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What’s Happening in Fort Scott June 20 Edition
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Centennial Celebration Freeman Respects Past while Embracing a Bright Future
Joplin, MO. – Joplin, MO. – Under the banner of “A Century of Service, A Legacy of Caring,” Freeman Health System celebrated 100 years of health care in style Thursday morning with an outdoor rededication ceremony.
The gathering included more than 150 guests, including trusted community partners, state and local dignitaries, several direct descendants of Freeman Health System’s founder, John W. Freeman, and past and current Freeman team members – all stakeholders to the progress and success of the System over the past 100 years.
“Over the past 100 years, we have witnessed extraordinary progress in healthcare – from rudimentary treatments to groundbreaking surgical techniques, from limited diagnostics to advanced imaging, and from basic patient care to holistic wellness program,” said Matt Fry, Freeman Health System’s President and Chief Executive Officer. “Freeman has not only kept pace but has often led the way.”
The 75-bed Freeman Hospital, attached to John W. Freeman’s 18-room Joplin home, opened to the public in 1925 at 2008 Sergeant Ave. The hospital employed a staff of 19 nurses and five surgeons/physicians.
“We started as a small, local hospital, and today, we stand as a leading regional health system, continually expanding our services, embracing new technologies, and setting new standards for patient care,” Fry concluded.
Here in 2025, noted Joplin historian Brad Belk, “I suspect that the father of Freeman Health System, John W. Freeman, would be astonished of how far Freeman Hospital has traveled since 1925. How could he possibly comprehend that his gift to our community would lead to employing 5,300 workers in three states at thirty locations?”
Dr. Lance Beshore, chairman of the Board of Directors for Freeman Health System, called the health system’s centennial celebration a “truly monumental milestone” for the community. To that end, Freeman was recognized with a City of Joplin proclamation from Mayor Keenan Cortez. A second proclamation was presented to Fry by Cortez from Missouri Governor Mike Kehoe.
“One hundred years. One century of healing, service, and unwavering commitment to the health and well-being of our community,” Dr. Beshore said. “As we look around this gathering, it’s impossible not to feel the presence of all those who came before us – the visionary founders who, a century ago, embarked on a journey driven by a simple yet powerful ideal: To provide compassionate and advanced healthcare to Southwest Missouri and beyond. They laid the bedrock of what would become Freeman Health System with courage, foresight, and an incredible spirit of generosity. We admire their tenacity, their dedication, and the foundational values they instilled, which continue to guide us to this very day.”
During his speech, Belk hit upon several key moments that helped expand Freeman from a single hospital facility into a thriving health system that serves as the region’s single largest employer.
- When Joplin businessman Myron McIntosh donated 20 acres in 1969 and a construction drive spearheaded by TAMKO executive and Freeman board member Leland Browne raised $1.2 million that eventually resulted in the opening of a two-story, 120,000-square-foot, 144-room hospital at 1102 W. 32nd Street in 1975.
- The acquisition of Neosho’s Sale Hospital in 1993, becoming Freeman Neosho Hospital.
- The merger of Freeman Hospital with Oak Hill Hospital in 1995, becoming Freeman East, and creating Freeman Health System.
“This is truly a celebratory occasion,” Belk said. “We should always recognize how we arrived here today, to never forget our past and to always celebrate the landmark moments that define us and make us unique.”
Thursday, added Dr. Beshore, is not a day just for remembrance, but for renewal.
“It is a promise to our community that the legacy of compassionate, excellent healthcare will not only endure but will flourish,” he said.
Calling Freeman’s history a “remarkable feat,” Fry said none of Freeman’s success over the last 100 years could have happened without a team approach from every facet of society.
“How have we achieved this remarkable feat? It’s simple, yet profound. It’s because of you,” Fry said. “To our founders, whose vision laid the groundwork; to every colleague and volunteer, past and present, who has walked these halls; to our board members, our generous donors, and our invaluable community partners; and most importantly, to the millions of patients and families who have entrusted us with their care – my deepest appreciation goes out to each and every one of you. You are the heartbeat of Freeman Health System.”
