Obituary

Obituary of Mary Mefford

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Mary Lou Mefford, age 89, resident of Fort Scott, KS died Tuesday, September 3, 2024, at Pleasant Hill Health and Rehab Center, Pleasant Hill, MO.  She was born August 19, 1935, in Drumright, OK, the daughter of Perry and Ethel Mae Coffman Johnson.  Mary graduated from Moran High School with the class of 1953.  She married William “Ike” Mefford on September 29, 1967, in Fort Scott.  He preceded her in death.  Mary worked most of her career as a claim supervisor for several insurance companies.  She was a member of Eastern Star and St. John’s Global Methodist Church.

 

Survivors include a stepson, Don Mefford (Linda), Mound City, KS; 3 grandsons, Mike Mefford (Rochelle) and their daughter Aleigh, Lee’s Summit, MO, Shon Mefford (Dana), Joplin, MO, and Jason Mefford (Cindy), Mapleton, KS; a sister, Jean Decker, Bronson, KS; a brother, Terry Joe Johnson (Karen), Iola, KS; and several nieces and nephews.

Besides her husband, she was preceded in death by a daughter, Clara Kay Griffin-Clark; 4 brothers, Ralph, Gilbert, Perry, and Paul Johnson; 3 sisters, Betty Clayton, Shirley Bolan, and Pat Dawson; and 2 stepsons, Richard and Bill Mefford.

 

Funeral services will be held at 10:00 AM Monday, September 9th, at the Cheney Witt Chapel.

Burial will follow in the Bronson Cemetery.

The family will receive friends from 5:00 until 7:00 PM Sunday at the funeral home.  Memorials are suggested to Care to Share and may be left in care of the Cheney Witt Chapel, PO Box 347, 201 S. Main St., Fort Scott, KS 66701.  Words of remembrance may be submitted online at cheneywitt.com.

Bourbon County, K-State Extension, Youth

Beginning Support Group For Parents of Special Needs Children

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Cherri Walrod, K-State Research and Extension Office Community
Health Worker, is providing an opportunity for parents of special needs children.
Cherri Walrod is a new K-State Research and Extension Community Health Worker (CHW), photo from her Facebook page.

“I am a mom to special needs kids myself…being a parent to a special needs child can be a special kind of isolation and hurt.”

 

She said another mom asked her to start a support group for parents of special needs kids.

 

“Throughout the spring of this year, I hosted a few meetings for special needs parents in the area, just as a personal service to the community,” Walrod said.

 

 

Walrod began a new job as a community health worker for K-State Research and Extension Southwind District on August 1.

 

 

The Community Health Worker project has received funding and support from K-State 105, Kansas State University’s economic growth and advancement initiative for all 105 counties in Kansas. Learn more at k-state.edu/105.

 

“Since I am part of the community of parents of special needs children myself and support groups fit in the role of a CHW, the timing was perfect to form this group officially.”

 

The first meeting will be September 13 from 5-7 p.m. at the Splash Pad and Gathering Pavilion at North National Avenue and Old Fort Blvd. on Fort Scott’s north end. It is a come-and-go event opportunity to connect with other parents of special needs children.

 

Bring your kids, lawn chairs, snacks, and water to drink, she said.

The Gathering Square Pavilion, the splash pad is behind the pavilion on North National Avenue.
“This first meeting is just a meet and greet time for area parents of special needs kids to come together for some fellowship time,” she said.” I hope to gather enough names and contact info of families interested and then try to determine which day and time might work for families to gather on a regular basis. All of the logistics for future meetings are to be determined based on the feedback from the parents in attendance. I hope to talk to enough parents to get an introductory idea of what they may need in the way of support. “
“Based on what I’ve heard so far, many parents of special needs kids feel very isolated, alone, overwhelmed, defeated and just surviving from one day to the next. Many feel judged by their parent peers due to some of the behaviors of their children.”
“This first meet and greet is just that. A chance to meet other parents in an environment of non-judgment so that we can begin to make plans to help support each other in the future.”
“I will be the lead facilitator for the time being and responsible for the majority of the logistics planning right now. Eventually, as we form a more organized group, we may have more involvement from the parents themselves and also invite community partners to join us to address special topics, needs or to provide educational or training opportunities.”
This is for parents who have wished to get together with others who are in the same situation and understand some of the stresses.

Kansas State University Agricultural Experiment Station and Cooperative Extension Service

K-State Research and Extension is an equal opportunity provider and employer. Issued in furtherance of Cooperative Extension work, acts of May 8 and June 30, 1914, in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Director of K-State Research and Extension, Kansas State University, County Extension Councils, Extension Districts.

