Obituary

Obituary of John Kruger

Leave a comment

John Fredrick Kruger

John Fredrick Kruger, age 68, resident of Ft. Scott, KS, died Wednesday, November 11, 2020, at his home.

He was born February 11, 1952, in Ft. Scott, the son of Elvin and Margaret Johnson Kruger. He graduated from Uniontown high school with the class of 1970. He married Vicki Harris on April 22, 1972, in Ft. Scott.

John worked for Mid-Continental Restoration for many years until retirement. He enjoyed playing slow pitch softball with his many friends. He was a big fan of the KC Chiefs, KU basketball, stock car racing, and Elvis music. John was known as “Chicken Man” for his prowess in raising fighting chickens.

He attended the Fort Scott Church of the Nazarene.

Survivors include his wife Vicki of the home; a son, Leroy Kruger and wife Christina, Ft. Scott; a daughter Brooke Bolin and husband Ron, Ft. Scott; 2 sisters, Linda Turner and Gail Dalton of Ft. Scott; a sister-in-law, Terri Shelton and husband Don, Ft. Scott; 4 grandchildren, Jordan Holdridge, Austin Kruger, Lexi Kruger, and Raegan Bolin; 3 great-grandchildren, Blakyn, Kyson, and Cali Holdridge with one more on the way; and several nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents.

Rod Perez and Rev. Virgil Peck will conduct funeral services at 10:00 AM Tuesday, November 17th, at the Fort Scott Church of the Nazarene.

Burial will follow in the Evergreen Cemetery.

The family will receive friends from 5:00 until 7:00 PM Monday evening at the Cheney Witt Chapel.

Memorials are suggested to Care to Share and may be left in care of the Cheney Witt Chapel, PO Box 347, 201 S. Main St., Ft. Scott, KS 66701. Words of remembrance may be submitted to the online guestbook at cheneywitt.com.

Government, Kansas

New Kansas Rural Development Program

Leave a comment

Governor Laura Kelly Announces New Rural Economic Development Program

~ Kansas Main Street Affiliate Community Program will promote economic development in rural communities across Kansas ~

TOPEKA – Governor Laura Kelly today announced the creation of the Kansas Main Street Affiliate Community Program, an initiative designed to introduce more Kansas communities to the resources and technical assistance offered through Kansas Main Street.

The new Affiliate Community Program is a membership-based program that invites representatives from participating communities to attend training and technical service sessions normally reserved for only the 25 designated Main Street program communities in the state. This allows those communities not involved fully with Main Street to still reap significant benefits from the program.

“My administration brought back the Main Street program because it is a proven tool to help Kansas’ rural communities recruit and retain businesses, and restore and preserve the unique history of their downtown corridors,” Governor Kelly said. “This Affiliate Community Program will bring more resources for downtown development to rural Kansas communities to maintain the health and viability of their downtowns, and will be a strong resource for my administration to highlight as we continue to recruit new businesses to our state.”

The Kansas Main Street program originally launched in 1985 has helped dozens of mostly rural communities work toward ensuring their downtowns remain viable. The program was ended by the Brownback administration in 2012 but resurrected in late 2019 by Governor Kelly. There are currently 25 designated Kansas Main Street communities in the program.

Kansas Main Street is a cornerstone of the Community Development Division at the Kansas Department of Commerce and is one of many investments made in rural Kansas with the support of the Office of Rural Prosperity led by Lieutenant Governor Lynn Rogers.

“Since Governor Kelly announced the return of Kansas Main Street last year, the program has been an incredible success,” Secretary of Commerce David Toland said. “So many rural communities have benefitted from the Main Street program and its resources. This Affiliate Community program will undoubtedly bring Main Street to even greater heights, benefitting communities across our state.”

To participate in the program, fill out and submit the online form here.

The cost to become an Affiliate Community is $400.

Kansas Main Street is affiliated with the National Main Street Center. Main Street is a self-help, technical assistance program that targets revitalization and preservation of downtown districts through the development of a comprehensive strategy based on four points: organization, design, promotion and economic restructuring. While there are no federal funds provided directly to Main Street communities, designated cities are eligible for training and technical assistance designed to help them become self-sufficient in downtown revitalization.

“As we work to help those 25 designated communities continue to be successful with their downtown revitalization efforts, we also want to expand the program’s reach and bring some of the same tools to more communities, organizations and individuals who care about their local downtown,” Scott Sewell, director of the Kansas Main Street program, said. “We look forward to introducing the Main Street approach to a broader audience that cares about the revitalization of their downtowns.”

For more information on the Kansas Main Street program, contact Scott Sewell, Director of Kansas Main Street, at (785) 296-3485 or [email protected].

