Faith Journeys by Patty LaRoche
Ever feel like you’re missing out? You see the commercial with the snow-capped mountains in the background, the horse-drawn carriage pulling up to the home of the loving family offering toasts beside the wood-burning fireplace, and you sigh. That’s certainly not your life. The view from your window is the wintry blast that’s left your roads ice-covered and a front porch too slick to shovel. Your kids are cranky from being couped up inside and are griping about the Kraft Mac and Cheese you’ve given them for the fourth straight night.
How is it that some people’s lives represent Hallmark moments, and others…well, don’t? Right now, I’m looking out at the beach, listening to the waves crash against our sea wall. Most people are lounging at the pool or ordering food from our Palapa restaurant. I, on the other hand, am bundled in blankets, trying to fend off some nasty flu/cold, trying to stop coughing so I can attend a huge meeting tomorrow where I will resign after serving seven years on the Board. A meeting where I will serve as Parliamentarian because Carol, who always officiates at this bilingual, annual meeting, can’t be here. Instead, she’s at her home in Aspen, Colorado, no doubt making those Hallmark moments come alive.
If Carol is a 100 in her knowledge of Roberts’ Rules of Order, I am a four. Last year, when someone tabled a motion and it was opened for discussion, it was Carol who announced that there would be no discussion, only a vote. I didn’t know that. Only because I sort of understand the amendment process am I this year considered “qualified.”
So tomorrow, when someone tables a motion and another person stands to discuss it and I say he/she can’t and that individual argues, I will melt. Sort of like the Wicked Witch of the West in The Wizard of Oz. “Why can’t we discuss it?” someone will scream. And I will melt. “I don’t know,” I will answer. “Ask Carol. Carol who’s not here because she’s sitting beside her wood-burning fire, looking at the snow-covered mountains outside her window.”
Two days later: No one at the meeting called for my head, probably because I texted Carol for help when I foresaw a need arising. (I now accept this is as one more talent I do not have.) All I know is this: I am officially off the Board. Such relief. So why, in the middle of the night, did I break out in hives? Literally.
Not exactly a Hallmark moment. I am miserable.
Little did I know how bad “miserable” could look. Within a day, I would end up in the hospital here in Mexico, covered in welts that gave me an empathetic feel for what Job went through in the Bible. “Be careful what you complain about,” my mother used to say, “because it can always be worse.” She was right.
What I did find over the past six days in the hospital is how much I relied on my praying friends who daily sent encouragement, scriptures and sweet messages of comfort to let me know that God would carry me through this ordeal. Some offered medical advice while others shared that they were spending time on their knees for me. It couldn’t get any better! And then today, in an Instagram post, I read this: “The secret is Christ in me, not me in a different set of circumstances.” God had it all under control, even if I didn’t.
And suddenly, I realized I didn’t have it so bad after all.
What’s Happening in Fort Scott-By the Chamber
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Fort Scott High School Girls 4A Sub-State Basketball Championship is March 4 @ Home
The 4A Girls Sub-State Basketball Championship game between Topeka-Hayden and Fort Scott will be Saturday, March 4th at 5:00 at Fort Scott High School.
Doors will open to spectators at 3:45.
Admission is $8 adults, $6 students. No passes per KSHSAA post-season policy.
FSHS students will get in for free but must get ticket at door.
Go Tigers!!!
Submitted by
Jeff DeLaTorre
Athletic/Activities Director
Fort Scott High School
Faith’s Journey Trio Coming to Fort Scott
Fort Scott’s First Southern Baptist Church is hosting a community event featuring Faith’s Journey, a ministry of music performance.
This is a perfect blend of Christian entertainment and ministry.
It will be March 12th at 10:30 a.m. at the First Southern Baptist Church, 1818 S Main, Fort Scott KS.
Obituary of Roy Townsend
Roy Emerald Townsend, age 87, resident of rural Fort Scott, KS, died Wednesday, March 1, 2023, at Via Christi Hospital in Pittsburg, KS. He was born on September 7, 1935, in Harding, KS, the son of Perry and Elizabeth Snyder Townsend.
\ Roy served in the Army from 1958 until 1961. He was stationed in Germany for 1 ½ years as crew chief for a 3 Star General.
Roy married Nancy Susan Michael on March 30, 1964, in Miami, OK. She preceded him in death on December 3, 2020. He worked various jobs through the years including Bruce Marble Works, heavy equipment operator, and maintenance. He enjoyed working on his vintage military vehicles, pulling tractors, coin collecting, and watching Gun Smoke. He was a member of the Rising Sun Lodge #8 in Fort Scott.