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About Freeman Health System
Locally owned, not-for-profit and nationally recognized, Freeman Health System includes Freeman Hospital West, Freeman Hospital East, Freeman Neosho Hospital and Ozark Center – the area’s largest provider of behavioral health services – as well as two urgent care clinics, dozens of physician clinics and a variety of specialty services. In 2024, Freeman earned dozens of individual awards for medical excellence and patient safety from CareChex®, a quality rating system that helps consumers evaluate healthcare providers and their experiences. U.S. News & World Report named Freeman Health System one of the Best Hospitals for 2022. With more than 320 physicians on staff representing more than 90 specialties, Freeman provides cancer care, heart care, neurology and neurosurgery, orthopaedics, children’s services, women’s services, and many others for all of the Four State Area. Freeman is also involved in numerous community-based activities and sponsored events and celebrations. Additionally, in the Joplin/Pittsburg areas, Freeman is the only Children’s Miracle Network Hospital in a 70-mile radius. For more information, visit freemanhealth.com.
The Bourbon County Sheriff’s Office Daily Reports June 20
Obituary of Arthur Joseph Pollreis
Arthur Joseph Pollreis, age 16, a resident of rural Walnut, Kansas, died tragically on Wednesday, June 18, 2025. Arthur was born on September 25, 2008, in Fort Scott, Kansas. Shortly after his birth, he was lovingly adopted by Randy and Leanne Pollreis. He spent his early childhood in Chanute and Uniontown before beginning high school in Erie, Kansas, where he had just completed his sophomore year. Arthur was a well-rounded active student at Erie High School. He was involved in cross country, baseball, basketball and sport shooting, dedicating time and effort to each of these activities. He also found a place on the stage, participating in several school plays as part of the high school drama department. Whether competing in athletics or performing under the lights, Arthur was engaged in school life and known among his peers and teachers alike.
He is survived by his father and stepmother, Randy and Shael Pollreis; his three brothers, Gavin, Dominic, and Coby; and a few stepsiblings. He was preceded in death by his mother, Leanne Pollreis. Arthur’s life was marked by involvement, effort, and the many relationships he formed along the way. His loss is deeply felt by his family and friends.
Rev. Marty DeWitt will conduct a memorial service at 10:00 A.M. Thursday, June 26th at the Cheney Witt Chapel, 201 S. Main, Ft. Scott, Kansas. Words of remembrance may be submitted to the online guestbook at cheneywitt.com.
Trim Those Bones by Patty LaRoche
Author: A Little Faith Lift…Finding Joy Beyond Rejection
www.alittlefaithlift.com
AWSA (Advanced Writers & Speakers Assoc.)
Everything was perfect. My five college girlfriends and I met in Tulsa for our annual reunion. Diana lives there. Diana, the one who was prescribed Statins and now cannot walk and barely can feed herself. Diana, the one who lived in a 5-Star retirement facility until her husband choked on a piece of steak in the dining hall while the employees watched in horror as he died. Their hands were tied. “Only medical personnel can assist in a life-and-death crisis.”
Our friend moved from that facility, bought a one-story house and hired two aides who tend to her needs. Since she no longer can travel, we go to her. Every year, our celebratory dinner is a bone-in prime rib. “No peekie, roast beefie” it’s called because after cooking it in the morning for one hour, the oven is turned off and it sets all day in the closed oven. This year was no different, except Diana had purchased an enormous piece of meat with five large bones protruding from its side.
After setting it on a cookie sheet, Keller lathered it in her homemade rub and placed it in the oven. Correction: she tried to place it in the oven. It was too big. The bones needed to be removed. Which is where “Everything was perfect” changed. And which is where I came in.
The bones would need to be sawed off. After I found a jigsaw in the garage, Cathy volunteered to hold the end of one bone as I—after calling on Jesus to help—jackhammered away. The slab of meat jumped with each jolt, and everybody (and I do mean “everybody”) had an opinion on what we needed to do to keep me from amputating Cathy’s fingers.
