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Bridal Veil Park Proposal from Fort Scott High School Students
In 2015 Fort Scott High School students Gabrielle Allen, Olivia Houston, Austin Bolinger, and Morgan Stoughton, under the instruction of teacher Amber Toth, put together a proposal for renovating Bridal Veil Park.
This was a semester long team project requiring students to research and implement solutions to community concerns in the City of Fort Scott.
Their school project included an analysis of what could be done with a virtual budget.
The student project to renovate the park included playground equipment, a walking trail, some new lighting, four new picnic tables, 14 new trees, and benches, with a total cost of just under $75,000
It also included an analysis of the ongoing costs. The project was presented to the Fort Scott City Council.
With the recent discussion about the future of the park, the four students have graciously allowed us to share their proposal for the park. The proposal can be downloaded here.
Library Teens November Events
Submitted by Valetta Cannon, Fort Scott Public Library Youth Librarian, and Assistant Director
Fort Scott Public LibraryTeen Advisory Group events for November:
November 8, 4-6 p.m., the teens will have their monthly games and snacks night in the library’s event room.
November 15, 4:15 – 5 p.m., the teens will create and share (if they want) creative writing short stories or poems. This will be the first teen creative writing night, in celebration of National Novel Writing Month.
November 29, 4:15 – 5 p.m. the teens will meet with at Common Ground Coffee for free treats while discussing this month’s Book Club story, “The Watsons go to Birmingham” by Christopher Paul Curtis.
Librarian To Read At Fort Scott Preschool
Restful Reading Adventure
What: Dinner & relaxed reading: tips and activities to help your child enjoy books
Featured Book: The Napping House
When: Tuesday, November 14, 2017, 6:00-7:00pm
Where: Fort Scott Preschool Center, 409 S. Judson, West entrance
Who: Special Guest, Youth Librarian & Assistant Director, Valetta Cannon
*We will be wearing our pajamas and invite and encourage you all to do the same! We are providing dinner and story time. If you take care of baths before this adventure, the only evening task remaining for you is to tuck them in when you get home! We look forward to a great adventure in reading with you and yours! Please RSVP by Friday, November 10th to let us know how many we need to prepare food for. Thanks & see you there!!
(PAT) Star McClellan: 620-215-6009
(FSECP) Michelle Stevenson: 417-684-0795
City of Fort Scott’s Agenda For Nov.7
The Fort Scott City Commission will meet at 6 p.m. Nov. 7 at City Hall, 123 S. Main.
On the agenda for the commission:
- A certificate of appropriateness will be reviewed for 9 N. Main, 11 N. Main and 13 N. Main on the Old Fort Blvd. side of the building.
- There will be public hearings on the unsafe and dangerous structures at 747 S. Wilson St., 1837 E. First St., 616 S. Horton St., 701 S. Barbee and 1311 S. National Ave.
- They will consider an ordinance to adopt a common consumption area.
- They will consider an amendment to a development agreement with Super Market Developers, Inc.
- There will be consideration of four-way stops at 2nd St. and National Ave. and 3rd St. and National Ave.
- They will approve a quit claim deed for 716 S. Crawford.
- Consideration will be given of closing Gunn Park for Christmas In The Park.
- They will discuss the Stout Building.
- Consideration will be given to annex La Roche Ball Complex.
- They will consider approval of Jeanie Parker as KCAMP voting delegate for the city.
- There will be an expansion of scope for river intake and dam improvement.
- There will be a time change for the Dec. 5 commission meeting to 4 p.m. because of the downtown Christmas parade.
- For more information see the 11-7-2017 agenda packet
Equipment Failure Causes Power Outage
A piece of equipment called a lightning arrester, failed Saturday about 3:30 p.m. in the southern part of Fort Scott and some rural areas south of town. Power was restored in stages between 5 and 6 p.m., according to Gina Penzig, media relations manager with Westar Energy.
“It was in a sub-station that serves Fort Scott,” Penzig said.
About 3,000 customers of Westar, were affected, she said.
Penzig encourages people while the power is on and the weather is fine to download the Westar app, mywestar and/or sign up for text alerts.
To register for text alerts on a mobile phone, text 97827 and send “reg”. Then if there is a power outage in the future, text to that same number and send “out” for the outage, she said.
Calling 1-800-544-4857 or 1-800-LIGHTKS is another way to tell of a power outage and a person can also go to westarenergy.com and report it there, Penzig said. Click “Outage Center” to see the map of the affected area and how to prepare for an outage.
“On the outage map, you can see if someone is on the way and an outline of the affected area and when electricity will be back on,” she said.
It is best to prepare ahead of time for power outages with a storm kit of bottled water, batteries, charging up a cell phone, and making sure flashlights are working, she said. For an extensive list of preparedness, see the website.
“For winter storms, we usually have advance notice of severe weather,” Penzig said.
If power lines are down, assume they are live and call 911, she said.
Check for damage to electric meter boxes and the power line that attaches to the house.
“If the damage is to those items, you may need an electrician before we can safely reconnect power,” she said.
Using the different messages received from Westar, “You will want to see if you should stay home or find shelter somewhere else she said. In addition, check on neighbors safety, she added.
