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Obituary of Kenneth Holt
Kenneth Ray “Kenny” Holt, age 67, Uniontown, Kansas passed away on Wednesday, November 6, 2019, at his home after a courageous battle with cancer.
He was born on October 11, 1952, in Pensacola, Florida the son of Kent and Marilyn Hartman Holt.
Kenny graduated from Uniontown High School in the Class of 1970. He then graduated from Fort Scott Community College and then earned his Bachelor of Business Administration degree from Pittsburg State University.
On January 8, 1972, he was united in marriage to his high school sweetheart, Nancy Blake. He entered the family business, Union State Bank, in 1972. He served as President and CEO from 1990 until his retirement in 2019. He was chairman of the board until his passing.
Kenny was an avid runner, golfer and enjoyed hunting.
He loved coaching basketball and was the assistant boys coach at UHS for a couple of seasons before becoming the head coach of the UHS girls team in 2000. He filled the role of head coach until 2013. His passion for coaching brought him back for one more stint as an assistant coach in 2018.
Kenny was a member of the First Missionary Baptist Church of Uniontown. He served the church as a deacon and trustee numerous times.
He was an active member of the Uniontown community serving on many committees and organizations.
Kenny is survived by his wife, Nancy, of the home, two sons, Bryan and wife Tara of Fort Scott; Chad and wife Amy of Redfield; six grandchildren, Gabe, Xavier, Drew, Aiden, Claire and Eli; parents, Kent and Marilyn of Uniontown; brother Randall and wife Debra of Fort Scott; sisters, Debbie Likely and husband Tom, of Parker, Kansas, and Susan Eldridge and husband Ron of Uniontown; extended family and friends.
Kenny’s best role was that of Grandpa. He devotedly attended the activities of his grandchildren, even when he was weakened from cancer treatments. His grandkids loved spending time at Grandma and Grandpa’s.
Kenny Holt truly lived by and encouraged all his life touched to live by the motto, “Carpe Diem”. Seize the Day.
Funeral service will be held at 10 am Monday, November 11, 2019, at the First Missionary Baptist Church, Uniontown, Kansas.
Burial will be in the Uniontown Cemetery. Contributions are suggested to the Prostate Cancer Foundation, St. Jude’s or the American Cancer Society. Online condolences can be left at www.schneiderfunerals.com. Arrangements: Schneider Funeral Home and Crematory, Pleasanton Chapel.
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The Fort Scott Police Department Daily Reports Nov. 7
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The Missourians Concert Nov. 8
The Missourians will be live in concert tonight at Memorial Hall.
You are invited to this special faith and freedom event with a special patriotic salute to all Veterans.
Tight harmonies, upbeat concerts, soul touching songs, and the love of Jesus Christ, that’s what The Missourians are best known for. For twenty-five years they have been spreading the message of Jesus Christ through song. During that time they have recorded 16 albums and 2 videos including their latest release “Hymns & Classics.”
The group, based out of Joplin Missouri, is comprised of five talented musicians and singers who have a true desire of spreading the good news to people of all ages and locations. Whether it’s a rural church or city auditorium The Missourians have one purpose…to share the love of Jesus through music.
The Missourians have shared the stage with such greats as Gold City, Brian Free & Assurance, Ivan Parker, Larry Gatlin and the Gatlin Brothers and many others. The group also hosts a weekly radio show called “Make Mine Southern” on multiple broadcast and internet radio stations.
Don’t miss this opportunity to see The Missourians live in concert at Memorial Hall tonight. Memorial Hall is located at 1 East 3rd Street in Fort Scott.
The concert will start at 7 pm.
Ticket prices are $10 for adults, $5 for children ages 5 to 9, and admission is free for children 4 and under.
All proceeds from this event will go to the building fund for First Southern Baptist Church.
For more information, call (620) 223-2986 or go to the website www.fortscottfsbc.com.