In the end, thanks to Jesus, the jigsaw and a hammer, our mission was accomplished.
I needed a shower.
Let’s face it. Sometimes, things just don’t fit. They are square pegs in round holes, and they need to be “trimmed” to contribute effectively. Think 1500-piece jigsaw puzzles; sometimes, the only solution to make them fit seems to be scissors and glue.
I’ve known people who don’t fit. They are social misfits who blunder through conversations, step on toes and speak when they should remain silent. Having them as friends can be tedious, if not impossible.
We all have a desire to “fit in,” don’t we? Walk into a middle school or high school and you will recognize the need for students to look like everyone else. And then there are those people who insist you have to fit into their mold. Some churches are like that. They cut off those who don’t dress like them or plug them in where there is a need, not where they are gifted. The homeless, prostitutes, drug addicts need not apply.
There were early Christians who had bought into this lie. They thought that, because they didn’t have certain spiritual gifts, they didn’t fit into the body of Christ. In 1 Corinthians 12:12-14, Paul confronts the argument. Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ. For we were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink. Even so the body is not made up of one part but of many.
And yes, we all need a little spiritual trimming every now and then.
Hopefully a jigsaw is not the answer.
Graeme Stacey Named 2025 National Lowell Milken Center Fellow
This is part of a series on
2025 National Lowell Milken Center Fellows.
FORT SCOTT, KS – June 1, 2025 – The Lowell Milken Center (LMC) for Unsung Heroes in Fort Scott, Kansas, an international educational non-profit, has awarded its prestigious Fellowship to Graeme Stacey, a history teacher at Kelowna Secondary School in Kelowna, B.C., Canada. Graeme will arrive in Fort Scott on June 22nd 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.
Graeme Stacey, a 2015 U.S. Holocaust Museum Teacher Fellow, teaches high school classes in Genocide, Holocaust, and History in Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada. In his classes and school community, he strives to create a joy for learning and to make a difference in students’ lives. He believes students can succeed when a positive rapport is established between the teacher and student. This relationship fosters engagement, helps spark curiosity, encourages the asking of questions, and stirs motivation. His measured and pedagogical leadership is a continuum, putting into practice relevant and “lifelong” learning with professional development experiences abroad that have inspired him to create meaningful learning environments for his students.
Graeme is at the forefront of social studies education within his school, district, and province. He has received national awards from the Government of Canada, Citizenship Canada, Veterans Affairs Canada and has been a pioneer in Holocaust education since the early 2000s. His work became a driving force in shaping the study of Genocide 12 for students in British Columbia. Graeme has served as past President of the Central Okanagan Social Studies Teachers Association, past Vice President of the B.C. Social Studies Professional Association, was an integral member of the inaugural Canadian Museum for Human Rights Teachers’ Advisory Circle, and was recognized through USHMM, Yad Vashem, and the Seattle Holocaust Center.
LMC Executive Director Norm Conard says, “Graeme’s passion for teaching his students the importance of personal and social responsibility has sparked important curriculum reforms in the approach to Holocaust and genocide education. Graeme will inspire our 2025 team of Fellows to help students explore their own values and develop Unsung Heroes projects that support those goals.”
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.
Incident at National Speech and Debate Conference Explained by Destry Brown
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
6/19/2025
Nine students and three coaches from Fort Scott High School attended the National Speech and Debate Conference this week in Des Moines, IA.
During the finals round of one of the competitions and unknown person walked onto the stage and interrupted the speech. They evacuated the auditorium thinking he was an active shooter. Later the National Speech and Debate Conference posted the following announcement:
This afternoon, an unidentified attendee entered the stage during the Humorous Interpretation Finals, interrupting the round. The individual has been subdued and removed from the premises. There were no weapons involved, and no threats were made. The hall was evacuated and there are no reported injuries. The rest of the venue has been swept for any potential threats by members of law enforcement. We understand the concerns people have, and we want to assure everyone that this is an isolated incident. We plan to resume the tournament later today and will aim to update attendees on the revised schedule by 4 PM CT.
