Ralph Carlson introduces the Friday Night Concert musicians .
This week’s Friday Night Concert will be presented by local family musicians, The Hemphills. Jack Hemphill plays keys, wife Sandy plays violin, mandolin, guitar, saxophone, and keys. Son Brad joins in with lead, rhythm, and bass guitars, and daughter Kristen Weeks ties the band together on the drums. All the members are vocalists and will perform a variety of music including classic country and 70s pop classics.
“The Hemphills are a great family to work with and have a tight sound,“ concert-series organizer Ralph Carlson said. “We are pleased to welcome these talented, fun, and heartwarming musicians back to the park pavilion. Floyd Feezell, Fort Scott, will also sing some familiar tunes. Come out and join your friends for an enjoyable evening.”
The concert begins at 7 p.m. at the Heritage Park Pavilion at First and Main streets. The shows, sponsored by the Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce, are free and open to the public. Dave Oas and Jim Butler provide the sound each week. Due to limited seating, attendees are encouraged to bring lawn chairs.
In the event of inclement weather or extreme heat, the concert will be moved to the Loading Dock at Common Ground Coffee Co., 12 E. Wall Street.
Leona Maxine Garrett, 91, of Fort Scott, Kansas, passed away early Thursday morning June 30, 2022, at the Oak Pointe Nursing Home in Carthage, Missouri. She was born March 2, 1931, in Cato, Kansas, the daughter of Wesley Curtis and Leona Florence (Coonrod) James. She married Jack Herbert Garrett August 26, 1950, in Arcadia, Kansas, and he preceded her in death January 7, 2001.
Maxine was a Red Hat Lady, and she loved to spend time with her family, particularly her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She enjoyed fixing big family dinners, and all of her grandchildren think she makes the best macaroni and cheese, chicken and noodles, and spaghetti and meatballs.
Survivors include her children, Jack Garrett and wife Deborah, of Carthage, Missouri, Sandra Moore, of Monterey, California; six grandchildren and eleven great-grandchildren. In addition to her husband, Jack, she was also preceded in death by her parents; a daughter, Tracy Coe; and a great-grandson.
Rev. Chuck Russell will conduct funeral services at 1:30 p.m. at the Konantz-Cheney Funeral Home, with a visitation prior to services at 1:00 p.m., Thursday, July 7, 2022. Burial will follow at Large / Pleasant View Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to Cradling Memories, Milo James Coe Foundation at cradlingmemories.org, or may be left in the care of the Konantz-Cheney Funeral Home, 15 W. Wall Street, P.O. Box 309, Fort Scott, Kansas, 66701. Condolences may be submitted to the online guestbook at konantz-cheney.com.
Bronson Day, a local community event of this small town in western Bourbon County, has been revamped.
Bronson Day has typically been held yearly in the spring and led by the Bronson Ruritan, said Kelly Perry.
Perry is part of a new organization in Bronson.
The town held an open town meeting seeking volunteers for the new organization, called the Bronson Pride Committee.
“In the past, we had a larger Ruritan group and several locals realized this was a big task to put on just one or two people in the Ruritan,” Perry said. “After speaking to Terry Johnston, head of the Bronson Ruritan we agreed to all work together to help promote the event.”
Elected to head the organization are Kayla Greenway-president, Michael Stewart-vice president, Danielle Minor-treasurer and Perry as secretary.
The event, moved from the spring to the summer, starts as 9 a.m. with a horseshoe tournament hosted by Terry Johnson.
“Bronson is the home of the first world horseshoe tournament,” she said. “This event is free.”
“We have a huge day of events planned, from free bounce houses to a mini horse pull, a parade, a color run, Kale Nelson’s State Farm Car Show, a three-on-three basketball tournament,a horseshoe tournament, a cornhole tournament, kids games, over 25 vendors, several food trucks, a street dance, a live DJ, a beer garden and of course our fireworks display,” she said.
