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Bus Incident Explained by School Superintendent
PRESS RELEASE submitted by Destry Brown, Superintendent of USD 234 School District.
Yesterday, October 3rd, as our 8th grade students were returning from Kansas City from a field trip, one of our buses had an inside dual tire blow out just south of Louisburg, KS on US 69 Highway.
After consulting with district staff, the decision was made to continue to drive the bus toward home at a reduced speed.
As the bus approached the exit at Prescott, KS, the driver of a school van that was following the bus noticed smoke coming from the tire. The driver of the van drove up to the bus and signaled for them pull over.
The students on the bus were evacuated with the assistance of the teachers. After evacuating the bus, students hurried down the highway ramp and headed to the convenience store located at the
Prescott, KS exit.
After the students had cleared, the driver attempted to put the fire that had developed around the tire area out using the fire extinguisher on the bus. This proved to be unsuccessful. The fire
began spread to the inside of the bus and eventually engulfed the entire bus.
The students were near the convenience store when the fire began to spread inside the bus. The bus was a total loss.
Students entered the convenience store and were provided drinks by the store clerk.
The Linn County Fire Department, the Kansas Highway Patrol, and Linn County EMS responded to the scene and one student was treated and released at the scene for minor smoke inhalation.
Another bus from Fort Scott arrived at the convenience store around 3:45 p.m. and loaded the 32 students and staff for the return trip home.
All students arrived at Fort Scott Middle School and
were picked up by their parents and went home by 5:00 p.m.
were picked up by their parents and went home by 5:00 p.m.
The district will begin an internal investigation of the incident next week and will determine what policies and procedures need to be in place in the future, so another incident of this type does not happen again. A full report of the investigation will be provided to the board of education at the conclusion of the investigation.
We are proud of our students and staff who responded calmly and quickly during this event. We are thankful that our students and staff were returned home safely.
The safety of our students is our top priority, and the district is committed to doing whatever is necessary to ensure our
students are safe while attending school as well as events that occur outside of school.
students are safe while attending school as well as events that occur outside of school.
Obituary of Billy J. Graham
Billy J. Graham, age 92, a lifelong resident of Ft. Scott, Kansas, passed away Monday, September 30, 2024, at the Mercy Hospital in Pittsburg, Kansas. He was born November 8, 1931, in Ft. Scott, the son of Louis Graham and Helen Briggs Graham. Billy graduated from the Ft. Scott High School with the Class of 1950. He married Shirley Nutter on July 3, 1954. The couple honeymooned in Chicago and since Billy was an avid baseball fan, part of their trip was spent at a ball game. Throughout his life Billy was well known in his community. He worked at Master Printers, Mid-America Business Forms and Mayco Ace Hardware. He also managed the Fox Theater and the Mo-Kan Drive-In. Billy enjoyed baseball, basketball, and football. He faithfully supported the St. Louis Cardinals, KU Jayhawks and the Kansas City Royals and Chiefs. Billy will also be remembered for his bowling skills where he rolled several perfect games. During the 1960’s and 70’s he worked as a scout for the Ft. Scott Community College Greyhound Basketball Team. Later in life, he enjoyed eating ice cream, listening to baseball on the radio and working puzzles on his computer. He was also frequently seen, on his scooter, “walking” his dog Suzie.
Survivors include his wife, Shirley, a son John Graham (Carol) of Parker, Colorado and a daughter, Grace Sweat (Bill) of Ft. Scott; four grandchildren, Robert Nolan (Alisa), Kim Nolan, Christopher Graham (Heather) and Timothy Graham (Ruth) and two great-granddaughters, Ashton and Adelynn Nolan as well as several nieces, nephews and cousins. Billy was preceded in death by his parents; three brothers, Kenneth, Robert and Harold Graham and a son, David Graham.
There was cremation. A celebration of Billy’s life will be held on Saturday, October 12th from 11:00 A.M. to 1:00 P.M. at the Carriage House, 301 S. Main St., Ft. Scott, Kansas. Memorials are suggested to 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.
