The Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce hosted their Annual Dinner and Awards celebration Thursday evening, with about 200 members of the community attending to show support to the chamber and those businesses and individuals awarded for their service to the community.

With the theme of Funky Town, speakers such as master of ceremonies Mark McCoy and chamber Executive Director Lindsay Madison emphasized the uniqueness of the city of Fort Scott and its residents and businesses.

“Our community is unique,” Madison said, saying the city’s history, attractions, businesses and people contribute to the area’s “funkiness” that she said can be used to draw others to Fort Scott.

Chairman of the Chamber Board Reta Baker and past recipients presented awards to the 2016 winners, nominated by members of the chamber. Baker said this year they received an increase in nominations as more people participated in the process of awarding individuals and businesses for their service to the community and employees.

Megan Felt of the Lowell Milken Center was named Young Professional of the Year, Melissa Wise of Wise Accounting received the Community Spirit Award, E3 Ranch was named the Agri-Business of the year, Sleep Inn & Suites the New Business of the Year, La Hacienda the Small Business of the Year, Peerless Products, Inc., the Large Business of the Year, and Reta Baker the Business Person of the Year.

Frank Halsey of Mid-Continental Restoration Co., Inc., received the Mayor’s Citizenship Award for his work at the family business as well as his involvement in the community through the creation of the Gunn Park Bike Trails, as a member of the CASA board of directors, the Knights of Columbus and board of directors for the Fort Scott Area Community Foundation.

“Thank you so much for your dedication and your hard work in serving Fort Scott,” Mayor Cindy Bartelsmeyer said to Halsey, who said he likes getting involved because he can learn from others he meets and that he believed there are many others who deserved the award as well.

The esteemed Keystone Award was awarded to Jim and Martha Scott, business owners as well as volunteers in many areas over recent decades such as through the Chamber of Commerce, Rotary, tourism, and starting the Forks and Corks: Taste of Fort Scott event, Moonlight and Mistletoe Tour, Friends of the Fort, the Symbols of Sacrifice at the National Historic Site and the Secret Garden Tour and several other organizations and events.

“I can’t think of a better town or a better place to live than Fort Scott, Kansas,” Jim Scott said, saying it is a great place to raise a family and grow old.

The evening also included live and silent auctions of items donated by numerous local businesses and individuals, included but not limited to Nate’s Place, USD 34, Velocity Ammunition, Walgreens, Vinedo del Alamo Winery, J & W Sports Shop, Bids & Dibs, Papa Don’s, Fort Cinema and the Gordon Parks Museum. Numerous other businesses also donated their time and finances to the event.

“We sincerely appreciate all of the community’s support for the chamber and the work that we do for the community,” Madison said.

Mercy Home Health and Hospice gave an update of their services during the weekly Chamber Coffee event Thursday, sharing about their history and accomplishments as well as an upcoming event they are providing to the community.

Community Relations Coordinator Michelle LeChevalier-Szabo said the home health care has been provided to those within an approximate 50-mile radius of Fort Scott since 1976.

For four years, LeChevalier-Szabo said the home health care has made the elite recognition list in its field in the United States, making the top 25 percent of such services. It has also earned four out of five stars for its care when the average for the country is three stars.

“They do a great job of providing high-quality and passionate care,” LeChevalier-Szabo said of the health care employees, which with the hospice care include nurses, physical therapists, social workers, chaplains and outpatient service providers.

The hospice care came along much more recently as it celebrates four years in Fort Scott this summer.

“The team provides really high quality, exceptional service and compassionate care to families and the patients,” LeChevalier-Szabo said, despite the fact they are dealing with families in the midst of a difficult time in their lives.

Mercy Home Health and Hospice is also partnering with Mercy Hospital, Kansas Legal Services, Country Place Senior Living and other local vendors for the National Healthcare Decisions Day event to be held at the Fort Scott Community College Friday, April 15.

“It’s a tough topic and people kind of shy away from it,” LeChevalier-Szabo said, adding their event explores those topics in a fun and informational environment.

But LeChevalier-Szabo said it is important for individuals to know what their options are so their wishes can be honored and so they can appoint someone to speak on their behalf in the event the individual is unable to do so for them self.

The event will provide information and an opportunity to ask questions as it addresses topics such as planning for health care, establishing wishes concerning one’s medical decisions before a crisis arises and other topics including exercise and dementia through a virtual dementia tour.

An attorney, physician, personal trainer and masseuse will be on hand to provide information and services.

Other upcoming events in Fort Scott in April include:

• The Young Professionals League will host a networking event during their April meeting Friday at Papa Don’s at noon.
• Fort Scott Community College is hosting a jazz concert with artist Branford Marsalis Thursday, April 7. Tickets are still available.
• The 2^nd Story Festival of Arts and Ideas will be held in Fort Scott April 8-9, with an entrepreneurial event and panel discussion held Friday evening and pottery, water-color, photography, culinary and book-publishing workshops being held Saturday as well as a guest speaker discussing the business of art.
• The annual Fort Scott Home Show will be held at the Arnold Arena April 8-9, with events being held 5-8 p.m. Friday, and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday.