Bourbon County, Fort Scott, Fort Scott Community College

Gordon Parks Museum Receives Humanities Kansas Grant

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Gordon Parks along with his son, Gordon Parks Jr. in Fort Scott, KS during filming of The Learning Tree.
Unknown Photographer Copyright: Courtesy of and Copyright The Gordon Parks Foundation.

TOPEKA – Humanities Kansas recently awarded $5,745.00 to the Gordon Parks Museum in Fort Scott to support the “Learning Tree Film Scene Location Trail” project. Kirk Sharp serves as project director.

The project is a series of signs located at the different scene locations where the filming of The Learning Tree took place. The signs will also include QR codes along with a virtual tour of identified 12 different scene locations of The Learning Tree Film.

The Gordon Parks Museum has also received a grant from the Fort Scott Area Community Foundation to assist with funding support for this project as well.

Currently, we are in the first phase of our timeline that includes taking current photos of the locations along with researching and obtaining other photos with text information. The completion goal date for this project is by August 15, 2021.

This historical film by Warner Bros. Seven Arts, was the first time a major motion picture movie filmed in Hollywood was directed by a black film director. Fort Scott, KS’s native son, Gordon Parks was that person. This film was partially filmed in 1968 on location in Fort Scott and the surrounding area to include Mound City, KS. The film was released in 1969. The film was based on a semi-autobiography novel with the same title that Gordon Parks wrote in 1963. The story, based on Gordon’s childhood in Fort Scott, KS, is about a boy growing up in a difficult time in segregation and poverty. This film was placed in the Library of Congress National Film Registry Classics in 1989 as one of the top 25 important films. The film continues to be very important today.

Over hundreds of people from both Fort Scott and Mound City, KS area were part of the film as film extras, with a few having speaking parts in the film. This film holds fond memories of those that were in
the community when the filming was taking place. Most of the scene locations are still here and are accessible to drive or walk to.

“We are very excited about this project and much honored to be able to receive this awarded grant to give tribute to this wonderful film. The Learning Tree film is a part of Fort Scott and Mound City history that residents in these communities can be very proud to be part of; along with its Kansas native son, Gordon Parks.” said Kirk Sharp, Gordon Parks Museum Executive Director.

“Humanities Kansas supports projects that illuminate local history,” said Julie Mulvihill, Humanities Kansas Executive Director. “This project’s interactive signage will bring Parks’ film to life for community members and visitors alike.”

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, our pioneering programming, grants, and partnerships have documented and shared stories to spark conversations and generate insights. Together with our partners and supporters, we inspire all Kansans to draw on history,
literature, ethics, and culture to enrich their lives and serve the communities and state we all proudly call
home. Visit humanitieskansas.org.

Bourbon County

CASA: Child Advocacy

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You are cordiallyNOT INVITED
(due to Covid-19) to a
Christmas celebration to benefit
Bourbon County CASA
IT’S NOT TOO LATE TO DONATE!
All donations used to provide children
who are victims of abuse & neglect with a CASA volunteer to be their voice & advocate in the courtroom.
Mail donations to:
Bourbon County CASA
PO Box 146
Fort Scott, KS 66701
Fund drive began Friday, December 11th!
It’s not too late!
Thank you very much!
Obituary

Obituary of Ruth E. Farmer

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Ruth Elizabeth Farmer, 82, of Fort Scott, Kansas, passed away on December 15, 2020. She is survived by her loving husband, Gene Farmer, who currently resides at the Presbyterian Manor of Fort Scott.

Ruth was born March 14, 1938, in Kansas City, Kansas, to Edward and Edith Milam. She married Gene Farmer on December 3, 1983, at Overland Park Christian Church in Overland Park, Kansas where they lived until they retired and built a home on their farm in Fort Scott in 1996.

Ruth grew up in Overland Park, Kansas, attending Overland Park Elementary and Shawnee Mission North High School where she graduated in 1956. She then attended the University of Kansas from 1956 to 1960 and received a BS in Education majoring in Physical Education. She was an active member of Alpha Delta PI sorority and participated in several outside clubs and organizations. She also went on to receive her Master of Science Degree in Education from KU in 1969.

