New Teachers at Winfield Scott Elementary: Sydney Crapson, Sierra Sprague
This is part of a series of features on the 26 new educators in USD 234. School starts on August 18 for Fort Scott schools.
Sydney Crapson, 22, is a new first-grade teacher at Winfield Scott Elementary School in Fort Scott.
She attended Fort Scott Community College and Pittsburg State University graduating in May of 2022 with an Elementary Education Unified degree.
She is a first generation college graduate, and this is her first year of teaching.
“I have spent my entire life around children and have always loved being with them!,” she said.
Her hometown is Walnut.
Her mother, Karen, is a para educator at Girard High School. Her dad, Brian, does body work on cars and is a part-time farmer.
“I have an older brother named Bailey who is a ranch hand and lives with me in Fort Scott,” she said. “They have been my biggest supporters and I am so thankful for them!”
In her spare time she loves to read and collect books, fish, golf and sew.
“I also love animals and spend most of my evenings walking my dog,” she said. “I have lived in this community for four years and have worked at a local small business for the majority of that time.”
“Growing up, I had many amazing teachers,” she said. “All of the good ones that stick out to me made sure to take the extra time to get to know me as a person rather than just another student. Because of that relationship, they had such a strong and positive impact on my life and I knew I wanted to be that person for someone else.”
“My third-grade teacher is the main person who inspired me to become a teacher myself,” she said. “She took the time to really notice me as a person and helped me through a very difficult year when I felt like I had no one. I will forever be grateful to her.”
“The best part of teaching for me is being able to see my students grow. The excitement on their face when they finally understand or have discovered something new is heartwarming!”
“I think the most challenging part of teaching for me is spending almost an entire year with the same students and then having to let them go in May,” she said.
Sierra Sprague, 24, is a new K-2nd Grade Low Incident Special Education Teacher, who will be at Winfield Scott Elementary School in Fort Scott.
Sprague earned a Bachelor in Sports Management with an emphasis in business and a minor in marketing then went back and earned a masters in Elementary Education Unified degree.
Last year she was a 4th-5th Grade Resource teacher in De Soto. Her hometown is Olathe, and she is married to Nick Sprague.
In her spare time she loves to find new books and explore coffee shops.
“My husband is the Family Pastor at Fort Scott Church of the Nazarene, so I do a lot of activities there for the youth,” she said.
“Growing up my mom was a counselor in the school district, so I grew up at the school many nights and summer days,” she said. “In kindergarten we had a kinder city and that is where my love for teaching started.”
However, she started her college major in business, but changed to teaching, she said.
“A lot of my teachers had a part in making me want to teach.They believed in me when I didn’t believe in myself. One teacher I remember was Ms. White, in 6th grade she told me that I could be whatever I wanted but I had to be willing to work for it and be ready for any obstacles that came.”
“The best part of teaching is seeing the smiles of kids, when they just figured out something that they were struggling with”
Bourbon County History Tour August 13
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Rural By Choice Applications Sought
Commerce Department Launches Rural by Choice Champions Program
TOPEKA – Lieutenant Governor and Commerce Secretary David Toland today announced a unique opportunity for rural communities throughout the state – the Rural by Choice Champions Program (Rural Champions). This one-year pilot program will create a network of grassroots individuals who will tackle critical community projects and identified needs integral for rural prosperity. Rural Champions, which was made possible through a collaboration with the Patterson Family Foundation, will help drive success when there is a lack of capital or other resources to complete the project.
“We are continually looking at ways to keep and attract individuals that want to live and work in our rural communities throughout the state,” said Lt. Governor and Commerce Secretary David Toland. “Through this program and other initiatives, such as our Grassroots Economic Development Program and Rural Opportunity Zones, we are focusing on removing barriers to success in rural Kansas.”
In 2021, Commerce’s Office of Rural Prosperity (ORP), in partnership with the Kansas Sampler Foundation, outlined the recommendation for Rural Champions in its Power Up and Go report, an effort begun by former Lieutenant Governor Lynn Rogers prior to his appointment as State Treasurer. The need for the Rural Champions program was identified through surveys and interviews of more than 600 rural Kansans under the age of 40 as something that would “move the needle” toward success.
