Obituary

Obituary of Karen Keen

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Karen K. Keen, age 81, a resident of Overland Park, KS, passed away at the St. Luke’s Hospice House, Kansas City, October 3, 2023, comforted by her son Jeff and daughter-in-law Lilie Hall.

Karen was born in Calhoun, MO, April 26, 1942, to Dorthy Beryl Rushing and Paul Leaford Savage. The family later moved to Fort Scott where she met her husband, Gary Hall. Gary’s service in the Navy took them to various duty stations and travel overseas where she developed her love of traveling. She later owned her own travel agency, International Tours, in Tahlequah, OK. After moving back to Overland Park, she continued organizing cruises for friends and family.

Karen is survived by sons Jeff Hall (wife Lilie), Mitch Hall (wife Kella), stepchildren Heather Aaron (husband Greg), Ralph Keen (wife Teresa), Taylor Keen (wife Jennifer), Emerald Sheridan (husband Louie), 9 grandchildren, 7 great-grandchildren, and numerous nieces and nephews, all of which she loved dearly. She was preceded in death by 3 husbands, her sister, parents and stepsons Gary Aaron and John Keen.

Rev. Chuck Russell will conduct memorial services at 11:30 AM Thursday, October 12th, at the Cheney Witt Chapel.

Burial will follow in the U. S. National Cemetery.  The family will receive friends from 10:30 AM until service time Thursday morning at the funeral home.

In lieu of flowers the family requests donations to the St. Luke’s Foundation and may be left in care of the Cheney Witt Chapel, P.O. Box 347, 201 S. Main St., Fort Scott, KS 66701.  Words of remembrance may be submitted to the online guestbook at cheneywitt.com.

 

Fort Scott, Government, Schools

U234 Board of Education Meets Oct. 9

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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 REGULAR MEETING

October 9, 2023 – 5:30 P.M.

PUBLIC AGENDA

 

1.0       Call Meeting to Order            David Stewart, President

2.0       Flag Salute

3.0       Approval of the Official Agenda (Action Item)

4.0       Approval of the Consent Agenda (Action Item)

4.1       Board Minutes

  1. 09/11/2023 Regular Meeting

            4.2       Financials-Cash Flow Report

            4.3       Check Register

            4.4       Payroll – September 20, 2023 – $1,638,198.05

            4.5       Activity Fund accounts

4.6       USD 234 Gifts

4.7       FSHS Extended Trip Applications

4.8       FSHS Fundraising Applications

4.9       Ratification of Investments

4.10     USD 234 Substitute Pay Schedule Adjustment

5.0       Recognitions (Information/Discussion Item)

5.1 Student Recognition

5.2 Employee Recognition

6.0       Leadership Reports (Information/Discussion Item)

            6.1       Superintendent’s Report

            6.2       Assistant Superintendent’s Report

            6.3       Special Education Director’s Report

7.0       Old Business

  • 1 Roof Payment (Action Item)
  • 2 Open Enrollment Policy (Information/Discussion)

 

8.0       New Business

8.1       Acceptance of Appreciated Stock (Action Item)

8.2       District Health Insurance Recommendation (Action Item)

9.0       Public Forum

 

10.0     Other Business – Personnel Matters

10.1     Enter Executive Session – Personnel Matters (Action Item)

 

10.2     Exit Executive Session

10.3     Approval of Personnel Report (Action Item)

11.0     Adjourn Meeting                        David Stewart, President

 

Bourbon County, Government, Health Care

Special Bo Co Commission Meeting on Oct. 10: Discussion of Healthcare

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Bourbon County Courthouse

210 S. National Ave Fort Scott, KS 66701 Phone: 620-223-3800

Fax: 620-223-5832

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bourbon County, Kansas

Nelson Blythe

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 10, 2023 5:30 p.m.

 

 

A special meeting of the Board of Bourbon County Commissioners

 

 

  1. Call Meeting to Order
  2. Flag Salute Followed by Prayer
  • Executive Session KSA 75-4319(b)(4)
  1. Discussion of Healthcare
  2. Commission Comments
  3. 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.

 

Fort Scott, Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce

What’s Happening in Fort Scott

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What’s Happening in Fort Scott! October 6th Weekly Newsletter

UPCOMING CALENDAR OF EVENTS

________________

Fort Scott National Historic Site

Daily Guided Tours: 10am & 1pm

Special activities all this weekend! See link below.

Visit your National Park!

