Category Archives: Entertainment

Celebrating the Life of Martin Luther King Jr.

In honor of Gordon Parks and his tribute to Martin Luther King, Jr.,
The Gordon Parks Museum has scheduled a series of events to celebrate his life.
Starting on January 13th at 7pm
The Gordon Parks Museum Presents:
Kansas City Friends of Alvin Ailey’s: Ever Present
Then, on Friday, Jan. 14th and Monday, Jan. 17th, the film showings of
Eyes on the Prize: American Civil Rights
After the first film on January 14th, there will be a Lunch & Learn in the Ellis Arts Center at 12pm. The Fort Scott High School Advanced Drama students will be reading the “I Have A Dream” speech given by Martin Luther King.
The community is invited and encouraged to bring canned food or cleaning products from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. to the museum which is in recognition of King’s day of service events that will happen nationally. These canned goods/cleaning products will be presented to The Beacon, a local helping agency. Please, no out-of-date goods.
After the 1st film on the 17th, the Lunch & Learn event by Prisca Barnes, will be speaking on the “The Dockum Drugstore Sit-In”, an event that happened in Wichita.
A free lunch will be provided by Luther’s BBQ. Drinks and desserts will be provided by Great Western Dining.

Travel Service Agency in Fort Scott: AnchorBay Travel Shoppe

Judy Cassidy, owner of AnchorBay Travel Service. Submitted photo.

 

Judy Cassidy is the owner of AnchorBay Travel Shoppe.

She describes the business as a family-owned, faith-based full-service travel agency specializing in cruises, groups, and all-inclusive vacations.

“I operate out of my home office so I mostly do free consultations over the phone if anyone is interested in making travel arrangements,” Cassidy said. “Or (we can) meet in a public place for coffee/tea.”

Cassidy attended Fort Scott High School, got married and moved away, then moved back to Fort Scott in October 2021.

She pursued a hospitality career and lived in Nashville, Denver, and Kansas City in those years away.

The idea of the business started years ago in a church she was attending.

“My original passion for this agency started when I was very involved in my church in Denver,” according to a press release.  “I already had the travel bug and wanderlust appetite for travel but I wanted to do something fun and eventful for church groups.”

She then began planning cruise groups for churches: for their singles groups, women’s/men’s retreats, and for trips to the Holy Land.

She began her diverse career in travel and hospitality after having gained an unexpected jumpstart into the industry when she found herself managing a hotel at the age of 18, she said.

She then worked as a human resources generalist for one of the largest travel agencies at the time in Kansas City.

“Completely passionately in love with traveling, (I) continued expanding my career in upper-management and consultative roles in information technology, hotel/resort operations, sales, marketing and revenue management along with managing (my) travel agency,” according to the press release. “The travel agency was kept at a manageable part-time level while (I) continued with my hospitality career.”

Cassidy is now full-time in Fort Scott, since October 2021, with her agency AnchorBay Travel Shoppe.

The logo for AnchorBay Travel Shoppe. Taken from Facebook.

She has been partnering with a travel agency to get re-certified and help with re-branding, Cassidy said.

“We haven’t officially launched, we are getting ready to do that at the end of January 2022,” she said. “But I am available to do some travel arrangements now.”

“I am the main person in the business, I have a couple of travel advisors that work by commission,” she said.

Her mission is to “passionately inspire, educate, and fulfill dreams – one client, one destination, one travel experience at a time,” according to the press release.

She believes traveling is the gateway to a broader understanding of vast cultures and destinations yet to be explored.

“We are a full-service agency with a special niche for groups,” according to the press release.  “Whether it be faith-based cruises, business/incentive seminars at sea, or annual affinity groups. We look forward to crafting the vacation experience of your dreams.”

“And because Covid also changed the dynamics of traveling, and continues to change daily, we have the tools to stay on top of the latest news, rules and protocols,” she said.

“If something goes wrong on your trip, we work on your behalf and will go to bat for you– no matter who is at fault — and try to get your vacation back on track.”

“We have access to a variety of tools that the average consumer is not able to use or doesn’t know about,” she said. “We can sometimes get you a better seat on an airplane, add amenities at hotels, room upgrades, event tickets, and plan activities for you.”

Contact information: 620.644.9696  or https://anchorbaytravel.com/

 

Splash Pad is being Planned For Gunn Park

A similar splash pad to this image is being planned for Gunn Park. Submitted photo.

A small group of Fort Scott residents, most of whom have young children,  have a vision for a splash pad in Gunn Park.

A splash pad is a water recreational play area, which in other cities, is often in a public area.

“A splash pad will benefit all ages,” Josh Jones, one of the organizers said.  “It’s a great way for people of all ages to stay active during hot summer days.”

columbiasc.momcollective.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/splash-pad-2.jpg Taken from Facebook.