Fort Scott, Schools

Eugene Ware Students Nominated For Honor Choir

1 Comment


Eight fifth-graders from Eugene Ware Elementary were nominated for the Southeast Kansas Music Educators Association Elementary Honor Choir: Emilea Barrett, Sophie Durrossette, Megan Parada, Joshua Porter, Lily Saldivar, London Turner, Jaiden Watkins, and Ainsley Wheeler.

This honor choir typically takes place in January and is made up of singers in 5th and 6th grade throughout Southeast Kansas.

Due to the pandemic, students will not have the opportunity to sing together face to face. These students continue to keep choral music alive by singing at home and through Eugene Ware Youth Choir: Virtual Edition.

Contact: MJ Harper, 620-719-6633, [email protected]

Bourbon County, Entertainment

Pioneer Harvest Fiesta Welcomes New Members

Leave a comment
Pioneer Harvest Fiesta is an open organization and welcomes anyone of any age interested in joining and participating, according to Jim Kemmerer,  a spokesman for the group.
“Our goal is to celebrate, demonstrate, and continue the past practices of farm and rural life.  For further information please contact me, Jim Kemmerer, at 620-224-2275 or [email protected]. “
“I just learned that PHF has reduced the prices of the 2020 Show hats and shirts even further,” Kemmerer said. ” $4.00 each or two for $7.50.  Plenty of both for sale, and multiple shirt sizes to choose from.
Fort Scott, Mercy Hospital

Listen to Podcasts of Mercy Hospital Closing

Leave a comment
Sarah Jane Tribble, a journalist who spent two years telling the story of the closing of Mercy Hospital, offers her podcasts for the listening public.
“Want to ignore what’s happening in DC and escape COVID for a moment?” she said on her Facebook page.  “Here’s a distraction: All chapters of my new podcast Where It Hurts are available via@KHNews&@stlpublicradio
Here’s a list of Fort Scott residents who bravely opened up and shared their pain and courage: Tanner and Sherise Beckham, Dave Martin, Fred Campbell, Reta Baker, Pat and Ralph Wheeler, Dr. Maxwell Self, Linda Findley, Karen Endicott-Coyan, and the late Roxine Poznich, who owned Books & Grannies.
Listen here: https://podcasts.apple.com/…/where-it…/id1529977695…
‎Where It Hurts on Apple Podcasts
Business, Fort Scott

Maycumber Receives Community Block Development Grant

Leave a comment
Chris Maycumber, owner of Mayco Ace Hardware.

Chris Maycumber. owner of Mayco Ace Hardware, 205  Scott, is the recipient of a Community Development Block Grant to repair his building. The grant was for $225,000, with Maycumber matching with $75,000.

 

According to the website:   https://www.kansascommerce.gov/program/community-programs :

“The Small Cities Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program allows the Department of Commerce to distribute federal funds to Kansas cities and counties looking to improve their community.

CDBG awards are given in four primary categories:

  1. Annual Competitive Grants
    1. Water and Sewer
    2. Housing Rehabilitation
    3. Community Facilities
  2. Economic Development Grants
  3. Commercial Rehabilitation Grants
  4. Urgent Need Grants”
Maycumber’s grant is for rehabilitating his building.

“It’s to fix up the appearance of the building exterior,” he said. “The roof, windows, doors, and anything that will get the building up to  city code.”

The CDBG process began in 2018, he said.

“After a few snafu’s and the COVID-19 pandemic, it put us behind,” Maycumber said.

When the state does a CDB Grant, the project is put into a state-wide website, where contractors can bid on the specifications.

Although he can’t determine the contractors for the project, Maycumber said he hopes to use local businesses.

Currently, Agricultural Engineering Associates, Uniontown, is providing the building specs, he said.

“The state hasn’t put their money up yet, then we do, then the process to bid begins,” Maycumber said.

Thirty days after the project has let bids, they will know who the contractors are.

“Hopefully, by the end of November,” he said. “Then they will have so many days to finish the project.

The storefront at 203 State, north of the hardware store is the focus of the grant.

The last store in that building was Dollar General Store, who left in 2015, he said.

The 203 and 205 State building is owned by Maycumber with his mother, Joyce Maycumber.

 

203 State Street is the storefront just north of Mayco Ace Hardware, which is 205 State Street. It is all one building that will receive updates from a new grant that Chris Maycumber received.
Bourbon County, Food, K-State Extension

Cooking As A Family

Leave a comment
MaKayla Stroud. Submitted photo.

Submitted by MaKayla Stroud
Southwind Extension District
4-H Program Assistant

Cooking as a Family

Wash your hands, put on an apron, and gather your family into the heart of your home to create delicious dishes and more!

Whether it comes from a box mix or completely from scratch, spending time as a family in the kitchen has many benefits such as establishing culinary skills, making yummy food, and creating lifelong memories.

The first benefit of a family unit cooking together is building and improving culinary skills.

