American Legion Cancels Events Due to Weather
Due to predicted wintry weather conditions, the following American Legion events are cancelled.
Thursday, February 11 – Auxiliary Unit 25 meeting.
Thursday, February 11 – American Legion Color Guard meeting.
Saturday, February 13 – Four Chaplains ceremony at Memorial Hall.
All meetings will resume at their normal time in March.
Submitted by Carl Jowers
Post 25 Commander
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Local Chocolate Crawl Saturday in Fort Scott
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FSHS Thespians Host 3rd Annual Royal-Tea Party and Revue
The Fort Scott High School Thespians host their 3rd Annual Royal Tea Party and a special Royal Revue on Feb. 20 at the FSHS Auditorium.
Join your favorite princesses and princes, queens and kings as they sing, dance, and perform for you. Take photos with your favorite characters and take home special crafts and treats as momentos.
The Revue includes performances by junior Jenna Stockstill; sophomores Israel Carreno, Jordyn McGhee, and Karen Primeaux; and freshmen Rex Wells, Silvia Moreno, and Cadence Tuck.
Performances begin at 5 and 7:30 p.m. with an immersive theatre experience to follow where audience members can interact with nearly 20 other characters and take home a goodie bag.
Tickets are $6 for children and $8 for adults. Tickets must be purchased online in advance at fortscotthighschooltheatre.ludus.com. Tickets may be available at the door, but are not guaranteed. Masks a
nd social distancing are required.
All children must stay with and be accompanied by an adult as they enjoy the festivities and attendees are encouraged to join us in dressing as royalty.
Doors will open 15 minutes early.
The musical is directed by Theatre Director Angie Bin, Music Director Mary Jo Harper, Assistant Music Director Taylor Qualls, and Choreographer Delynn Abati.
For more information, please see the Fort Scott High School Thespians Facebook page or contact Bin at [email protected]
or 620-719-9622.
Photos are from last year’s Royal Tea Party.
Fundraiser For Marsha Lancaster is Feb. 19
Local business owner, Marsha Lancaster, has been in the hospital for over a month, according to her sister Debbie Baxley.
“She went into the hospital at Pittsburg for two to three days, then they took her to Arkansas,” Baxley said.
“Her kidneys were shutting down and they couldn’t find a hospital to take her with COVID (the pandemic virus plaguing the nation and the world),” she said. “They found one in Arkansas and we said just take her to wherever she can get help.”
They have tested Lancaster three times for COVID-19 and each was negative, her sister said.
Lancaster is currently on dialysis every other day and oxygen.
“Her kidneys’ aren’t functioning yet, the doctor said they could kick in any day,” she said. “They have been trying to get her off of oxygen. That’s been going well.”
“We can see her on our cellphone and she looks good when we talk to her,” Baxley said.
Cards can be sent to Marsha at
Regional Springdale NW Medical Center,
609 W. Maple Avenue, 6th floor, attn: Marsha Lancaster
Springdale, Arkansas 72764
Her business is running with the help of others.
Her well-known restaurant, Marsha’s Deli, is continuing with the help of staff and family. The restaurant is located at 6 W. 18th in Fort Scott.
Baxley and her daughter, Shelly Rowe, along with Carla Hemrick, and Lisa Bradley “are taking care of the business for her,” Baxley said.
Monday and Tuesday the restaurant was closed due to the ice roads and arctic weather conditions.
A fundraiser has been started for Lancaster.
Meanwhile, a fundraiser has been started for Lancaster.
“We thought being self-employed, there was no way she wouldn’t need help,” Linda Findley who is spearheading the fundraiser said.
The fundraiser is Friday, Feb. 19 from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Elk’s Building at 111 W. 19th. People are asked to drive to the east door of the building and orders will be taken by helpers. Then the meals will be brought out to the buyer.
It’s a chicken and noodles dinner with mashed potatoes, green beans, and bread for $10 cash or check only.
Pre-ordering is encouraged. Call 620-215-2036 or 816-797-4884.
Findley said she is anticipating serving 500 meals, with over 200 already ordered.
“Numerous people have sent big donations,” Findley said. “Marrone’s of Pittsburg and G & W Foods of Fort Scott has helped with food.”
Helping the day of the fundraiser will be Nancy Maze, Brenda Collinge, Debbie Myers, JoLynne Mitchell, and Adina Findley, Findley said.
