On June 15th at approximately 6:30 pm Officers with the Fort Scott Police Department observed smoke coming from the area of the playground located near 3rd and Wilson. Officers observed a piece of playground equipment fully engulfed in flames and requested the Fort Scott Fire Department respond to the scene. This incident is being investigated as an arson. There are no suspects currently. The playground equipment is valued at $1000.
Submitted by
Chief Jason Pickert
Fort Scott Police Department
Camren Lamb, 10, and his mom, Melanie Lamb are teaming up to facilitate a family church camp next month.
They had been planning the camp together but didn’t have a sight secured yet.
“Then Ralph Carlson offered his private land, pond, and cabin for the church camp and said, ‘I can’t think of a better use for it,'” Melanie said.
Last year Camren raised money for purchasing a Vacation Bible School kit to create a church camp for families. He did this by selling his art and playing his guitar for tips at his booth at the Fort Scott Farmer’s Market which hosted the Children’s Business Fair.
The Lambs purchased an Answers in Genesis Vacation Bible School kit with money from his sales and tips.
For four days and three nights, July 15-18, Camren and Melanie will lead groups in Bible lessons, games, crafts, songs, Scripture memorization, snacks, and a Bible verse treasure hunt.
In addition, there will be kayaking, canoeing, water balloon fun, campfire, and devotions.
“Some of his friends will help,” Melanie said. “He is looking forward to leading the groups.”
Camren said, “It’s good to be with friends in nature.”
There are a few openings left for families, Melanie said.
Melanie said each family must bring their tent, food, and necessities.
The campsite and activities are provided.
The cabin at the Carlson property has water and there is an outhouse.
For more information contact Melanie at 620.215.3449.
PITTSBURG — Applications for the PSU Nurse Practitioner Residency Program are open. The program is a partnership between Pittsburg State University and the Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas, providing a guided transition into a practitioner role.
To apply for the 2024-2025 nurse practitioner residency, visit CHC/SEK’s careers page at https://chcsek.org/careers/.
During the residency, participants will receive a full salary and benefits while receiving shoulder-to-shoulder training from CHC/SEK’s nurse practitioners and physician preceptors. Qualifications include a Kansas APRN license, Family Nurse Practitioner National Certification from AANP or ANCC, and a primary care NP Graduate from an accredited nursing program.
The 12-month rural NP Residency will begin September 9, 2024. The residents will expand their clinical knowledge and skills to become proficient in primary care services as they develop their own rural patient panel and transition to NP practice.
Opportunities for didactic and clinical experiences in primary care and specialty rotations will be available. Residents will have the required components and the ability to customize their residency.
Upon completion, residents will receive recognition from the PSU Irene Ransom Bradley School of Nursing and receive a certificate.
To learn more about the residency and qualifications, visit PSU’s Rural Nurse Practitioner Residency webpage: https://www.pittstate.edu/nursing/nurse-practitioner-residency.html
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Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas
Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas (CHC/SEK) is a mission-focused, patient-owned, federally qualified health center (FQHC), Kansas not-for-profit corporation, and a recognized 501(c)(3) public charity. CHC/SEK provides quality, affordable, and accessible healthcare for everyone, regardless of income or insurance status. CHC/SEK has 39 registered sites in Kansas and Oklahoma, providing approximately 60 services, including walk-in care, primary care, women’s health, mammography and prenatal care, pediatrics, school-based health services, vaccinations, dental care, behavioral health and addiction treatment, and chronic disease management. To learn more, visit www.chcsek.org.
There were no arrests reported.
CFSEK Grantee Story Series:
Cherry Street Youth Center, the “Hidden Gem” of Chanute
The Community Foundation of Southeast Kansas (CFSEK) is excited to continue our series of articles highlighting the great work done by some of our grantees in Southeast Kansas communities. Our next grantee to highlight is Cherry Street Youth Center in Chanute.
In a time when childcare at an affordable cost is, in a word, lacking, it might be strange to hear of an after-school program that cares for 125 children daily and is completely free. Cherry Street Youth Center in Chanute, Kansas, is a Christian outreach ministry where children are encouraged to learn about gardening, cooperation, and 3D printing while growing closer to God. Founded in 1995 out of a small house, Cherry Street has expanded operations to three locations in Chanute, where different ministries take place for children from kindergarten to middle school.
“Our goal as a Christian ministry is to help bring children closer to God,” said Jennifer Shields, executive director, “but we also want to help our kiddos be the best versions of themselves!”
Cherry Street is not a daycare, but rather a place for students to go after school and continue their education in a fun environment.