“This year we created a bit more buzz by creating not only the committee, but allowing food trucks, doubling the fireworks budget, and bringing back the street dance,” Perry said. “Board members and volunteers were able to get sponsors and received a grant from Bourbon County Regional Economic Development Inc. The funds are not all spent on one single event but are going to be used for overall community improvement and morale which includes The Bronson Day Celebration.”
“Bronson Day is just part of the vision the entire board has for the Bronson Pride Committee,” she said. “In the future, we will continue to meet and grow and make this yearly event better and bigger. We want to unify our community through ideas, efforts, and solving problems and needs. If we can motivate others we can change the community morale and continue to thrive together,” she said.
Kayla Greenway has lived in Bronson for many years and raised her four children here.
“I’ve helped with Bronson days in the past, but this year‘s planning has been ramped up by our new Bronson Pride Committee,” Greenway said. “It’s a committee we started to help clean our town up, bring awareness to community development, and come together in unity with the same goal of helping one another in our town.”
“Teamwork makes the dream work,” Greenway said. “I am excited to see what our future holds. We are always accepting new members and our next meeting is July 6 at 5 p.m. at the city park.”
Gladys Arlene Rexroad, age 98, resident of Tulsa, OK, died Tuesday, June 28, 2022, at her home.
She was born June 26, 1924, in Arcadia, KS, the daughter of Harry and Annie Elizabeth Watkins Smith. She married Basil E. Rexroad on December 18, 1955, in Arcadia. He preceded her in death
on November 1, 1978.
Gladys will be greatly missed.
Survivors include her son, Max Rexroad and wife Linda, Tulsa, OK, whom Gladys lived with; a niece, Ruth Arlene Waring, Garland, KS; a nephew Donnie Smith, Miami, OK; as well as several cousins, nieces, and nephews.
Besides her husband, she was preceded in death by her parents; a
daughter, Karen Browning; a brother, Tommie Smith; a nephew, Glenn Smith; and a great niece, Sheryl Waring.
Rev. Kevin Moyers will conduct funeral services at 11:00 AM Wednesday, July 6th, at the Cheney Witt Chapel, 201 S. Main St.
Burial will follow in the Large Cemetery, south of Ft. Scott.
The family will receive friends from 10:00 until service time at the funeral home.
Words of remembrance may be submitted to the online guestbook at cheneywitt.com.
Union State Bank, the Fort Scott Branch, is in the final stages of an addition of 1,200 square feet to its building.
“We were running into problems with space,” CEO and President Bryan Holt said. “We looked at every way possible to not expand the foot print.”
But the bank administration decided to add a 20 by 60 foot addition for its growing support staff and also to upgrade security.
The lobby was shortened and reconfigured to have more space for employee work stations, and the addition added five new offices and two new bathrooms.
In October 2021 the project was started.
“It will be 99 percent completed in 30 days,” Vice President of Information Technology Dustin McClure said on June 23. McClure was also the project manager of the expansion.
“We’ve got pods, like cubicles, to build,” McClure said. “This will seat a total of eight people.”
“This will improve accessibility and privacy needs of our customers,” Senior Loan Officer Katie Casper said.
“New offerings with debit card capabilities, improved customer experience and improved card experience are on the horizon for the bank,” Holt said.
The bank building, located at 1009 S. Clark, was completed in 1992, when Union State Bank opened the branch in Fort Scott.
The headquarters of the two banks is in Uniontown, where the business started in 1901.
The bank listed the following businesses who have provided services/products for the expansion:
Project General Manager: Bo Casper (owner of Casper Enterprises)
Casper Enterprises LLC
Alpha Roofing
Big Sugar Lumber and Home Center
Craw-Kan Telephone
Davis Drywall
Geiger Plumbing
Greenwood Plaster Company
Jeff Allen Electric
LACO Guttering
Norris Heating & Air
Peerless Products Inc.
Phillips Flooring
Redbud Farms and Nursery
Ruddick’s Furniture
Stoughton Inc
Thomas Concrete & Construction
CEO Bryan Holt shows the wall that was once the outside wall on the Fort Scott Branch of Union State Bank. The 20 by 60 expansion was added onto the south side of the building.