When Rules Don’t Apply by Patty LaRoche
There were five tennis courts, all occupied, and usage was limited to one hour if other players were waiting. As we signed the board for an open court, Ted approached. “See those four ladies over there on Court #1?” he asked. “The rules don’t apply to them.” He shared that a few weeks ago he gave up his court to that foursome. When he returned two hours later and they still were playing, he told them their time was up. They not-so-kindly said they had been on the court only 10 minutes. Ted reminded them that it was he who had given them his court two hours before and he did not appreciate being lied to.
I like Ted.
Fast forward a month. My son, Andy, his wife Kristen and I unluckily ended up on the court next to the four dishonest women who thought they were prepping for Wimbledon. We, on the other hand, were there to have fun and laugh. When the inevitable happened and Kristen’s ball landed on the enemy’s court, my family stood frozen as, with great flair, the women played out their point and then dramatically retrieved our ball.
Fifteen minutes later, when it happened again, we were grateful they had racquets and not guns. This time, they all yelled “Let” loudly enough for everyone on all five courts to know they had been inconvenienced. That’s all it took. I knew what I needed to do. As more people arrived looking for a court, I periodically announced—rather loudly– how much time we had left. “We have twenty minutes before our hour is up.” “We have only five minutes left.” You get the point. The ladies had no choice but to exit their court since those waiting knew they had been there longer than we had. V-I-C-T-O-R-Y!
There are two treadmills in our community center gym. This is the sign hanging above every piece of equipment:
Simple, right? After 30 minutes, I am to GET OFF and let someone else use my machine. Apparently, two individuals don’t get it. The other day, I used the elliptical while they spent an hour on their treadmills. When one finally stopped, I pointed to the sign and asked her if, since I had used the elliptical for 30 minutes, I now was allowed to get on a different machine. (Yes, a little manipulative.) She became defensive. “I was only on my machine for 30 minutes.”
I repeated my question. She looked at me like I didn’t have the I.Q. to even push the start button. What she failed to realize was that she had accidently left her “Summary” on her machine–how many calories burned, maximum heart rate, etc., including her 63!!! minute time.
Where was Ted when I needed him?
Why is it some people think the rules don’t apply to them? Police arrest people who violate the law, but what do you do on a tennis court or exercise room? And yes, I know that as a Christian, whatever I do needs to be done in love. Is it possible to hit people with my tennis racquet in love or drag exercise freaks off their treadmills in love? Would Jesus appreciate that response? Uh, probably not. Even if they lie? Uh, probably not.
What Jesus wouldn’t do is ignore the offense, especially if that selfishness caused other people to be inconvenienced. When James and John requested a special place in Heaven, Jesus put them in their rightful place: “Are you able to drink the cup that I drink and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?” The message was clear. At the cross, Jesus would drink from the bitter cup of wrath in order that ALL his followers would make it to Heaven. Trying to elevate themselves above the other disciples was not Jesus’ way.
He, like Ted, just managed to do it without manipulating.
Next time, I’m going to try that.
Death Notice of Kenneth Holt
Kenneth R. “Kenny” Holt, age 67, Fort Scott, Kansas passed away on Wednesday, November 6, 2019 at his home.
Funeral service will be 10 am Monday, November 11, 2019 at the First Missionary Baptist Church in Uniontown, Kansas.
Burial in the Uniontown Cemetery.
Contributions are suggested to Prostate Cancer Foundation, St. Judes or the American Cancer Society. Online condolences can be left at www.schneiderfunerals.com. Arrangements: Schneider Funeral Home and Crematory, Pleasanton Chapel.
Student Photo Contest Accepting Entries
Happy Birthday, Kansas! Student Photo Contest Now Accepting Entries
Contest deadline is December 20, 2019
TOPEKA, KS—First-grader Addison Maxwell of Larned photographed his family’s wheat harvest last year, showing vivid blue skies and golden grains. He received first place in his category in the Happy Birthday, Kansas! Student Photo Contest and won an iPad for his work. Addison’s was one of 402 contest entries received and he was among 24 students to receive awards.