In order to apply, communities describe current activities, challenges that are stifling progress and how a Rural Champion would benefit advancement. Twelve communities will be selected for the pilot program and will receive a stipend for wages for the Rural Champion. Projects could include anything that the community designates as critically needed, including, but not limited to:
- a new childcare facility or rehabilitating a building to support a childcare center;
- health and wellness projects such as a trail system or shared bike program;
- rehabilitation or construction of new housing units; or
- entrepreneurship development.
Eligible applicants, which must be located in counties with less than 40,000 population, include:
- Cities or Counties;
- Economic/Community Development Organizations;
- Community Foundations;
- Local Chambers of Commerce or Tourism groups;
- Nonprofit organizations including 501(c)3 or 501(c)6;
- Main Street organizations or affiliates; or
- Federally recognized tribal communities.
“The program was designed to help revitalize rural communities,” said Trisha Purdon, Director Office of Rural Prosperity. “The Rural Champions will play an integral part in identifying projects – and then making them happen. Every community is unique, and this program provides the flexibility to develop a project that fits their goals.”
Rural Champions will receive direct guidance and technical assistance from the Office of Rural Prosperity to ensure project success. The Office of Rural Prosperity will assist with the development of a rural community playbook to share with other communities for future projects.
Applications will be accepted until 5:00 p.m. Friday, September 16. An informational webinar will be held at 10:00 a.m. Thursday, August 18. For more information and to register for the webinar, visit our website at https://www.kansascommerce.
Questions can be directed to Kerri Falletti at [email protected] or 785-207-5206.
About the Kansas Department of Commerce:
As the state’s lead economic development agency, the Kansas Department of Commerce strives to empower individuals, businesses and communities to achieve prosperity in Kansas. Commerce accomplishes its mission by developing relationships with corporations, site location consultants and stakeholders in Kansas, the nation and world. Our strong partnerships allow us to help create an environment for existing Kansas businesses to grow and foster an innovative, competitive landscape for new businesses. Through Commerce’s project successes, Kansas was awarded Area Development Magazine’s prestigious Gold Shovel award in 2021 and 2022, and was awarded the 2021 Governor’s Cup by Site Selection Magazine.
About the Patterson Family Foundation:
Where you come from says a lot about you. But what you do says even more. The Patterson Family Foundation is a family-led foundation extending the legacy of Neal and Jeanne Patterson to improve the rural communities we come from through healthcare, education, economic opportunity, and beyond. Learn more about the Patterson Family Foundation and how it can help your community at https://
The Bourbon County Sheriff’s Office Daily Reports August 11
Kansas Gas Service Offers a Chance to Win $100 for Digging Safely
Kansas Gas Service Offers a Chance to Win $100 for Digging Safely
OVERLAND PARK, Kan. –Thursday, August 11 (8/11) is National 811 Day – a good reminder to call 811 before starting any digging project. To promote public awareness, now through August 11, Kansas Gas Service is challenging residents to “Take the Pledge” to dig safely at BeADigHeroKansas.com for a chance to win a $100 gift card.
“Many people don’t remember, or even know, how important it is to call 811 before planting a garden, removing trees or installing sprinklers,” said Trey Pool, manager of Public Awareness and Damage Prevention for ONE Gas, parent company of Kansas Gas Service. “We hope to help change that by raising awareness about the free 811 service, which helps increase the safety of our communities.”
Why Call 811?
To prevent damage to underground facilities, harm to yourself and others, unnecessary costs and service disruptions, always call 811 to have underground facilities marked before any digging project.
A call to 811 is the safest way to know where utilities are buried in your area.
Underground lines may be found in yards or below sidewalks, driveways or streets. By making the free call to 811 or visiting Kansas811.com at least two full working days before digging begins, homeowners and contractors are connected to the local one-call center, which notifies the appropriate utility companies of their intent to dig. Professional locators are then sent to the requested digging site to mark the approximate locations of underground lines with flags, spray paint or both.
Every digging project, no matter how large or small, warrants a call to 811. It’s easy, it’s free and it’s the law!
To learn more about safe digging and sign the Safe Digging Pledge, visit BeADigHeroKansas.com.
About Kansas Gas Service
Kansas Gas Service provides a reliable and affordable energy choice to more than 647,000 customers in Kansas and is the largest natural gas distributor in the state, in terms of customers.
