Obituary

Obituary of Sandy Stinnett

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Sandra Sue “Sandy” Stinnett, 79, a resident of Fort Scott, passed away Tuesday morning, March 28, 2023. She was born February 29, 1944, in Fort Scott, Kansas, the daughter of Roy William “Bill” Danley and Marie (Faulhaber) Danley.

She married Bud Stinnett on November 16, 1963, in St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Fulton, Kansas. He preceded her in death on May 14, 1996.

 

Sandy graduated from Fort Scott High School with the Class of 1962, and she was a lifetime member of Mary Queen of Angels Catholic Church. She worked for the City of Fort Scott as a clerk in the Water Department, and retired after thirty-five years in 2006.

 

Sandy is survived by her daughter, Dena Engelland (Tom) of Sterling, Kansas; her longtime companion, Tom McNeil, of the home; two grandchildren, Kathleen Engelland Huelskamp (Leo), and Eric Engelland (Katharina); two great-grandchildren, Wade Huelskamp, Ty Huelskamp, and a third great-grandchild, Baby Engelland, arriving in July. Sandy is also survived by many wonderful friends.

In addition to her husband, Bud, she was also preceded in death by her parents, and a brother, Ronnie Danley.

 

Father Yancey Burgess will celebrate the Funeral Mass at 2:00 p.m. Saturday, April 1, 2023, at Mary Queen of Angels Catholic Church (Kennedy Gym), with the Rosary beginning at 1:00 p.m.

Burial will follow in the Evergreen Cemetery.

Services are under the direction of the Konantz-Cheney Funeral Home. Memorial contributions may be made to Mary Queen of Angels Catholic Church, 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.

 

Fort Scott, Kansas, Schools

FSHS Math Teacher Amy Harper Honored As District 2 Kansas Teacher of the Year

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From Mr. Kimble, Fort Scott High School Principal:

“This past Sunday Amy Harper, FSHS Mathematics teacher, was honored at the Kansas Teacher of the Year District 2 Banquet in Topeka.  We are extremely proud of Mrs. Harper for her recognition as a nominee and all that she does for Fort Scott students as well as the community. Mrs Harper, you make USD 234 a great place to learn! ”

Business, Food, Fort Scott

La Hacienda Receives Grant to Repair/Replace Equipment

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Jose and Mirna Santana started their downtown business in 2010.

Mirna and Jose Santana started their downtown restaurant in 2010 at 22 South Main, and moved to 24 N. Main in 2015.

Theirs is a family business that includes their sons Allen and Roger and Mirna’s brother, Melvin as employees.

They currently have 11 employees.

The restaurant does catering, has curbside pick-up and delivery service (within Fort Scott) and one can order online on their website at https://lahaciendaoffortscott.menufy.com/order

This year they created a new menu, with the La Prima (rice/chicken/cheese dip) the crowd favorite, Mirna said.

Restaurant hours are Monday-Wednesday from 11 a.m .to 8 p.m.; Thursday through Saturday, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The phone number is 620.223.4400.

They Received A HBCAT Grant Recently

The business couple applied for and received the Healthy Bourbon County Action Team grant for restaurants in the amount of $7,000.

“We applied because the walk-in cooler was down and needed repairs,” she said. They got those repairs and are also ordering a new fryer for the restaurant, she said.

 

Giving Back To Their Community

The Santanas are involved in the community and have danced in the “Dancing With The Stars” fundraising event to raise funds for United Way, which distributes to many other entities, she said.

“I (also) try to help the organizations that come to us,” Mirna said. “Especially the schools.”

Mirna is originally from El Salvadore, Jose from Mexico.

La Hacienda Restaurant is located at 24 N. Main.

 

 

 

Business, Fort Scott

Chamber Dinner and Awards Celebration is April 20

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Chamber_Logo_-_Blk___Wht-removebg-preview.png
JOIN US FOR THE

Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce

Annual Dinner & Awards Celebration!

See below for reservation info. and various ways you may participate!
Thursday, April 20th

River Room Event Center

3 W. Oak Street

RSVP by 4.14.2023
Social & Silent Auction

5:30pm

Dinner, Awards, & Live Auction

6:30pm
CLICK TO RSVP

Ways you can participate in the Chamber’s

Annual Dinner & Awards Celebration:

* Make your award nominations by April 9th.

Click here for the online nomination form.

Click here for a printable form.

For your reference in making nominations:

you may click here to view prior winners,

and click here for a full Chamber member listing.

* Make your dinner reservation and/or confirm sponsorship by April 14th.

* Click to email us if your business/organization would like to decorate a table for fun advertising & promotion.

