Category Archives: Bourbon County
Read and Walk Off Holiday Pounds Starting January 9 at FS Public Library
Our first Walk Into Books, Bourbon County! walking contest featured a virtual walk down the Yellow Brick Road, with 118 local residents participating, and the Reading Rangers team winning the contest. Our next contest begins on January 9. Please help us get the word out about this free fitness & literacy program!
Submitted by:
Valetta Cannon
Youth Librarian & Assistant Director
Fort Scott Public Library
Valetta Cannon
Youth Librarian & Assistant Director
Fort Scott Public Library
WALK INTO BOOKS, BOURBON COUNTY!
The Little House Trail Challenge
Walk off those holiday pounds and compete for prizes with the library’s walking program. Fort Scott Public Library & The Healthy Bourbon County Action Team invite you to virtually walk a trail from Little House on the Prairie Museum in Independence, Kansas to the Laura Ingalls Wilder Home “Rock House” in Mansfield, Missouri. This walking contest is for people of all ages & fitness levels.
• Record your daily step counts through the Reader Zone app or browser version OR in Google Sheets
• Connect with teammates & compete against other teams
• Receive a pedometer & t-shirt just for signing up!
• Each member of the winning team will earn a free book & may also win coupons or gift cards from local businesses
• Reception after the contest ends for all participants
• Book club for all participants after the contest ends (depending on interest)
Register here: https://forms.gle/
For persons with special needs, library staff will do their best to make accommodations. Send a message to the above email detailing your needs.
Click here for more information on the contest: https://fortscott.
Sponsors include After Affect Salon, Buck Run Community Center, and Hedgehog.INK!. If you’re interested in sponsorship opportunities, please email Valetta Cannon at the above address.
This program is made possible in part by a dream grant from the Southeast Kansas Library System. Funding for this Story Telling Project is also being provided by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas as a part of the Healthy Bourbon County Action Team’s Pathways to a Healthy Kansas grant.
Gordon Parks Museum celebrating the life of Martin Luther King Jr.
The Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration will be held, with several events planned in Fort Scott.
The events will start on Thursday, January 12th at the Gordon Parks Museum.
The day will begin with a hosting of the Fort Scott Area Chamber Coffee at 8:00a.m. and a film showing at 10:00a.m., “Martin”, a tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. by Gordon Parks.
This is a ballet tribute to Dr. King, written and directed by Gordon
Parks.
To view the schedule:
MLK ’23 Celebration Schedule 11_17
On Friday, January 13th, the community is invited to the Ellis Fine Arts Center for a free Lunch and Learn event that will be held at 12:00p.m. featuring a music and speaking presentation by multicultural artist, community organizer, researcher, and educator, Alex Kimball Williams. A reception will follow with birthday
cake. Lunch and dessert will be provided by Great Western Dining.
For more info:
Martin Luther King, Jr. Birthday Celebration Lunch & Learn, 2023
The day will also include three film
showings at 9:00am, 1:30pm, and 3:30pm.
The celebration will wrap up on Monday, January 16th, with a (Lunch and Learn) event and Canned Food
Drive. Canned and non–perishable (non–expired) food items for the Beacon Food Pantry in Fort Scott, Kansas,
will be collected at the museum from 9:00am – till 2:00p.m.
To learn more about the food drive:
Canned & Non Perishable Food Drive 2023
The Lunch and Learn speaker presentation event
“Good Trouble” by John Edgar Tidwell will be held at 12:00pm. Lunch will be provided by Dunk’s BBQ. Drinks
and desserts will be provided by Great Western Dinning.
To learn more about this presentation:
Good Trouble Presentation Press Release
Lunch & Learn Good Trouble January 16, 2023
Films will also be shown throughout the day on
Monday at 9:00a.m., 10:30a.m., and 1:30p.m. All events will take place at both the Gordon Parks Museum and
Ellis Fine Arts center on the campus of Fort Scott Community College.
A full list of film showings and events can be found at https://www.gordonparkscenter.org/events. For more
information call the Gordon Parks Museum at 620–223–2700 ext. 5850.
For more information call (620) 223–2700, ext. 5850, or email [email protected].
About Humanities Kansas
Humanities Kansas is an independent nonprofit spearheading a movement of ideas to empower the people of Kansas to
strengthen their communities and our democracy. Since 1972, our pioneering programming, grants, and partnerships
have documented and shared stories to spark conversations and generate insights. Together with our partners and
supporters, we inspire all Kansans to draw on history, literature, ethics, and culture to enrich their lives and serve the
communities and state we all proudly call home. Visit humanitieskansas.org.
