Gordon Parks Museum Receives Humanities Kansas Grant
TOPEKA – Humanities Kansas recently awarded $6,979 to the Gordon Parks Museum in Fort Scott to support “Langston Hughes and Gordon Parks Exhibit Display,” a moveable exhibit that explores the works and friendship between two cultural giants who had roots in Kansas. Kirk Sharp serves as project director.
This project will produce exhibit panel displays with a theme that highlights both Langston’s and Gordon’s lives and careers. The displays will target the history, journey, friendship, collaborations and connection of these two pioneers in the field of arts.
The panel displays will include graphics, photos and text information and follow both of their journeys as a poet and photographer, respectively and their impact on the arts. These panels will be portable, so they could easily be moved and displayed at different universities, libraries, and organizations across the state
of Kansas.
The project will also feature the launch of the exhibit display and speakers’ presentation on Langston Hughes and Gordon Parks, during the 20th annual Gordon Parks Celebration at the Gordon Parks Museum in Fort Scott, Kansas on October 5–7, 2023.
During the celebration, there will also be a digital
interactive display on Langston Hughes and Gordon Parks. “The exhibit displays creates a great opportunity in helping to keep both of the legacies and triumphs of Langston Hughes and Gordon Parks
alive.” said Kirk Sharp, Gordon Parks Museum Executive Director.
“Humanities Kansas believes that Kansans are energized by people engaging with history,” said Julie Mulvihill, Humanities Kansas Executive Director. “This traveling exhibit project will connect people with their past and strengthen a sense of community and pride of place.”
About Humanities Kansas
Humanities Kansas is an independent nonprofit spearheading a movement of ideas to empower the people of Kansas to strengthen their communities and our democracy.
Since 1972, HK’s pioneering programming, grants, and partnerships have documented and shared stories to spark conversations and
generate insights.
Together with statewide partners and supporters, HK inspires all Kansans to draw on diverse histories, literatures, and cultures to enrich their lives and to serve the communities and state we all proudly call home. Visit humanitieskansas.org.
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Local Project Director Kirk Sharp
Executive Director Gordon Parks Museum
2108 S. Horton St
Fort Scott, KS 66701 620–223–2700, ext. 5850,
kirks@ fortscott.edu
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Locara: Local Products/Services Listed on Internet Platform Courtesy of HBCAT
Locara Inc. is a new business partner with Healthy Bourbon County Action Team, HBCAT.
“Locara is a platform that supports small businesses by expanding their local customer base beyond word of mouth channels,” according to Tylor Hunn cofounder. “We offer a cost-effective and user-friendly e-commerce solution for these business owners to connect with local buyers.”
HBCAT has paid for up to 80 local businesses to have their products and services listed on the Locara platform for a year, which is a value of $60 per business, Hunn said.
They launched their website on April 5, https://www.locara.us in partnership with HBCAT and their Dare to Dream event.
“Through our partnership with HBCAT, we are piloting our startup in the Fort Scott area, helping local businesses display their products and services and expand their reach,” Hunn said. “We believe that this partnership is a great opportunity to support the growth and success of small businesses in the community.”
Hunn is chief executive officer of the business and Ali Zia is his technical partner.
They are registered in a small town in upstate New York, Chittenango.
They have been in business for two months and have five employees.
“Locara provides a location-based platform for small businesses to list and showcase their products and services online,” he said. “This means that these businesses can create a digital storefront where they can display pictures, descriptions, and pricing of their products or services, just like in a physical store.”
“We realized that small, local businesses face a range of difficulties including limited resources, limited visibility, and challenges competing with larger corporations,” Hunn said. “We have also noticed a large movement towards people wanting to support local, but very few actually do because there is no easy way to discover all the businesses around them, but more specifically, discover what they are selling.”
Locara’s internet platform centralizes all the small businesses in a community into a single storefront where local buyers can more easily find and purchase what they need, Hunn said.
“For example, imagine a local mother who makes and sells crafts from home but, from her experience sewing her kid’s clothes back together, she also wants to offer clothing repair services,” he said. “This woman can list each of the crafts and services she wants to sell. The community is then able to visit our website and browse through this mother’s products and services like they would be browsing on Amazon or Walmart’s website with the exception that everything listed on the website is from a local business. Our goal is to create an easier experience not only for small, local businesses to showcase what they sell, but also for buyers to find and make purchases from local businesses.”