Students are once again invited to enter their photographs in the Happy Birthday, Kansas! photo contest, and will be eligible for special prizes. This year’s theme is Going to School in Kansas. First-place winners in each grade from first to 12th will receive iPads; second-place awards in each grade are Kindles. These photographs from students across the state contribute to the pictorial history of Kansas. They will be preserved by the Kansas Historical Society.
- W. Halbe was an early 20th century student photographer who made a similar impact in his community. With a small box camera, the 15-year-old captured photos of Dorrance in Russell County and left a remarkable history, that continues to be preserved at the Kansas Historical Society. Today’s young photographers can make similar contributions by photographing people and places in their lives.
The contest deadline, for first through 12th grade students, is 5 p.m. Friday, December 20, 2019. Winners will be announced as part of the state’s 159th birthday commemoration at the Kansas State Capitol on January 29, 2020. Find more information and a complete list of contest rules at happybirthdayks.org.
The contest is sponsored by the Kansas legislative spouses in conjunction with the Kansas Historical Society.
Find photographs from the Halbe collection online in Kansas Memory:
https://www.kansasmemory.org/locate.php?categories=4652
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Water Conference: Sustainable Water Future and Flood Response
Governor’s Water Conference Focuses on a Sustainable Water Future and Flood Response
“Messages of Partnership and Collaboration with a Focus on Water Resources Delivered, Water Legacy Award” presented
Wichita, Kan. – Nearly 600 attendees with diverse water interests were encouraged at the Governor’s Conference on the Future of Water in Kansas to keep pushing forward with implementation efforts for accomplishing state and regional priorities within the Long-Term Vision for the Future of Water Supply in Kansas and incorporating it into the Kansas Water Plan to ensure our state’s water future.
“The State of Kansas remains focused on its goal of a sustainable water future,” said Lt. Governor Lynn Rogers. “During this past year serving as Lt. Governor I have met thousands of Kansans who are working each day to make a living and make Kansas a better place more prosperous place. It’s easy to see how having a ready supply of good quality water means a community or industry can develop and grow. It’s important for all Kansans to play a part in helping make progress on our water issues.”
Attendees heard updates on water resource statuses and continued implementation of the Vision as well as areas of concern throughout the state. Progress continues to be made through local, state and federal efforts to implement conservation practices to improve water quality and decrease reservoir sedimentation but much work still remains. To date almost 200 failing streambanks have been stabilized but nearly 700 still need to be addressed in priority watersheds. Reservoirs within Kansas continue to lose storage due to sedimentation. There are now 15 Water Technology Farms across the state demonstrating how producers can maintain their bottom line while reducing water use. More progress needs to be made to reduce water use as groundwater levels continue to fall in the Ogallala Aquifer.
Sustainable food production was the message attendees heard from Jill Wheeler head of Syngenta’s Sustainable Productivity in North America. She leads The Good Growth Plan, supporting Syngenta’s mission to improve the sustainability of agriculture and meet the challenge of feeding the world’s fast-growing population. “Sustainability drivers are opportunities that can be used on the farm. This means taking advantage of resources, increasing efficiency and improving profitability. Wheeler also posed the question, “What is the constant in agriculture?” to which she followed up by saying “It’s CHANGE.””
Meeting growing water supply needs is a common problem facing communities across the nation, and a critical component of the Vision in Kansas. Dr. Rollin Hotchkiss has conducted research in multiple aspects of managing reservoir sedimentation for more than 25 years as well as the economic impacts to decreasing supply. Hotchkiss said, “We need to propose solutions that are sustainable for sediment management and engage downstream stakeholders early in the conversation.”
“One important feature of our conference is to provide a perspective from outside our state from folks who are addressing similar water issues in other parts of the country and around the world,” said Kansas Water Office Acting Director Earl Lewis. “We were very pleased to have Wheeler and Hotchkiss as well as the Chief of USDA-NRCS, Matt Lohr join us today.”