Ruth enjoyed a satisfying 34-year career as a Physical Education Teacher for the Olathe Kansas School district, first at Olathe North High School from 1960 to 1968, then at Santa Fe Trail Junior High from 1968 until her retirement in 1994.

Ruth loved to travel, collected all kinds of KU and Jayhawk memorabilia, and gardened on their farm.  She and Gene took several wonderful trips and cruises together. She enjoyed making cross-stitch and needlepoint gifts for her family and friends such as Christmas stockings, pictures, and quilts, and always included a Jayhawk somewhere on each. Ruth was an avid KU basketball and football fan and held season tickets to Allen Field House for over 30 years. She and Gene also enjoyed attending the New Theatre dinner theater in Overland Park with her sister & her husband.  Ruth was also active in several Women’s organizations and church groups over the years both in Overland Park and Fort Scott.

Ruth was the oldest of three and is survived by her loving sisters Janice M. Sprinkle of Overland Park and Margaret A. Ferriman of Hot Springs Village, Arkansas, and numerous nieces and nephews of the Sprinkle, Ferriman, and Milam families.  When Ruth married Gene, she became the stepmother of Cynthia Huyett (Kansas City, KS), Rod & Kris Farmer (Olathe, KS), Marty & Sandy Farmer (Independence, MO), and Kathleen Bailey (Belton, MO) who preceded her in death.  Over the next 37 years she became grandmother of 18 and great grandmother of 16 who knew her as either Aunt Ruthie or Grandma Ruthie.   

Rev. Dr. Jared Witt will conduct private graveside services at Centerville Cemetery under the direction of the Konantz-Cheney Funeral Home

. The family requests that in lieu of flowers, memorial contributions be made to the First Presbyterian 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.

Bourbon County, Schools, Sports

UNIONTOWN HS BASKETBALL RESULTS GAME 3

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Adelay Martin. Submitted photo.

The final game of the Humboldt Pre-season Tournament saw Uniontown face the Crest Lancers. Both Varsity teams won against the Lancers.

The Lady Eagles defeated Crest 61-26. Danielle Howard scored 25 points and had 5 rebounds and 9 steals. Rylee Coulter scored twice and had 4 steals and 1 assist. Karleigh Schoenberger scored 16 points with 4 rebounds and 4 assists. She was also 2/2 on free throws. Sammie Hampton had 5 rebounds, 3 assists, and 2 steals. Addisyn Hall, another freshman, also had 4 rebounds and 2 steals. Gwenyth Fry had 3 rebounds and 2 assists.

“It was good to get a win going into the weekend,” said Coach Miller. “It’s time to rest, regroup, and get back to practice. Looking forward to playing at home next Tuesday when we take on the Yates Center Wildcats.”

The boys played a close game, winning 44-42. Jake Harvey led with 19 points and 7 rebounds. Luke Perry scored 12 points and had 3 assists. Drew Perry had 3 steals, Dawson Dreisbach had 2 steals, and Clay Sutterby had 15 rebounds.

Coach Hays said of the game, “I am proud of our boys. It wasn’t always pretty, but we executed a play late that was just enough to get us our first win. We defended and rebounded well enough to keep us in the game. We missed a lot of shots in the paint that we need to finish.”

Before winter break, the Eagles will face Yates Center at home on Tuesday, December 15, and Marmaton Valley at Moran on Friday, December 18.

-Adelay Martin, UHS Sports Media Reporter

Area News, Business

Heartland REC breaks ground on cooperative solar farm

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Heartland Rural Electric Cooperative is leading the way and joining with 11 other Kansas rural electric cooperatives to invest in 20 Megawatts of solar power to be built across the state, and power 80,000 homes across rural Kansas.

Heartland’s portion of the project consists of two solar arrays of 1 Megawatt (MW) each. Preliminary work has already begun on the two tracts of land purchased by Heartland for the project. Groundbreaking was held on Tuesday, December 8. Construction should be completed by June of 2021.