Contact info:
- Email – [email protected]
- Phone – (315) 633-2219
Obituary of Elouise S. Young
Elouise S. Young, born May 20, 1938, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, went home to be with the Lord April 1, 2023.
Elouise graduated from North Division High School, Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Elouise met and married Junior L. Young on the 17th Day of October 1963. Together and with help from their parents, they raised the fearsome foursome, Shirley, (Cookie), Willie, David, and Terri. Four dynamic children who have made positive contributions to the community and raised beautiful families. Elouise and Junior were blessed with a lot of grandchildren, and great grandchildren.
In addition to raising her children Elouise entered the workforce. She worked for her father in his dry cleaning business for a period of time. She later became a nurse’s assistant at Milwaukee County Mental Health Hospital, where she would retire after 30 years of what she considered to be a much needed service to her community.
Upon retirement, Elouise focused on surrounding herself with her family and friends. She and her husband (Junior), moved back to Ft. Scott, Kansas. Later Elouise would move to Pittsburg, Kansas and later to Dover, Delaware.
She enjoyed traveling. She loved spending time with her road buddy Myrtle (Myrt) before Myrt moved to California. Later, Elouise would travel up and down the Kansas highways with Louise. Driving was her favorite source of transportation. Give her a cup of ice and a full tank and she would drive until she reached her destination. She would travel from Kansas to Wisconsin to spend time with family and friends and on to Texas to be with family and later to Delaware (where she finally retired those car keys).
Elouise especially loved attending and serving in her church United Missionary Baptist Church. She served her community, picking up food from the food pantry with her friend and delivering to those in need. Elouise served on several community boards. She was a strong woman with a strong will to live. She endured hardness as a good soldier. Elouise fought the good fight of faith and has finished the race and kept the faith.
Elouise lived life to the fullest extent. She left earth on an empty tank. Elouise poured out all she had. She left with no regrets. Her relationship with the LORD Jesus Christ was sealed and she was prepared and ready to go. Leaving peacefully in her sleep after hearing the loving voices of family and friends on the phone, just hours before leaving the earth.
Elouise was preceded in death by her husband Junior L. Young, her father and mother Dwight and Virginia Ayers; sister Rose, son, David, brothers; Peach, Ronnie and Dennis.
Elouise was a mom, grandmother, “grannie”, auntie, sister and friend. She loved her family dearly. Nothing gave her greater joy than to spend time with her family, eat chinese food, and laugh.
Elouise leaves behind daughter, Shirley (Cookie), one son Willie (Beth), daughter Terri; grandchildren; Larry (Caronda), Willie, Tami’ca, Brandin, Quincy, Eleana and Dalisa, great grandchildren; Deriyel, Lazzarus, Larriontae, Omunique, La’Zerious, Zavion, Za’Laya, Quincy Jr, Cameron, Mikyla, Princess, Israel, Braylie, Nikkita, Yaylan, Isabella; great-great grandchildren;
Nia’Loni, Harlym, Mila, Ka’leyan ; brother Delbert Ayers; two special ladies in her life Myrtle Anne Colum and Louise Nelson.
Memorial Service: United Missionary Baptist Church
Saturday, May 6, 2023 1:00 PM
16 North Ransom Street,
Ft Scott, Kansas 66701
(620) 223-5267
Date: May 5, 2023 Time: 11:00
Burial Site: West Plains Cemetery, Ft. Scott, Kansas
Burial Site Services by: Cheney Witt Chapel
Repass: United Missionary Baptist Church
Time: 1:30
Southeast Kansas Library Monthly Newsletter
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Obituary of Hazel Dickerson
Hazel Maxine Dickerson, age 92, resident of Bronson, KS, died Friday, April 21, 2023, at St. Luke’s East Hospital in Lee’s Summit, MO. She was born June 14, 1930, in Fort Scott, KS the daughter of Ray Fred Stewart and Nellie Hazel Robinson Stewart. She attended South Fairview elementary school and graduated from Moran, KS high school in 1948. She lived in Kansas City and attended business school. Maxine married Marvin Gene Dickerson on December 31, 1950, in Bronson. After Gene’s service in the Army in Alaska, they resided near Anchorage for 19 years homesteading their land and building their home. Maxine was employed at Elmendorf Air Force Base for several years before staying home full time to provide foster care for 3 native Eskimo children. In 1969, Maxine and Gene, along with their son Joe, moved back to Kansas to the family farm north of Bronson. They farmed and had a hog farrowing operation until retirement. Maxine loved being outdoors and working on the farm with Gene. Their recreation was the bowling league team for several years and traveling to participate in tournaments throughout the U.S. Maxine was very community minded and was involved in local clubs and committees. She served on the Bronson Library Board for several years. She was a member of the Bronson Ruritan and Bronson Methodist Church. She was chosen as a co-grand Marshal in 2017 to lead the Bronson Day Parade in a convertible car. Maxine enjoyed her cats, making quilts, playing cards, jigsaw puzzles, and was an avid reader. She loved spending time with her grandchildren.
