Long time Lamar Fire Chief Rawlings passes away

It is with a heavy heart that we announce the passing of retired Lamar Fire Chief Bill Rawlings. 

Services will be Saturday Feb 11th at 10:30 at Daniel funeral home. He had 53 years of service and spent 45 years as chief. He will truly be missed. 

- Lamar Fire Department

Obituary - 

Billy Allen Rawlings, 84 of Lamar, Missouri, passed away Thursday, February 2, 2023, at St. Luke's Nursing Center in Carthage, Missouri.

A memorial service will be held at 10:30 a.m., Saturday, February 11, 2023, at Daniel Funeral Home.

The family will receive friends from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m., Friday, February 10, 2023 at the funeral home.

In leiu of flowers donations can be made to the Lamar Fire Department or the Lamar Booster Club in care of Daniel Funeral Home. The complete obituary will be updated soon.

Obituary - Sonita Arlone Martin

Sonita Arlone Martin, age 79, Fort Scott, Kansas passed away Thursday, February 2, 2023 at her home. She was born September 2, 1943 in Rich Hill, Missouri the daughter of Lawrence Elmer and Celestia Mae Rees Tillery. Sonita was one of seven children and grew up in Rich Hill, Missouri where she attended school.

She married Eddie Claude Martin of Foster, Missouri on September 11, 1959 and later divorced. To this union, three sons were born that Sonita was very proud of, Jimmie, Loren and Lonnie. Sonita was also married and divorced from Jack White of Prescott, Kansas. She gained a stepson, Mike White and a stepdaughter, Christine Douglas from this marriage.

Most of her adult life, Sonita lived in the Linn County area, before moving to Fort Scott. She did a variety of work including, dispatcher for the Linn County Sheriff Office, CNA, milked cows, and drove big rigs. She only drove on four lane highways and did not back the rig. She was very proud of owning her own business, Legacy Line, a custom sewing and upholstery shop.

Sonita designed clothes, dolls and jewelry. She also made wedding dresses, and uniforms for the Union and Yankee soldiers reenacting at Fort Scott. She also made Southern Belle hats and was talented in wood crafting and oil painting. Sonita had a heart full of love, an ear ready to listen, and a hand willing to help others. More than anything, she loved her family and enjoyed spending time with them.

She was preceded in death by her parents, two sisters, Orvene Hursh, and Linda Kay Tillery, and four brothers, Lawrence Ivan Tillery, Burl Tillery, Ray Tillery, and Howard Fay Tillery. She is survived by three sons, Jimmie Martin and wife Linda, Loren Martin and wife Stephanie, and Lonnie Martin and wife Kristina, eight grandchildren, John Rees Martin, Bradlie Cole Martin, Steven Kyle Martin, Aaron Douglas Martin, Lonnie Shane Martin, Skyler Dale Martin and Sheldon Lee Martin, and eleven great grandchildren.

Funeral service will be 2 pm Monday, February 6, 2023 at the Schneider Funeral Home and Crematory, Pleasanton Chapel. Burial will be in the Green Lawn Cemetery, Rich Hill, Missouri. Visitation will be held from 3 to 4:30 pm Sunday, February 5 at the Pleasanton Chapel. Memorial contributions are suggested to Linn County Care to Share or Fort Scott Community of Christ, c/o Schneider Funeral Home, P.O. Box 525, Pleasanton, Kansas 66075. Online condolences can be left at www.schneiderfunerals.com.

Video: Interview regarding proposed ambulance tax in Bates County

House fire in Fort Scott Kansas

The Fort Scott Kansas Fire Department was dispatched early this morning to a report of the outside of a house on fire. Arrived on scene and found heavy flames and smoke from the North/West Side of the house. 

Fire crews made an aggressive attack and got the fire under control before it could spread throughout the home. FSFD limited the damage to that exterior and the living room sustained salvage and overhaul damage. 