The kitchen is a great teaching environment to help your kids build lifelong skills that will help them nurture themselves and others.

Depending on the ages of children and their abilities, what can of recipes you can tackle together. You can even make it competitive by splitting into teams to see who can make the best meal or dish.

Obviously, the main reason to work with ingredients is to make yummy food. Studies show when the adults within a household help prepare and cook food with their children, better nutrition practices can be established earlier and continued throughout their lives.

Youth who are involved in the kitchen are educated about their food supply therefore making them informed consumers.

Another reward for working together with food is creating lifelong memories. When children grow up, they may not remember the exact dessert or meal you prepared with them however they will remember the laughs, stories, and fun they had with their family.

Yes, it might take longer to prepare & cook your dish, however you are completing a daily task while writing another story within your book of memories.

So, go ahead and grab a family favorite from your recipe box or cookbook and get together soon so you can make a delicious meal while improving your cooking skills and creating a lifetime of memories.

If you are interested in other family fun ideas, go to our Facebook page or YouTube channel named Southwind District 4-H or visit southwind.ksu.edu for more youth development resources.

Bourbon County, COVID-19, Elections, Government

Bourbon County Commission Will Canvass 2020 Election Ballots Today at 10 a.m.

Leave a comment

Agenda

Bourbon County Commission Room

1st Floor, County Courthouse

210 S. National Avenue

Fort Scott, KS 66701

Tuesdays starting at 9:00

Date: November 12, 2020

1st District-Lynne Oharah Minutes: Approved: _______________

2nd District-Jeff Fischer Corrected: _______________

3rd District-Nick Ruhl Adjourned at: _______________

County Clerk-Kendell Mason

 

MEETING WILL BE HELD IN COMMISSION ROOM. ANYONE ATTENDING THE MEETING WILL BE REQUIRED TO WEAR A MASK PROVIDED BY THE COUNTY. MUST MAINTAIN SOCIAL DISTANCING.

 

10:00 Election Canvass

 

Opinion

Election by Patty LaRoche

Leave a comment

As I write this, the election results are a mess. Both presidential candidates have claimed victory, but I refuse to lose sleep over this decision. I refuse to lose sight of who my King really is because the truth is, my leader has nothing to do with politics.

In spite of George Soros saying, “The 2020 U.S. election will determine the fate of the entire world,” God is in charge. Period. And if we think for one minute that whoever lives at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. N.W. is the one running the show, we had better think again.

What I don’t understand is why God would even care about this country since, for the past few decades, we have been hell-bent on pushing Him off of His throne. The only time we call on Him as a nation is when we are desperate. (Think Sept. 11, 2001.) Other than that, out of sight, out of mind.

We don’t deserve God’s help. Oh yes, we profess with our mouths that we are a Christian country; we claim to pray, but there is a huge disconnect with our hearts.

If nothing else, this political charade has proven what a mess we are. Both presidential candidates have embarrassed their parties and shown flaws that have overwhelmed the voters.

Romans 3:23 reminds us that we should not be surprised: For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. As Christians, our question during this political process has been, “Which one of the candidates is the most Christlike?” The one who speaks about God but shows no humility or the one who shows humility but disregards what Scripture says?

Their sins might be different, but they both still sin, and in God’s eyes, sin is sin is sin is sin. We all are guilty. Dare we point fingers!

By the time this goes to print, hopefully either Donald J. Trump or Joe Biden will be declared president of our country. Of course, whoever doesn’t win will want a recount and will accuse the voting process of being flawed, dragging this on for weeks. Rioters and looters will use it as an opportunity to destroy any city whose leadership allows them such freedoms, news anchors will wear us out making predictions based on their own personal biases, and conspiracy theorists will scream “I told you so.”

Fun. Times. Ahead.

But God still will be in charge. Will the one who wins be the better candidate? I don’t know. If not, maybe we will get what we deserve, or as theologian Warren Wiersbe put it, “God’s greatest judgment may be to let people have their own way.”

Maybe we will learn a little humility. Maybe rethink our priorities. Maybe get on our knees and pray for whoever heads this nation.

Before we get what we really do deserve.

Maybe that will be the best lesson we can learn.

Bourbon County, Schools

Uniontown School District Honors Veterans With A Parade

Leave a comment

USD 235 students, staff and surrounding community honored U.S. Veteran’s this afternoon with a parade in Uniontown.

Flags, horses, trailers full of FFA members and the high school band along with the Bourbon County Sheriff’s Office, the Bourbon County Fire Department, had a mild November afternoon to celebrate Veteran’s Day.

An event honoring vets is usually held in the high school gym, but because of COVID 19 pandemic restrictions, staff decided to host a parade.

Below are some of the participants.

Students lined the schools walking path and waved to the vets, with community members intermixed.

Bourbon County Local News