Julia Haggard, age 50, a resident of Pittsburg, Kansas passed away unexpectedly Saturday, January 6, 2024, at her home. Services will be announced by the Cheney Witt Chapel, 201 S. Main, Ft. Scott, Kansas.
Death Notice of Julie Haggard
USD 234 Board of Education Met On January 8
Unified School District 234
424 South Main
Fort Scott, KS 66701-2697
620-223-0800 Fax 620-223-2760
DESTRY BROWN
Superintendent
BOARD OF EDUCATION REGULAR MEETING
NEWS RELEASE
Monday, January 8, 2024
Members of the USD 234 Board of Education met at 5:30 p.m. on Monday, January 8, 2024, for their regular monthly meeting at the board office.
President David Stewart opened the meeting.
President Stewart welcomed the new board members to their first board meeting.
The board appointed Danny Brown as board member for the next two years.
Stewart Gulager was nominated and appointed as Vice-President of the USD 234 Board.
The board approved the official agenda, and the consent agenda as follows:
Board Minutes
12/11/23 Board Minutes
Financials-Cash Flow Report
Check Register
Payroll – December 18, 2023 – $1,689,996.80
Activity Fund accounts
USD 234 Gifts
CTE Math 2023-2024 Fundraising
Update Officers
Appoint KPERS Designated Agent
Resolution 23-11 KMIP Signers
Resolution 23-12 Bank Account Signers
Classified Tiger Team Members of the Month were Tim Button and Tim Coyan.
Mr. Coyan is a preschool driver and was recognized by Superintendent Brown for not missing one day of work this last semester. He was also thanked for his willingness to be available and helpful whenever needed.
Mr. Button is in his tenth year driving for USD 234. He also was recognized for not missing one day of work last semester. Superintendent Brown stated that he is thankful for safely transporting students to and from school.
Superintendent Destry Brown reported on a Principal opening at Winfield Scott. USD 234 is taking applications until the end of January. He also shared results of building climate surveys and parent surveys that were taken last semester. Snow Day procedures were shared with the board in the event of inclement weather. Mr. Brown shared information about the events happening with the proposed new preschool building. Also, the new board members were invited to a New Board Member Training that would be held in Columbus, Kansas.
Assistant Superintendent Dalaina Smith gave an update to the board on the Essential Standards. She said we have “amazing teachers” that are working very diligently to use interventions that would increase the students’ education. This is an evolving document that will be shared on the district’s website sometime this week. USD 234 is seeing remarkable results.
Tonya Barnes, Special Education Director, gave a report on the Speech Department within Special Education. The need is growing, and she was able to share how USD 234 is working to fulfill those needs. She acknowledged the demanding work the Speech Team is doing to meet the requirements for each student.
Superintendent Brown reported on end of year finance reports.
Cherri Walrod, Community Liaison for Core Community Bourbon County (CCBBCO), gave an update to the board Monday evening. This program began in November of 2023 and has fifteen adults in the 20-week Phase One Program, with most being within the USD 234 School District. She recognized Janice Lamb, Community Coach, for working each week as a leader for the participants. She has helped with filling out applications, groceries, and being a listening ear when needed. “Core Community has been nothing but an amazing program to be a part of…It has brought my family closer together” was a testimony from a current participant. Visiting Core Community Bourbon County on Facebook will give updates, testimonies, and more information for anyone interested.
The board approved the following items:
- To publish board seat #1&4 in the Fort Scott Tribune.
- Open Enrollment Policy.
- Regular Board Meeting dates for 2024.
- Move the election of Board Officers until the July board Meeting.
- Personnel Report following
The board went into an executive session for personnel matters.
President Stewart adjourned the meeting.
PERSONNEL REPORT – APPROVED EMPLOYMENT
January 8, 2024
RESIGNATIONS/TERMINATIONS/RETIREMENTS:
Center, Ronette – Retirement
Charter, Shelly – Resignation
Lynch, Tabitha – Resignation
Satterfield, Cindy – Retirement
Smith, Dalaina – Resignation
Witt, Randi – Resignation
TRANSFERS/REASSIGNMENTS/LEAVE OF ABSENCE:
For the 2023-24 school year:
Certified:
Farrington, Jannah – Mentor for Anna Anderson for the remainder of school year
Underwood, Elizabeth – Paraprofessional to full time Speech Paraprofessional Winfield Scott
EMPLOYMENT:
Classified Recommendations for the 2023-24 school year:
Foulk, Joe – Help Desk Technician
McGehee, Sarah – Preschool Paraprofessional
Robinson, Angela – Payroll Clerk
Yarick, Gail – Business Manager
Strategies to Prevent Sex Trafficking Presented to the Community This Month
January is Sex Trafficking Awareness Month.
A special presentation on strategies to prevent sex trafficking will be happening on Wednesday, January 31 at 6 p.m. at Fort Scott Community College Ellis Arts Center, 2108 S. Horton.
Children under 18 years of age are not allowed to this presentation “due to some of the explicit videos and information that will be shared that evening,” said Shanda Stewart.
“I just retired in November after 29 years with the State of Kansas, 6th Judicial District as a Probation Office,” Stewart said. “I got to hear Russ Tuttle’s presentation at a conference I attended in October and was so blown away with the information; I thought we have got to get him to Bourbon County. I was able to network with the right people to make it happen!”
“Your perception of sex trafficking and what it is, will be completely changed,” she said.
Youth will get a version for themselves the next day and faculty and staff will have a presentation at an in-service day in USD 234.
“On Thursday, February 1st the presenter, Russ Tuttle will be doing age-appropriate assemblies at all four of the USD 234 schools,” Stewart said. “On Friday, February 2nd he will do a presentation for all faculty and staff during their teacher in-service day.”
BeAlert® is the awareness and prevention strategy of The Stop Trafficking Project® to end domestic minor sex trafficking (DMST)before it starts by disrupting the exploitation of vulnerability.
This adults-only community presentation focuses on the role of life online (the internet) for students, to educate and empower caring adults in our community to prevent sex trafficking, according to a press release.
Caring adults in the community who are invited to attend:
- Law enforcement
- Firefighters and EMT’s
- Medical professionals
- Counselors
- Faith community leaders
- School personnel
- Parents, guardians, and all other adult family members
Students are enamored with social media and “life online,” according to the press release from Stewart.
The event will provide practical advice to caring adults to guide and make them aware of vulnerabilities that can be exploited such loneliness, isolation, depression, suicide, sexting, sextortion, pornography, cyberbullying, exploitation, sexual exploitation, and domestic minor sex trafficking (DMST)
The presentation will be a fast-moving PowerPoint.
The presenter, Russ Tuttle, is an active abolitionist who has command of the topic and speaks with energy that grabs and keeps the attention of attendees, according to the press release.
The presentation will have images and videos to provide insight into the role of technology in exploiting vulnerabilities, identify the demand in this high-demand business of sexual exploitation, provide the option to engage with the BeAlert® Strategy, the Stop Trafficking App, and the ‘top ten practical steps’ for adults to keep students safer.
No children, please at the January 31 presentation.
For more information, contact Stewart at 620.215.2681.
Valu Merchandisers Company (VMC) Fort Scott Closing Operations
January 8, 2024
Due to the completion of the state-of-the-art All-In-One (AIO) Distribution Hub in Hernando, Miss., we will be closing operations at our Valu Merchandisers Company (VMC) facility located in Fort Scott, Kan.
We will transition the majority of VMC Fort Scott’s inventory and shipments to the AIO and expect the transition to be
completed by the end of March 2024.
Our employees at this facility have worked hard and done an excellent job providing retailers with the best variety of quality Health & Beauty Care (HBC), General Merchandise (GM) and Specialty Foods (SF) at the lowest cost to drive sales since the facility was built in 1995.