The morning also featured the “Water Legacy Award” which was presented to Mike Hayden, who has epitomized what public service for water and natural resources stands for all across the state and country and help implement the modern water resource management funding and principles used today. Starting with his role as legislator to the 41st Governor of Kansas to Asst. Secretary of the Dept. of Interior for Fish Wildlife and Parks of the U.S. under the Bush administration to Secretary of Kansas Dept. of Wildlife Parks, he has spent decades leading many groundbreaking initiatives.
“The challenges ahead are greater than what we have faced in the past,” Hayden said. “There are many who say we needn’t take political risk, but you have to have vision, and you have to be willing to put your name on it to truly make a difference for the future.”
This year’s ‘Be the Vision’ award recipients were also honored for taking extraordinary measures to conserve, reuse or adopt better practices to help ensure the future of our state’s water resources. This year’s recipients were Garden City Company who has two Water Conservation Areas with about 15,000 acres enrolled using only about 62 percent of their water allocation and saving about 15,000 acre-feet of water for future use; Maize High School – Climate Club which was started by five high school students last year and has worked with the Kansas Biological Survey and KU faculty to help understand and monitor Cheney reservoir water quality as well as work to help address harmful blue-green algal toxins; and Public Wholesale Water Supply District No. 23 for bringing together 20 other entities who were struggling to negotiate annual terms of their water purchase contract to meet community needs. Ten years later PWWSD#23 became operational and the new plant was built this year. This has brought over $55 million dollars of USDA loan and grant funds into southeast Kansas for a sustainable water supply that will last for many generations to come.
The rest of the day continued with four panels highlighting different water topics.
Conference topics include:
- Sustainability Across the Supply Chain
- Flooding Impacts
- Groundwater Quality/The Arbuckle
- Reservoir Sediment Management
Tomorrow will build on Vision implementation and water management and policy discussions from the previous day with technical presentations, posters and talks. Graduate and undergraduate students will present their research.
The conference also features the Kansas Water Office Photo Contest. More than 100 photos were submitted to be voted on as the ‘people’s choice’ at the conference. The winner will be featured on the 2020 brochure, website and other locations throughout the coming year.
The Governor’s Conference on the Future of Water in Kansas is hosted by the KWO and K-State /Kansas Water Resource Institute. Major sponsors for the event include 96 Agri Sales, Inc., Black & Veatch, Burns & McDonnell and Great Lakes Dredge & Dock.
Free Oral Health Services in November For Veterans
FSHS Presents Elf – The Musical
Fort Scott High School invites everyone to embrace their inner elf by seeing Elf – The Musical this fall.
Elf – The Musical; with a book by Thomas Meehan and Bob Martin, music by Matthew Sklar, and lyrics by Chad Beguelin; is presented at 7 p.m. on Nov. 12, 14, and 16 and at 2 p.m. on Nov. 16 at the Fort Scott High School Auditorium.
Music Theatre International describes the show this way: “Buddy, a young orphan, mistakenly crawls into Santa’s bag of gifts and is transported to the North Pole. The would-be elf is raised, unaware that he is actually a human until his enormous size and poor toy-making abilities cause him to face the truth. With Santa’s permission, Buddy embarks on a journey to New York City to find his birth father and discover his true identity. Faced with the harsh realities that his father is on the naughty list and his half-brother doesn’t even believe in Santa, Buddy is determined to win over his new family and help New York remember the true meaning of Christmas.”
Buddy is played by energetic junior Noah Martin. His family includes Walter Hobbs (junior Sage Hill), Emily Hobbs (senior Addy Labbe), and Michael Hobbs (sophomore Brian Stumfoll). Buddy falls for Jovie, played by senior Mesa Jones. Other notable characters include the money-hungry boss Mr. Greenway (senior Dominic Cannon), the Macy’s manager (senior Jo Goodbody), and spirited office secretary Deb (played by senior Madi Toth).