Survivors include two sons, Perry Townsend (Jane), Redfield, KS, and Jerry Townsend (Amber), Chanute, KS; two grandchildren, Adam Townsend, and Sarah Bower (Justin); onegreat granddaughter, Aleah Marie Bower; and numerous nieces, nephews, and friends.
Besides his wife, he was preceded in death by a sister, Carolyn Price, and his parents.
Funeral services will be held at 10:00 Tuesday, March 7th, at the Cheney Witt Chapel.
Burial will follow in the U. S. National Cemetery.
The family will receive friends from 5:00 until 7:00 Monday evening at the Cheney Witt Chapel.
Memorials are suggested to Ronald McDonald House or Bethel Community Church and may be left in care of the Cheney Witt Chapel, PO Box 347, 201 S. Main St., Fort Scott, KS. Words of remembrance may be submitted to the online guestbook at cheneywitt.com.
Demo of Catholic Church Begins
Demolition started sooner than expected on Fort Scott’s Mary Queen of Angels Catholic Church, following a wind storm early on March 1, 2023.
A portion of the facade of the fire-damaged church was blown down by the storm around 2 a.m.
“The front facade came off the building and blocked Eddy Street,” Mark McCoy, who is on the parish committee that is working on the rebuild project, said.
“Eddy Street, in front of the church, will be blocked off until further notice,” he said. “I estimate the demo will take approximately three weeks.”
The church parish committee is in the beginning stages of the design and architecture phase of the church rebuild, he said.
“It will be approximately six months until construction can begin,” McCoy said.
They are anticipating a 12 month construction period, he said.
“The cost to rebuild will be in excess of $5 million,” McCoy said. “The building standards have changed since the building of the church in 1872, at a cost of $20,000.
Mary Queen of Angels Catholic Church, 705 S. Holbrook, Fort Scott suffered extensive damage in a fire that started in late evening on August 29, 2022.
When the the Fort Scott Fire Department and FS Police Department units arrived the church was on fire with heavy smoke and flames emitting from the southeast corner of the structure.
The fire was later determined to be from a lightning strike.
Simpson Construction Services, Wichita, is doing the demolition of the church building, and also the construction.
Bourbon County Job Fair April 13
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K-State Healthy Lifestyle Challenge Begins
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Kick Off for Read Across America at Winfield Scott Elementary School
The Winfield Scott Leadership club invited author Suzanna Lynn and Buddy the Blue Corgi to help students kickoff Read Across America Week.
Suzanna helped students understand that it’s good to be unique. Buddy concluded the presentation by doing a few tricks for the students.
Submitted by Linda Minor.
Minutes of the U234 Board of Education Special Meeting on Feb. 27
Monday, February 27, 2023
Members of the USD 234 Board of Education met at 5:30 p.m. on Monday, February 27, 2023, for a special board meeting at the board office.
President Danny Brown opened the meeting.
The board held a work session led by Superintendent Destry Brown to update the board regarding long-range facility and maintenance needs facing the district. Gina Shelton, Finance Director/Board Clerk provided financial information in regard to the various funds that can be used for capital projects. There was discussion.
The board went into an executive session for personnel matters.
The board approved the following items:
- Approval of Personnel Report (following)
President Danny Brown adjourned the meeting.
PERSONNEL REPORT – APPROVED EMPLOYMENT
February 27, 2023
RESIGNATIONS/TERMINATIONS/RETIREMENTS:
Sabrina Cady – Resignation, Van Driver/Fort Scott Middle School Paraprofessional, effective March 8, 2023
Colin Downey – Resignation, Fort Scott High School Social Studies Teacher, effective at the end of the 2022-23 school year
Lienna Upchurch – Resignation, Eugene Ware Special Education Teacher, effective at the end of the 2022-23 school year
Robert West – Termination, Preschool/Eugene Ware Custodian, effective March 7, 2023
EMPLOYMENT/REASSIGNMENTS:
Megan Blythe – Fort Scott High School Art Teacher – remainder of 2022-23 school year
Alicia Craig – Change position to a 4-hour Van Driver and 6.50-hour Winfield Scott Paraprofessional, effective 03/06/23
Jamie Dawson – Transfer from Eugene Ware Paraprofessional to Winfield Scott Paraprofessional on 02/21/23
Alexandrea Herring – Preschool/Eugene Ware Custodian, effective February 23, 2023
Mesa Jones – FSHS Play Assistant
David Martin – FSHS Assistant Swim Coach