 

Opinion

Pete Allen: Rocks Tell Stories

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Site Maps

This is a  (stone) map left to me by Native Americans from as long ago as 2,000 to 4,000 years ago, when they inhabited Bourbon County. It is a petroglyph hand-carved stone modified by an application of a Cementous substance and carved with stone hammers, chisels and drills. This is one of many artifacts I have found by digging in my yard following the 1896 newspaper article describing a “structure” found while building Crawford Street. That description fits the description of a primitive rock smelter like the one in Gunn Park we have always known as a “Bear Den”. The one described in the article was in my front yard and was written off as “an old Indian grave”.

 

 

Shown on the map is a carved-out area depicting Gunn Park with the Bear Den marked with a hole and a “smelter symbol”. Also marked on the stone is the smelter that was in my front yard, smelters that were located at 6th and Main and 9th and Main and other smelters that were in Gunn Park and some farther south in the community college area. I can see about 10 such locations, and there were more around the county. The complete area shown on the stone was being mined, with the melted materials being shipped off to other countries or nations. Those materials may have been gold, silver, copper, or steel…. I have another map that depicts various materials being mined at various locations. How far back in history this story goes, I do not know, but this find is a starting point.

 

Here is a stone hammer and chisel I found…

 

 

 

 

 

Bourbon County, Entertainment

Old Settlers Picnic Contests/Raffle Results

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The following were bike winners at the Old Settler’s Picnic in Uniontown yesterday afternoon, as submitted by Mary Pillion, one of the organizers of the event.

The AR-15 300 Blackout Rifle raffle winner was  Heath Lord. Not pictured

Winners of bikes: (Submitted photos)

(Names were not provided to fortscott.biz)

Longest Beard Contest

Longest beard contest winner is Ray Taylor, middle. Submitted photos.
Longest married couple Coach and Mrs. Walker. Submitted photos.
Becky Shinn won for the longest resident with a Uniontown address. Submitted photos.
Oldest women was Babe Goodbody, 80 years old. Submitted photos.
Oldest man was Leo Hartman, 95.
Longest mullet, unknown winner. Submitted photos.
Even the young enjoyed the bingo game on Sunday afternoon. Submitted photo.
Art, Lowell Milken Center for Unsung Heroes

ARTEFFECT Ambassadors Visual Arts Online Fellowship 2024-2025 Application

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ARTEFFECT Ambassadors
Visual Arts Online Fellowship 2024-2025
ARTEFFECT Ambassadors is an online fellowship for educators working directly with students in grades 6-12 to foster the visual arts. Ambassadors explore teaching and learning around the inspiring and diverse stories of Unsung Heroes from history.
PROGRAM TIMELINE:
The fellowship runs online from October 30, 2024–June 2, 2025. During the school year, Ambassadors attend at least four online modules taught by seasoned art educators and practitioners, accompanied by lesson plans. Sessions are on Wednesdays – Pacific Time. Module 1 and Module 6 are mandatory.

Module 1 – Program Overview: Meet the Unsung Heroes 
OCT 30, 2024, 4:00-6:00 PM PT

Module 2 – Character and Values
NOV 20, 2024, 4:00-5:15 PM PT

Module 3 – Storytelling through Art
DEC 11, 2024, 4:00-5:15 PM PT

Module 4 – Unsung Heroes and STEAM
JAN  22, 2025, 4:00-5:15 PM PT

Module 5 – Artmaking and Social Impact
FEB  26, 2025, 4:00-5:15 PM PT

Module 6 – Impacting Communities: Capstone Project
APR 9, 2025, 4:00-6:00 PM PT

Ambassadors connect with the cohort and colleagues nationwide through online events and networks, meet 1:1 with the Program Director by April 1, 2025, and complete a Capstone Project and Report by June 2, 2025. Capstone Projects are learner-centered, uniquely designed, and developed by each Ambassador. Capstone Projects can take shape as lesson plans, student art exhibitions, publications, community events, and more.

The fellowship provides a Certificate of Completion, a $1,250 stipend upon completion of program requirements, and $250 credit for materials. For more details, review the two-page Program Information Sheet. Applications are due September 16, 2024.
Learn More and Apply
Capstone Projects
As part of the fellowship, Ambassadors develop capstone projects throughout the school year. These learner-centered projects provide unique opportunities to explore the stories of the Unsung Heroes, expand the impact of lessons, and enrich teaching and learning. Capstone projects can engage students and communities through lesson plans, student art exhibitions, the annual ARTEFFECT student art competition, school-partnerships, publications, community events, and more. 
Kyle Denman Capstone Project
Ambassadors in Action!
Meet our featured Ambassador in Action Kevin Dailey, a U.S. History Teacher at Ballyshannon Middle School in Union, Kentucky.