Death Notice of Janice Jackson
Janice Jackson, age 71, a resident of Ft. Scott, Kansas, passed away Thursday, October 3, 2024. Private burial will take place at the Evergreen Cemetery in Ft. Scott. Arrangements were under the direction of the Cheney Witt Chapel, 201 S. Main, Ft. Scott, Kansas.
Obituary of Gerald Mildfelt
Gerald L. “Jerry” Mildfelt, age 92, a resident of Ft. Scott, Kansas, passed away Thursday, October 3, 2024, at his home. He was born December 13, 1931, in Perry, Oklahoma, the son of Joe Mildfelt and Catherine Endres Mildfelt.
Jerry faithfully served his country with the United States Army from 1952-1954. He later went on to graduate from Ottawa University with a degree in finance. Jerry married Sue Karleskint on August 23, 1968, in Ft. Scott.
Throughout his life, he worked at several banks, FDIC and RTC as an investigator.
Following retirement, Jerry enjoyed fishing and gardening. One year, he raised over two hundred tomato plants.
He was a member of the Mary Queen of Angels Catholic Church.
Survivors include his wife, Sue, of the home; four sons, Tom Mildfelt (Sandy) of Parsons, Kansas, Mike Mildfelt (Debi) of Winfield, Kansas, Dan Mildfelt (Lisa) of Chanute, Kansas, and Todd Mildfelt, (Kelli) of Baldwin, Kansas, and a daughter, LeAnne Wiles (Kevin) of Parsons, Kansas. Also surviving are ten grandchildren and twenty great-grandchildren.
Jerry was preceded in death by his parents, two brothers, Gene and Tom Mildfelt, and two sisters, Nellie Mitchum and Ruth Steichen.
Father Yancey Burgess will conduct the Mass of Christian Burial at 10:00 A.M. Tuesday, October 8th at the Mary Queen of Angels Catholic Church (Kennedy Gym).
The Rosary will be recited at 9:30 A.M. prior to the Mass.
Burial will be in the St. Mary’s Cemetery.
Memorials are suggested to the St. Mary’s Building Fund 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.
Pioneer Harvest Fiesta Music Line-up
The Pioneer Harvest Fiesta is at the Bourbon County Fairgrounds on South Horton this weekend.
The music line-up:
Saturday: 10 a.m. Marilyn Adcock; 11 a.m. Mike Lundeen; 12:30 p.m. Ladonia and Jerry Greer; 1 p.m. Pat and Steve Harry; 2 p.m. St. Martins’ Academy; 3 p.m. Mike Miller.
Sunday: noon Ladonia and Jerry Greer; 1-2 p.m. group jams and open mic for walk-on.
The Bourbon County Commission Agenda for Oct. 7
Bourbon County Courthouse
210 S. National Ave Fort Scott, KS 66701 Phone: 620-223-3800
Fax: 620-223-5832
Bourbon County, Kansas
Brandon Whisenhunt
1st District Commissioner
Jim Harris, Chairman
2nd District Commissioner
Clifton Beth
3rd District Commissioner
Bourbon County Commission Agenda 210 S. National Ave.
Fort Scott, KS 66701
October 7, 2024 5:30 p.m.
- Call Meeting to Order
- Flag Salute
- Approval of Consent Agenda
- Approval of Minutes from 9/30/2024 and 10/4/2024
- Approval of Payroll Totaling $289,779.42
- Approval of Accounts Payable Totaling $558,232.10
- Department Updates
- Public Works
- County Clerk
- Commission Comments
- Adjourn Meeting
Executive Session Justifications:
KSA 75-4319 (b)(1) to discuss personnel matters of individual nonelected personnel to protect their privacy.
KSA 75-4319 (b)(2) for consultation with an attorney for the public body or agency which would be deemed privileged in the
attorney-client relationship.
KSA 75-4319 (b)(3) to discuss matters relating to employer/employee negotiations whether or not in consultation with the
representative(s) of the body or agency.