“We like to say that we are the ‘best kept secret’ in SEK,” Shields said. “We are so unique in what we do, and our goal is always to provide this free service to our community. We can’t do what we do without our community and their support! Grants and donations are how we make purchases for our classes and programming. We bought 3D printers so our kids could learn about programming and design! That would not be possible without donations and grants from the Community Foundation!”
Shields told the story of a little girl who came to the playground at Cherry Street one day to play with her friends during program hours. She was not a student of Cherry Street, due to policies and safety guidelines, only registered children can be on campus during program hours. Shields had to ask the girl to return home until 5:30, when the program ended. Before sending the girl off, Shields asked her if she was interested in becoming a part of Cherry Street, and the little girl responded that her parents could not afford to send her there. “My heart broke, but I was so excited to tell her, ‘Sweetie, we are absolutely free! Let me send you home with some paperwork!’ She is now in 4th grade, and I see her almost daily,” Shields said.
Cherry Street serves not just as a place for fun but also as a place to encourage academic success for all children. Realizing many of the children attending the after-school program were not reading on grade level, Shields reached out to the elementary school principal to see how best to help. Cherry Street received site word lists for every grade level from the elementary school to practice with the children. “We are all about our community, both in Chanute and Southeast Kansas as a whole! We just want people to know what we do and the positive impact we are making.”
The Community Foundation of Southeast Kansas is proud to have supported Cherry Street Youth Center as a 2023 General Funds Grant recipient for their 3D printer project. Through granting, CFSEK has also supported other projects at Cherry Street over the past five years. If you wish to donate to Cherry Street, you can visit https://cherrystreet.org/donate/.
The 2024 General Funds Grant applications are available until June 30th at midnight. Applications are available at SoutheastKansas.org/Grant-App.
The Community Foundation of Southeast Kansas awarded over $2 million in grants from all foundation funds in 2023 and has facilitated over $23 million in total granting to Southeast Kansas since its inception in 2001. CFSEK serves the region by providing donors with various charitable interests and encouraging charitable giving, which addresses present and future needs in our area. More information about CFSEK is available at SoutheastKansas.org.
FORT SCOTT: – Local restaurant Brickstreet BBQ will be hosting a visit from America’s Best Restaurants (ABR) in early July 2024.
America’s Best Restaurants, a national media and marketing company focusing on bringing attention to local, independently-owned restaurants, will bring its ABR Roadshow to the restaurant on July 1st. Popular dishes will be highlighted, along with an extensive on-camera interview with owners Alex and Carissa Bowman about the restaurant’s special place in the community. The episode will be aired extensively on social media channels at a later date.
The Bowmans opened Brickstreet BBQ in 2023, offering hickory-smoked meats, sides, salads and sandwiches in a welcoming, unique environment.
The idea for offering barbecue to the Fort Scott community stemmed not only from a lack of that particular cuisine in the area, but also a desire to “do something” with the historic building it is located in.
Known as the H.L. Stout building and built in 1911, the brick building with a two-story vestibule has been the home of everything from a patent medicine manufacturer to car dealerships to a cafeteria, with a skating rink on the second floor and a bowling alley in the basement, according to a 2009 article in the Fort Scott Tribune.
“It was kind of like – we need to do something with that building,” Carissa says. “It really was just kind of a gut feeling. We didn’t even know we wanted to do barbecue at that time. We just knew something needed to happen here.”
Popular menu items that may be featured on the episode include the burnt ends (“They are to die for” notes Carissa), ribs, and the Brickstreet tacos, a choice of meat topped with fiesta corn, pico di gallo and apple slaw.
“They’re a good one that everybody loves because it’s just a lot of different flavors that are very unique but work together,” explains Carissa.
One aspect of running the business that the Bowmans are most proud of is the family that they’ve created within the four walls.
“We’ve been really working hard, coaching our staff and employees on just encouraging them to be their best selves,” Alex notes, adding that they want their employees to network, gain skills, and connect with customers. “This isn’t just a job. This is an opportunity to grow.”
America’s Best Restaurants will be filming on location on Monday July 1st from 9 am to noon CST. The press is invited to attend. The restaurant’s finished episode premiere date will be announced on their Facebook page and will be featured on America’s Best Restaurants’ website.
Restaurants featured on the ABR Roadshow are selected based on their customer reviews, menu items, social media presence, and level of involvement with their community. They are found through customer nominations, internal vetting or by a restaurant applying to be featured at www.americasbestrestaurants.
About Brickstreet BBQ: Open Tuesday through Sunday, Brickstreet BBQ is located at 3 W Oak St, Fort Scott KS 66701. Telephone is (620) 224-2425. For more information visit ‘Brickstreet BBQ’ on Facebook.
