Bourbon County, Entertainment, Food, Fort Scott, History

Pioneer Harvest Fiesta Is October 3-6: A History of Rural American Culture

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Pioneer Harvest Fiesta began from an interest in rural American cultural history and some early members’ interest in steam power which they had experienced in railroad employment and farm use, according to Davin Reichard, Vice President of the PHF board.

“The PHF is an organization interested in equipment, machinery, and other technology characteristic of rural American culture particularly during the first half of the twentieth century, and in sharing this with others,” Reichard said. “Typical exhibits include steam engines, tractors and stationary engines, quilts, threshing machines and other farm equipment, hand tools, and other items used in rural life in the early to mid-1900s.”

The PHF organization began in 1956 and their first show was in 1957.

Visitors will experience educational and historic exhibits, refreshments, and live musical entertainment all weekend, according to https://pioneerharvestfiesta.com/

All three days are alive with Steam Engines, Blacksmiths, Food and Flea Market Vendors, Drag Saw Demonstrations, Tractors & Gas Engines on Display, Baker Fan Demonstrations, Tractor Pull, and a Garden Tractor Pull.  Quilt Show, Straw Bailing, Wheat Thrashing, Corn Husking/Shelling, Sorghum Making Demonstration, Rock Crushing, Saw Mill Operation, Car Show, and many more exciting events! It’s one great weekend to kick off Fall in the 4-state’s region! It’s the 68th annual Pioneer Harvest Fiesta, at the Bourbon County Fairgrounds in Historic Fort Scott, Kansas.

New at the event this year is a demonstration of sorghum cane processing and cooking.

Sorghum is an ancient grain and pro-planet protein source packed with nutrients. Sorghum is a versatile crop that can be grown as a grain, forage, or sweet crop and is one of the top five cereal crops in the world, according to https://www.sorghumcheckoff.com/sorghum-101/

Photo from Sorghum Checkoff.

This will be the second year of the car show at PHF.

The Bourbon County Fairgrounds are located at 2102 S Huntington Blvd., Fort Scott, KS 66701

The annual Pioneer Harvest Fiesta Parade is  Thursday, October 3 at 6 p.m. in downtown Fort Scott on Main Street.

The main fairground event is Friday through Sunday, Oct. 4 -6, 2024.

Admission

This year’s full weekend admission is only $5 per person and includes a collector button and the Friday Bean Feed at 5 PM. For children under age 12, admission is FREE, but admission does not include a button. Prior year collector buttons are available for $1.

Officers

Current officers of the Pioneer Harvest Fiesta Board are  President Craig Shikles; Vice President Davin Reichard; Secretary Betsy Readinger; and Treasurer Delphine Parks.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Obituary

Obituary of Harold Fritter

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Harold William Fritter, 92, of Richards, Missouri, passed away on Monday September 23, 2024, surrounded by family.

Harold was born on August 29, 1932, to Louis W. Fritter and Stella Gardner Fritter in Ft. Scott, KS. He married Alice Poague on December 10, 1951, in Hood River, Oregon and she survives of the home.

After graduating from Richards High School in 1951, Harold enlisted in the US Navy and served in the Construction Battalion (Seabees) from 1952-1956 in the Korean Conflict. He enjoyed sharing stories from his time in Japan and was grateful to be selected for the Heartland Honor Flight in May of 2017.

Harold and Alice moved back to Missouri from Oregon after his time in the Navy to begin farming. Nearly all his life, he held a second job while farming to provide for his family. Throughout the years, these jobs included working for the State Highway Department, over the road and local trucking and Railway Express Agency. He was also the owner of a grocery store in Stotesbury and Main Street Coin-O-Matic in Ft. Scott.

Harold was baptized in 1964 along with his wife and 2 sons. Over the years he faithfully attended Richards Christian Church where he served as an elder and treasurer and made many lifelong friends. In addition to his leadership in the church, he served as a missionary with Northwest Haiti Christian Mission for many years.

Harold was preceded in death by his parents and brothers Kenneth and Donald. In addition to his wife Alice, he is survived by his sons, Mike Fritter and wife Joe’ of Ft. Scott, KS; Dennis D. Fritter of Nevada, MO; Grandchildren Justin Fritter (Sarah) and their children Hayden and Colin of Holt, MO, Jamie Sisseck (Kris) and their child Konner of Deerfield, MO, Lacinda Schneider (David) of Lenexa, KS, Marc Fritter (Melissa) and their children Derrick and Kali of Nevada, MO, Jill Arnold (Chad) and their child Alivia of Newton, KS, Trevor Swim (Katie) and their children Crew and Cove of Knoxville, TN, and Wesley DeHaven of Ft. Scott, KS. As well as other extended family.