The company is comprised of three separate ensembles of elves, office workers, and NYC citizens bringing the total cast to nearly forty students. Another twenty-some students work backstage to bring the show to life. The show is directed by FSHS Theatre Director Angie Bin and the music directed by FSHS Choral Director Emily Elliott. FSHS Alumni Taylor (Schilling) Qualls and DeLynn (Drake) Abati are Assistant Directors and Choreographers for the production.
Tickets are $7 for adults and $5 for children and available at the FSHS Office and Common Ground. Seating is limited, so audiences are encouraged to buy tickets in advance. Doors open 30 minutes prior to showtime.
Elf – the Musical is presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International (MTI). All authorized performance materials are also supplied by MTI. www.MTIshows.com.
FSACF Benefits 22 Local Organizations
Bourbon County residents have given money to a local foundation that distributes to causes for all segments of the community.
Last week, Fort Scott Area Community Foundation presented a total of $33,375.40 to 22 area organizations for 2019-2020, according to a press release from the foundation.
The recipients were schools, businesses, churches and organizations.
Members of the FSACF are Sheryl Bloomfield, Otie Thomas, Barb Albright, Beth Nuss, Bob Marshall, Carla Farmer, Charles Gentry, Craig Campbell, Frank Halsey, Gary Palmer, Gregg Motley, Janet Braun, Melissa Wise, Michelle Bruner, Travis Shelton and
Steve Buerge.
The foundation received a total of thirty-three qualifying applications requesting over $108,000 in aid.
The following awardees were presented in the order the foundation received their applications, according to a press release:
- Carrie Southwell, a third-grade teacher at Eugene Ware Elementary School, is receiving $1.200 to introduce Ozobots in the classroom. Students will learn to use a computer application and creative coding to control robots and problem solve.
- About 150 kindergartners will experience real-world learning opportunities, thanks in part to a $750 grant administered by Cristin Stark, a teacher at Winfield Scott Elementary School. On the itinerary are Woods Pumpkin Patch and Deanna Rose Petting Zoo.
- Providing scholarships to help local adults get their GED is an aim of a $1,000 grant to Eastern Kansas Adult Education – Neosho County Community College’s FSCC location. This grant will be administered by Aubrey Duft.
- Jerry Witt, Chairman of the Fort Scott/Bourbon County Riverfront Authority, applied for a grant to provide pedestrians with durable park benches on which to rest at the new Riverfront Park. We are providing $2,317 toward that end.
- The KS-NE Conference of the Seventh-day Adventists will receive $1,000 to continue a program called “Bags of Love” that provides age-appropriate essentials to children in the community who have been removed from their homes for safety reasons. Janet Tucker is the chapter president.
- Responding to an urgent need in our community for a clothes pantry, Billie Jo Drake, under the auspices of Bourbon County Inter-agency Coalition, Inc., will use the grant award of $1,000 to seed this ministry. The goal of this organization is to bring local agencies together to foster self-reliance on the part of our families in need.
- Rekindling youth baseball in Fort Scott is the goal of the American Legion Post 25. Carl Jowers will use $1,440 to buy uniforms and equipment to host an American Legion team in Fort Scott.
- The Via Christi emergency room in Fort Scott needs a Vapotherm device to help stabilize patients with repertory issues to facilitate safe transfer to an in-patient facility. Johnna Norton is the administrator of our grant for $1,519 so this equipment can be domiciled here. Another local foundation is providing the balance of the cost of this equipment.
- Can you say “ukulele” without smiling? Fort Scott will have about 150 fifth grade students getting lessons with a grant for $2,074 which will provide 30 of these user- friendly instruments with all the trimmings. Music teacher Mary Jo Harper will use this program, along with the recorder program, to help prepare elementary students for high school band or orchestra programs.