Trolley Tours of Fort Scott

50-minute narrated historical tour

Every Friday & Saturday on the hour

Fridays 11am, 12pm, 1pm, 2pm

Saturdays 10am, 11am, 12pm, 1pm, 2pm

$6 adults, $4 12 & under, leaves from the Chamber

Click this link: The Artificers

October pottery class/workshop

schedule, a creative space for all ages!

BINGO hosted by the American Legion Post 25 every 1st and 3rd Thursday of each month unless it falls on a holiday. Doors open at 6pm and Bingo starts at 7pm at Memorial Hall.

Pizza Republic Wednesdays – 10% of sales go to FSHS Tiger Booster Club every Wednesday from 5pm to 9pm

9/29-10/31 ~ Scarefest Haunted House and Clark Street Lights Display, $1 donation to enter 5+, entry comes with free popcorn and cotton candy, 753 Clark Street. Click here for more info!

10/5-7 ~ 20th Annual Gordon Parks Celebration, great events and sessions to celebrate 20 wonderful years, click here for the full schedule of events!

10/6-8 ~ Pioneer Harvest Fiesta 67th Anniversary, one of the oldest steam & gas engine shows in Kansas, click here for more info!

10/6 ~ Mural Unveiling – First Kansas Colored Infantry Mural, the mural will be on display at the north downtown building located at 9 S. Main St. near Skubitz Plaza, 4-4:30pm, click here for more info!

10/6 ~ FSHS Football vs. Chanute – Homecoming, 7pm

10/7 ~ Chamber member Kansas Crossing Casino presents Hairball in Concert, must be 21+ attend, click here for more info.

10/7 ~ Last Cruise-in of the Season, Sonic Parking lot, 1708 S. National, Sonic will be doing great giveaways, starts at 5:30pm, click here for more details!

10/7 ~ 2023 Alumni Baseball Game – Fundraiser for Spring Break Trip, gates open at 4:30pm, free will donation at gate, 50/50 drawing/silent auction/E3 burgers on the grill, click here for more info!

10/7 ~ Fall Plant Sale at Tri-Valley, in the Greenhouse 4305 Campbell Drive, 9am-1pm (while supplies last), click here for more info!

10/7 ~ FSCC Alumni Rodeo, 1pm Slack & 7:30pm Performance, see flyer below for more info!

10/8 ~ First United Methodist Church presents Chuck Crain of Presley’s Branson and RFD TV in concert, 6-8pm, click here for more info!

10/12 ~ KDOT Local Consult – Southeast Region, KDOT is hosting nine meetings this fall as part of the Eisenhower Legacy Transportation Program (IKE) Local Consult process, click here for a list of dates and times.

10/12 ~ Chamber Coffee hosted by Fort Scott Area Community Foundation @ Landmark National Bank, 200 S. Main St. 8am, 2023 Grants will be awarded.

10/12 ~ GO Car Wash Ribbon Cutting, 12pm, Remarks & Cutting of the Ribbon, 12:15pm, sweet treat refreshments will be served!

10/12 ~ Chamber After-hours hosted by Union State Bank at Empress Event Center, this event will feature guest speaker/consultant Dr. Toby Joplin on a Simple Model Business Strategy for Future Success, 5:15-6:30pm, click here for more info.! FREE to attend, but registration requested.

10/14 ~ Royal-Tea Party hosted by FSHS Thespians, $10 per child (must be accompanied by an adult), each child can have a treat and make a project with each character, feel free to dress up too!

10/18 ~ Career Fair by Advance Bourbon County, Memorial Hall, 1 E. 3rd St., 8am to 7pm.

10/19 ~ Chamber Coffee hosted by Sleep Inn and Suites, celebrating 9 years, 302 E. Wall, 8am

10/19 ~ Mill Creek Vet Clinic After Hours Open House and Ribbon Cutting, 5:30-7pm with remarks and cutting of the ribbon at 5:45pm

10/21 ~ Cato Days located between Pittsburg and Fort Scott (turn west on 720 and follow the signs),9am-2pm

10/21 ~ Writers Seminar and Author’s Fair hosted by Hedgehog.INK! Bookstore, the Writer’s Seminar is from 8:45am-12:30pm at the HBCAT office located at 104 N. National, the Author’s Fair is 1:30-3:00 at Hedgehog.INK! bookstore located at 16 S. Main Street, click here for more info!

10/21 ~ Kids Fair at Fort Scott Community College, costume contest-crafts-teddy bear clinic- games- bounce houses, 9am-11:30am, see flyer below for more info!

10/21 ~ Harley Race Wrestling Event by Advanced Bourbon County, Memorial Hall, 7-10pm, click here for tickets!