Bourbon County Agenda for Jan. 3
Agenda
Bourbon County Commission Room
1st Floor, County Courthouse
210 S. National Avenue
Fort Scott, KS 66701
Date: January 3, 2023
1st District–Nelson Blythe Minutes: Approved: _______________
2nd District–Jim Harris Corrected: _______________________
3rd District–Clifton Beth Adjourned at: _______________
County Clerk–Ashley Shelton
MEETING HELD IN THE COMMISSION ROOM BEGINNING AT 9:00AM
Call to Order
• Flag Salute
• Reorganization of Board
• Approval of Minutes
• Eric Bailey – Road & Bridge Report
• Approval of Accounts Payable
• Matt Quick – NRP Renewal
• Teri Hulsey – Grant Approval
• Ashley Shelton – Resolutions, KAC Renewal, KONE, 6th Judicial Coroner, Forensic Medical,
Presentation of Filed Documents
• Lora Holdridge – Part–time Employee to Full–time Employee Request
• Susan Bancroft – Chief Financial Officer
o Bank Bids
o Handbook – Section 2
o Broker Selection
• Justin Meeks – County Counselor Comment
• Shane Walker – Chief Information Officer Comment
• Jim Harris – Executive Session KSA 75–4319(b)(1) to discuss personnel matters of individual
nonelected personnel to protect their privacy
• Public Comment
• Commission Comment
DBB Letter(1) Handbook Section 2(1) Assured Partners Timeline(1) Lora Holdridge – Agenda Request Form(1)
Justifications for Executive Session:
KSA 75–4319(b)(1) To discuss personnel matters of individual nonelected personnel to protect their privacy
KSA 75–4319(b)(2) For consultation with an attorney for the public body or agency which would be deemed privileged in the attorney–client relationship
KSA 75–4319(b)(3) To discuss matters relating to employer–employee negotiations whether or not in consultation with the representative(s) of the body or agency
KSA 75–4319(b)(4) To discuss data relating to financial affairs or trade secrets of corporations, partnerships, trust, and individual proprietorships
KSA 75–4319(b)(6) For the preliminary discussion of the acquisition of real property
KSA 75–4319(b)(12) To discuss matters relating to security measures, if the discussion of such matters at an open meeting would jeopardize such security measures.
Attachments:
Lora Holdridge – Agenda Request Form(1)
Bourbon County Coalition Meeting Agenda for Jan. 4
Bourbon County Inter-Agency Coalition
General Membership Meeting Agenda
Conference Room at the Scottview Apartments
January 4, 2023
- Welcome:
- Member Introductions and Announcements:
- Program: Lorina Bowman, Museum of Creativity
- Open Forum:
- Adjournment: Next General Membership meeting will be February 1, at 1:00 p.m.
Robert Coon Invests in Another Downtown Building
Continuing the restoration of Fort Scott’s downtown, Robert and Kim Coon have purchased 120 E. Wall this week. They own Coon Rentals LLC.
“After I bought the Kress Building, I fell in love with the downtown area,” Robert Coon said. “There is lots of energy, lots of events, music on Friday nights at Heritage Park. That little strip of Main Street was dead, now it’s thriving.”
The Kress Building he purchased last year was renovated into Pizza Republic Restaurant this year.
To view a prior story:
New Restaurant and Pub Coming to Downtown Fort Scott
“It’s the support of the community that put downtown Fort Scott on the map and it’s exploding,” he said. “Developers, business people have contributed-the Bartlesmeyers, the Lyons, the Freemans, the LaRoches, the Lipes, the Dancers and others.”
“Developers are taking money from their other ventures to fund this,” he said. “These people are building downtown, are working downtown and still choosing to build downtown.”
“My wife and I have always been involved in rentals,” Coon said. “The residential rental market is easy. The commercial market is fun.”
Going back in time, the shoe store, the appliance store, the Kress Tea Room were closing, now investors are revitalizing the downtown, he said.
Instrumental economic development people in this revitalization have been Jody Hoener and Rob Harrington, Coon said.
Plans For the Building
Coon Rentals LLC will be renovating the upstairs of 120 E. Wall into a 1,900 square feet “high end, classy Airbnb.”
“The view is spectacular from the second floor,” he said.
The lower 1900 square feet, which was renovated by the Gettler’s and most recently Patrick Wood, is an office space that is currently rented out to Stutesman Action Realty.
History of the Building
“In the 1800’s the original building burnt down,” Coon said. “In 1920, the current structure was built. Brian Allen and Shane Walker are a wealth of knowledge of downtown history.”
