John L. Rodabaugh, age 74, a former resident of Pittsburg, Kansas and more recently of Ft. Scott, Kansas, passed away Thursday, January 6, 2022, at the Freeman West Hospital in Joplin, Missouri.
He was born February 17, 1947, in Pittsburg, the son of Roy Rodabaugh and Anna Mae Westerlin Rodabaugh. John graduated from the Pittsburg High School and then served with the United States Army during the Vietnam War. He had worked for the Union Pacific Railroad as a track foreman for thirty years.
John married Hope Hall Gage on July 6, 1996, at Ft. Scott. He was a member of the Marvin Armstrong Masonic Lodge #187 of Pittsburg, the Scottish Rite and the Mirza Shrine.
John enjoyed coon hunting, fishing and raising fighting roosters. He attended the Open Door Church in Pittsburg.
Survivors include his wife, Hope, of the home; a daughter, Johanna Strum (Joshua) of Walnut, Kansas; two step-sons, Troy Gage (Barbara) of Columbus, Kansas and Jason Gage (Melissa) of Louisburg, Kansas and ten grandchildren, Tommy, Pixie, Brayden, Danielle, Johnathan, Bryce, Devin, Brock, Danny and Deacon.
John was preceded in death by his parents, a sister, Roberta Hurlbert and a step-son, Tom Gage II.
Funeral services will be held at 11:00 A.M. Wednesday, January 12th at the Cheney Witt Chapel.
Burial with military honors will follow in the Centerville Cemetery.
The family will receive friends from 5 to 7 P.M. Tuesday at the Cheney Witt Chapel.
Memorials are suggested to the Shrine Transportation Fund and may be left in care of the Cheney Witt Chapel, 201 S. Main, P.O. Box 347, Ft. Scott, KS 66701. Words of remembrance may be submitted to the online guestbook at cheneywitt.com.
There will be a BINGO Shoe Voucher Fundraiser at Community Christian Church on Jan. 17.
All proceeds from this fundraiser will help provide shoes, socks and needed undergarments for the local school children in the Fall of 2022 for the next school year.
The double murder case in Bourbon County is moving forward with the defendant, Dawson Mitchell, scheduled to appear on January 20 in a preliminary hearing at 2 p.m. at the Bourbon County District Court, according to information provided by John P. Milburn, Public Information Officer for the Office of Attorney General Derek Schmidt.
Mitchell is charged with killing his mother and step-father with a gun stolen from his father, and is currently an inmate in the Bourbon County Law Enforcement Center, Fort Scott.
The Bourbon County Courthouse.
The case is being prosecuted by attorneys with the Kansas Criminal Litigation Division of the Office of the Attorney General at the request of the Bourbon County Attorney. The case number is 2021-CR-588.
Charges are merely accusations; defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty, according to the document provided.
The following are the charges against Mitchell.
The State of Kansas versus Dawson James Mitchell case alleges that
Count 1
On or about the 21st day of December 2021, in Bourbon County, Kansas, Dawson James Mitchell did unlawfully, feloniously, intentionally, and with premeditation, kill Melissa Hays Mitchell, which is murder in the first degree.
Count 2
On or about December 21, 2021, in Bourbon County, Dawson Mitchell did unlawfully, feloniously, intentionally, and with premeditation, kill Leonard Zimmerman, which is murder in the first degree.
Count 3
On or between December 19 and December 21, 2021, in Bourbon County, Mitchell, did unlawfully and knowingly possess a firearm, a Walther 9 mm handgun, and within five years preceding such possession was convicted of the distribution of a controlled substance. He was not found to have owned a firearm at the time of the prior crime, and has not had the prior conviction expunged or been pardoned for such crime. The charge is criminal possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
Count 4
On or between December 19, 2021, and December 21, 2021 in Bourbon County, Mitchell, exerted unauthorized control over property: a Walther 9 mm handgun, with the intent to permanently deprive the owner Jerald Mitchell, of the possession, use, or benefit of the property of a value of less than $25,000. The charge is theft of a firearm.
Count 5
On or about December 19-21 2021 in Bourbon County, Mitchell did unlawfully and knowingly possess a weapon; which was a Puma pocketknife, and within five years preceding such possession was convicted of the distribution of a controlled substance. He has not had the prior conviction expunged or been pardoned for such crime. The charge is an aggravated weapon violation by a convicted felon.