One Heartland 1-MW array will be located in Crawford County, just west of Girard near Greenbush along Highway 47. The second Heartland 1-MW solar array will be built in Neosho County between Erie and Chanute along 160th Road (Shaw Road.)

The two Heartland solar arrays, and the 18 other arrays in Kansas, will all be built and owned by Today’s Power Inc, a North Little Rock-based company established by rural electric cooperatives in Arkansas. Today’s Power Inc. has successfully installed more than 25 solar projects totaling more than 40 Megawatts over the last five years in Arkansas, Oklahoma and Tennessee. Heartland has signed a purchased-power-agreement with Today’s Power Inc. to buy the solar energy produced by the two arrays for the next 25 years.

This opportunity began when the wholesale power contract between all participating cooperatives and their forward-thinking generation and transmission cooperative, Kansas Electric Power Cooperative, was recently modified to provide Kansas electric cooperatives with the ability to self-procure up to 15 percent of peak demand – with 5 percent of that amount specifically allowing for the addition of solar.

By joining together in the Kansas Cooperative Sun Power Program, all of the participating Kansas rural electric cooperatives were able to negotiate very competitive long-term pricing. In addition, the solar arrays will be customized in the design process to maximize output during the cooperative’s peak demand hours, when power is most expensive. These factors will all help Heartland control power costs and keep power affordable for those served at the cooperative’s 11,200 service locations.

“Like those we serve, Heartland wants to be good stewards of our resources,” says Heartland CEO Mark Scheibe. “We live and work in rural Kansas for a reason. What we do helps feed and fuel America, and this project will help us provide affordable power for our consumer-members.”

“Everyone in rural Kansas works hard for their money and deserves some of the financial security that these solar projects will provide,” says Scheibe. “Heartland is here not just to sell electricity, but to promote the quality of life here in rural Kansas.”

“Investing in utility-scale solar is the most cost-effective way to benefit all consumer-members of the cooperative, while also investing in a green, clean, renewable source of generation right here in our own community,” says Scheibe.

National data shows that solar power is growing quickly across the country. Heartland currently has more than 60 members benefiting from the almost 700KW of solar panels installed on their own property. Investing in these two large arrays means that all of Heartland’s consumer-members will benefit from the clean, affordable power supplied, not just those that put panels on their own homes.

Heartland’s investment in solar is just one more way the cooperative works to lower power use during peak hours and control the cost of power. Since 2013, Heartland’s Peak Savers program has successfully enlisted co-op consumer-members to voluntarily reduce their use of power during peak hours. Over the past eight years, Heartland has paid Peak Savers more than $250,000 to program participants for helping lower peak power use during the summer.

Heartland Rural Electric Cooperative provides power to more than 11,000 locations in Southeast and Central Eastern Kansas. Heartland’s service area includes consumer-members in 12 counties, including Allen, Anderson, Bourbon, Cherokee, Coffey, Crawford, Labette, Linn, Miami, Neosho, Wilson, and Woodson counties. Heartland REC traces its roots back to three original rural electric cooperatives, Cooperative Electric Power & Light Company, Sugar Valley Electric Cooperative Association, (which came together to form United Electric Cooperative in 1975) and Sekan Electric Cooperative Association (which combined to become Heartland in 1996.)

 

COVID-19, Government, Kansas

Help On Utilities During the Pandemic

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KCC orders utilities to continue payment plans, waive late fees during pandemic
TOPEKA – The Kansas Corporation Commission has extended an order that requires utilities to offer 12-month payment plans and waive late fees to help residential and small business customers avoid disconnection. The original order, issued in May, is set to expire on December 31. Today’s action ensures it remains in effect until the COVID-19 pandemic has officially ended. The order applies to all electric, natural gas and water utilities under the KCC’s jurisdiction.
A report, filed by Commission staff last week, shows that payment plans and waiver of late fees appear to be working as intended. With the exception of one utility (Liberty-Empire), customer arrearage balances are falling with roughly 90% of customers keeping up with payment plans. That report can be found on the Commission’s website at https://estar.kcc.ks.gov/estar/ViewFile.aspx/S202012090922136770.pdf?Id=4e5a01a7-71e7-4ba7-b4b0-875ef644b842.
The Commission acknowledged that some members of the public are advocating for an order reinstituting the suspension of utility disconnects. As a result, Commission staff was directed to file a report and recommendation on whether an additional suspension on disconnects is warranted. That report is due January 8, 2021.
Business, Food, Fort Scott