About ABR: With offices in Florence, KY and Las Vegas, America’s Best Restaurants is a national media and restaurant marketing company that travels the country telling the stories and highlighting the unique food of locally owned independent restaurants as part of their ABR Roadshow. Restaurants are featured not only on ABR’s Restaurant Network of social media channels and website, but also each individual establishment’s Facebook page. With over 1300 episodes filmed, America’s Best Restaurants is the premier marketing agency for restaurant owners and operators to have their story broadcast coast-to-coast. Visit AmericasBestRestaurants.com to learn more and to view the episodes and profiles of hundreds of America’s Best Restaurants!
Keys to the Kingdom By Carolyn Tucker
When I moved out of the house, right before I turned 19, Dad gave me a hammer. This was not just any ordinary hammer; it was one of his that had broken off five inches below the eye. Rather than discard it, he had kept it around. Forty-seven years later, I still have and use this hammer every time I hang a piece of décor. I love this special tool because it perfectly fits in my hand and doesn’t weigh as much as a normal one, enabling me to use it easier. I like to share the story of the weird short hammer to those who see me use it.
Dad believed in me and I, in turn, believed in him. The Saturday in 1967, when my folks took me to Springfield to shop music stores, changed my life forever. I’d been begging for a piano but I couldn’t play a lick. Dad bought a new piano for me and I was the happiest girl in the whole USA! In talking about the purchase of my piano, in his later years, Dad told me, “That was the best investment I ever made.”
Dad loved me, taught me life lessons, and instilled a love for God in my heart. He taught me how to fill the washer fluid, check the oil, and radiator level. He told me to drive with the traffic. If the temp light came on, pull over and stop. If the engine light came on, I should be able to get to a short destination. He taught me how to ride a horse, carry plenty of cash, be on time, and shine my shoes. By spending time with him, I knew him like the back of my hand.
Was he a perfect man? No. Was he the perfect dad? Maybe not — but he was perfect to me. Because of his devotion to God and faithfulness to my brother and I, he nailed the definition of a great father. “The godly walk with integrity; blessed are their children who follow them” (Proverbs 20:7 NLT).
It’s no surprise that fathers have a profound influence on their children. In the Old Testament, we see that some sons walked in their father’s footsteps. “Uzziah…began to rule over Judah. He did what was pleasing in the Lord’s sight, just as his father, Amaziah had done” (2 Kings 15:1,3 NLT). “Jotham son of Uzziah began to rule over Judah…. Jotham did what was pleasing in the Lord’s sight. He did everything his father, Uzziah, had done” (2 Kings 15:32,34 NLT).
To all the great and godly fathers with wayward children, don’t despair. As long as there’s breath, there’s prayer and hope for change. And please don’t take unwarranted blame — God gave humans a free will on purpose. Remember Adam (the first father)? In the beginning he had two sons, Cain and Able. One chose poorly and one chose righteously and both had the same father.
On April 11, 2012, I was preparing to leave, so I kissed Dad on the cheek. He immediately pulled out his billfold and handed me a ten-dollar bill and said, “Here, take this. I might need you to get me something.“ He died two days later and I still have that $10 in my billfold. The last thing he did was give.
Happy Father’s Day to all the hero dads who provide the wind beneath your children’s wings. You are essential, valued, honored, and loved as a very special blessing.
The Key: I don‘t have Dad, but I have his hammer. And that will do for now.
The Lowell Milken Center (LMC) for Unsung Heroes in Fort Scott, Kansas, an international educational non-profit, has awarded its prestigious Fellowships to selected educators who will arrive in Fort Scott on June 16th for a week of collaboration with LMC staff and the other members of the Fellowship.
The LMC Fellowship is a merit-based award for educators of all disciplines who value the importance of teaching respect and understanding through project-based learning. The Center selects exemplary teachers from the United States and around the world who will collaborate on projects that discover, develop, and communicate the stories of Unsung Heroes in history.
The following are the fellows at the Center this week:
Aaron Kruger
Aaron Kruger, a history teacher from Cheyenne, WY, was recognized in 2021 as a Wyoming Milken Educator. History is a popular subject at Cheyenne Central High School, as Aaron empowers his students to succeed and excel by fostering open discussion and critical thinking skills. His students consistently surpass state and global pass rates on the AP History exams.
LMC Executive Director Norm Conard says, “Aaron brings history to life for his students through primary source documentation and roleplaying exercises. His leadership skills and expertise in collaborative decision-making will be positive assets to share with our 2024 team of Fellows. We look forward to great Unsung Hero projects from Aaron’s students.”