This was not an easy decision, and we sincerely appreciate
the dedication the employees here have shown.
We are committed to helping all impacted employees through their transition to other opportunities, including potential opportunities within AWG.
Emile Breaux, Senior Vice President, Chief Sales & Support Officer, AWG
ABOUT ASSOCIATED WHOLESALE GROCERS, INC.:
Associated Wholesale Grocers, Inc. (AWG) is the nation’s largest cooperative food wholesaler to independently owned
supermarkets, serving 1,100 member companies and more than 3,400 locations throughout 31 states from 9 wholesale
Divisions.
Wreaths Across America Wreath Retirement Day is January 20
January 20, 2024 has been designated as wreath retirement day at Fort Scott National Cemetery, beginning at 8AM, according to Diann Tucker, location coordinator for Wreaths Across America. Volunteers to pick up wreaths, small flatbed trailers, pickups and other vehicles for hauling wreaths up to the provided dumpsters are needed.
The response to lay wreaths back in December was overwhelming, but now it is time to remove them. Your help is still needed to complete this year’s event.
A last reminder that the Matching Funds Campaign ends January 16. For each wreath we get purchased until January 16 we will get a free wreath donated to the cemetery for 2024 to be placed for a soldier who has not otherwise been sponsored. This allows your donations to double in value. Donations should be payable to Wreaths Across America and can be mailed to or left at Stewart Realty Co., 1707 S. National, Fort Scott, KS 66701.
Barnstormers 4-H Club Minutes of December 13
On December 13 the Barnstormers 4-H club called the meeting and annual Christmas party to order at 6:06 p.m.
The roll call was , “What is your favorite Christmas tradition?” which 18 members answered and 11 parents were also in attendance. The secretary minutes and treasures report were given and stood as read.
All members were informed of the upcoming 4-H days and the club received $210.00 from Producers Cooperative of Girard as a donation.
Emroy Ellis gave his demonstration project talk how to make slime and allowed everyone to feel it.
The Barnstormers ended the meeting at 6:32 p.m. with Gracyn Pitts making a motion and Olive Ellis seconding.
Following the adjournment everyone gathered for some Christmas games with snacks and desserts to eat brought from families. This year’s club shirts were collected prior to leaving.
Jewel Endicott
Barnstormers 4-H club secretary
Jack Endicott
Barnstormers 4-H club reporter
Ribbon Cutting at Freedom Fitness Before Chamber Coffee on January 11
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The Bourbon County Sheriff’s Office Daily Reports January 8
Minutes of the December 18 Bo Co Commission
December 18, 2023 Monday, 5:30 p.m.
The Bourbon County Commission met in open session with all three Commissioners and the County Clerk present.
Jason Silvers, Patty Ropp, Lora Holdridge, and Michael Hoyt were present for some or all of the meeting.
Jim Harris opened the meeting with the flag salute.
Jim made a motion to open the 2023 budget amendment hearing. Clifton seconded the motion and all approved. Jennifer explained the funds of Road and Bridge, Road and Bridge Sales Tax, and EMS were going to be amended to give budget authority to spend the additional funds that have came in this year. Jim opened the public comments section of the hearing. There were no public comments. Clifton made a motion to close the 2023 budget amendment hearing. Nelson seconded the motion and all approved. Clifton made a motion to approve the 2023 budget amendment. Nelson seconded the motion and all approved.
Jennifer Hawkins, County Clerk, presented an application of membership with Heartland Rural Electric Cooperative. The county has been a part of the cooperative for many years, however; Heartland REC requested the county complete the application that they did not have on file. Clifton made a motion to allow Chairman Harris to sign the application of membership for Heartland Rural Electric Cooperative. Nelson seconded the motion and all approved. The county received an invitation to the Bourbon County REDI Gala that will be held on December 30. Jennifer asked if there would be more than one Commissioner in attendance that evening and after discussion the Commissioners decided they would not be attending. Jennifer stated that due to the upcoming holidays falling on Monday this would be the last regularly scheduled meeting until January 8th. Jennifer and Patty Love, Treasurer, discussed a KORA request that was made for information regarding their non-elected employees and questioned how the individual who submitted the KORA request received the information about bonuses in their departments when some employees did not even know they were receiving a bonus yet.
