road surfaces on 230th Street between Kansas and Jayhawk were changed from an asphalt road to a gravel road this year.
County Roads Converted From Asphalt To Gravel
Two county roads south-east of Fort Scott have been ripped up this year to eventually be improved, according to a county official.
Eagle Road between 69 Hwy. and 250th Street and 230th Street between Kansas and Jayhawk Roads were converted from asphalt back to gravel.
“This is part of a process,” Jim Harris, Bourbon County Public Works director, said. “We did several miles last year.”
“We turn it back into gravel, then our goal is to overlay on top in the spring,” Harris said. “We do a manual contraction, but leaving it over the winter helps with compaction.”
Exactly what improvements these roads receive is up to the Bourbon County Commissioners.
In March the Bourbon County Commission holds a public meeting annually to discuss the priorities for road repair and maintenance.
“We’ll have a work session on roads, ” Harris said. “I make recommendations about repair or maintain, the commission decides.It’s a public meeting. In March the road priorities are determined by the commission. They decide what roads we are going to reclaim.”
The gravel road has left at least one Garland area resident re-routing his travel.
“It’s so bad I don’t go down that way,” Raymond Kalm said. “It’s too rough and too dusty.”
Thursday evening is the annual Holiday Open House where Fort Scott Merchants stay open from 5-8 p.m. for residents to get a jump start on holiday shopping.
Veterans will be honored at several community schools.
Friday there are several Veteran’s Day activities:
Uniontown High School will honor locals vets with coffee and donuts at the school at 8 a.m. followed by a school assembly to say “thank you”.
Winfield Scott Elementary School students will be performing for vets at 9 a.m.
Fort Scott High School students will present a ceremony in the high school gym at 11:15 a.m.
St. Mary’s Catholic School students will gather at the school’s flagpole to sing, pray and honor vets at 1 p.m.
Fort Scott Community College will host a Veteran’s Day fundraiser at the Ellis Fine Arts Center at 3 p.m. The food fundraiser will be a free-will donation to benefit Wreaths Across America for soldiers graves at Fort Scott National Cemetery during the Christimas season. The event is in conjunction with the induction ceremony of Phi Theta Kappa.
On Thursday, November 16 Eugene Ware Elementary School students will present a patriotic performance at 6:30 p.m. at the Ellis Fine Arts Center at Fort Scott Community College. Veterans are invited to attend.
For other events, this weekend, click on the Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce link below.
It was a great day to bike/hike on Gunn Park Trails.
With temperatures in the 50s and a sunny day after several cloudy November days, today was a great day to take advantage of the trails in the city’s park systems.
FORT SCOTT, Kan. 