Count 6
On or between the December 19-21, 2021, in Bourbon County, Mitchell, exerted unauthorized control over property: which was Puma pocketknife and $200 cash, with the intent to permanently deprive the owner Jerald Mitchell, of the possession, use, or benefit of the property of a value of less than $25,000.
All of the above acts then and there committed being contrary to the statutes in such cases made and provided and being against the peace and dignity of the State of Kansas, according to the document.
The case was filed by:
OFFICE OF THE KANSAS ATTORNEY GENERAL
DEREK SCHMIDT
CJ. Rieg, W21 0
Assistant Attorney General
120 SW 10th Avenue, 2nd Floor
Topeka, Kansas 66612—1597
Phone: 785276-9707
Fax: 785.291.3875 [email protected]
In honor of Gordon Parks and his tribute to Martin Luther King, Jr.,
The Gordon Parks Museum has scheduled a series of events to celebrate his life.
Starting on January 13th at 7pm
The Gordon Parks Museum Presents:
Kansas City Friends of Alvin Ailey’s: Ever Present
Then, on Friday, Jan. 14th and Monday, Jan. 17th, the film showings of
Eyes on the Prize: American Civil Rights
After the first film on January 14th, there will be a Lunch & Learn in the Ellis Arts Center at 12pm. The Fort Scott High School Advanced Drama students will be reading the “I Have A Dream” speech given by Martin Luther King.
The community is invited and encouraged to bring canned food or cleaning products from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. to the museum which is in recognition of King’s day of service events that will happen nationally. These canned goods/cleaning products will be presented to The Beacon, a local helping agency. Please, no out-of-date goods.
After the 1st film on the 17th, the Lunch & Learn event by Prisca Barnes, will be speaking on the “The Dockum Drugstore Sit-In”, an event that happened in Wichita.
A free lunch will be provided by Luther’s BBQ. Drinks and desserts will be provided by Great Western Dining.
There are four (4) openings for the Fort Scott Land Bank Board.
The function of the Fort Scott Land Bank Board is an independent agency and instrumental with the City on acquiring, holding, managing, transforming, and conveying surplus City properties and other abandoned, tax foreclosed, or otherwise underutilized or distressed properties in order to convey these properties for productive use. This Board meets on an as needed basis.
These four positions will be appointed by the Fort Scott City Commission and is recommended, but not mandatory, that a position from each one of the following professions be applied for:
One individual who represents the banking industry
One individual who represents developers
One individual who represents real estate
One individual at large in the community
If you have a desire to serve on this board and meet the above requirements, please submit a letter of interest to the City Clerk, Diane Clay, 123 S. Main, Fort Scott, Kansas 66701. She will then submit your letter of interest for consideration to the City Commission. All of the boards and commissions serve on a volunteer basis and are not compensated. If you would like more information on this board, please contact Diane Clay, City Clerk at 620-223-0550 or [email protected]. Please submit your letter of interest by January 21st, 2022.
The Street Advisory Board will meet on Thursday, January 13, 2022, at 4:00 p.m. at the City Commission Meeting Room at 123 S. Main Street. This meeting is open to the public.
This meeting will be made available via the City’s Youtube channel at the City of Fort Scott.
At this year’s Christmas family reunion, we played the “Name That Song” game. Twenty-four individual, cartoon-graphic images were printed on a single piece of paper, each representing a different Christmas carol, and points were awarded for the couple with the most correctly-named songs within a ten-minute period.
For example, one picture showed “O’s” stacked as a Christmas tree. The correct answer? “Oh Christmas tree.” Most weren’t quite so easy. This was one that caused problems: ABCDEFGHIJKMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ. As I walked from room to room, a twenty-two-year-old couple kept reading those letters aloud…over and over again.
One time through should be sufficient, but my granddaughter, Britney, and her boyfriend, Cole, could not figure it out. “There is no ‘L.’ There must be a clue in that somewhere.”
They had answered much more difficult pictures but had completely missed this one. How was that possible? When time was up and we congregated to hear the correct answers, they could not believe that they had failed to answer something so obvious.
“We kept saying ‘no L’ but never put it together that the answer was ‘Noel.’” Another couple had done likewise.