Each ARTEFFECT Ambassador culminates their online fellowship with a capstone project that brings the inspiring stories of the LMC Unsung Heroes into their classrooms and communities. Here’s an excerpt from Kevin about his capstone project:

“My capstone was a condensed, week-long unit to incorporate ARTEFFECT into a classroom. This unit was designed as an introduction to ‘project-based learning’ and Unsung Heroes. The targeted audience of the initial program was a middle school social studies class, but my lesson plan can be adapted for all grade levels and classrooms.

After the work was completed, students showcased their work in a gallery walk for the middle school. Learning objectives included students being able to describe what it means to be a hero and to identify heroes from history, and understanding the significance of art on communicating feeling, ideals, and history.

The major lesson learned from this abbreviated project is confirmation that all students can do the ARTEFFECT project. On top of that, they can produce some incredible work discovering Unsung Heroes! The students were incredibly engaged in the process. I do believe at this scale (100+ students) and speed (one week), the written component needs to be shortened substantially. Some students struggled to complete both the artwork and the writing. For those that wish to pursue the competition, they can add to that writing as they move through the process.”

Thank you to Kevin for your dedication and exploratory arts-integration unit. Congratulations on the artworks created by the students at Ballyshannon Middle School. Looking forward to the next implementation of your lesson plan!
Stay connected with ARTEFFECT through our expanding social media channels on Instagram, Facebook and YouTube.

Join a growing network of art educators at the
For inquiries, contact: [email protected]
ARTEFFECT Facebook
ARTEFFECT Instagram
LMC ARTEFFECT
ARTEFFECT YouTube
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Obituary

Obituary of Shirley Higgins

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Shirley Jean Higgins, age 88, a resident of Ft. Scott, Kansas, passed away Monday, September 2, 2024, at the Mercy Hospital in Pittsburg, Kansas.  She was born February 24, 1936, in Richards, Missouri, the daughter of John Logan Zimmerman and Effie Charlotte Debus Zimmerman.

Shirley graduated from the Richards High School with the Class of 1954.  While in high school, Shirley excelled at basketball.  Following graduation, she was invited to play basketball with the Redettes, a traveling women’s basketball team.  Shirley declined the offer and instead married Clyde Richard Higgins on August 13, 1954, at Nevada, Missouri.

In earlier years, Shirley worked at Aren’s Produce and also as a meat cutter for Food Town in Ft. Scott.  Following the birth of her son, Shirley began providing babysitting services out of her home.  She continued to babysit for over fifty years and provided care to countless area children.  She later worked eleven years for Community Care Connection where she provided in home care for the elderly and disabled.

Shirley loved to garden, play cards and watch KU basketball.  She had a tender heart for animals.  The children she babysat remember the menagerie of animals she kept in her backyard including the many bottle-fed baby squirrels.  Shirley also enjoyed taking car rides with her family.  She was a member of Community Christian Church.

 

Survivors include her three children, (Clyde)Terry Higgins (Lynne) of Carl Junction, Missouri, Teresa Jean Higgins (Paul) and Tammy Sue Ekis (Jerry) all of Ft. Scott and three grandchildren, Terra Higgins of Carl Junction, Missouri, Andrew Clyde Higgins (Savanna) of Siesta Key, Florida and Hunter Ekis of Ft. Scott.  Also surviving are the numerous children she babysat over the years.

Shirley was preceded in death by her husband, Clyde, on January 24, 2008.  She was also preceded in death by a half-brother, Dean Zimmerman and a half-sister, Rachel Minor.

 

Rev. Chuck Russell will conduct funeral services at 11:00 A.M. Saturday, September 7th at the Cheney Witt Chapel.

Burial will follow in the Newton Burial Park in Nevada, Missouri.

The family will receive friends on Saturday from 10:00 A.M. until service time at the Cheney Witt Chapel.

Memorials are suggested to Paws & Claws Animal Shelter of Care to Share and may be left in 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.

Government, Kansas

Governor Kelly Announces August Total Tax Collections Surpass Estimate by Nearly $23M

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TOPEKA – Governor Laura Kelly announced today that the August 2024 total tax collections were $665.6 million. That is $22.8 million, or 3.5% more than the estimate. Total tax collections are up 4.0% from August 2023.

“While we are seeing collections higher than the estimate, we likely won’t see the impact of the income tax cuts from Senate Bill 1 on monthly collections until the beginning of next year,” Governor Laura Kelly said. “Because of that timing, we must continue to be fiscally responsible for our long-term outlook.”