Cody McGehee started a new power washing business this month in Fort Scott.
“I am the owner and operator,” he said. “The name of my business is called Precision Power Washing. I live and operate in Fort Scott…and will also be providing services for the surrounding areas as well.”
McGehee, 28, works a full-time day job and is available to pressure wash from 5 p.m.- 9 p.m. weekdays and Saturdays from 6 a.m.-9 p.m.
“My services will include pressure washing, soft washing, roof cleaning, gutter cleaning, siding cleaning, patio/ deck cleaning, driveway cleaning, sidewalk cleaning, residential and commercial cleaning,” he said. “I will also be doing automotive cleaning as well as boats and RV/ campers.”
“I have multiple years experience power washing concrete surfaces, but am now taking on different types of surfaces while continuing to educate myself in the field,” he said. “I take pride in my work and support and promote local businesses as often as possible.”
McGehee finds the work satisfying.
“I began this journey with the support of my friends and family,” he said. “I am following a dream and a passion. Pressure washing is an art in my eyes. It is very satisfying work and is very rewarding. To be able to restore someone’s property to its glory and see them stunned by the ‘after look’ of a finished product gives my heart joy. I have always been a guy to try and make people happy. To me, this is a great way to see people happy. Restoring the pride people have in their property is an amazing feeling. I am looking forward to serving Fort Scott and the surrounding areas!”
The board of directors of Kansas Rocks Recreation Park. Submitted photo.
Kansas Rocks Recreation Park, located at 2051 130th Road, Mapleton, offers a 380 acre off-road park open to 4-wheel-drives, side-by-sides, mountain bikes and hikers.
Kanrocks Recreation Association Inc. is made up of 30 volunteer members and is a 501 (c)(3) not for profit business.
The founder and president is David Killion.
David Killion stands in front of the rock sign at Kansas Rocks. Submitted photo.
For those just starting in four-wheel drive adventures, the organization offers classes.
“We offer Off-Roading 101 classes and the next class is July 23 followed by a fall class on Sept 17,” Killion said.
The park is busy throughout the year with events.
“We also have our largest regular Frostbite event the last Saturday in February,” he said. “Our Creep-Crawl Halloween event is the third weekend in October that offers a ton of things for the kids and adults, ending the night in a haunted trail ride. We also have events sponsored and put on by clubs like the Sunflower Run in June. There is also an Adopt-A-Trail program where clubs come in and help do trail maintenance for a half day, twice a year, in exchange for a free half day of wheeling.”
Submitted photo.
“We are open Friday afternoons, Saturdays and Sundays,” Killion said. “The cost is $25 per vehicle and driver and $5 per passenger over 12.”
“We have RV parking and tent camping, picnic shelters, a pavilion, shower house restrooms and a kids playground,” he said.
“We have separate costs for camping and RV and offer 2 and 3-day discounts,” he said.
Camping reservations can be made at the website: ksrockspark.com. The park also has a Facebook page.
History of the park
“I started the first 4-wheel-drive club in the Kansas City area in the 1990’s and soon found out the closest, legal places to go off roading was about three hours away,” Killion said.
“I wanted to develop something closer and began searching for land, quarries, talking with farmers etc. In my search, I found a grant administered by the Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism that helped entities develop trail systems.”
“After applying for the grant, we looked at 150 pieces of land within 90 miles of the KC area. We found this great property and started building a premier off-road park. We are celebrating 19 years this year and will have a big event next year to celebrate 20 years.”
Fireworks over the Union State Bank, Uniontown, 2019. Submitted by Amy Holt.
The Uniontown fireworks display by Union State Bank is a go, but has moved to Friday, July 1.
That day will see the Uniontown Park fill with residents and visitors to view the fireworks which are purchased by the bank.
Free hot dogs, chips and a drink are provided for free from the bank.
“We usually serve about 500 hot dogs,” USB CEO and President Bryan Holt, said, but the crowd is bigger than that for the fireworks display.