“A small group of us started this right before COVID  (the disease pandemic) hit and it’s been on hold till recently,” he said.

The group is comprised of Kristin Bishop, Will Bishop, Seth Needham, Bailey Lyons, and Jones.

“The planned location for the splash pad will be right down from the caretaker’s house, on the east side of the road, as you start to exit Gunn Park, across from shelter house #1 (the big rock shelter house),” he said.

Fundraising will begin January 2022 and the plan is for the splash pad to be operational by summer 2023, Jones said.

“We have a couple of fundraisers lined up that we will announce in the next month or so,” he said.

Donations are being accepted at Lyons Realty Group, Bourbon County Cars, or Venmo at Healthy Bourbon County Action Team.

 

Southeast Kansas Library Features New Books

The SEKnFind Newsletter
December 2021

This newsletter about new books is distributed to people who are registered adult users at a southeast Kansas library participating in the SEKnFind catalog. We hope you find it useful, but if you don’t wish to receive this anymore, you can click on the “Manage Subscriptions or Unsubscribe” link at the bottom.
All the books included in this newsletter are new additions in one or more SEKnFind libraries–and since the catalog is shared, that means they are available to you whether they are in your local library or not!  Just place a hold on the item(s) you want.  If you don’t know how, your librarian can show you.

New Fiction

Do I know you? : a novel of suspense
by Sarah Strohmeyer

A woman who can identify strangers by the slightest facial details believes she has found the person responsible for her sister’s disappearance and presumed death, and attempts to disrupt her upcoming celebrity wedding to publicly expose her. 20,000 first printing.

Bright burning things : a novel
by Lisa Harding

Haunted by her failed career and lingering childhood trauma, a former stage performer turns to alcohol but is saved from the brink of the abyss by her son whose love redirects her towards rehabilitation and redemption. 100,000 first printing.

A history of wild places : a novel
by Shea Ernshaw

An expert at locating missing people is asked to find the vanished, well-known author of dark, macabre children’s books and is led to Pastoral, a reclusive community found in the 1970s that many believed to only be a legend.

Eight perfect hours : a novel
by Lia Louis

Two strangers who meet when their cars are both stuck in a blizzard spend a delightful eight hours together weathering the storm before parting ways believing they will never see each other again, but fate has other plans. Original.

Blame it on the mistletoe
by Beth Garrod

When Holly switches places with Elle, her favorite social media influencer, for Christmas, she finds the holiday filled with surprises, especially when she meets Elle’s handsome twin brother, while Elle gets more followers—and more than she bargained for. Original.

The winter guest
by Pam Jenoff

Raising their younger siblings in rural Poland under the shadow of Nazi occupation, 18-year-old Nowak twins Helena and Ruth find their lives endangered when Helena falls in love with a stranded American paratrooper that culminates into a singular act of betrayal. 10,000 first printing.

The cat who saved books
by Sōsuke Natsukawa

When a talking cat named Tiger demands that he help save books with him, high school student Rintaro Natsuki and Tiger embark on an amazing journey, liberating books from their neglectful owners and meeting a colorful cast of character along the way. 35,000 first printing.

The bone shard emperor
by Andrea Stewart

Taking the throne she won at so much cost, Lin Sukai must place her trust in the powerful magicians of legend who have returned to the Empire to help her defeat the rebels and restore peace among her people. 50,000 first printing.

The Apollo murders : a novel
by Chris Hadfield

In 1973, the crew of NASA’s Apollo 18 collide with Russian astronauts on the lunar surface far beyond the reach of law or rescue, in this high-stakes thriller unlike any other. 150,000 first printing.

Where they wait : a novel
by Scott Carson

Out-of-work war correspondent Nick Bishop takes a job writing a profile for a new mindfulness app called Clarity, which becomes more disturbing by the minute, especially when he discovers that no one with Clarity has any interest in his article—only in him. 60,000 first printing

Ridgeline : a novel
by Michael Punke

In 1866, a new war breaks out on the western frontier between a young ambitious nation and the Native tribes who have lived on the land for centuries, in this fascinating saga, based on real people and events, that grapples with essential questions of conquest and justice that still echo today. 100,000 first printing.