Individual income tax collections were $329.4 million, which is $19.4 million, or 6.3% more than the estimate and up 10.1% from August 2023. Corporate income tax collections were $20.2 million, which is $9.8 million, or 32.8% less than the estimate and down 19.7% from August 2023.

Combined retail sales and compensating use tax receipts were $294.6 million, which is $12.6 million, or 4.5% more than the estimate and up $2.2 million, or 0.7% from August 2023.

Click here to view the August 2024 revenue numbers.

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Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas

Walk-in mammography screenings now available at CHC/SEK

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Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas at Fort Scott, 2322 S. Main, Fort Scott.

 

One in eight women will develop breast cancer and to remove barriers many women have in receiving timely breast cancer screenings, the Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas has made walk-in mammogram screenings available at its Fort Scott and Pittsburg South locations starting on September 3.

Women aged 40 and older without a recent mammogram screening can walk in from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Monday through Friday at CHC/SEK’s Fort Scott clinic located 2322 S. Main St, Fort Scott and Pittsburg South clinic located at 1011 S. Mount Carmel Place, Pittsburg. No referral or order required.

CHC/SEK participates in the Early Detection Works which is a breast and cervical cancer screening program for Kansas women. The clinic offers other financial assistance programs ensuring every woman who needs a mammogram screening will receive one regardless of income or insurance status. Patients can ask to speak to a Benefits Enrollment Specialist for more information on Early Detection Works. CHC/SEK offers discounted fees for services based on family size and income. No one is denied services based on their insurance status or ability to pay.

CHC/SEK provides Hologic 3D Genius imaging for all patients which detects 20–65 percent more invasive breast cancers than 2D alone.

To learn more or make an appointment call 620-223-8484 or visit our website at chcsek.org/service/imaging/

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About the Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas 

The Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas (CHC/SEK) is a mission-focused, patient-owned, federally qualified health center (FQHC), Kansas not-for-profit corporation, and a recognized 501(c)(3) public charity. The CHC/SEK provides quality, affordable, and accessible healthcare for everyone, regardless of income or insurance status. The CHC/SEK has 39 registered sites in Kansas and Oklahoma, providing approximately 60 services, including walk-in care, primary care, women’s health, mammography and prenatal care, pediatrics, school-based health services, vaccinations, dental care, behavioral health and addiction treatment, and chronic disease management. To learn more, visit www.chcsek.org.

Fort Scott, Government, Kansas, Youth

Kansas Dept. of Children and Families New Building To Open Soon In Fort Scott

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The Department of Children and Families, National Avenue and Wall Street, August 2024, a new multi-million dollar investment in Fort Scott’s downtown area will open soon.

 

The new  Department of Children and Families building is located at  National Avenue and Wall Street and is 13, 642 square feet.

 

“The new building will include safety features to protect employees and clients such as secure interview rooms, electronic access management system, a video surveillance system and other office renovations to suit the functionality and needs of DCF,” said Anita Cooper, Southeast Regional Director for the Kansas Department for Children and Families.

Taken from X.com

“A more centralized location will make it easier for residents in Fort Scott and the surrounding area to access the service center,” she said. “The new building puts us back in the downtown area where we were originally located. We are excited to be a part of the downtown community! ”

 

The Kansas Department for Children and Families offers a wide range of programs and services to help vulnerable Kansans.

 

“As of May 2024 (the most recent report), the total number of households in Bourbon County served by DCF was 878,” Cooper said. “That includes 21 served by the Temporary Assistance to Needing Families (TANF) program, 817 served by food assistance (FA) and 40 served by child care assistance (CC). The Fort Scott office also manages the cases for people living in Linn County. Total households served in Linn County: 419 (5 TANF, 402 FA and 12 CC). In addition, Child Protection Services provides child and family well-being services to approximately 417 families a year out of our Fort Scott office.”

There are 29 staff members based out of the Fort Scott office with hours of operation are 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Friday.

The new building is located at 10 S. National Ave., Fort Scott. The phone, fax, etc. will all remain the same numbers when they move in, in the next month.

“We are leasing our current office location at the Fort Scott Professional Building, 710 W. 8th St. We’ve been in this location since 2009. The new building will be leased as well through SilverRock Ventures, LLC based out of Junction City,” Cooper said.

 

Kendall Schoenrock, of  SilverRock Ventures, is the

owner and builder of the building.

Submitted graphic.

“We will own it and it is leased to the State of Kansas Department for Children and Families,” Schoenrock said. “The State will look to take occupancy (of 10 S. National Avenue) in the next four weeks or so.”

Schoenrock purchased the property on August 31, 2023, which was originally known as the Downtowner Hotel building.