KSA 75-4319 (b)(4) to discuss data relating to financial affairs or trade secrets of corporations, partnerships, trust and individual proprietorships
KSA 75-4319 (b)(6) for the preliminary discussion of the acquisition of real property.
KSA 75-4319 (b)(12) to discuss matters relating to the security measures, if the discussion of such matters at an open meeting
would jeopardize such security measures.
Harris Will Lead Action Team to Move Forward With Freeman Health System
At a special Bourbon County Commission this morning the Commissioners decided that Commission Chairman Jim Harris will form an action team to expedite Freeman Health System’s intentions to open an Emergency Department and 10 bed-hospital at the former Mercy Hospital building at 401 Woodland Hills Blvd.
“It’s time to get this accomplished,” Harris said in an interview. “I want to thank Commissioner Clifton Beth for his help on this the last few years.”
Beth had been the commissioner who had been working on the healthcare issues as a leadman, “but he is stepping out for some personal reasons,” Harris said. “I am retired and with an action team to assist, we will take this to the finish line.”
On this newly formed healthcare action team are Harris, Dr. Randy Nichols, T.J. Denning (K.R.I. Chief Operating Officer), Fort Scott Mayor Terry Dancer, Fort Scott City Manager Brad Matkin, Fort Scott City Attorney Bob Farmer, and Bourbon County Counselor Justin Meeks.
“On Monday at 2 p.m. all the team members are going to meet at Freeman (Health Care System) in Joplin (MO),” he said.
“On Tuesday we will meet with the people who have the Fort Scott Emergency Room equipment, either Mercy or Via Christi. It was removed and stored in Pittsburg and Mercy has agreed to give it back. Our job is to bring it back.”
“We will then get technicians to see what is working and what is not,” he said. “Once we know it’s working we will probably have a Memorandum of Understanding to give to Freeman.”
“Kansas Renewal Institute can then move forward with their planning, final inspection and then we will have a green light to open the ER and small hospital, which is vital to K.R.I. and the people of Bourbon County,” he said.
“I want to thank Commissioner Beth for his work on this and thank Freeman Health System, this is a God-send and a blessing to Bourbon County,” Harris said. “And I want to thank Mercy for their help and assistance with the equipment.”
Fall Family Fun Activities Starting Oct. 5 at Rinehart Christian Church
Rinehart Christian Church Annual Corn Maze is part of a FREE fall festival event for the public.
The surrounding community is invited to come out for an afternoon of fall fun and fellowship on three Saturdays: October 5, October 12 and October 19 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. to the church located at 9443 S. 900 Rd. Richards, MO 64778, about 14 miles from Fort Scott.
Family activities include a petting zoo on October 5, horse rides on October 12, and hatchet throwing on October 19.
Besides the corn maze, activities include hay rides, corn pits, pumpkin painting, fire pits, lawn games, duck races, concessions, photo booths, cow train, grain wagon basketball hoops, and inflatables.
“The reason for the corn maze is to give area people a fun day for the family and to let them know Rinehart is a church that cares about them,” said Pastor Kevin Moyer.
“This is the 5th year for us to have the maze,” he said. ” It grows each year in numbers, and people come and stay for hours. It really is a family event, and people can’t get over the fact that it’s free. Even the lunch is free! It’s our gift to the community. Our people volunteer their time for three Saturdays in October.”
‘If you look at the maze from high above you’ll see the full design, the Lion of Judah,” he said.
The Lion of Judah is mentioned in the scripture Revelation 5:5.
Rinehart Christian Church’s mission is to love God, live like Jesus, and lift others up, he said.
A Brilliant Defense by Patty LaRoche
Author: A Little Faith Lift…Finding Joy Beyond Rejection
www.alittlefaithlift.com
AWSA (Advanced Writers & Speakers Assoc.)
Over 40 years ago, Jack, a friend of Dave and mine, decided to get his doctorate in divinity and enrolled in a renowned D-1 university. Part of his interview process was to read and critique a book explaining the book of Mark that was written by one of the Divinity professors. Jack would be given 30 minutes in which to present his oral criticisms to the renowned scholar.