Pastor Matthew Hunt will conduct funeral services at 12:00 PM Thursday, September 26th, at the Cheney Witt Chapel. Burial will follow in the U. S. National Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 6:00 until 8:00 Wednesday evening at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to either Tunnel to Towers Foundation or locally to the Jim Meech Agri-Med Crisis Foundation 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.

Food, Fort Scott

Love Golf, Help The Needy: Elks Benefit Tournament September 28

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Lyle Brittain. Submitted photo.

The Elks Lodge 579 Benefit Golf Tournament is this Saturday, September 28 at Woodland Hills Golf Course, Fort Scott.

It is an annual fundraiser event to purchase items for Christmas baskets for limited-resource families in our community.

“We have been providing this service for some time and it is one of our major projects,” member Cathy Bishop said.

“The golf tournament is our primary fundraiser for the Christmas Food Baskets that will provide the makings of a great Christmas meal for over 90 families in our community!” said member Millie Lipscomb.   “We thank the businesses and individuals who support our major project.”

The tournament is a four-person scramble, $65 per person, and a 9 a.m. shotgun start. Registration starts at 8 a.m.

Please sign up by noon on September  25.

For more information 620.223.5060 or 620.224.0326.

“Money raised for this event will provide a meal at Christmas to families that are provided to us through the Beacon,” member Cathy Bishop said. “It includes a ham or turkey with all the fixings/sides.”

About The Beacon

The Beacon Food Pantry is located at 525 E. 6th Street in Fort Scott, providing food and other resources to those in need. Call 620-223-6869 for more info. The Beacon provides food services and financial assistance, which could include assistance with prescriptions, travel to work or to a medical facility, rent, utilities, and more, according to the info on the Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce website.

Elks Lodge members prepare the Christmas baskets. Submitted photo.

About The Elks

The Elks mission: Helping Elks Build Stronger Communities, according to elks.org
They help youth develop lifelong skills, send students to college, meet the needs of today’s veterans, support the charitable work of the state Elks associations, and fund projects that improve the quality of life in local Elks communities.

 

 

 

 

Area News, Government, Kansas

KS Supreme Court Will Hold Special Evening Meeting For the Public in Louisburg

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Supreme Court to conduct special evening session November 12 in Louisburg 

TOPEKA—The Kansas Supreme Court will conduct a special evening session November 12 in Louisburg as part of its ongoing outreach to familiarize Kansans with the court, its work, and the overall role of the Kansas judiciary.

 

The court will be in session from 6:30 p.m. to about 7:15 p.m. Tuesday, November 12, at Louisburg High School, 202 Aquatic Drive, Louisburg.

 

The public is invited to attend the special session to observe the court as it hears oral argument in one case. After oral argument, the justices will greet the public in an informal reception.

 

“Special sessions give Kansans an up-close look at how the judicial branch works,” Chief Justice Marla Luckert said. “Watching an appellate argument helps people understand how courts resolve disputes and the steps taken to make sure court proceedings are fair and case resolution is based on a correct application of the law.”

 

Luckert said people generally understand the trial process because they may have been in a local courtroom as a juror or witness, or they may know someone who has been in court. But fewer people have seen an appellate court in action.

 

“Bringing arguments to communities throughout Kansas gives everyone the opportunity to learn how the Kansas Supreme Court decides cases,” she said. “People who come to watch and meet us afterward tell us they gained a better understanding of the Kansas judicial system and its constitutional responsibility to fairly and impartially resolve disputes.”

 

Louisburg will be the 24th community the court will visit since it began the outreach program 13 years ago.

 

In 2011, the Supreme Court began conducting special sessions outside its Topeka courtroom. That year, it marked the state’s 150th anniversary by convening in the historic Supreme Court courtroom in the Kansas Statehouse.

 

Since 2011, the court has conducted special sessions in Colby, Concordia, Dodge City, El Dorado, Emporia, Garden City, Great Bend, Greensburg, Hays, Hiawatha, Hutchinson, Kansas City, Lawrence, Lansing, Manhattan, Overland Park, Parsons, Pittsburg, Salina, Topeka, Wichita, and Winfield.