“This project is very important for the State of Kansas, to retain jobs in Fort Scott,” Schoenrock said in a prior interview https://fortscott.biz/news/ks-department-of-children-and-families-office-building-is-being-built-at-wall-and-national-avenue. “They could have moved the DCF to another community. In addition, it will spur money for retail and restaurants in the downtown area.”

“This project will get a lot of people for downtown businesses,” he said. “They will eat downtown, shop downtown, etc.”

The demolition was done by Skitch’s Hauling and Excavating, Inc.

After demolition was completed, his team got to work putting the building on the south side of the lot, with parking on the north.

“Many people helped make this happen,” he said. “Bailey Lyons with Lyons Realty Group, Rob Harrington with Bourbon County Regional Economic Development and Brad Matkin and Matthew Wells, with the city. And Arnold Scholfield with the Fort Scott Design Review Board provided good, solid feedback for the project.”

“They should be praised,” he said. “Fort Scott has been very supportive. I couldn’t have asked for more support from the city. That’s what is needed to spur development.”

Name In Stone

There is a name in stone on the north facade of the new building in honor of a SilverRock employee who died on this job site this year.
Mike Anders. Submitted photo.
“Mike Anders was a long-time employee and close friend,” Schoenrock said. “Sadly he passed away on the job site on April 4th, 2024. It was not work-related.”
Obituary

Obituary of Raymond Kalm Sr.

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Raymond Henry Kalm, Sr., age 87, a resident of rural Garland, Kansas, passed away Saturday, August 31, 2024, in Overland Park, Kansas, surrounded by his family.  He was born March 22, 1937, near Mulberry, Kansas, the son of Lewis Hurl Kalm and Nellie Louise Pence Kalm.

Raymond graduated from Ft. Scott High School with the Class of 1955.  He went on to further his education at K-State University.  Raymond served with the Kansas Army National Guard from 1959 to 1965.  In 1967, he was united in marriage to Bettie Garrens.  They made their home in Kansas City where they raised their boys, Randy, Raymond, Ronnie and Tommy.

Raymond worked as a freight conductor for the Frisco Railroad which later became Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad.  For thirty-six years, he rode the rails between Kansas City and Ft. Scott and maintained homes in both locations.  In addition to working on the railroad, he also farmed and raised cattle all his life.

Raymond took an active role in raising his boys.  He helped with their Boy Scout troop and went on many camping and hiking trips.  He was proud of the fact that three of his sons became Eagle Scouts.  In later years, Raymond was active with the Pioneer Harvest Fiesta Committee, the American Legion and also served as treasurer of the Sheffield Cemetery Association.

Above all, Raymond loved spending time with his family.  He loved to plan and attend family gatherings for any occasion.  He was a member of the Hannon Free Will Baptist Church near Liberal, Missouri.

One of Raymond’s daily passions was to help someone else, and he was grateful that he was the beneficiary of assistance from many friends and neighbors.

 

Survivors include his children, Randy Kalm (Lynn) of North Kansas City, Missouri, Raymond Kalm, Jr. (Lori) of Stillwell, Kansas, Ronnie Kalm (Julie) of North Kansas City, Missouri and Tommy Kalm (Racquel) of Carl Junction, Missouri; six grandchildren, Randy Kalm, Jr., Tyler Kalm, Micah Heizer, Paige Kalm, Garrett Kalm, Katie Hudson; and four great-grandchildren, Blake, Sabrina, Angel and Christian.   Raymond also affectionately includes Jazzy Robinson and Kloe Hamilton among his granddaughters.   Also surviving are his stepchildren, Karla Tersiner (Jeff) of Hepler, Kansas, Mark Burr (Pat) of Centerview, Missouri and Rod Burr (Debbie) of Elkton, Maryland; a brother, Lewis Kalm of Frontenac, Kansas and a sister, Kathryn Doerfler of Ft. Scott, Kansas.

Raymond was preceded in death by his parents Hurl and Nellie Kalm, his longtime special friend, Irene Thomas, his second wife, Kay Burr Kalm and his brother, Keith Kalm.

 

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 A.M. Thursday, September 5th at the Hannon Free Will Baptist Church in Liberal, Missouri.

Burial will follow in the Sheffield Cemetery near Arcadia, Kansas.

The family will receive friends from 5 to 7 P.M. Wednesday at the Cheney Witt Chapel.

Memorials are suggested to the Hannon Free Will Baptist Church and may be left in care of the Cheney Witt Chapel, 201 S. Main, P.O. Box 347, Ft. Scott, KS 66701.  Words of remembrance may be submitted to

Bourbon County Local News