Star Emporium Downtown General Store To Open Early Next Year

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A1 Towing and Moving, Fort Scott, move shelving into the new grocery store in November 2020. The store will be located in the Old Kress Building, at 17 S. Main.

The new grocery store in downtown Fort Scott is progressing.

 

“Lots of things have fallen into place really well and a few things have been a struggle due to long lead times due to COVID-related manufacturing delays,” said Bill Michaud, of BAJA Investment, the owner.  “The most significant delays have been the mechanical components for the refrigerators and freezers. The final pieces of the equipment order won’t be arriving until January 4th.”

 

This sets the opening back a little.

 

“Before this delay, we had anticipated opening Dec 29th but because of this delay we now expect to open either January 8 or 11,” Michaud said. “The final decision on the actual opening date will be made as we get closer.”

Store hours will be 8 am – 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 9 am – 6 pm on Sunday.

 

“We will offer online ordering,” he said. ” Our website is still under development, but we will be activating our Facebook page in the next day or two.”

 

The store has a name and it was inspired by a downtown mural.

 

“The store name will be the Star Emporium Downtown General Store,” Michaud said.

 

This name was inspired by a mural on Skubitz Plaza on the north side of a building facing the Fort Scott National Historic Site.

 

“While we know that the original Star Emporium was a clothing store, the mural boasts that the Star Emporium was ‘the most unique shop in the land of oz’,” Michaud said. “We believe this store will be unique and serve a broad base of community needs.”

 

Products at the store will evolve, he said. Currently, they range from budget-conscious to specialty label food items.

 

“We will offer a very broad range of products ranging from budget-focused brands all the way to very high-quality specialty and private label products that people can’t get anywhere other than our store,” Michaud said. ” We understand people need to stretch their food dollar in these tough times so we are going to be very value-conscious in our pricing. We recognize that our product offering is going to evolve to suit the needs of our customers.”

 

Local producers and suppliers will feed into the store.

 

“In addition to recognized branded products we are also working with a variety of small local producers and suppliers including Bourbon County beef from Bronson Locker, several local produce growers, Good Natured Family Farms. We hope to continue to develop additional partnerships as we go along and continually adapt to the needs of our customer base.”

 

“In addition to our produce co-op and grocery options the store will also feature a large salad bar and deli which will also utilize as many fresh local ingredients as are available,” he said. ” The deli menu will be seasonal and offer 5 – 6 rotational feature sandwiches, wraps, and specialty items.”

 

Food insecurity is addressed in the venture.

 

“While the grocery store and deli will provide sustainability for our operation, one of the driving factors behind the community need for the store was the food insecurity and need for community-based food distribution programs,” Michaud said. ” We have reached an agreement with the Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas to provide food storage space to expand the food distribution and delivery programs they currently offer in Crawford County into Fort Scott. These services will also begin in January.”

 

BAJA Investments was granted SPARK funds for $450.000 for the project. SPARK grants were a part of the monies given Kansas from the federal government to help with the on-going effects of COVID-19.

Kress Building, 17 S. Main, August 2020.

The second floor of the building houses the offices of B-WERC.

B-WERC is a multi-partner collaboration of the Bourbon County Commission, the Kansas Small Business Development Center, Southeast KANSASWORKS, Fort Scott Community College, the Healthy Bourbon County Action Team, the Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce, and BAJA Investments. The center focuses on growing and sustaining businesses, connecting jobs, and serving people.