Survivors include her son Joe Dickerson and wife Paula, Bronson, KS; a brother, Buford Stewart and wife Bea, Bronson, KS; a sister, Vera Scifers and husband Reid, Fort Scott, KS; grandson, Tristan Dickerson; and numerous nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband Gene, and granddaughter Jordan Bailey Dickerson.
There was cremation. Memorial services will be held at 10:00 AM Tuesday, May 2nd, at the Bronson United Methodist Church. Burial will follow in the U. S. National Cemetery at 1:30 PM. Memorials are suggested to the Bronson Library and may be left in care of the Cheney Witt Chapel, PO Box 347, 201 S. Main St., Fort Scott, KS 66701. Words of remembrance may be submitted to the online guestbook at cheneywitt.com.
The Bourbon County Sheriff’s Office Daily Reports April 24
One Foot in Front of the Other by Carolyn Tucker
Keys to the Kingdom By Carolyn Tucker
Many years ago I played and sang for a funeral in Pleasanton. I specifically remember that the family had requested, “You’ll Never Walk Alone.” Prior to the service, I was sitting at the piano and arranging my music when the minister approached me. He asked me about the song because he was unfamiliar with it and wanted to make sure it was appropriate for the occasion. I smiled and responded, “Yes, it’s a fine song,” and to really drive it on home I added, “Elvis recorded it.”
“The Lord directs the steps of the godly. He delights in every detail of their lives. Though they stumble, they will never fall, for the Lord holds them by the hand” (Psalm 37:23,24 NLT). Every step Christ followers take in obedience toward spiritual renewal and wholeness matters. God’s children are to have the faith to believe and trust where their final destination will be at the end of this earthly life. However, the exact twists and turns are known only to Him as He gently whispers to us the best route (if we care to pay attention). Not paying attention to God’s leading is one of our biggest hindrances. We need to fine-tune our ears and spirit to His voice so we’ll know how and where to walk.
Sometimes believers are tempted to try to walk in someone else’s footsteps. Getting our eyes off of Jesus and onto another human being is unwise and discouraging. When someone retires or dies, you might hear these words: “Yes, he left some really big shoes to fill.“ Truthfully, we aren’t supposed to fill anyone else’s shoes, we’re supposed to fill our own. Trying to walk in someone’s shoes is simply too hard because they don’t fit. God has designed an individual pathway system for every person on planet earth.
God’s Word tells Christians to hold firmly to what we believe. “So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive His mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most” (Hebrews 4:16 NLT). We aren’t supposed to come to God with a spiritual-inferiority complex. We can confidently approach our loving heavenly Father to receive what we need when the chips are down.
Since God is faithful, we can rely on Him to show us our next steps. Life is too complicated and we’re too goofy to walk it out on our own. “For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God. For His Spirit joins with our spirit to affirm that we are God’s children” (Romans 8:14,16 NLT). God wants His children (believers) to utilize the privileges of who we are in Christ. And we’re either righteous or we’re not — there‘s no gray area. “For it is not from man that we draw our life but from God as we are being joined to Jesus, the Anointed One. And now He is our God-given wisdom, our virtue, our holiness, and our redemption” (1 Corinthians 1:30 TPT).
My grown and married kids don’t knock on my door — they just walk in. They understand who they are in relationship to me and they understand their privileges. They don’t timidly ask if they may have a glass of tea or a cookie. They know they have the right to access whatever I have because they are mine and I love them. Believers need to tap into what belongs to us because of who we are in relationship to our heavenly Father. He delights in giving generously to His kids.
The Key: Be still, listen for God’s voice, and keep putting one foot in front of the other.