In addition, there will be inflatable jump houses for the kids, a photo station for selfies and food and drink purchases from local vendors/organizations.
Additional food and drink offerings are:
Mimi’s Food Truck (turkey legs and funnel cakes)
Lora Ripper (popcorn)
Uniontown High School Cheerleaders (bake sale)
First Missionary Baptist Church raising funds for kids going to summer camp (pop/drinks)
Uniontown school kids and parents raising funds for Washington Workshop next summer (bake sale)
” We are still open for any organizations or vendors that would like to set up in the park,” said Amy Holt, who is Vice President of Loan Administration at the Uniontown branch. She is facilitating the event for the bank. “They can contact me at 620-756-4305 during business hours or by email at [email protected].”
There will be a disc jockey entertaining the crowd as well.
Since 2005, the bank has sponsored fireworks for the community on July 3, but since it fell on Sunday this year, the the CEO, Bryan Holt decided he didn’t want the employees to work on Sunday.
The bank employees plan the event and prepare and hand out the free hot dogs with chips and a bottle of water.
In addition, they didn’t want to conflict with Fort Scott’s Independence Day celebration on July 3, he said.
This event was originally a fund raiser for improving the Uniontown Park, but it is now “A way to say thanks to our customers,” Bryan Holt said.
Uniontown has been the headquarters for Union State Bank since 1901.
In 1992, the bank expanded operations and started a branch in Fort Scott. This year they have expanded again to accommodate more employees and upgrade security. There will be a feature of this expansion later this week on fortscott.biz.
In addition to family gatherings, there are some choices for celebrating America’s independence in 2022.
Fort Scott Celebrations
The Elks Lodge No. 579 community fireworks display will be at sundown July 3, as in years past.
“The fireworks show will be 20-25 minutes long,” Millie Lipscomb said.
The best spot is near south Horton Street.
“They can be seen from many spots around the community, but since they are shot from the ball field area behind Fort Scott Community College, prime locations are the fairgrounds, the Nazarene and Community Christian Church parking lots and the college parking lots.”
No personal fireworks can be shot off in those areas, by a City of Fort Scott ordinance.
“We’ve worked with a new pyrotechnics company this year to have higher lift on the fireworks so they can be seen from further away,” she said. “We’ve worked hard to contract a company with local ties that has allowed us to keep the prices achievable, but still it is up about 100% from the past few years. We are fortunate to be able to get the quality we have contracted for.”
Burke Street Parade
The Burke Street Fourth of July Parade is in its 40th year.
The neighborhood of Burke Street has people turn out in patriotic colors and clothing to celebrate the U.S.A. Fourth of July.
Some will be in the parade, some will be sitting in their lawnchairs, enjoying the fun.
“The parade will start at 10 a.m. at 10th and Burke, on the 4th,” Margaret Humphrey, one of the organizers, said. “It started in 1982 by myself, Susan Foster and Jill Gorman.”
Merl Humphrey in the first Burke Street Parade in 1982. Submitted photo.
“This year John and Carol Hill will host the refreshments, they live on the corner of 10th and Burke,” she said. “We want people to contribute cookies to them. Please donate by July 3.”
“This year we will have some kids that live on Burke Street lead the patriotic songs under the direction of Jill Gorman,” she said.
Phil Hammonds led the patriotic singing before the Burke Street Parade until his death in 2021. Submitted photo.
“Frankie Halsey will be in charge of traffic,” she said. “Barb Albright will be in charge of distributing fliers. I am not aware of other activities.”
Please no big vehicles in the parade.
If there is lightening the event is canceled, she said.
“Children are all over the place,” Humphrey said. “So cars and trucks drive safely.”
Fort Scott National Historic Site
Celebrate American independence with history at the Fort Scott National Historic Site.
Enjoy the sights and sounds and immersion in America’s history while honoring the service men and women who have defended the United States through the growth of the nation.
