Old Settlers Picnic Contests/Raffle Results
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
ARTEFFECT Ambassadors Visual Arts Online Fellowship 2024-2025 Application
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Obituary of Shirley Higgins
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.
Governor Kelly Announces August Total Tax Collections Surpass Estimate by Nearly $23M
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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Walk-in mammography screenings now available at CHC/SEK
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.
Kansas Dept. of Children and Families New Building To Open Soon In Fort Scott
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.
“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.
“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 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.”
The Bourbon County Sheriff’s Office Daily Reports September 3
Obituary of Raymond Kalm Sr.
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
The 2024 Old Settlers Picnic Photo Highlights
The 2024 Old Settlers Picnic had dancing, running/walking, fishing, church, bingo, pickleball, kids games, and rodeos that all led up to the highlight event of the parade at Uniontown on Labor Day.
The community and surrounding areas enjoyed the food, crafts, vendors, car show, and parade on Labor Day. People picnicked in the park, enjoyed the baby parade, recognition of old settlers, kids games and raffles/contests.
The Holt family were the grand marshalls of the parade, with Marilyn Holt, the matriarch, sitting front and center on the float, along with three of her children Debbie Likely, Randy Holt and Susan Eldridge,their spouses,their grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. Her oldest son, Kenny, died in 2019, and her husband Kent, “Poke”, died in 2021. The Holts have been bankers in Bourbon County since 1901.
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Figs and Innards by Carolyn Tucker
Keys to the Kingdom
By Carolyn Tucker
Figs and Innards
My dad was about ten years old when he went fishing with his brother-in-law, John. While walking back to my grandparents’ house, Dad was bitten by a water moccasin. He yelled out and Uncle John turned around to see what had happened. He offered to carry Dad home, but he insisted on walking. By the time they reached the house, the poison had circulated all through his little body. My grandmother quickly killed a chicken and laid the innards on the bite. (The heat from the innards was supposed to draw out the poisonous venom.) After several days of being critically ill, Dad finally recovered. The fang marks on his ankle were still visible when he told me this story.
In 2 Kings 20:1-7, we find an interesting incident regarding a boil. King Hezekiah had an infection from a boil that was aggressive and life threatening. The prophet Isaiah came to him and said, “Get your house in order; you’re going to die.” Hezekiah prayed earnestly and wept bitterly. God told Isaiah to turn around and say to the king, “God has heard your prayer and seen your tears and will heal you. He will add 15 years to your life.” Then Isaiah told the King’s servants to lay a cake of figs on the boil and Hezekiah recovered.
I wonder if Isaiah’s odd instructions made any sense to the king’s servants. I don’t think Hezekiah would have recovered if the servants had refused to obey orders. Maybe a fig poultice was a common remedy for a malady back then. Maybe not. Believers don’t have to understand the “why” or “how” to what God is whispering in our heart. Just do it in faith. We need to learn to obey without trying to figure it out in our little pea brain. No matter how smart we think we are, we can never outthink or outsmart God. He’ll never be impressed with our IQ, but He is pleased with simple obedience.
At the exodus from Egypt, God told the Israelites, “’Obey My voice, and I will be your God, and you shall be My people. And walk in all the ways that I have commanded you, that it may be well with you.‘ Yet they did not obey or incline their ear, but followed the counsels and the dictates of their evil hearts, and went backward and not forward” (Jeremiah 7:23-24 NKJV). God expects us to learn His Word and do (obey) what it says…for our own good.
I believe there are times in a Christ follower’s life that God will ask us to do something in order to test our love, obedience, and trust in Him. “Fire tests the purity of silver and gold, but the Lord tests the heart” (Proverbs 17:3 NLT). If we fail the test, we simply get to take it again (and again) until we pass it. God doesn’t tempt us (that’s what Satan does) but He will test us every so often. We don’t enjoy tests, but they reveal our spiritual condition. And the purpose of these tests is usually beyond our human understanding.
Also, God possibly tests us so we can see what we’re made of — God already knows, but we need to know. I always taste test my mashed potatoes several times before I set the bowl on the table. This side dish has to have the perfect amount of salt, butter, and milk before it’s moved to the dinner table. God is always trying to help us become more like Him. “Taste and see that the Lord is good” (Psalm 34:8 NLT).
The Key: Believers need to obey because there’s no other way to pass the test.