10/23 ~ Tri-County Highway 54 After-hours event, hosted by Carson Wealth Mgmt. in Nevada, Joint event with Fort Scott Area Chamber, Nevada Chamber, and El Dorado Springs Chamber, 5:30-7pm.

10/25 ~ Community Connection Panelist Luncheon hosted by the Chamber, this event will feature panelist updates from local government, school districts and BB County REDI, lunch can be reserved for $10 prior to the event, click here for more info!

10/25 ~ Election Candidate Forum, Ellis Fine Arts Center, doors open 5:30pm, forum begins 6pm.

SAVE THE DATE:

10/27-29 ~ Scout District Event, over 100 Scouts from SE Kansas and SW Missouri and their families will be in Fort Scott, contact Seth Needham for more info!

10/28 ~ Halloween Parade & Festivities in Downtown Fort Scott, open to all ages, parade will begin at 11am starting at La Hacienda heading south to 2nd street then back around to the City Scales building, after the parade pizza and a drink will be handed out to kids in costumes. The Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce is asking for donations and businesses that are willing to pass out candy downtown, if you are interested email [email protected].

10/28 ~ Bros, Boos, and Bulls at Pollmeier Ranch located at 2097 Poplar Road, live music/cold drinks/bull riding/kids and adults costume contest, $5 general admission, 3-5pm, click here for more info!

10/28 ~ FS Youth Tiger Cheer Halloween Dance, costume contest/prizes/pictures/music/food & drinks/ and a whole lot of FUN!, 4th-5th grade 5-7pm, middle school 7:15-9pm, location 4H building, $5 entry fee, click here for more info!

10/28 ~ Voices from the Grave at Riverfront Park, 5-8pm, contact Melissa Guns for more info!

_________

SHOPPING ~ SUPPORT LOCAL!

Boutiques-Antiques-Flea Markets & more!

Click here for Chamber member

specialty shopping & other retail in

Downtown & other areas of the community.
Fort Scott Area
Chamber of Commerce
620-223-3566
In This Issue

Calendar of Events

Special Event Features

THANK YOU Chamber Champion members!!
Chamber Highlights
Click here for our
Membership Directory.
We THANK our members for their support! Interested in joining the Chamber?
Click here for info.
Thinking of doing business in or relocating to Fort Scott?
Contact us for a relocation packet, information on grants & incentives, and more!
Seeking a job/career?
We post a Job of the Day daily on our Facebook page, distribute a monthly job openings flyer, and post jobs on our website.
Many opportunities available!
Housing needs?
Click here for a listing of our Chamber member realtors.
Click here for our rental listing.

October Special at Hedgehog.INK!

Scarefest Haunted House and Clark Street Lights, September 29th through Halloween!

Fall Plant Sale at Tri-Valley Greenhouse!

Downtown Meet & Greet at City State Bank!

Writer’s Seminar and Author’s Fair hosted by Hedgehog.INK!

Chamber After-Hours Hosted by Union State Bank!

The Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce is hosting the Annual Downtown Halloween Parade!

Upcoming Movie Schedule @ Fort Cinema
Obituary

Obituary of Edwin “Eddie” Loar

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Edwin “Eddie” Leon Loar, sixty years of age,  passed away unexpectedly at his home on October 2, 2023.

Eddie was born February 23, 1963 in Fort Scott, Kansas to the late Glen and Barbara Loar. He was the youngest of three children.

Eddie got his GED in 1986 while attending Fort Scott Community College truck driving school.

He grew up on a farm in Mapleton, Kansas and lived in several of the surrounding small towns in his adult life until January 2000 when he followed his heart to Sherman, Texas to be with his wife, Dana Morrow, and later moved to Denison, Texas.

Eddie was a believer in Christ and often spoke of the day he would go to heaven and get to see his mom again.

Eddie worked several jobs over the years as a butcher, maintenance man, over the road truck driver, trimmer/styler at Tyson’s, and most recently concrete truck driver for Texas Shotcrete. He had a passion for OTR driving and would take landscape photos and videos of the places he got to see, until his health took him off the road.

Eddie enjoyed spending time with family and friends, joking around and laughing, he was the life of the party and made friends with everyone he met.

He enjoyed many activities such as fishing, floating on the river, camping, horseshoes, playing his guitar and harmonica, cooking holiday dinners for family, and talking with friends on IMVU.

Eddie was a devoted husband, father, and friend. He will be deeply missed by all who knew him.

Eddie is survived by his wife, Dana Morrow of Denison, Texas; his children Tiffany Whitley and Sierra Loar of Fort Scott, Kansas, Alex and Zachary Loar of Lebanon, Missouri, and Trevor Acree and wife Alyssa of Bonham, Texas and ten grandchildren, and one great-granddaughter.