 

Learn more about the court’s visit to Louisburg at www.kscourts.org/travel-docket.

Kansas Judicial Branch

Office of Judicial Administration

301 SW 10th Avenue

Topeka, KS 66612-1507

785-296-2256

www.kscourts.gov

 
url

Fort Scott, Schools

Special Meeting of the U234 Board of Education on September 25

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Unified School District 234

424 South Main

Fort Scott, KS 66701-2697

www.usd234.org

620-223-0800   Fax 620-223-2760

 

DESTRY BROWN                                                                                                                                                        

Superintendent                                                                                                                                             

 

BOARD OF EDUCATION SPECIAL MEETING

September 25, 2024 – 5:30 p.m.

AGENDA SUMMARY PUBLIC

1.0       Call Meeting to Order                               David Stewart, President

2.0       Flag Salute

3.0       Approval of the Official Agenda (Action Item)

4.0       Resolution 24-08 – Exceeding the Revenue Neutral Tax Rate for financing the annual budget for

2024-25 (Action Item) Roll Call Vote

5.0       KASB Board Training – Michelle Hubbard

 

6.0       Enter Executive Session – Personnel Matters (Action Item)

6.1       Exit Executive Session – _______ (Time)

6.2       Approval of Personnel Report (Action Item)        

 

7.0       Adjourn Meeting _____ (Time)            David Stewart, President

Obituary

Obituary of Aeron Hicks

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Aeron A. Hicks, age 74, a resident of Ft. Scott, Kansas, passed away Thursday, September 19, 2024, at the Via Christi Village in Pittsburg, Kansas.

She was born September 29, 1949, in Pittsburg, Kansas, the daughter of Edward Slutter and Ruby Shelley Slutter.  She grew up in Pittsburg and graduated from St. Mary’s-Colgan High School with the Class of 1967. Following high school, Aeron worked as the assistant director of medical records at Mt. Carmel Medical Center in Pittsburg.

Aeron was united in marriage to Harold W. Hicks on August 29, 1978.  After their marriage, Harold was a commissioned officer with the United States Navy and they were stationed in San Diego, California.  During this time, Harold was stationed onboard the USS Ranger.  Aeron served as the Social Chairperson for the ship’s Officers’ Wives Club.  Some of her responsibilities included helping prepare the ship for Queen Elizabeth II’s royal visit and serving as the family liaison after a serious fire onboard the ship.  While in California, Aeron took the opportunity to further her education and obtained her BA Deree in Psychology from the University of San Diego.

In 1992, Harold and Aeron moved to Harold’s hometown of Ft. Scott, Kansas to help care for his elderly father.  While in Ft. Scott, Aeron worked with the Adult Education Program at the Ft. Scott Community College.  She also served as the online education coordinator for the college.  This was at the time when online learning was in its infancy.

Aeron had a desire to help others, and in addition to her work at the college she also played a key role with the Bourbon County Network for Families program.  Aeron and Harold became active with the First Christian Church in Ft. Scott.  They went on to become Commissioned Ministers through Education for Ministry.  Together, they co-pastored the First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Yates Center, Kansas from 2008-2018.

As her health failed and Covid set in, Aeron became more and more homebound.  In spite of this, Aeron continued supporting Harold’s ministry at the Disciples Christian Church in Nevada, Missouri.  During Covid, Aeron played a vital role in maintaining the church’s online presence.  Throughout her life, Aeron did her best to serve God and humanity.  The world was made a better place because of her endeavors.

Aeron is survived by her husband, Harold, of the home in Ft. Scott and her cousins, Brent Richey and Jan Brimm and husband, Jerry, all of Joplin, Missouri.

Rev. Laura Agee will conduct a service of remembrance at 10:30 A.M. Friday, September 27th at the Cheney Witt Chapel.

Music will be provided by Janie Aita.

Burial will follow in the Evergreen Cemetery

Memorials are suggested to the Ft. Scott Community College Endowment Association and may be left in care of the Cheney Witt Chapel, 201 S. Main St., P.O. Box 347, Ft. Scott, KS 66701.  Words of remembrance may be submitted to the online guestbook at cheneywitt.com.

Bourbon County, Government

KDOT to replace pipe on K-31 at Blue Mound

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Weather permitting, on Tuesday, Oct. 1, the Kansas Department of Transportation plans to replace a crossroad pipe on K-31 within the city limits of Blue Mound. The work zone will be closed to traffic between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. Drivers should use alternate routes around the daylong highway closure.