Fort Scott National Historic Site will host the 35th Division Infantry Band on Wednesday, June 29, beginning at 6:30 pm. The performance will be on the bricks in front of the Post Hospital/Visitor Center. Bring your lawn chair to ensure seating. Saturday through Monday, July 2 through 4, Fort Scott NHS will have artillery demonstrations, tours, programs, and living history activities throughout the day.
Wednesday, June 29
6:30 pm – 35th Division Infantry Band performing a kaleidoscope of pops, classical, and patriotic music.
Saturday, July 2
10:00 pm – Guided Tour of the Fort
11:00 am – Artillery Demonstration
Noon – Historic Yard Games
1:00 pm – Guided Tour of the Fort
2:00 pm – Artillery Demonstration
3:00 pm – Flash Flood: Fort Scott and Westward Expansion Discussion
Sunday, July 3
10:00 pm – Guided Tour of the Fort
11:00 am – Artillery Demonstration
Noon – Tales from the Trail: Santa Fe Trader Presentation
1:00 pm – Guided Tour of the Fort
2:00 pm – Artillery Demonstration
3:00 pm – Independence Day II: Fireworks at High Tide Discussion
Monday, July 4
10:00 pm – Guided Tour of the Fort
11:00 am – Artillery Demonstration
1:00 pm – Guided Tour of the Fort
2:00 pm – Artillery Demonstration
3:00 pm – Amputations and Ambulances: Civil War Medicine Discussion
All the graphics courtesy of the Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce.
The upcoming Fort Scott High School All Class Reunion has been in the making for about three years.
Fort Scott High School.
“We have been planning since 2019,” Lori Potter Farmer, FSHS Alumni President said. “The regularly scheduled reunion would have been in 2020, however with (the) COVID (pandemic) we’ve had to bump it back twice.”
“FSHS alumni has the all school reunion every five years on the 5,” she said. “Our next scheduled reunion will be in 2025, barring any problems.”
“The purpose (of the reunion) is to bring as many alumni back to one location, as well as their home town to gather with friends and family,” she said. “The alumni board works really hard to get as many people back as possible and to plan a great weekend for everyone.”
“Seeing those you went to school with most of your childhood is always a great time,” Farmer said. “Memories from the past are shared as well as new memories are made. It’s always fun to drag out the old annuals and look at pictures of classmates as well as teachers from the past.”
Registration starts at 9 a.m. on June 24 at the Fort Scott High School Gym.
M’Axe Throw House doesn’t have a sign up yet, but is located at 212 E. First Street.
A year in the making, the M’Axe Throw House is open as of the first of June 2022.
Similar to darts, axe throwing is a sport in which the competitor throws an axe at a target, attempting to hit as close as possible to a bullseye, according to https://bargames101.com/axe-throwing-101.
A few of the rules are: 1) no one with sandals on may throw and 2) children can throw if under age 18, but parents must be there also.
Mac Stoughton began working on the building storefront that would house his axe throwing sport business in April 2021. It is located at 212 E. First Street, between Scott Avenue and State Streets in Fort Scott, near the downtown area.
Mac Stoughton. Submitted photo.
“It took me that long because the building was in bad shape,” Stoughton said. By day he works at Stoughton Electric and Heating and Air Conditioning.
“We opened Good Ol’Days Weekend,” Stoughton said. “We offer entertainment and participating in a league.”
For walk in customers, he provides axes to throw.
League players have their own axes, he said.
For walk-in customers, the cost if $25 for 1.5 hours and he also offers knife throwing for $35 for 1.5 hours.
There are four seasons for axe throwing leagues and the first summer league event was on June 13.
“There are eight weeks of game play, then on week eight, we hold a tournament,” he said.
He currently has one employee, Cassandra Hueston.
Stoughton began an interest in axe throwing when looking for something to do, other than baseball, he said.
He found Main Street Axe Corp, in Pittsburg and started playing there in 2019.
“It sparked an interest,” he said. “I went on to enter three national championships. I placed in the top 20, a couple of times. In Tulsa there were 350 in the tournament, from all over the nation.”