The B-WERC program is funded through the Federal Cares Act Relief, dispersed to the county from the state in SPARK Phase 1, to address current and immediate COVID related needs. These include assisting businesses, encouraging economic activity, and addressing unemployment, according to Jody Hoener, spokesperson for the program in Bourbon County.

 

 

Fort Scott, Schools

U234 Board Meeting Press Release Dec. 14

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Monday, December 14, 2020

 

Members of the USD 234 Board of Education met at the Fort Scott Middle School Commons on Monday, December 14, 2020, for their regular monthly meeting.

President David Stewart opened the meeting.  The board approved the official agenda.  The board also approved the consent agenda as follows:

 

A.    Minutes

B.    Bills and Claims

C.    Payroll – November 20, 2020 – $1,424,756.14

D.    Financial Report

E.     Activity Fund Accounts

F.     Fundraiser Application

 

There was one comment during the public forum.  Board members heard reports from the

following:

·       Brenda Hill, KNEA President

·       Dalaina Smith, Director of Academics

·       Ted Hessong, Superintendent

·       Gina Shelton, Business Manager/Board Clerk

 

Superintendent Hessong discussed the Return-to-School Plan.  Board members approved an update to the length of quarantine time for close contacts to seven days if there is a negative COVID test taken along with no symptoms; otherwise the close contact quarantine is ten days.

Superintendent Hessong also reported on the KSHSAA COVID-19 guidelines.

Board member approved the following items:

 

·       The release of Dave Regan Tiger Tough Scholarship funds to the Regan family for future investment

·       Workers Compensation Insurance with Ryan Insurance

·       An adjustment in the 2020-21 school calendar for January 4, 2021, to change from a student contact day to a teacher collaboration day

·       Health insurance rates for 2021

·       Broker contract with RPS Benefits by Design Inc.

·       Technology purchase

 

Board members shared comments and then went into executive session to discuss personnel matters for nonelected personnel and returned to open meeting

The board approved the following employment matters:

 

A.    Retirement of Deb Rice, Winfield Scott special education teacher, effective at the end of the 2020-21 school year

B.    Early retirement request from Larry Lawrence, high school technology teacher, effective at the end of the 2020-21 school year

C.    Leave of absence request for Andrea Heckman, preschool teacher

D.    Employment of Jennifer Durkin as a high school paraprofessional for the 2020-21 school year

E.     Employment of Allison Nighswonger as a high school paraprofessional for the 2020-21 school year

F.     Addition of a Winfield Scott paraprofessional position; employment of Francis Torres as a Winfield Scott paraprofessional for the 2020-21 school year

G.    Addition of a high school wrestling coach position; employment of Tyler Bell as a high school wrestling coach for the 2020-21 school year; cancellation of Strategic Games for the 2020-21 school year

H.    Resignation of Mikiah Anderson, Eugene Ware paraprofessional, effective at the end of the 2020 year

The board adjourned.

 

 

COVID-19, Government, Kansas

Kansas COVID-19 Arrival

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Governor Laura Kelly Announces Pfizer Vaccine Arrival in Kansas

TOPEKA – Governor Laura Kelly yesterday announced that the Pfizer COVID-19 Vaccine began arriving in Kansas this morning. The vaccine has been received in several ultra-cold storage locations across the state, with delivery anticipated to continue through tomorrow. A total of about 24,000 doses is expected.

“I want to thank our state’s dedicated public health workers for their efforts to protect our communities from the threat of COVID-19 – often at personal risk to their safety – while we waited for a vaccine to become ready and available,” Governor Kelly said. “While the news of initial vaccine distribution is exciting for our state, I want to remind Kansans that the threat is not over. We must all continue practicing commonsense COVID-19 mitigation efforts to protect our neighbors’ health and safety, keep businesses open, and get our kids back in school.”

From the ultra-cold storage facilities, the vaccines will be going to secondary sites – hospitals – later this week. These vaccines will be for at-risk healthcare providers as identified by these hospitals.

Due to safety and security, the state will not coordinate any requests for media attendance or filming of vaccine arrival or transfers. Individual facilities may choose to offer opportunities to local media.

Bourbon County Local News