“There was a complete renovation under the previous ownership of Patrick J. Wood-the street level, 1900 square feet of a stunning, professional area, is currently occupied by Stutesman Action Reality. The 1,900 square feet, high end loft apartment space upstairs is set to be Airbnb in early April, 2023”.
Robert Coon can be reached at 620.215.9267.
Bourbon County Commission Agenda For Dec. 29.
Agenda
Bourbon County Commission Room
1st Floor, County Courthouse
210 S. National Avenue
Fort Scott, KS 66701
Date: December 29, 2022
1st District-Nelson Blythe Minutes: Approved: _______________
2nd District-Jim Harris Corrected: _______________________
3rd District-Clifton Beth Adjourned at: _______________
County Clerk-Ashley Shelton
MEETING HELD IN THE COMMISSION ROOM BEGINNING at 8:00AM.
- Flag Salute
- MOU Medical Director for Emergency Medical Services
Justifications for Executive Session:
KSA 75-4319(b)(1) To discuss personnel matters of individual nonelected personnel to protect their privacy
KSA 75-4319(b)(2) For consultation with an attorney for the public body or agency which would be deemed privileged in the attorney-client relationship
KSA 75-4319(b)(3) To discuss matters relating to employer-employee negotiations whether or not in consultation with the representative(s) of the body or agency
KSA 75-4319(b)(4) To discuss data relating to financial affairs or trade secrets of corporations, partnerships, trust, and individual proprietorships
KSA 75-4319(b)(6) For the preliminary discussion of the acquisition of real property
KSA 75-4319(b)(12) To discuss matters relating to security measures, if the discussion of such matters at an open meeting would jeopardize such security measures.
Wreaths Matching Funds Campaign
Fort Scott National Cemetery
National “Wreaths Across America” has notified local location coordinator Diann Tucker that following the 2022 successful wreath laying and remembrance at Fort Scott National Cemetery, we have matching funds sponsorship to begin the 2023 wreath funding. This is an opportunity to kick off a great start to 2023. Starting immediately and running through January 13, 2023, all wreaths sponsored through the local registered group will be matched for placement next December. This means when you sponsor a wreath through the local sponsorship group during this time frame, your sponsorship will be matched.
The mission of Wreaths Across America at Fort Scott National Cemetery continues to grow and has been successful because of the generosity and awareness of others. Wreath prices remain at $15.00 each. You can mail a contribution payable to Wreaths Across America, c/o Diann Tucker, 746 215th St. Fort Scott, KS 66701, or bring your donation to the office of Stewart Realty, 1707 S. National, Fort Scott. We can also take your debit or credit card information by telephone (620-223-6700). Please share your blessings as we make plans for the 2023 laying of remembrance wreaths at Fort Scott National Cemetery. We must continue to REMEMER, HONOR AND TEACH.
Data Received: Bourbon County Eco Devo Moving Forward
Bourbon County Regional Economic Development Inc. hired a consulting company to do local studies on retail, housing and labor in the county. That study was completed this fall.
“Last year, REDI was able to work with both Goldstone Consulting and O’Brian and Associates on the Retail, Housing, and Labor studies,” Rob Harrington, REDI CEO said. “These studies were able to provide us with the necessary data to move forward on several initiatives in 2023.”
“One of those initiatives is a Small Business Retention and Expansion Program for our local businesses,” he said. “We will be working throughout this next year to visit and create ways to help these companies continue to grow within Bourbon County. “
“We will also begin working with a group of citizens throughout Bourbon County on housing development initiatives,’ he said. “This housing committee will be instrumental in creating ways for us to not only attract developers but also new residents and marketing our communities to outside markets”.
REDI will continue to work to bring new developments in commercial and industrial business to Bourbon County by using the data from these reports as well as building on the partnerships that have grown over the last two years, Harrington said.
“All of the reports were paid for by Bourbon County REDI and we will continue to use our funds to help grow our county and ultimately work towards lowering taxes for everyone who lives and owns businesses in Bourbon County,” he said.
To see the data and findings:
Harrington became the director of REDI last year, to view prior stories:
Healthy Bourbon County Action Team Newsletter, Dec. 2022
Healthy Bourbon County Action Team Newsletter Dec. 2022
Warming Station At Buck Run Community Center Today
Taken From Bourbon County’s Facebook page:
The city will be opening Buck Run Community Center, 735 S. Scott as a warming shelter today. The phone number is223.0386.
Please do not go out unless necessary and if you do, take extreme caution in driving and make sure you have warmer than usual clothing on in case of a breakdown or accident.
Power is still an issue south of town to the Garland area but crews are working as fast as possible to get it restored.