Have you ever missed the obvious? I sure have. I don’t see the Christmas tree farm for the firs.
That’s what happened when, following a Sunday service one morning, a church congregant asked the pastor this question: “If you were stranded on a desert island and could only have one book, which book would it be, and why?” The pastor answered with his “obvious”: The Bible because “it would give me spiritual strength to get through the challenge of being alone on a desert island.”
He asked his questioner what he would choose. The answer was immediate. “I would want a book titled ‘How to Build a Boat.'” The pastor realized his mistake. After all, they were in a church when the question was asked. Surely a spiritual answer was expected.
Unfortunately, the pastor missed the obvious. If God sent that marooned man a Bible, he probably would have remained on the island. While it may not have cost much for the pastor to miss the obvious, it can cost us everything.
Following Jesus’ death, he appeared to two disciples on their way home from his execution. Downtrodden, they were appalled when Jesus asked them why they were so sad. After all, everyone knew that the one they believed would be their king had been crucified. Who wouldn’t be heartbroken?
It’s a Biblical mystery as to how they didn’t recognize the Messiah until he later broke bread with them at which time their eyes were open and Jesus’ resurrection became real to them.
Over the holidays, a granddaughter said that she wondered how many times she, as a child, had missed what God was doing in her life, how many times He saved her from disaster or even favored her but she took credit. I told her that I think that when we get to Heaven, we all will be overwhelmed by stories God shares about how much He was involved in our lives, and we never recognized it or gave Him credit.
I pray that 2022 is filled with opportunities to become aware of all the ways God is working in our lives. Just being aware will help us not miss the obvious.
Edward Theodore Wolf, age 61, resident of Fort Scott, Kansas passed away peacefully on Christmas Eve in Fort Scott, Kansas.
He was born February 13, 1960.
He attended and graduated from Fort Scott High School, USD 234.
Ed was a member of Mary Queen of Angels Catholic Church
He was a master carpenter who framed many homes and a very organized and hard-working person who wanted his work done correctly the first time.
Ed loved to be outdoors with nature and animals.
He is survived by his mother Erma Knight of Fort Scott, his Step-Father Warren Knight and Step-Mother Helen Wolf of Valley Falls, Kansas.
Ed’s sister Brenda Savage of Fort Scott. Also a niece Kelsa Jo Savage, and a great-niece Charlie Jo.
Ed also leaves a step-daughter Jill Cochran of Olathe, her husband Trent, and 3 granddaughters, 2 grandsons. In addition a step-son John Cronin and 2 step-grandsons.
Also his close friend Chris Cronin the mother of Jill and John.
One of Ed’s best friends was his cousin Joe Wylie.
Ed was preceded in death by his Father Theodore Melvin Wolf on April 25, 2019.
There will be a Graveside service at a later date.
Memorial contributions can be left to Mary Queen of Angels Catholic Church, 705 S. Holbrook , Ft. Scott, Kansas 66701 and/or Ft. Scott Animal Shelter, 600 N. Barbee, Ft. Scott, Ks 66701
On behalf of the Salvation Army, I have been truly amazed at the generosity of the contributions received this year. Because of you, the wonderful people of Bourbon County, we have raised $11,398.00, which goes to help our neighbors here in Bourbon County. Since our local partnership with the Salvation Army began in 2015, this was our best year ever.
Thank you for those who donated through our Red Kettles outside of Walmart, to those who gave at our mini-kettles at 5 Corners and Dairy Queen, and to those who mailed in checks. No mattter the size of your donation, whether it be pocket change, you demonstrate that you are willing to help others
Of course, this would not be possible without the numerous individuals and families who came out multiple times, our school and civic groups, as well as the Bourbon County Sheriffs Dept standing in front of Walmart ringing the bells for several evenings.
The Salvation Army is here for you and your neighbors. Because of your giving, The Salvation Army can continue to help your neighbors with Disaster Relief, Rent and Utilities, prescriptions, temporary lodging, gasoline for work and doctors appointments, plus other miscellaneous needs. This is money that will stay in Bourbon County to help those in need for the next year.
Next year, I would like to invite you to come and ring the bells and help our neighbors. Each year, people come to help and return the following year. You will find that it is truly a blessing. Thank you again for your service and generosity for helping The Salvation Army in “Doing The Most Good.”