Clifton made amotion to reconvene the meeting at 401 Woodland Hills Blvd at 6:00. Nelson seconded the motion and all approved.
Jim reconvened the meeting a 6:00.
Clifton made a motion to go into a 60-mnute executive session under KSA 75-4319 (b)(4) to discuss data relating to financial affairs or trade secrets of corporations, partnerships, trust and individual proprietorships to include all three Commissioners, the County Counselor, REDI Board President and three board members, all five members of the Fort Scott Board of City Commissioners, City Attorney, and City Manager. Garth Herman and Greg Cotton will also be present via Zoom. The executive session will remain in the conference room until 7:03 with the members of the public exiting to the lobby. Nelson seconded the motion and all approved. Clifton made a motion to resume normal session at 7:03 with no action. Nelson seconded the motion and all approved.
Clifton made a motion to amend the agenda to add an executive session. Nelson seconded the motion and all approved.
Clifton made a motion to go into a 10-mnute executive session under KSA 75-4319 (b)(4) to discuss data relating to financial affairs or trade secrets of corporations, partnerships, trust and individual proprietorships to include all three Commissioners, the County Counselor, REDI Board President and three board members, all five members of the Fort Scott Board of City Commissioners, City Attorney, and City Manager. Garth Herman and Greg Cotton will also be present via Zoom. The executive session will remain in the conference room until 7:15 with the members of the public exiting to the lobby. Nelson seconded the motion and all approved. Clifton made a motion to resume normal session at 7:15 with no action. Nelson seconded the motion and all approved.
Clifton made a motion to approve the consent agenda which includes approval of minutes from 12-11-23, approval of payroll totaling $290,776.36, and approval of accounts payable totaling $448,457.08. Nelson seconded the motion and all approved.
Eric Bailey, Public Works Director, notified the Commissioners that the #140 Mack truck would be back from the shop tomorrow. Eric said there was an issue with the sight triangle at 245th & Soldier Road. They have removed trees so now traffic can see from the intersection. Eric presented an agreement for bridge 26.0-Y-1.0, which is located south of Garland, that outlines bridge inspections with Vernon County, MO. The county line goes down the middle of the bridge and currently both counties are having bridge inspections preformed, but the State and Federal government are requiring an agreement outlining how inspections will be handled. Clifton made a motion to allow all three Commissioners to sign the agreement with Vernon County on bridge 26.0-Y-1.0. Nelson seconded the motion and all approved. Eric updated the Commissioners on a software issued that happened last Thursday which now has them locked out of CIC PublicWorks. Eric said billings will be delayed until the company can get them back in. Dustin Hall, Assistant Public Works Director, spoke about a 2008 Bomag landfill compactor they have found on Purple Wave with a current bid of $20,500. Dustin said a new machine would be around $600,000. Dustin went to view the machine in El Dorado and drove it. The company that owns it purchased it new and the engine has been replaced and has approximately 2006 hours on it. Dustin said machine will help extend the life of our landfill by potentially 40% and will hold up better that the dozer we currently use for the construction and demolition material. Dustin said they are asking permission to spend up to $100,000 on the machine. Jim said the dozer is not equipped for using it at the landfill and will save dozer repairs and add years of life to the landfill. Clifton asked how they plan on paying for it. Dustin said they have some funds in the landfill account that they were going to use to pay the building off early in March but they feel this will help our landfill out. Clifton made a motion to allow Public Works to bid up to $100,000 for a Bomag landfill compactor on Purple Wave. Nelson seconded the motion and all approved. Nelson said he was informed by a resident that west of Highway 3 on Grand Road is very muddy.