 

Persons with questions may contact KDOT Superintendent Shawn Denny, (785) 433-6115, or Public Information Officer Priscilla Petersen at (620) 902-6433.

 

 

 

Fort Scott

Results from the Friends of Tri-Valley Foundation 5th Annual Fort Scott Golf Classic

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A Flight 1st Place team was comprised of Todd Fox, Gerald Katner, Jan Remington, and Randy Vanwyck. Below is a photo of the raffle items. Submitted photos.

 

Saturday, September 14th was a perfect day for the Friends of Tri-Valley Foundation to hold their 5th Annual Fort Scott Golf Classic at the beautiful Woodland Hills Golf Course.  It was fantastic golfing weather.  Play began at 9 am with 12 teams.

 

Prizes were given out to 1st and 2nd places in A, B, and C Flights.  The winners were:  A Flight 1st Place – the team of Jan Remington, Gerald Katner, Todd Fox, and Randy Vanwyck; A Flight 2nd Place – the team of Dustin Hall, Caleb Hall, Nathan Mintz, and Reese Roberts; B Flight 1st Place – the team from Labconco made up of Kurtis Camp, Michael Harper, Ronnie Marsh, and Shawn Marshall;  and B Flight 2nd Place – the team of Tanner McNutt, Jason Bauer, Kane Rogers, and Derek Bycroft; C Flight 1st Place – the team from Brent See, Braden Robinson, Bill Fiscus, and Matt Kay; and C Flight 2nd place – the team of George Robinson, Terry Sizemore, Paul Bearden, and Steve Stanfield.

 

Along with the three flights, prizes were handed out for Closest to the Pin and Longest Drive. Michael Harper won Closest to the Pin and Kevin Krokstrom won the Longest Drive contest.  Players also had the chance to play a few hole games on the course such as Paul Bunyon and Betcha Can’t Get on the Green.  New to the tournament was the orange ball contest.  Each team was presented with an orange ball.  The ball was to be used on all 18 holes and brought back at the end of the tournament.  Six teams returned their orange balls and were entered into a drawing for Tri-Valley tumblers.  The Orange Ball winners were Dustin Hall, Caleb Hall, Nathan Mintz, and Reese Roberts.

 

At the end of the tournament, door prizes were given out to several lucky golfers.  The door prizes included:  candles from Heidrick’s True Value; Igloo Coolers and Umbrella courtesy of SEK Financial; T-shirts and tumblers courtesy of Labconco; Gift Certificates to Miller Feed and Common Ground Coffee; and tickets to The Duttons in Branson courtesy of Fort Scott Broadcasting.

 

For the second year in a row, a raffle drawing was held.  This year, three prizes were given away.  The prizes were:  a fire pit donated by Niece Products of Fort Scott; framed KC Chiefs Poster donated by Brigg’s Auto; and turkey fryer donated by Heidrick’s True Value.  The winners were: Fire Pit – Paul Bearden; KC Chiefs – Tyler Cook; and Turkey Fryer – Shawn Marshall.

 

The tournament’s sponsors were:  American Family Insurance – Jenny Collins; Bourbon County Cars; Brigg’s Auto; Cheney Witt Chapel; Don’s Spirits and Wines, LLC; Diehl, Banwart, & Bolton; Konantz-Cheney Chapel; Mid-Continental Restoration; Peerless Products; Radell Underground; and Wise Accounting.  G & W Foods of Fort Scott, SEK Financial, and Modern Woodman were goodie bag sponsors.

 

All money raised from the event goes toward the Foundation’s mission of providing quality and affordable homes for our neighbors with intellectual/developmental disabilities in the eight counties of Allen, Bourbon, Chautauqua, Elk, Greenwood, Neosho, Wilson, and Woodson.  Since 2001, the Foundation has built six houses and acquired eight houses and a duplex.  Four of these homes are located in Fort Scott and are home to 24 of our neighbors with intellectual/developmental disabilities.

 

“Without the generosity of our communities, this fun event could not have been held.  Thank you to all the golfers who participated as well as to our event sponsors: corporate, hole, and in-kind.  This tournament would not have been possible without the support of our sponsors.  It is friends like you that allow us to provide services to our neighbors with I/DD and to help them achieve the quality of life they seek.  Thank you”  stated Special Projects Coordinator, Tricia Campbell.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bourbon County Local News