Flowers, donations, and condolences may be brought to the Celebration of Life on October 20, 2023, at Gunn Park Fort Scott, KS shelter 5 from 5:00 pm- 8:00 pm.

Eddie’s final resting place will be Dayton Cemetery Mapelton, KS.

Obituary

Death Notice of Karen Keen

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Karen Kay Keen, age 81, resident of Overland Park, KS, died Tuesday, October 3, 2023, at the St. Luke’s Hospice House, Kansas City, MO.  Rev. Chuck Russell will conduct memorial services at 11:30 AM Thursday, October 12th, at the Cheney Witt Chapel.  Burial will follow in the U. S. National Cemetery.  The family will receive friends from 10:30 AM until service time Thursday morning at the funeral home.  Words of remembrance may be submitted to the online guestbook at cheneywitt.com.

 

Entertainment, Fort Scott, Youth

Third Street Park Has New Playground Equipment

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New playground equipment was recently installed at Third Street Park.

Third Street Park is ready for the community to enjoy.

New children’s play equipment with mulching and new stairs leading to the ballpark on Third Street was recently completed.

“This is a $92,000 project that was funded by the Patterson Family Foundation, Blue Cross and Blue Shield Pathways to a Healthy Kansas, and a contribution from The City of Fort Scott,” Rachel Carpenter, director of the Healthy Bourbon Action Team (HBCAT), who is spearheading the project, said.

“The playground is open to the public!” she said.

Bouncers were part of the playground equipment installed at Third Street Park recently.

The need for Third Street Park’s improvement project was identified by the community through public forums, surveys, and a steering committee, according to Carpenter, in a prior press release.

A Building Up Our Neighborhoods Placemaking project has already repaired the bathrooms and existing structures, including the basketball goal. Last month stairs were made from the upper level of the park to the lower level.

Rachel Carpenter. Submitted photo. 2023

 

Community members were able to develop priorities that they wanted to see happen at the park, Carpenter said in a  prior press release. Those priorities:

  • Repairing the bathrooms
  • Repairing the existing structures
  • Repairing the basketball goal
  • Adding additional playground structures
  • Adding stairs

  • Tyler Sharp, Marbery Construction, Fort Scott, lays straw to prevent erosion following the building of the concrete stairs from the upper-level playground to the lower-level ball field at Third Street Park on Sept. 15.

“Fort Scott Kiwanis provided volunteers to fix the existing structures, the basketball goals, and paint the bathrooms,” she said. “The City of Fort Scott provided an additional $10,000 that will go towards fixing up the bathrooms, fixing the pavilion floor, and surfacing for the existing structures.”

‘We are still collaborating with the City of Fort Scott to update the fixtures of the bathroom and fix the pavilion floor,” Carpenter said.

Last week, Playscapes, Yates Center, installed the new playground structures and put down the rubber mulch surfacing.

The playground structures include a Temple Trolley, a Swizzler, and two bouncers.

A new piece of equipment at Third Street Park.
Bourbon County, Entertainment, Food, Fort Scott, History

Pioneer Harvest Fiesta Starts Today at Bourbon County Fairgrounds

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Come and visit the Pioneer Harvest Fiesta!  Today is the first day!  The quilt show opens from 9am to 4pm today and Saturday.  Sunday’s hours are noon to 3pm.  There are many beautiful quilts to admire.  Cassino Richardson is here with her fabrics, precuts, books and more.  Erica of Nine Patch Quilt Shop has a variety of Christmas gifts and ideas to choose from.  Watch Bobbi Schroeder do wonders with her quilting machine.  At 1pm Saturday come to listen to Paul Milks as he tells us of his journey with Cross Stitch.  He has beautiful designs for you to see.

Don’t forget the bean feed Friday evening complete with cornbread and all the add ons.  It is free with a Pioneer Harvest 2023 Collector button.  $5 gives you a button which gets you in the show all three days.  What a deal!  There is also a car show on Saturday off Eddy Street at the north end of the fairgrounds.

Submitted by Jackie Warren

Opinion

Seven Friends Who Need Our Prayers

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Patty LaRoche. 2023.
Author: A Little Faith Lift…Finding Joy Beyond Rejection
www.alittlefaithlift.com
AWSA (Advanced Writers & Speakers Assoc.)

Where do you go when there’s no where to go?  When you have been handed a life sentence of taking care of someone with mental or physical issues?  When the doctor gives you the diagnosis, hands you some pamphlets to read and tells you “Good luck.”  No “We’re here for you.”  No “There’s a great support system in your area.”  No “It sounds worse than it really is.”