Input Needed on Access to Child Care in Bourbon County
K-State researchers are looking for respondents to a brief survey (less than 10 minutes) to help understand the need for access to quality, affordable child care in Bourbon County. If you are looking for care, have care, provide child care, or are simply a resident of Bourbon County, we want to hear from you! To participate, simply go to https://bit.ly/BBCOkids! For questions about the survey, please contact Holly Connell at [email protected] / 319-538-4761. For questions about the child care coalition in your county, please contact Rachel Carpenter at [email protected] / 620-215-2562
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Kansas State University Agricultural Experiment Station and Cooperative Extension Service
K-State Research and Extension is an equal opportunity provider and employer. Issued in furtherance of Cooperative Extension work, acts of May 8 and June 30, 1914, in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Director of K-State Research and Extension, Kansas State University, County Extension Councils, Extension Districts.
Bourbon County Commission Agenda for April 24
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 1st Floor County Courthouse
210 S National Avenue
April 24, 2023, 5:30 PM
- Call Meeting to Order
- Flag Salute and Prayer
- Consent Agenda
- Approval of Minutes from 4/20/2023
- Department Updates
- Eric Bailey, Public Works Director
- Sheriff Bill Martin-Retiring of K-9
- Public Comments
- Commission Comments
- Meeting Adjourn
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.
Practice Mindfulness During Stress Awareness Month
By Clara Wicoff
Southwind Extension District
April is Stress Awareness Month! Did you know that stress can affect your physical health? According to the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, chronic stress can lead to a risk of health problems such as digestive issues, elevated blood pressure, headaches, insomnia, and more.
So, what can you do to combat stress throughout the rest of April and beyond? One practice you can consider adopting is mindfulness. What exactly is this? Mindfulness expert Jon Kabat-Zinn defines the term as “awareness, cultivated by paying attention in a sustained and particular way: on purpose, in the present moment, and non-judgmentally.”
While this should not be considered a “cure-all,” research suggests that practicing mindfulness can reduce chronic stress. Consider starting simply by committing to an uninterrupted time each day to focus on your breathing and practice a mindful meditation. This is a busy time of year for many people, so know that you can start by doing this for as little as five minutes (although you may benefit from increasing the time to 20 minutes or longer). Once you’ve committed to this time, find a quiet place away from technology. Find a comfortable position, either sitting or lying down. Then, focus on your breathing and let negative thoughts float away like clouds. There are resources online which can help lead you through a guided mindful meditation if desired.
For more information, please contact me at [email protected] or 620-365-2242. If you or someone you know needs immediate assistance, contact the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline by calling or texting 988 or chatting online at 988lifeline.org.
Kansas State University Agricultural Experiment Station and Cooperative Extension Service
K-State Research and Extension is an equal opportunity provider and employer.
U234 Curriculum Collaboration Days Will Change Next Year and a Preschool Update
Fort Scott School District USD234 staff have been working on standards and best ways to teach them as they have met on Wednesdays this school year.
“Our early release days have provided our teachers to work to identify the essential standards that every student needs to be successful at the next level or the next course,” Superintendent Destry Brown said. “Our teachers have mostly finished this process and are now at the refinement stage. We will be working next year on identifying the resources that we will use to teach those standards and identifying the best practice in teaching those standards.”
The district is changing the days the teachers gather to collaborate in response to staff and parents input.
Next year the days will be once per month.
“We decided to change to once per month in response to parent and staff input,” Brown said. “Staff believed they could have more concentrated and focused time to do the things we need to do next year while parents felt it would be easier for them to plan for a full day rather that an early release every week.”
“The time spent this year has been very successful and we are well ahead of where we were,” he said. “Teachers have seen the value in the time to collaborate and work together on curriculum, assessment and instruction.”
USD234 Preschool Update
The preschool is going to remain at 409 S. Judson for the time being.
“We have six sections of preschool currently with enough for two more sections on the waiting list,” Brown said. “Our plan going forward will be to do some remodeling of the current space and reconfigure the space to better meet our needs.”
“We will also look at purchasing a mobile unit to place on the grounds at the preschool site,” Brown said. “This would allow us to bring all of our preschool students and classes to one location as well as expand our preschool to include more students.”
There are currently three teachers at the preschool.
“I believe that if we open more sections to the public, we will probably be able to expand to five teachers,” he said. “One thing we are considering is having a section for all-day students to help with some childcare needs in the community.”
The community needs quality childcare.
“Our community has a great need for childcare; especially for working families,” Brown said. “For our community to grow economically and to attract and expand business in Fort Scott, we need to be the kind of community that provides ways to make it possible for parents to work and trust that their children are being cared for safely.”