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The Lansing Board of Education has approved a budget with a property tax rate increase.

Students and their parents in Leavenworth County school districts will get an opportunity to research scholarship opportunities at the upcoming Leavenworth Awareness Walk from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday at the Riverfront Community Center. The event is a fundraiser for the Michael D. Hall scholarships administered by the Alpha Phi Alpha Pi Omicron Lambda Chapter of Leavenworth. A proclamation recognizing the walk was presented at Tuesday’s Leavenworth City Commission meeting by Mayor Griff Martin to members of the Alpha Phi Alpha Pi Omicron Lambda Chapter of Leavenworth.The proclamation is in remembrance of Alpha Phi Alpha “Brother Michael D. Hall’s mission of making a positive impact on others and strengthening the bonds within our community.” Access to Saturday’s event is at the (lower) south door of Riverfront Community Center. The walk starts at the community center and proceeds along Three Mile Creek Trail to Haymarket Square, then back to the community center. Registration for the event is $25. This will include a T-shirt, door prizes, refreshments and entry to the Awareness Fair inside the community center. For T-shirt and entry to the Awareness Fair only, the donation is $15. The Michael D. Hall scholarship fund was established in 2018 in remembrance of Hall. It has since provided about $30,000 in scholarships. The scholarships are available to local Leavenworth County high school seniors demonstrating both academic excellence and high levels of community service. The scholarship fundraiser is one of several community efforts by the Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity. The organization is also involved with the Big Brothers and Sisters program and Alpha Phi Alpha’s Go-to-High-School, Go-to-College educational initiative.“We also have mentorship for the younger adults to help put them on the right path,” said Alpha Phi Alpha Pi Omicron Lambda Chapter of Leavenworth President Andre Fontaine. The Awareness Fair will have a variety of activities for participants, such as games and fitness activities.“There will be Leavenworth businesses and a health fair also,” said Alpha Phi Alpha member Sam Moore. “There will be churches and other Leavenworth sororities and fraternities. We’re also going to be doing a voter registration drive.”Donations to the scholarship fund or sponsorships for the walk are welcome. Families and young people exploring community service opportunities and scholarships are encouraged to attend.“This year, we’ve got more organizations who are a part of this awareness event,” said Fontaine. “There will also be other organizations with information about additional scholarships.” For more information, contact Moore at simnaf@gmail.com

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John Richmeier Leavenworth Times Leavenworth city commissioners have authorized the payment of $47,500 for a feasibility study for a new museum at Fort Leavenworth.Commissioners approved… Login to continue reading Login Sign up for complimentary access Sign Up Now Close

The Kansas Beta Epsilon Chapter of Alpha Delta Kappa recently celebrated the anniversary of its chapter. The organization has the purpose to honor outstanding women educators and strengthen the education profession through commitment to diversity and inclusion practices that respect and value each person for their unique qualities. With many members residing and working in Basehor and the Basehor-Linwood school district, the chapter was founded in 1974. At the dinner celebration, member Marilyn Anderson spoke about the history of the chapter, including a written remembrance from the chapter’s first president, Phyllis Zishka.“The women of Beta Epsilon became close sisters and friends forever. We struggled to make enough money to have an operating budget, and we had so much fun doing it. Often we did not know the proper procedure, but we stumbled through it together. Supporting and caring friendship was the basic ingredient of Beta Epsilon was built on,” Zishka wrote.In looking back, Anderson recalled the beginnings of the chapter that started with a letter written by Betty Campbell to ADK State President Mathilda Brown expressing their wishes to organize a chapter based in Basehor. Already a member of the ADK chapter in Leavenworth, Campbell was teaching second grade at Basehor Elementary School at the time. After approval for a new chapter to be formed, the Kansas Beta Epsilon chapter was chartered with 10 teachers being initiated into the group. Officers were soon elected and installed on Aug. 20, 1974, and the chapter’s first regular meeting was held in September of that year.Over the years, the chapter grew with more female educators joining the group. Anderson recounted meeting locations, speakers, fundraisers and celebrations throughout the years that has led the chapter to its present successful state.Since its inception, this ADK chapter has given $3,400 in scholarships annually, donated money to the Basehor-Linwood Assistance Services, Ronald McDonald House, St. Jude Hospital, Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library and the American Heart Association in addition to other organizations. “This group of mighty women are an example of what a few strong women are capable of achieving. I call that kind of strength and determination pioneers who are always blazing the way for other groups and women,” Zishka added.Looking back at how things have changed since the chapter was formed, notable exclusions for women include not being allowed to serve on a jury, get a credit card in their own name and even purchasing athletic shoes designed especially for women because those were not available until the 1980s.For the past 40 years, ADK has sponsored a craft show at Basehor-Linwood High School as its major fundraiser for the year which provides scholarships for students going on to study education in college. The first year, all 69 booth spaces were sold out and the event continues to grow in popularity throughout the metropolitan area. This year’s event will be held Nov. 2 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Craft Show chairman Rose Nemchick is charged with organizing the entire show with help from other chapter members who send out invitations, set up and work the day of the show. Many crafters return year after year due to the helpful and friendly environment created by ADK volunteers and there is currently a waiting list of crafters who want to participate in this year’s show.Nearly 100 booths will be filled with handmade arts and crafts with all proceeds going to fund three senior scholarships including two at Basehor-Linwood High School and one at Tonganoxie High School. An additional scholarship will be awarded to a non-traditional senior at the University of Saint Mary in Leavenworth.Beta Epsilon chapter of Alpha Delta Kappa has nearly 40 active members, including many retired and active educators. A congratulatory letter from Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly was received by the chapter thanking members for their service and dedication to educational excellence, altruism and global understanding. The chapter is also working to create a new ADK chapter in Baldwin City, home to Baker University where three of the chapter’s founding sisters attended school.