Seminar For Caregivers
Mercy Hospice Hosts Seminar for Caregivers
Renowned expert Elaine K. Sanchez speaks on “Finding Hope, Humor and Heart in Caregiving”
FORT SCOTT, KAN. (Nov. 3, 2017) – Caring for a loved one or friend during a long-term illness may be one of the most rewarding and selfless things a person can experience. It may also be taxing on the caregiver’s physical and emotional health.
That’s why it’s important to learn more about the delicate balancing act in the role of caregiver.
Mercy Fort Scott Home Health and Hospice invites the public, as well as registered nurses, respiratory therapists, and other clinicians to attend “Finding Hope, Humor and Heart in Caregiving” by Elaine K. Sanchez on Thursday, November 30 from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at Fort Scott Church of the Nazarene.
The presentation will cover many topics including anger, guilt, depression, grief, and self-care. There will also be time to visit with local professionals to collect helpful information and resources about being a caregiver.
Register online at www.mercy.net/FtScottCares by Nov. 24. Lunch is provided. Space is limited, so register today.
The general admission fee is $10 or $60 for six CEUs. CEUs can be provided to Registered Nurses and Respiratory Therapist. Certificates of Completion will be given for all other disciplines.
For more information, contact Chris Welch at (620) 223-8060.
Note: Partial funding was provided by the Fort Scott Area Community Foundation. FSACF serves to fulfill the philanthropic goals that benefit the common good and improve quality of life by providing leadership and programming that is responsive to the interests and needs of the residents of the Fort Scott area.
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.
A Taste Of Fort Scott
Advance Voting
Advance voting for the November 7 election for city and school boards has begun. Don’t forget to bring photo identification to the Bourbon County Courthouse if choosing to vote early.
To see who is running and for what position, reference here:
City/School 2017 Election Forum Oct. 26
Obituary: Benjamin Harold Kemna
Submitted by Cheney Witt Funeral Home
Benjamin Harold Kemna, 25, of Shady Shores, died Monday, October 30, 2017, at UT Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas.
Ben was born on July 10, 1992, in Dallas, Texas, to Barry Joseph and Gina Marie (Skotnicki) Kemna. He was a member of the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Denton and president of the Denton Chess Club.
He is survived by his parents, Barry and Gina Kemna of Shady Shores; sister, Lexie Biedrzycki of Austin; brothers, Joshua Kemna of Dallas, Christopher Kemna of Shady Shores; grandparents, Bobbi Kemna of Fort Scott, Kan., Sharon Eatman of Fort Worth; nieces, Avery and Harper Kemna, both of Melbourne, Fla.; and many aunts uncles and cousins. He was preceded in death by his brother, Jeremy Kemna; grandfathers, Harold Kemna and George Skotnicki.
Private burial will take place Saturday in Saint Mary’s Catholic Cemetery in Fort Scott, Kan. Words of remembrance may be submitted to the online guest book at chenywitt.com.
Obituary: Jo Ann Roufs
Submitted by Cheney Witt Funeral Home
Jo Ann Roufs, age 67, of Fort Scott, Kan., passed away Monday, October 23, 2017, at the Moore-Few Care Center in Nevada, Mo.
She was born on January 30, 1950, in Fort Scott, the daughter of Dewey McCracken and Jacqueline Corfman McCracken. Jo Ann was a Registered Nurse working for Nevada Regional Care Center.
Survivors include her children, Lisa Coyan, Flint Roufs and Aaron Roufs, and a sister Karla Saker. She was preceded in death by her parents.
A memorial visitation will be held at 1 p.m. Friday, November 3, 2017, at the Cheney Witt Memorial Chapel. Memorials are suggested to Care to Share and may be left in care of the Cheney Witt Chapel, PO Box 347, Fort Scott, Kansas 66701. Words of remembrance may be submitted to the online guest book at cheneywitt.com.
Obituary: Garry Ray Warren
Submitted by Cheney Witt Funeral Home
Garry Ray “Shakey” Warren, age 71, a resident of Fort Scott, died Monday, October 30, 2017, at his home.
He was born June 13, 1946, in Fort Scott, the son of Raymond Edward Warren and Jessie Mae Harrison Warren. He graduated from Uniontown High School with the class of 1964. He married Linda Turner in 1966. They later divorced. He later married Annie Dunn. She preceded him in death. He worked as a carpenter and served in the Kansas National Guard. He enjoyed hunting, fishing, watching tractor pulls, bull riding and all things outdoors. He liked to shoot pool and collect knives and flashlights. In his later years he took up flower gardening. Garry got the nickname “Shakey” because of Parkinson’s disease. He became very involved in fighting for Parkinson’s rights and benefits. He was a man of positive attitude which helped him overcome many obstacles in life.
Survivors include his daughter Tammy Owen and Phillip OReilly, Grandview, Mo.; two brothers, Ron Warren and wife Jan, Corpus Christi, Texas, and Buddy Warren, Sun City, Ariz.; two grandchildren, Shane and Christopher Jordan Willey; three great grandchildren, Sean, Christian and Olivia Willey; three step-children, Brandi, Joe and April; and numerous nieces and nephews. Besides his second wife, he was preceded in death by his parents.
There was cremation. No services are planned. Memorial contributions are suggested to RCIL and may be left in care of the Cheney Witt Chapel, P.O. Box 347, 201 S. Main, Ft. Scott, KS 66701. Words of remembrance may be submitted to the online guestbook at cheneywitt.com.