Uniontown High School Send-Off-Seniors (SOS) Beef Raffle
The Uniontown High School Seniors are selling raffle tickets to raise funds for their Send-Off-Seniors post-graduation event. The SOS event began as a way for the seniors to celebrate their accomplishments together in a drug-free and alcohol-free environment. All of the donations collected will go towards providing items the seniors will need as they move away from home to college dorms or their own houses.
It has been a challenging year to raise funds for this event. In years past the SOS committee has relied on concession stand revenue and silent auctions. This year the committee has decided to hold a beef raffle. Tickets are $1 each or 6 tickets for $5. TWO winners will receive a 40 lb. beef bundle. Bundles will include 25 lbs. of ground beef, 10 lbs. of steak and 5 lbs. of roast. Winners will be drawn on February 25th and you need not be present to win.
The UHS seniors and parents would like to thank G-Three Ranch and the Sutterby Family for donating all of the beef for this raffle.
Please contact any UHS senior or senior parent for tickets. If you or your business would like to donate please contact SOS committee member Rebecca Sutterby at [email protected] or Amy Holt at [email protected]
Chamber Coffee at Sunshine Boutique on Feb. 11
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The Bourbon County Sheriff’s Office Daily Reports Feb. 10
Ag Risk Coverage Program Enrollment
March 15 Last Day to Complete Enrollment for 2021 Agriculture Risk Coverage,
Price Loss Coverage Programs
Call Today About 2021 Crop Year Eligibility
WASHINGTON, Feb. 9, 2021 – Agricultural producers who have not yet enrolled in the Agriculture Risk Coverage (ARC) or Price Loss Coverage (PLC) programs for 2021 must do so by March 15. Producers who have not yet signed a 2021 enrollment contract or who want to make an election change should contact their local USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) office to make an appointment. Program enrollment for 2021 is required in order to participate in the programs, but elections for the 2021 crop year are optional and otherwise remain the same as elections made for 2020.
“FSA offices have multiple programs competing for the time and attention of our staff. Because of the importance and complexities of the ARC and PLC programs, and to ensure we meet your program delivery expectations, please do not wait to start the enrollment process,” said FSA Acting Administrator Steve Peterson. “I cannot emphasize enough the need to begin the program election and enrollment process now. This process can be completed when applying for other FSA programs as well.”
ARC and PLC provide income support to farmers from substantial drops in crop prices or revenues and are vital economic safety nets for most American farms.
Although 1,033,310 contracts have been completed to date, this represents less than 59% of the more than 1.7 million contracts anticipated by the Agency. By enrolling soon, producers can beat the rush as the deadline nears.
Producers who do not complete enrollment by close of business local time on Monday, March 15 will not be enrolled in ARC or PLC for the 2021 crop year and will be ineligible to receive a payment should one trigger for an eligible crop.
ARC and PLC contracts can be emailed, faxed or physically signed and mailed back to FSA. Producers with level 2 eauthentication access can electronically sign contracts. Service Center staff can also work with producers to sign and securely transmit contracts electronically through two commercially available tools: Box and OneSpan. You can learn more about these solutions at farmers.gov/mydocs. Producers may also make arrangements to drop off signed contracts at the FSA county office. Please call ahead for local mailing or drop off information and options for submitting signed contracts electronically.
Producers are eligible to enroll farms with base acres for the following commodities: barley, canola, large and small chickpeas, corn, crambe, flaxseed, grain sorghum, lentils, mustard seed, oats, peanuts, dry peas, rapeseed, long grain rice, medium- and short-grain rice, safflower seed, seed cotton, sesame, soybeans, sunflower seed and wheat.
Yield Data and Web-Based Decision Tools Available
FSA recently updated the annual and benchmark yields for ARC/PLC program years 2019, 2020 and 2021. This data is useful to producers in choosing to participate in either ARC or PLC.
For added assistance with ARC and PLC decisions, USDA partnered with the University of Illinois and Texas A&M University to offer web-based decision tools to assist producers in making informed, educated decisions using crop data specific to their respective farming operations. Tools include:
- Gardner-farmdoc Payment Calculator, the University of Illinois tool that offers farmers the ability to run payment estimate modeling for their farms and counties for ARC-County and PLC.