- Ella Beth, a sophomore at FSHS, is energized about redesigning the school courtyard for educational and community use. A grant of $2,000 will help provide seating, handicapped accessible ramps, landscaping, art and shade, fostering community pride and encouraging student creativity.
- K-State Research & Extension, Southwind Extension District, is planning an Aging With Attitude Regional Expo, attracting about 170 people from 11 SEK Counties to the area. This $500 grant, administered by Barbara Stockebrand, will provide the keynote speaker for the event. The expo aims to educate families and promote positive attitudes about the challenges of our aging population.
- There is no greater need in our community than to protect the most vulnerable in our midst, which is the mission of Christa Horn and the volunteers that serve Bourbon County CASA. Horn will use the $500 grant to help facilitate training for new volunteers and ongoing education for staff.
- David Goodyear, under the umbrella of Fort Scott Church of the Nazarene and other cooperating churches, administers the Pathways program to provide work projects as a bridge to regular, gainful employment. This $1,800 grant will help provide a second chance for those whose backgrounds and lack of job skills make it difficult to be self-sufficient.
- $1,000 will go to cancer patients and their families to help facilitate their fight. Lavetta Simmons administers Care to Share, working with patients and caregivers to ease the financial burden of transportation, house cleaning, yard work, meals, and any personal needs that arise while they are focused on the battle.
- The historic Presbyterian Church has a tradition of bringing edifying culture to our community on many levels, including the Fort Scott Chamber Music Series that hundreds of audience members have enjoyed. Carson Felt will use the $2,500 grant to attract high-quality musicians to Fort Scott over the next year for listening pleasure.
- CarePortal is a new program in town administered by Shelly Bradley and the KS-NE Conference of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. The organization coordinates critical need responses to vulnerable children in our community and will use the $2,000 to provide beds for children who have none.
- First-grade teacher Robin Webb will use the $2,000 grant to familiarize r children with local resources by organizing trips to businesses, not-for-profits and government locations. In the process, students will begin to build a background in STEM (science, technology, engineering, math) and become much more community-oriented.
- Jan Hedges is the event coordinator of The Fort Scott Writing Festival, organized to promote creative writing in our community. The festival will provide workshops and a chance for dozens of aspiring writers to showcase their skills. The grant award is $1,800.
- In recent years, high school wrestling programs have embraced the entry of girls into the sport, and, thanks to Alvin Metcalf, Fort Scott High School is no exception. This $2,100 grant will help the athletic department accommodate women by adjusting facilities and buying appropriate uniforms and equipment.
- Studies consistently show that parental involvement is one of the most important factors in student outcomes. Toward this end, the Foundation will support Instructional coach Brenda Hill who is providing Family Math and Literacy Nights at Eugene Ware Elementary School with a $1,500 grant award.
- For years, Chamber Executive Lindsay Madison has given administrative support to the Career Exploration Mentor Program at Fort Scott High School, serving dozens of students. Working with Lewis Dunkeson, she will match local businessmen and women with high school students that need a mentor in their lives to give them a vision of what is possible while living and working in Fort Scott. This $1,500 grant will provide some of the logistical costs.
- Breann Martin is the event coordinator of the 2nd Floor Festival of Arts and Ideas, designed to cultivate a passion for the arts within our schools and community, and begin to identify Fort Scott as a regional hub for ideas and creativity. $1,875 will provide visiting artist fees, marketing, the venue and supplies for the event.
About the Fort Scott Area Community Foundation, taken from its website:
“We help our donors establish long-term charitable funds, using the most tax-advantaged methods, to benefit their causes and our community.
The Fort Scott Area Community Foundation was founded in 2007 by a group of citizens interested in encouraging philanthropy and strengthening communities. As a local center for philanthropy, the FSACF works with individuals, families, corporations, private foundations and not-for-profit organizations to carry out their charitable objectives and address emerging community issues. The FSACF is an affiliate of both the Community Foundation of Southeast Kansas and the Greater Kansas City Community Foundation.”