Erica Quale, an 8th-grade social studies teacher from Bismarck, ND, received the 2021 Milken Educator Award for North Dakota. She works to make U.S. history relevant to her students’ lives through project-based learning, using historical resources and knowledge to establish those connections. From student-led history lessons shared with elementary students to interactive classroom discussions on civic responsibilities, her students become involved and engaged learners. Their high scores on North Dakota’s Eighth Grade Civics exam validate the positive learning experiences in her classroom.
LMC Executive Director Norm Conard says, “Erica’s use of project-based learning makes history relevant for her students. Her students become so knowledgeable about their projects they can then share the content with elementary students. Erica’s use of such unique learning experiences makes her a valuable asset to our 2024 team of Fellows.”
John Rosenbaum
John Rosenbaum, a middle school social studies teacher from Central Falls, RI, was honored as the 2021 Rhode Island Milken Educator. Through many hands-on learning experiences, John has made history come alive for his students. His relatable approach to learning has met with great success, as eighth-graders from his school outperform state averages in literacy and enter high school well-prepared for higher-level work.
LMC Executive Director Norm Conard says, “As an outstanding and innovative middle school teacher, John collaborates with colleagues to design hands-on learning experiences that impart knowledge and create memories for his students. His strong background in project-based learning and social studies will be an important motivator for project development within our 2024 team of Fellows.”
Michael Sandstrom
Michael Sandstrom, a high school civics and history teacher in Chadron, NE, was honored as the 2019 Gilder Lehrman Nebraska History Teacher of the Year, just one of the many prestigious awards he has received. His strong belief in the importance of civic competence and historical knowledge has guided his teaching style, leading to many positive outcomes for his students. Using local historical resources, students can connect their past to the national issues facing them today.
LMC Executive Director Norm Conard says, “Michael has a strong belief in the power of history to make the past relevant for his students and to provide a connection to their future. His adept use of primary and secondary sources will provide a valuable resource for the team of 2024 Fellows.”
Kelly Sheridan
Kelly Sheridan, a 2023 Idaho Milken Educator, is the Assistant Principal and Dean of Students at Idaho Falls’ Compass Academy, a project-based 9-12 magnet school. As the school’s former art teacher, Kelly has positively impacted the campus climate by incorporating art into the core curriculum and serving as an instructional leader. Having both classroom and leadership experience has made Kelly a valuable role model for students and teachers.
LMC Executive Director Norm Conard says, “Kelly has had a profound effect on her school climate, developing trusted relationships and implementing professional development focused on research-based instructional strategies. Her collaborative efforts and expertise with project-based learning will be a perfect fit for the mission of the Center and its work with the 2024 Fellows.”
While in Fort Scott, LMC Fellows gain knowledge, educational resources, and support in helping students cultivate a passion for learning by creating projects that initiate positive change. Fellows will be equipped to develop Unsung Heroes projects with their students, applying and evaluating the stories of these role models who have changed the world throughout history.
Tara Solomon-Smith
Family and Community Wellness Agent, Southwind Extension District
[email protected], 620-244-3826
Time Management and Where to Start
Record what you do in 15-minute intervals for at least a week. Evaluate the results by asking: Did everything I needed to do get done? Which tasks require the most time? What time of day was I most productive? Where do you devote most of your time (i.e. job, family, personal, recreation)?
Having a good sense of the time required for routine tasks can help you be more realistic in planning and estimating how much time is available for other activities.
Now you can apply what you learned on your next week’s calendar. Plan your most challenging tasks for when you have the most energy. Block out time for your high priority activities first and protect that time from interruptions.
Manage Your Time Wasters
We all have them, those items that are important but not urgent and can interrupt our focus. Try these tips for some common time wasters so you can lead with your priorities!
Handheld Devices
Unexpected Visitors
Get Help from Others
Delegating means assigning responsibility for a task to someone else, freeing up your time for tasks that require your expertise. Identify tasks others can do and select the appropriate person to do them. Also consider building support in many areas of life such as enlisting your kids’ help with getting dinner on the table, prepare extended family to be back up when the unexpected happens, ask a co-worker with help talking through a tough task.
Take breaks
A key to staying motivated is allowing time for breaks. Be sure to add short, five to ten minute breaks to help you recharge and refocus.
Here’s to more time for what’s most important to you! Today’s information is adapted from University of Georgia and K-State Research and Extension’s time management publication. For more information contact Tara Solomon-Smith, [email protected], or call 620-244-3826.
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Kansas State University Agricultural Experiment Station and Cooperative Extension Service