* Click to email us if your business/organization would like to donate a silent or live auction item for advertising & promotion.
Thank you to our Chamber Champion members below!
Facebook      Instagram      Twitter
Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce | 231 E. Wall Street, Fort Scott, KS 66701
Government, Housing, Kansas

The Cold Weather Rule ends March 31

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TOPEKA – The Cold Weather Rule ends on Friday, March 31. That means Kansans who are behind on electric and natural gas utility bills will be subject to disconnection of service unless they contact their utility company to make payment arrangements. March 31 is also the last day to apply for the Low Income Energy Assistance Program or LIEAP, a federally funded program administered by the Kansas Department of Children and Families. LIEAP applications must be received by the Kansas DCF office by 5 p.m. on Friday.  The Kansas Corporation Commission (KCC) urges all customers facing financial difficulties to act now to stay connected.

The Cold Weather Rule, in effect from November 1 through March 31, provides protection from disconnection to residential customers served by utilities regulated by the KCC when temperatures are forecast to drop below 35 degrees within the following 48-hour period. When the rule is in effect, regulated utilities are also required to offer a Cold Weather 12-month payment plan upon request, even if a previous payment plan has been broken.

When that protection ends on Friday, failure to make arrangements or failure to adhere to an already established payment plan could result in disconnection. Reconnection after March 31 may require past due balances be paid in full, depending on the utility’s policy. That is why it is important to call now – while regulated utilities are still required to offer the Cold Weather Rule 12-month payment plan.

The Cold Weather Rule 12-month payment plans require an initial payment of 1/12 of the overdue amount, 1/12 of the bill for current service, the full amount of any disconnection or reconnection fees, plus any applicable deposit owed to the utility. The balance is billed in equal payments over the next 11 months in addition to the regular monthly bill.

It is important to note that the KCC does not regulate co-ops or municipal utilities, although many of those utilities also offer a cold weather payment plan. For a complete list of utilities regulated by the KCC visit: http://kcc.ks.gov/about-us/jurisdiction

To find out more about utility assistance programs in your area, please contact your utility or the KCC Consumer Protection Office at 800-662-0027 or 785-271-3140. Utility assistance program information is also posted on the KCC’s website.

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Obituary

Obituary of Merle Mayfield

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Merle Mayfield, 80, resident of Fort Scott, passed away Friday, March 24, 2023. He was born December 16, 1942, in Fort Scott, Kansas, the son of Wayne and Leona (Bean) Mayfield. He married Betty L. Jack on August 12, 1967, in Arcadia, Kansas. They later divorced. He later married Judy Shankle, and they divorced.

 

Merle worked for The Western Insurance Co. for six years before going into law enforcement, in which he spent twenty years. He retired in 1996, after working for Ward Kraft Printing for four years, due to health problems.

 

Merle is survived by Margaret Parker, his companion of twenty-five years, and two sons, Jason “Jay” Mayfield (Jonna), of Pensacola, Florida, and Joel Mayfield (Nicki), of Nevada, Missouri; a sister, Janice Mayfield, of Fort Scott; a sister-in-law, Diane Mayfield; three grandchildren, Trey Mayfield (Karen), Trenton Mayfield (Kasie), and Bethany Mayfield, and his step-grandchildren, John Varner (Kathryn), Matthew Varner (Paige), Lauren Meyers (Ben), Kris Varner (Katie), Samuel Varner, Morgan Trujillo (Jeff), and Myla Manly.

He was preceded in death by his parents, and a brother, Gary Mayfield.

 

Pastor Dusty Drake will conduct funeral services at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, April 1, 2023, at the Konantz-Cheney Funeral Home.

Visitation will be Friday evening, March 31, 2023, 6:00-7:00 p.m. at the funeral home.

Private burial will take place at a later date, following cremation.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Fort Scott Police Department 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.

 

Bourbon County, Fort Scott

Kiwanis Spring is Here: Easter Egg Hunt and Planting of Trees

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Kiwanis is a global organization of volunteers dedicated to improving the world, one child and one community at a time.

Two upcoming events for them is the Easter Egg Hunt this Saturday at 11 a.m. sharp at Gunn Park Shelter House #2 for area children. Children will need to bring their own basket.

The Easter bunny in the 2009 Kiwanis Easter Egg Hunt at Gunn Park.

Another of the organization’s projects through the years has been to plant trees, and this year they are continuing that tradition with the help of grant funding from the Fort Scott Area Community Foundation.

If one looks down Fort Scott main streets, many of the trees in between the sidewalk and the street have been planted by Kiwanis members in the past.

Looking south on National Avenue, one can see the many trees placed between the street and the sidewalk, some of which were planted by Kiwanis, according to Kiwanis member Craig Campbell.

Trees are available for residents and parks throughout Bourbon County.