None of that.  Just “Good luck.”

This past week, I had conversations with seven people whose lives have turned upside down because of their children’s needs.  The first call came from my dear friend (“Karen”) whose son has fought drugs and whose daughter-in-law has battled alcohol but have been doing well, off and on, for about three years.  Then they decided to take their four, young kids to Las Vegas for a weekend of fun.  When Karen got the call that her grandchildren were in Nevada’s protective custody because her daughter-in-law, in a drunken rage, had tried to strangle her son, doped up on cocaine, and the people in the hotel room next to them had called the police, she and her husband, Jack, were livid.

The only way the youngsters would be released into their custody was if they moved to Nevada, one state over from where they live and work.  So, they moved.

The next call (#2) came from my “Job-friend” named after the Biblical character who endured indescribable pain. Parkinsons disease is destroying her ability to do anything for herself.  Her youngest son and father recently died, and last week, her oldest son stopped breathing, his wife gave him C.P.R., and he underwent emergency surgery because his body was filled with blood clots.  And she can do nothing to help.

When a former student (#3) texted and suggested my next book (ha!) should be about life being unfair, we set up a meeting so I could hear his story.  I won’t share it here, but his life will never be “normal” because of the plate he has been handed.

Two days ago, I did a Podcast with #4, a Christian author/speaker who spent an hour discussing my book.  When our Zoom call ended, I exited the call, only to realize that the taping was over, but she wanted to have closure to our conversation.  When she called back, I had a chance to ask about her life.  Oh, my! Her husband was in the Air Force, so she raised her four young girls with him absent much of the time.  All four have serious hearing/speech disabilities and were made fun of in school.  My heart ached for her, and when I prayed for her, she wept.

Two other young women (#5 and #6) shared with me the difficulties of adopting special-needs children who rank high on the autism scale. They can’t take their kids out in public because of their outbursts and inappropriate behavior. As they told of their daily sacrifices made to protect and love these kids, they didn’t stop smiling.  I told them both how blessed those kids were to have parents like them. I can’t imagine.

Then last Sunday, I met #7 when I spoke at Rinehart Church.  I was introduced to a kind, soft-spoken man who had been led by the Lord to start a class to help people addicted to pornography.  I asked him about his family.  He has twelve (12!) children.  His wife passed away last year of cancer.  I had prayed for this family when his wife was first diagnosed, but to meet this man who loves the Lord and is faithful to serve Him was a blessing I cannot describe.

Seven people (six Christians) in seven days who know that luck has nothing to do with their daily battles.

They rely on God and God alone, and they set an example for me to live with a grateful heart.

More than that, I need to pray for them. I hope you do the same.

Bourbon County, Government

The Agenda for the City of Uniontown Council on Oct. 10

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The Uniontown City Council Agenda for Oct. 10 at 7 p.m.

CALL TO ORDER AT ________ by _____________________________

ROLL CALL: 

___ Jess Ervin ___ Danea Esslinger ___ Josh Hartman ___ Amber Kelly ___ Bradley Stewart

 

SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS/PROJECTS

Region H Multi-Hazard, Multi-Jurisdictional Mitigation Plan –

 

Motion by __________, Second by ___________, Approved _____, to enter into executive session pursuant to data relating to financial affairs or trade secrets of second parties matters exception, KSA 4319(b)(4), in order to discuss economic development that pertains to private financial affairs or trade secrets of corporations, partnerships, trusts and individual proprietorships

 

CITIZENS REQUESTS

 

 

FINANCIAL REPORT

Charlene Bolinger – Financial reports

 

APPROVE CONSENT AGENDA

  1. Minutes of September 12, 2023 Regular Council Meeting
  2. Treasurers Report, Monthly Transaction Report & Accounts Payables

 

DEPARTMENT REPORTS

Superintendent:  Bobby Rich

 

Codes Enforcement:  Doug Coyan

 

Clerk Report:  Sally Johnson  

LCRR LSLI webinar update

 

COUNCIL & COMMITTEE REPORTS

Councilman Ervin –

Councilwoman Esslinger –

Councilman Hartman –

Councilwoman Kelly –

Councilman Stewart–

Mayor Jurgensen –

 

OLD BUSINESS

Electrical in Park – What are we going to charge for the 30AMP outlets?

 

Street project –

 

Mural Grant –

 

Placemaking Project –

 

Pond Project –

 

NEW BUSINESS

Messaging System –

 

ADJOURN

 

 

Attachments:

2023 Financials – October

10-23 Informational Items

Bourbon County Local News