The fire is currently behind investigated by FSFD,FSPD, and Kansas State Fire Marshals office. Thanks FSPD for your assistance on this call. No injuries reported.

Boil Water Advisory has been issued for rural Bates County Water District #5

A Boil Water Advisory has been issued for rural Bates County Water District #5.

This is for all customers living East of I-49 in Bates District #5.

This Boil Water Advisory is in effect until the end of day, Saturday, February 4th.

Welcome to the Harrisonville School District

Harrisonville Schools is pleased to announce the addition of a Business Liaison position and the hiring of Mr. Brian Tew for the role. The position is funded through the district’s selection to the Kauffman Foundation’s Real World Learning program.

 
Mr. Tew started his career as a high school teacher and coach in North Carolina in addition to being an adjunct instructor at Craven Community College (NC) and the University of New Hampshire. 

However, he’s spent the majority of his career in the healthcare administration field. His experience includes time at Indian River Medical Center in Vero Beach, FL as the Director of Information Systems. He also worked as Chief Information Officer and Vice President of Operations for Catholic Medical Center in Manchester, NH.

Prior to relocating to Missouri, Mr. Tew worked at Garnet Health System in Middletown, NY as their Chief Information Officer, Chief Innovation Officer, and most recently as Garnet Medical Center’s Chief Executive Officer.

Mr. Tew earned his bachelor’s degree in economics from the University of Richmond in Richmond, VA and his master’s in management of information systems from Webster University in Melbourne, FL. He is currently finishing his doctorate from the University of Alabama at Birmingham.

Mr. Tew and his wife Cheri have a hobby farm in Lone Jack. They are empty nesters with a daughter at the University of Alabama, a daughter attending Research College of Nursing, a son at BYU, and a son at UMKC.

As the district’s Business Liaison, Mr. Tew will work with students and staff to provide real world learning opportunities. The goal of the Kauffman Foundation’s initiative is for all students across the Kansas City region to graduate with market value assets and a diploma by 2030. Market value assets are defined as one of the following: work experiences such as internships or client-centered projects, college credits, industry-recognized credentials, or entrepreneurial experiences.

 
Mr. Tew’s office will be located at Harrisonville High School and he can be reached at (816) 380-3273 or brian.tew@harrisonvilleschools.org.

Out of control grass fire yesterday in Barton County

Yesterday at approximately 2 PM the Lamar Fire Department was dispatched to a grass fire NW of Lamar. 

Upon arrival there was around 2 acres burned, two travel trailers and a minivan were engulfed in flames.

We responded with a brush truck, pumper, followed by the rescue van and 7 firefighters. A big thanks to Liberal Fire Department for providing water and personnel support.

The fire started at the residents burn barrel. If you burn trash, be sure you stay with it and have a water source handy.

New police chief named in Fort Scott Kansas

It is with great pleasure that I announce Jason Pickert as the new Chief of Police for the City of Fort Scott. Pickert has been with the Fort Scott Police Department for the last 18 years working side by side, as Police Captain, with retiring Police Chief Travis Shelton for the last four years.

 
Jason Pickert started his career with the Fort Scott Police Department in 2004 graduating from the Kansas Law Enforcement Training Center in 2005. Pickert was a patrol office from 2004 to 2006 before taking the role of detective in the fall of 2006 serving in this role for two years. Pickert was promoted to Detective Sergeant in March of 2008 and served in this role for over ten years before being promoted to Captain in December of 2018.

Among the many other certificates and continued education classes, Pickert graduated with a Certified Public Manager certificate in 2017 from the University of Kansas.

 
We had some very good candidates, and I was very impressed with each of the candidates we interviewed. The interview panel and I feel Jason Pickert is the one that stood out among the rest and will do a great job. Pickert is a strong leader, decision maker, and a valuable resource. I look forward to working more closely with Jason and am excited to see what the future holds for the staff and the department. Pickert will take over the Chief of Police role on March 1st, 2023.

Brad Matkin
Interim City Manager/Director of HR
City of Fort Scott