“A lot of the trees we have planted are for citizens who don’t have the resources to put them in,” Craig Campbell, Kiwanis member, said.

This year the group ordered  flowering Redbud trees and two types of shade trees, Swamp Chestnut Oak, and Water Oak.

The Kiwanis will supply and plant the trees the latter part of April.

“The Fort Scott FFA group has volunteered to help Kiwanis members plant the trees,” Campbell said. “The city of Fort Scott will help bore the holes.”

“Tim McDonnell, with the Kansas State Forestry Service will come to town prior to help us look at drainage issues, gas and water lines, overhead lines,” Campbell said.

McDonnell drives the streets in town also to see if there is overpopulation of one tree species.

“Dutch Elm in the past and Ash Trees have been noted to have  pests recently,” he said. “Bradford Pears are not hardy to our area because ice storm and wind storm damage.”

“We need to be diverse to prevent (tree populations) being wiped out by pests or disease,” Campbell said.

To request a tree, call or text Craig Campbell at 620-224-0167, by April 7.

“The only obligation is to water the tree once a week for a year to get it established,” he said.

About Kiwanis

Fort Scott Kiwanis Club meets Tuesdays at noon at the First Presbyterian Church at Third and Crawford Street. Meals are provided.

Government, Kansas

Legislative Update by State Senator Caryn Tyson

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Caryn Tyson

 

March 24, 2023

 

Session 2023 is quickly coming to an end.  There are a few more days of regular session, then conference committees will be the focus.  Conference committees are six member committees, three from each chamber, that negotiate the differences in legislation that has passed both chambers.  It is usually the Chairman, Vice-Chairman, and Ranking from committees.  However, the Senate President and Speaker may appoint whomever they want on conference committees.

 

Property Tax has been a focus for many, including myself and other legislators.  The Senate Tax Committee passed Senate Concurrent Resolution (SCR) 1610, limiting property valuations to a maximum 3% increase each year.  If we can get the SCR passed in both chambers by 2/3 majority, it would be on the ballot for voters to decide.  Hopefully, leadership will shepherd it through the process this session to let taxpayers vote and stop these massive valuation increases, which often result in higher property taxes.

 

Self-storage unit operators would be able to request towing of a vehicle, trailer, or watercraft when a storage unit payment is 60 days or more past due.  The bill, SB 2042, passed the Senate 38 to 0.

 

Article V in the U.S. Constitution defines two methods to amend the U.S. Constitution.  The most commonly known method is that an amendment to be initiated by U.S. Congress.  The second method is when an amendment can be initiated by the states.  There are a few groups working to initiate amendments through the state legislatures.  The Kansas Senate debated a resolution that would call for an Article V convention for term limits, a balanced budget, and to reign in federal overreach.  It always leads to healthy debate.  The Kansas Constitution requires a resolution for an Article V convention to pass by 2/3 majority.  There have been attempts in the past to disregard this requirement.  I do not support those efforts.  I do support states working to reign in our federal government, so I voted for the resolution.  However, it failed on a vote 22 to 16.  It needed 27 votes to pass.

 

It is an honor and a privilege to serve as your 12th District State Senator.

Caryn

 

 

Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce, Fort Scott National Historic Site

Chamber Coffee at Fort Scott National Historic Site March 30

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ANNOUNCING THIS WEEK’S
CHAMBER COFFEE
Join us for Chamber Coffee hosted by
Friends of Fort Scott NHS
Thursday, March 30th
8am
1 Old Fort Blvd
The Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce invites members and guests to a Chamber Coffee this Thursday, March 30th at 8 a.m. hosted by Friends of Fort Scott NHS. It will be held at The Fort Scott National Historic Site, 1 Old Fort Blvd. Coffee and light refreshments will be served.
Friends of Fort Scott National Historic Site’s mission is to be a friend of the National Historic Site and their primary purpose is to support the National Historic Site in a partnership through activities that may include fundraising, volunteerism, education, advocacy and research. To do that they need to raise funds and they raise funds through their Flag Subscription Program.
For the last four years, they have put a full-size flag in front of the homes of subscribers for the 5 flag holidays — Memorial Day, Flag Day, Fourth of July, Labor Day, and Veteran’s Day. Interested parties can stop by the Chamber to pick up an application or can contact Kelley Collins at 417.684.2484.
Any member business or organization wanting to host Chamber Coffee in 2023 is encouraged to contact the Chamber to save a date by calling 620-223-3566 or emailing [email protected].
Clickhere for their Facebook page!
Click here for their website!
We hope to see you there!
Thank you to our Chamber Champion members
shown below!
FORT SCOTT AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
620-223-3566
‌
Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce | 231 E. Wall Street, Fort Scott, KS 66701

Bourbon County Local News