The reunification area for all participants is the North parking lot, outside the Memorial Hall entrance.
All our students and coaches are safe and accounted for. The district administrators along with the sponsors on the trip have made the decision to bring everyone home this evening. Upon their arrival home, in addition to their families, our high school counselors and other support staff will be there to meet them at the school. We want to make sure our students, sponsors, and parents are given any support they may need in the coming days as a result of this very scary situation.
Mr. Slinkard, our debate and forensics coach, reported that our kids reacted very calmly and maturely during the evacuation and were helping each other as well as other kids from around the country get to safety. He is very proud of the way our kids and coaches conducted themselves during this situation.
We are very thankful that everyone is safe and on their way back home.
Submitted by Destry Brown, Superintendent of USD234
Parent Empowerment Circle Sunday, June 22, 1:30-3:30 p.m. First Southern Baptist Church
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The After Affect Has A New Building In the Works
Shelly Bradley, owner of The After Affect Salon, said the business will have an “18 and on-our-own party” to celebrate the relocation of her business to a newly constructed building.
“We hope to be open in August (at the new site),” she said. “August will be the salon’s 18th anniversary, and we want to have a party to celebrate.”
“My husband, Zach, had tried to talk me into buying or building a new salon, to invest in our own property, and have our own parking.”
The current salon is located in the Historic Downtown Fort Scott district at 14 E. Wall, and parking can be competitive at times.
The new shop is being built and is located at 1416 E. Wall.
“My Grandma Martha Cook offered to sell a lot next to her house to me. The time was right. God’s timing is perfect, and everything fell into place.”
The new 40-foot-by-40-foot building will have parking for 13 cars.
This will be needed with the additional services she will be offering in the shop: red light therapy, and tanning services, including stand-up, lay-down, and automated. All will have their private work room and additionally, two bathrooms, a utility room/kitchen/storage room, a room for retail products, and a waiting room. In addition, there will be a designated nail technician room.
“I feel so blessed with our amazing clientele that has made this a possibility and can’t wait to offer more for our community,” she said. “I am blessed that my husband has the talent and patience to help me build my dream. And I’m excited to be next door to my Grandma’s house.”
Those working on the build are Gieger Plumbing, KTK Electric, and Thomas Concrete and Construction, all of Fort Scott. She has been working with the City of Fort Scott on an economic development grant.
Bradley started the business in 2007, and Debi Fritter started offering services with her in 2010.
Riley Findley will be the new nail technician, and Debi’s daughter, Dani, will help in the tanning area.
Brian Skinner Named 2025 National Lowell Milken Center Fellow
This is part of a series of
2025 National Lowell Milken Center Fellows.
The Lowell Milken Center (LMC) for Unsung Heroes in Fort Scott, Kansas, an international educational non-profit, has awarded its prestigious Fellowship to Brian Skinner, a high school special education educator and IEP trainer for the Harvey County Special Education Cooperative in Newton, KS. Brian will arrive in Fort Scott on June 22nd 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.
Brian Skinner, a special education teacher from Newton, Ks, was recognized in 2023 as Kansas Teacher of the Year. He is also a 2024 NEA Foundation Teaching Excellence recipient and an NEA Board Member. He regularly spends his time advocating for special education and the public education profession.
Within his school, some of Skinner’s additional roles have included serving as the Project SEARCH case manager, department chair, scholars’ bowl coach, and co-teaching trainer. Skinner says, “Working with students across such a wide spectrum helps him to understand all students better and have a larger impact in helping to build a positive school culture.”
LMC Executive Director Norm Conard says, “Brian is a leader among his peers, a significant catalyst in expanding co-teaching programs that involve all students across a broad spectrum. His insight will provide a valuable tool for our 2025 Fellows in seeking to include students of all abilities in the research and development of unsung heroes’ projects.”
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.
The Bourbon County Sheriff’s Office Daily Reports June 19
Bourbon County Is In the Ask For Disaster Declaration
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