- ARC and PLC Decision Tool, the Texas A&M tool that allow producers to analyze payment yield updates and expected payments for 2019 and 2020. Producers who have used the tool in the past should see their username and much of their farm data will already be available in the system.
Crop Insurance Considerations
Producers are reminded that enrolling in ARC or PLC programs can impact eligibility for some crop insurance products. Producers who elect and enroll in PLC also have the option of purchasing Supplemental Coverage Option (SCO) through their Approved Insurance Provider. Producers of covered commodities who elect ARC are ineligible for SCO on their planted acres.
Unlike SCO, RMA’s Enhanced Coverage Option (ECO) is unaffected by participating in ARC for the same crop, on the same acres. You may elect ECO regardless of your farm program election.
Upland cotton farmers who choose to enroll seed cotton base acres in ARC or PLC are ineligible for the stacked income protection plan (STAX) on their planted cotton acres.
More Information
For more information on ARC and PLC including web-based decision tools, visit farmers.gov/arc-plc.
All USDA Service Centers are open for business, including those that restrict in-person visits or require appointments. All Service Center visitors wishing to conduct business with NRCS, Farm Service Agency, or any other Service Center agency should call ahead and schedule an appointment. Service Centers that are open for appointments will pre-screen visitors based on health concerns or recent travel, and visitors must adhere to social distancing guidelines. Visitors are also required to wear a face covering during their appointment. Our program delivery staff will continue to work with our producers by phone, email, and using online tools. More information can be found at farmers.gov/coronavirus .
Visit farmers.gov/service-center-locator to find location and contact information for the nearest FSA county office.
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Land Bank Meeting Today at 4 p.m.
The LandBank meeting that was scheduled for Tuesday, February 9th, 2021 at 6:00 p.m. has been cancelled due to the inclement weather.
The LandBank meeting will now be held on Wednesday, February 10th, 2021 at 4:00 p.m. at City Hall in the City Commission meeting room. There will be a majority of the City Commissioners present, but no City Commission business will be conducted.
This meeting will be made available via the City’s you tube channel at City of Fort Scott.
St. Martin’s: Third Year Educating Boys
Saint Martin’s Academy, rural Fort Scott, is a Catholic boarding school for boys that combines classical academics with a practical work program on a sustainable farm, according to its’ website. www.saintmartinsacademy.org
The school is in its’ third year.
Daniel Kerr is the headmaster of the academy and gave fortscott.biz an email interview.
“We have 42 students this year across all four grades: 9th, 10th, 11th, and 12th,” Kerr said. “Our first graduating class of nine will graduate on May 29th. Our graduates’ plans include college, apprenticing in a trade, and mission work.”
One of the new faculty this year is Adam Taylor, who is the assistant headmaster.
“Adam spent 20 years in the Marines before entering the private sector as a vice president at Cloudera, a software company,” Kerr said. “His son, Ian, is a 12th grader.”
The school also has a new dean of student life, Bryan Meyers.
“Bryan has taught at a variety of private and public schools for over a decade and has a passion for integrating academics with the living laboratory of the farm and fields,” Kerr said. “He teaches several classes and is also the school’s beekeeper with several active hives and more on the way.”
The school offers rugby as part of the program.
“Practices for the 2021 Rugby season are well underway and we have seven or eight matches slated in the late winter and early spring, mostly with teams from the Kansas City metro area,” Kerr said. “Team captains Ian Taylor, Henry Hickey (12th grade), and Nate Jones, Danny Harrington (11th grade) will lead the Kingfishers in our first year of playing with a full squad of 15. Rugby is played by all the boys who are able and helps develop a real esprit de corps and sense of camaraderie.”
The school is still in the construction phase with the main completed building, Theotokos Hall, the center of activity.
“Theotokos Hall serves a multifunctional purpose during our first years,” Danielle Bauer, who has development and fundraising duties at the academy, said. “Currently the building houses our kitchen, dining hall, common area and hearth, library and classrooms. Most importantly, the top floor of Theotokos Hall serves as our chapel where the boys gather daily for prayer and Holy Mass.”
It also served as a temporary dormitory until bunkhouses could be built.
“Three of our five bunkhouses scheduled for construction are now occupied by the boys,” Kerr said. ” This has been a game-changer for us by freeing up space within our main building, Theotokos Hall, to be developed for proper classrooms and a library. Enrollment next year should approach 60 and it is likely we will have a waiting list by May.”