The book was no easy read. Each chapter had at least 140 footnotes, and the end explanation was that nothing happened after the two women encountered an angel at the tomb where Jesus had been buried. The interviewer based that on Mark 16:8: Trembling and bewildered, the women went out and fled from the tomb. They said nothing to anyone, because they were afraid.
For a little background, most current Bibles include another 11 verses in Mark which add that Jesus then talked with several people before he was raised into Heaven, but footnotes explain that these verses were not in the original manuscripts and were added later. The professor’s book stopped at 16:8.
I interrupted Jack’s story to counter with the obvious: No matter where Mark ended his writing, Matthew, Luke and John all addressed Jesus’ resurrection and appearance to others. We need to look at the entirety of scripture and not just selected sections. Jack assured me he had used that same critique (which was dismissed because each book, according to the professor, should stand on its own). Jack presented several other arguments to which the professor stated that Jack could have gotten those positions from one of several journals and that none of them were original. He wanted something unique.
Our friend came up with a brilliant defense. The women obviously did talk and share their story or else no one would know that “they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid.” How could Mark have come up with that if the women hadn’t told someone that’s what happened? (Like I said, brilliant.)
Refusing to be outdone, the professor responded, “Yes, but how do we know they were real people?”
WHAT??????
That’s right. The accomplished, theological master-mind in the Divinity department was an atheist. To him, the Bible was a myth. Jack about fell out of his chair.
It wasn’t until later that Jack came across a quote from atheist-turned-Christian C.S. Lewis’ that might have stymied the professor: “Supposing there was no intelligence behind the universe, no creative mind. In that case, nobody designed my brain for the purpose of thinking. It is merely that when the atoms inside my skull happen, for physical or chemical reasons, to arrange themselves in a certain way, this gives me, as a by-product, the sensation I call thought. But, if so, how can I trust my own thinking to be true? It’s like upsetting a milk jug and hoping that the way it splashes itself will give you a map of London. But if I can’t trust my own thinking, of course I can’t trust the arguments leading to Atheism, and therefore have no reason to be an Atheist, or anything else. Unless I believe in God, I cannot believe in thought: so I can never use thought to disbelieve in God.”
What would the prof have said against that? (Probably that C.S. Lewis wasn’t a real person.)
In case you are wondering, Jack was accepted into the School of Divinity but chose to pastor a church instead. Another brilliant move, if you ask me.
The Bourbon County Sheriff’s Office Daily Reports October 4
Special Meeting Today Oct. 4 of the Bourbon County Commission at 10 a.m.
Bourbon County Courthouse
210 S. National Ave
Fort Scott, KS 66701
Phone: 620-223-3800
Fax: 620-223-5832
Bourbon County, Kansas
Brandon Whisenhunt
1st District Commissioner
Jim Harris, Chairman
2nd District Commissioner
Clifton Beth
3rd District Commissioner
Bourbon County Commission Agenda
210 S. National Ave.
Fort Scott, KS 66701
A special meeting will be held on
October 4, 2024 10:00 a.m.
I. Call Meeting to Order
II. Flag Salute
III. Executive Session KSA 75-4319 (b)(4)
IV. Adjourn Meeting
Executive Session Justifications:
KSA 75-4319 (b)(1) to discuss personnel matters of individual nonelected personnel to protect their privacy.
KSA 75-4319 (b)(2) for consultation with an attorney for the public body or agency which would be deemed privileged in the
attorney-client relationship.
KSA 75-4319 (b)(3) to discuss matters relating to employer/employee negotiations whether or not in consultation with the
representative(s) of the body or agency.
KSA 75-4319 (b)(4) to discuss data relating to financial affairs or trade secrets of corporations, partnerships, trust and individual
proprietorships
KSA 75-4319 (b)(6) for the preliminary discussion of the acquisition of real property.
KSA 75-4319 (b)(12) to discuss matters relating to the security measures, if the discussion of such matters at an open meeting