Headquartered in Overland Park, Kansas, Kansas Gas Service is a division of ONE Gas, Inc. (NYSE: OGS), a 100-percent regulated natural gas utility that trades on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “OGS.” ONE Gas is included in the S&P MidCap 400 Index and is one of the largest natural gas utilities in the United States.
For more information and the latest news about Kansas Gas Service, visit kansasgasservice.com and follow its social channels: @KansasGas, Facebook, LinkedIn, YouTube and Nextdoor.
New Grocery Store Opens in Bronson
Kelly and Thaddeus Perry opened their store, Perry’s Pork Rinds and Country Store on July 31 in Bronson, Kansas-population 309.
The store is located right on Highway 54 that runs through the town.
The mom and pop operation has people sign a guest book when they come in. “This is for Kansas Tourism,” Kelly said. “There have been a ton of people coming in.”
“We sold over 200 pounds of (her homemade) fudge in the first three days we were open,” she said.
Mama K’s fudge, made by Kelly Perry on site, has the capability of making 200 flavors of fudge.
“The fudge takes two hours to make with real cream and butter,” she said. “It’s from the same company that made Ozark Land and Silver Dollar City fudge.”
“We are wholesaling fudge and doing fundraisers (for community organizations),” Kelly said.
Their best seller at the store is their pork rinds, which along with the fudge is made in the back of the store.
Thaddeus said to make the pork rinds they order from a U.S. Dept. of Agriculture site.
“Then it’s cooked until done, then seasoned, then cooled and then bagged,” he said.
“It took two-and-a-half years to get to produce rinds and fudge on site,” Thaddeus said. “People have been asking us for six to eight months when we were going to open.”
In addition to their signature products, “We now carry milk and eggs, that will be from local vendors,” Kelly said. “We will be getting eggs and frozen chickens from Freedom Farms ( a Bourbon County farm) and all our ground beef, brats, hot dogs and bacon are from Bronson (Meat) Locker.”
And important to locals and those passing by, is the ability to purchase local fruits and vegetables.
“The first weekend we sold 28 watermelons and 60 pounds of tomatoes,” she said.
A hot meal is also served everyday from 11 a.m. “until it’s gone,” she said. A list of the week’s offerings are on a whiteboard near the inside door of the store.
The Perry’s have eight employees, some part-time and some full-time.
“We just hired three new employees for the front store,” Thaddeus said.
The store is open Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., Saturday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday from noon to 6 p.m.
To contact the store: 620.224.2052.
Make Views Known on Local Housing: Take Survey
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Chamber Coffee Hosted by Tri-Valley Developmental Services on Aug. 11
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The Bourbon County Sheriff’s Office Daily Reports August 10
Chamber of Commerce Blue Health Insurance Offering Until August 18
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Obituary of Betty Barnes
Betty Jean Barnes, 90, of Fort Scott, Kansas, passed away Friday, August 5, 2022, at the Fort Scott Medicalodge. She was born January 6, 1932, in Fort Scott, Kansas, the daughter of Grover B. and Florence (Lounsbury) Barnes. She was the last of her immediate family.
Betty graduated from Fort Scott High School with the Class of 1949, and received a B.S. degree in 1953 and an M.S. degree in 1956 from Pittsburg State University. She taught high school mathematics in Bonner Springs, Kansas, returning to Fort Scott in 1966 where she was a high school counselor until her retirement in 1993.
From childhood she was a member of the Presbyterian Church in which she served in a variety of ways, including that of Elder. In 1999 she became a member of Trinity Lutheran Church where she also served.
Betty especially enjoyed her church work as well as her volunteer work at the hospital and in the Presbyterian Village office. Her special interests included music and animals.
Pastor Michael Apfel will conduct funeral services at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, August 13, 2022, at the Trinity Lutheran Church in Fort Scott, with burial following in the Prescott Cemetery under the direction of the Konantz-Cheney Funeral Home.
Friends may come to call at the funeral home any time until 7:00 p.m. Wednesday through Friday.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Good Samaritan Fund at Presbyterian Village and may be left in the care of the Konantz-Cheney Funeral Home, 15 W. Wall Street, P.O. Box 309, Fort Scott, Kansas, 66701. Condolences may be submitted to the online guestbook at konantz-cheney.com.