The students are involved in the community.
“Among our work project, the boys are currently re-building several picnic tables for Gunn Park and have done some preparatory cooking for Fort Scott’s soup kitchen (Feeding Families In His Name at the First United Methodist Church),” Kerr said.
“I am sincerely grateful for the hospitality and kindness of Fort Scott’s civic leaders and residents in welcoming St. Martin’s these first few years,” Kerr said. “We look forward to being increasingly engaged in service and cultural projects that make positive contributions to the community.”
St. Martin’s Academy is located at 1950 Indian Road, Fort Scott.
USD234 Press Release
NEWS RELEASE
Monday, February 8, 2021
Members of the USD 234 Board of Education met at the Fort Scott Middle School Commons on Monday, February 8, 2021, 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 – January 20, 2021 – $1,406,590.06
D. Financial Report
E. Activity Fund accounts
F. Point of information – 2021 School Board Election
Board members recognized Jessica Phillips, Fort Scott Middle School Kitchen Manager, for achieving the Kansas Certificate in Child Nutrition Management.
There were no comments in the public forum section.
Brenda Hill, Fort Scott NEA President, gave a report. In addition, Mrs. Hill presented $100 UBenefit Grants to the following teachers: Mercedes Judy, Alexandra VanSickle, Kelly Toll, Michelle Defebaugh, and Kristin Duffey.
Board members heard a report from Dalaina Smith, Director of Academics.
In addition, Superintendent Ted Hessong and Gina Shelton, Business Manager/Board Clerk presented reports.
Board members approved a Math Resource adoption and also approved disposal of school property with Midwest Equipment Online Auction.
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. Resignation of Karen Gordon, Winfield Scott technology teacher, effective at the end of the 2020-21 school year
B. Resignation of Kerry Van Etten, central office HVAC maintenance, effective May 1, 2021
C. Resignation of Brian Allen, high school teacher aide, effective February 5, 2021
D. Resignation of Jill McDonald, Eugene Ware cook, effective January 25, 2021
E. Retirement letter from Kyle Parks, high school vocational agriculture teacher
F. Leave of absence for Katie McGee, Winfield Scott kindergarten teacher
G. Employment of administrators for the 2021-22 school year
Fort Scott High School Athletic/Activities Director – Jeff DeLaTorre
Fort Scott Middle School Principal – David Brown
Fort Scott Middle School Assistant Principal – Matt Harris
Eugene Ware School Principal – Stephanie Witt
Eugene Ware School Assistant Principal – Brandon Boyd
Winfield Scott School Principal – Joy McGhee
Winfield Scott School Assistant Principal – Martin Altieri
Fort Scott Preschool Center Principal – Andrea Scott
District Psychologist/Special Education Coordinator – Rick Scholes
H. Employment of district directors for the 2021-22 school year
Transportation Director – Joe Allen
Food Service Director – Robin Button
Facilities Director – Daniel Koppa
Technology Director – Stephen Mitchell
Academic Director – Dalaina Smith
I. Non-renewal of Amber Toth, Fort Scott High School Principal, for the 2021-22 school year
J. Resignation of Robyn Kelso, high school assistant principal, effective June 4, 2021
K. Employment of Gina Shelton, Business Manager/Board Clerk, for the 2021-22 school year
L. Addition of a preschool paraprofessional position for the remainder of the 2020-21 school year
M. Employment of Jeffrey Dillow as central office HVAC maintenance for the remainder of the 2020-21 school year
N. Resignation of Bronson Moylan, middle school assistant football coach, effective at the end of the 2020-21 school year
O. Employment of Whitney Beth as middle school head volleyball coach for the 2021-22 school year
P. Leave of absence request from Danielle Norris, Eugene Ware fourth grade teacher
Q. Transfer of Bethany Higgins, Eugene Ware fourth grade teacher, to Eugene Ware technology teacher for the 2021-22 school year
R. Transfer of Amy Lybarger, Eugene Ware fourth grade teacher, to Eugene Ware third grade teacher for the 2021-22 school year
S. Employment of Ronda Bailey as a middle school piano accompanist for the remainder of the 2020-21 school year
T. Employment of Peyton Guiles as a Eugene Ware special education teacher for the 2021-22 school year
The board adjourned.