Clifton thanked the City of Fort Scott Commissioners for coming. Clifton asked Sheriff Martin and Undersheriff Davidson if they use CIC. Sheriff Martin said they use it for payroll and accounts payable. Jim stated that as Chairman he is to run the meeting and stated the agenda is a guideline that can be amended at any time and any Commissioner can ask to amend the agenda. Nelson stated they have been praying at every meeting and he has been advised today they could be sued for it. Justin said anyone can pray, but when a government entity prays, they have to give everyone the chance to pray because my beliefs may be different than your beliefs. There was discussion held regarding if prayer would be added back to the agenda. Nelson stated during his Commission comment time he would pray to Jesus and anyone who wished to join him could do so. Jim and Clifton thanked Nelson after he held a prayer.
Nelson made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 7:47. Clifton seconded the motion and all approved.
THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
OF BOURBON COUNTY, KANSAS
___________________, Chairman
___________________, Commissioner
ATTEST: ___________________, Commissioner
Jennifer Hawkins, Bourbon County Clerk
1-8-2024 Approved Date
Fire Suppression System Is Being Replaced at the Fort Scott National Historic Site in 2024
Fort Scott National Historic Site is beginning a year-long Fire Suppression System replacement in nine buildings.
The first two buildings are the Dragoon Barracks and Post Hospital/Visitor Center.
While work is being completed in the Post Hospital, the Visitor Center’s information desk has been temporarily moved into the West Infantry Barracks next door.
The park’s bookstore will be closed until the Post Hospital is reopened.
The contractor will be spending about two months on each pair of buildings.
Once they have completed the Post Hospital and Dragoon Barracks at the end of February, they will move to the Post Headquarters and the Quartermaster’s Storehouse.
The third set will be Officer’s Quarters #1 and the Stables beginning in early May, then Officers Quarters #4 and the West Infantry Barracks.
The final building will be the East Infantry Barracks and Grand Hall.
Each set of building will be closed during construction.
While buildings are closed, we encourage you to take advantage of the many digital tools already available to explore Fort Scott National Historic Site, including: virtual tours, photo galleries, mobile app, Facebook, and Instagram.
This project will be replacing the entire Fire Suppression system in each of these nine buildings including all valves, piping, sprinkler heads, wiring, and the exterior connection to the main water line.
This project is funded through Fee Recreation monies not tax dollars.
When you pay an entrance fee at a national park, 80% of that money stays in that park. The remaining 20% is available to parks without entrance fees like Fort Scott.
Fort Scott National Historic Site’s, a unit of the National Park Service, exhibit areas and temporary visitor center are open Friday through Tuesday from 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
The park grounds are open daily from a half hour before sunrise until a half hour after sunset.
Fort Scott National Historic Site Temporarily Reduces Its Hours
Fort Scott National Historic Site is temporarily reducing its hours of operation to 8:30am-4:30pm Friday through Tuesday tentatively through the end of March.
The park grounds will not be closing, only the park’s public buildings and Visitor Center on Wednesdays and Thursdays.
Due to an extended staffing shortage the park is temporarily unable to provide adequate operational coverage and visitor services.
The staff shortage “appears to be a combination of a smaller applicant pool at all levels which is also leading to staffing shortages in the Human Resources offices at the regional and national levels,” said Carl Brenner, FSNHS Program Manager for Interpretation and Resource Management.
Administrative and facility operations will continue as normal. By the end of March, the park projects returning to normal operations seven days each week.
We encourage you to take advantage of the many digital tools already available to explore Fort Scott National Historic Site, including: virtual tours, photo galleries, mobile app, Facebook, and Instagram.
Fort Scott National Historic Site’s, a unit of the National Park Service, exhibit areas and temporary visitor center are open Friday through Tuesday from 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. The park grounds are open daily from a half hour before sunrise until a half hour after sunset.
January 9 Downtown Meet and Greet Postponed Due to Inclement Weather
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