Obituary of Nancy Guilliford

Nancy Kay Gulliford, age 61, a resident of Nevada, Missouri, passed away Thursday, November 12, 2020, at the Moore Few Care Center in Nevada, Missouri.

She was born on April 18, 1959, in Nevada and was adopted by V. H. and Hazel Bley Gulliford on October 15, 1959.  Nancy Kay and her father were close.  As an experienced horseman, V. H. first helped her ride when she was about eight months old.  At the time, she had casts on both her lower legs to treat deformities present at birth.  She laughed and talked to the horses as she grew and learned to ride.

Nancy Kay attended grammar school in Deerfield and graduated from Nevada High School on May 12, 1978.  The family moved from Deerfield to Nevada in 2011.

Nancy Kay enjoyed fabric painting as she grew up and spent many happy hours with her mother decorating hand made quilts.  There were many children who enjoyed cuddling under these beautifully decorated blankets.

She was an active member of the Clayton Christian Church with her family.

 

Survivors include her mother, Hazel and her maternal aunt, Viva Charlene Bley Widmar.  Aunt Charlene also lived with the Gulliford family and grew up with Nancy.

Nancy Kay was preceded in death by her father. V. H. Gulliford.

 

Due to the Covid Pandemic, there will be no public services.

Private burial will take place on Wednesday November 18th at the Memory Gardens Cemetery in Ft. Scott, Kansas.

The family requests memorial contributions to O.A.T.S., Inc. to the benefit of Vernon County.

Hazel used the O.A.T.S. buses regularly to visit Nancy during her extended stay at Moore Few.

Donations may be left in care of the Cheney Witt Chapel, 201 S. Main St., P.O. Box 347, Ft. Scott, KS 66701. Words of remembrance may be submitted to the online guestbook at cheneywitt.com.  May Nancy rest in peace.

Obituary of Helen Irene Fritter

Helen Irene Fritter, age 102, resident of Ft. Scott, KS, died Thursday, November 12, 2020, at Guest Home Estates in Ft. Scott.

She was born on September 21, 1918, in Ft. Scott, the daughter of Harry and Lessie Fetters Beal. Following high school, Irene worked for a candy factory in Joplin, MO, a tire factory in Kansas City, and then back in Ft. Scott at Key Work Clothes until marriage.

She married Johnnie Fritter of December 2, 1945, in Ft. Scott. He preceded her in death in 2004.

Irene enjoyed quilting, playing cards, reading, crossword puzzles, and spending time with her family. She was an excellent cook with her specialties including noodles, hot rolls, and goulash. Irene attended the Clayton Christian Church in Eve, MO.

Survivors include 2 sons, Jim Fritter, Sheldon, MO, and Jack Fritter and wife Marilyn, Richards, MO; 3 grandchildren, Dennis, Daniel, and Kyle Fritter; 9 great-grandchildren, Denton, Grace, Dani, William, and Piper Fritter, Austin Bolinger, and Pierse, Parker, and Paden Dennison; and a special niece, Martha Fritter.

Besides her husband, she was preceded in death by a son, Bill Fritter; a brother, Lewis Beal; and a sister, Grace Bird.

Rev. Chuck Russell will conduct graveside services at 10:00 AM Monday, November 16th, at the Memory Gardens Cemetery.

The family will receive friends from 9:00 AM until leaving for the cemetery Monday morning at the Cheney Witt Chapel.

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

American Legion: Fort Scott Veteran’s Parade Nov.14

A reminder of the Fort Scott veterans Day parade this Saturday at 3 pm.
Post 25 will have a trailer with chairs for our members and guests who prefer to ride.
We’ll be meeting at 2:30 pm near 6th and Main. I do not have our parade order number yet. When you arrive, go south on Main Street until you find the American Legion
I’m inviting any and all area Veterans to join with the American Legion family for the parade. If you know of a Veteran, ask them to join us.
If you ride a motorcycle, the American Legion Riders will be in the paarde. Bring your bike and ride with us. The parade is for all Veterans.
Hope to see you there.
Submitted by Carl Jowers. Post 25 Commander

City of Uniontown Receives SPARK Grant

Uniontown is located 17 miles west of Fort Scott.

The City of Uniontown has received SPARK funds to help during the COVID-19 Pandemic.

The Strengthening People and Revitalizing Kansas (SPARK) Taskforce is charged with leading Kansas forward in recovery from the far-reaching effects of COVID-19 with statewide distribution of the U.S. Coronavirus Relief Fund, according to  https://covid.ks.gov/spark-recovery-office/

 

“The City of Uniontown did receive $39,041 in direct aid for various projects, not economic development, as designated by our application,” City Clerk Sally Johnson said.

There are two projects the city will use the funds for.

They will renovate the entrance to city hall to install a service window/barrier between public and city employees so that in-person transactions can be safely facilitated, Johnson said.

Personal Protection Equipment purchased July through December 2020 will be paid for with the funds as will purchasing hardware/software to effectively conduct virtual meetings to mitigate the spread of COVID-19, she said.

The city government will also purchase and install a handwashing station and barriers, to allow for closure of public areas of congregation as needed, to mitigate the spread of COVID-19, Johnson said.

In addition, the city will purchase hardware/software to automate the city’s library to make it accessible while closed to the public due to COVID-19.

“We are a small library, without much space for social distancing,” Johson said. “Our library patrons come from rural areas and in town.  When we are closed due to COVID-19 we would like to be able to offer curbside pickup or delivery in town.  We don’t have any way to provide online browsing or check out due to our library currently still using paper cards to check out books, paper library cards, and handwritten inventory.  If patrons could access online browsing and check out for our hundreds of books, videos, and books on tape, no one would have to be without entertainment during this pandemic.”  3) Purchase and install a hand washing station and barriers, to allow for closure of public areas of congregation as needed, to mitigate the spread of COVID-19.

 

The city received the funds on October 13, and it must be expended by December 30, she said.

 

“We applied for funds in order for the City to better mitigate the spread of COVID-19 for the protection of staff and citizens,” Johnson said. ” We chose projects that we felt would benefit the most citizens and protect our staff at the same time.”

 

 

 

Obituary of John Kruger

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.

New Kansas Rural Development Program

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].

Eugene Ware Students Nominated For Honor Choir


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]

Pioneer Harvest Fiesta Welcomes New Members

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.

Bourbon County Local News