Assassin’s witness : a Great Western Detective League case
by Paul Colt

“Two powerful railroads clash in a dispute over the Royal Gorge right-of-way to serve a valuable silver strike in Colorado. A reclusive financier with substantial holdings in the Denver & Rio Grande commissions the Knights of Labor to foment labor unrestagainst rival Atkins Topeka & Southern to delay development of the Royal Gorge spur while the dispute is litigated. Stephen Atkins, owner of the AT&S, turns to Pinkerton for assistance in breaking the strike. Atkins learns financier Eli Chorus is responsible for his labor troubles. He calls on Don Victor Carnicero and his El Anillo crime syndicate to eliminate his Chorus problem. When Great Western Detective League operative Beau Longstreet breaks up the assassination attempt, killing the El Anillo assassin, he becomes the assassin’s witness. Don Victor vows vengeance. El Anillo operatives threaten Longstreet’s life and the life of his love. Assassin’s Witness careens from violent confrontation to diabolical treachery in a deadly hail of bullets shroudedin mystery and tainted in loss”

New Nonfiction

Abandoned Eastern Kansas : Skeletons of the Sunflower State
by Regina Daniel

Beyond the wheat fields and off the beaten path, these abandoned and forgotten places lay in wait to tell their stories of a more productive and useful time. From small towns to ghost towns and all the places in between, the vastness of Eastern Kansas can be seen as a curse that will slowly drain a place dry or an untapped resource. Even though these locations are far from the ever-growing city’s reach, they face the same fate when expansion is needed for improvements, or there isn’t enough demand to continue daily operations. However these stories play out, all that is left is a reminder of what used to be: abandoned relics of lives, dreams, and businesses scattered across the open heartland of Eastern Kansas.

Daily magic : spells and rituals for making the whole year magical
by Judika Illes

The paraprofessional crisis counselor and author of The Encyclopedia of Spirits shares a year’s worth of spells and magic-oriented rituals for harnessing everyday power and honoring spiritually significant dates, from Midsummer’s Eve to Samhain. 25,000 first printing.

Our biggest experiment : an epic history of the climate crisis
by Alice R. Bell

Drawing from science, politics and technology, this illuminating book sheds new light on the little-known scientists throughout history who helped build our modern understanding of climate change.

Yellow Bird : oil, murder, and a woman’s search for justice in Indian country
by Sierra Crane Murdoch

“When Lissa Yellow Bird was released from prison in 2009, she found her home, the Fort Berthold Indian Reservation in North Dakota, transformed by the Bakken oil boom. In her absence, the landscape had been altered beyond recognition, her tribal government swayed by corporate interests, and her community burdened by a surge in violence and addiction. Three years later, when Lissa learned that a young white oil worker, Kristopher ‘KC’ Clarke, had disappeared from his reservation worksite, she became particularly concerned. No one knew where Clarke had gone, and no one but his mother was actively looking for him. Unfolding like a gritty mystery, Yellow Bird traces Lissa’s steps as she obsessively hunts for clues to Clarke’s disappearance. She navigates two worlds — that of her own tribe, changed by its newfound wealth, and that of the non-Native oil workers, down on their luck, who have come to find work on the heels of the economic recession. Her pursuit becomes an effort at redemption — an atonement for her own crimes and a reckoning with generations of trauma. Yellow Bird is both an exquisitely written, masterfully reported story about a search for justice and a remarkable portrait of a complex woman who is smart, funny, eloquent, compassionate, and — when it serves her cause — manipulative. Ultimately, it is a deep examination of the legacy of systematic violence inflicted on a tribal nation and a tale of extraordinary healing”

The least of us : true tales of America and hope in the time of fentanyl and meth
by Sam Quinones

From the best-selling author of Dreamland comes a searing follow-up that explores fentanyl and the quiet yet groundbreaking steps communities are taking to end the opioid crisis nationwide

Where the Wild Things Grow : A Forager’s Guide to the Landscape
by David Hamilton

Drawing on 25 years of foraging experience, David Hamilton show us how and where to hunt for the food that is hidden all around us. Along the way he delves into the forgotten histories and science of wild foods and their habitats and reveals his many foraging secrets, tips and recipes. You’ll discover where to find mallows, mustards and pennywort, as well as sumac, figs and mulberries. You’ll learn how to pick the sweetest berries, preserve mushrooms using only a radiator and prepare salads, risottos and puddings all with wild food.

A bake for all seasons : A Bake for All Seasons
by Paul Hollywood

Featuring judges recipes and favorites from the 2021 bakers, the newest cookbook from the hit television baking show includes recipes made on the broadcast, cook’s notes and measuring conversions from metric to imperial. 50,000 first printing. Illustrations.

The unofficial book of handmade Cricut crafts : creating personalized gifts with your electronic cutting machine
by Crystal Allen

“Crystal’s hope is that the techniques learned throughout the book, along with the (free!) included cut files, will inspire you to create designs of your own that you can not only gift, but also sell on creative marketplaces such as Etsy and even at craft fairs. With your Cricut cutting machine and this book, you’lll always be prepared with a handmade gift idea for any occasion including holidays, birthdays, graduations, baby showers, housewarmings, weddings, and more!”

Powers and thrones : a new history of the Middle Ages
by Dan Jones

This epic history of the medieval world, which was forged by the big forces that still occupy us today—climate change, pandemic disease, mass migration and technological revolutions, shows us how every sphere of human life and activity was transformed in the thousand years covered by this book.

Finding the Wild West : Oklahoma, Kansas, Nebraska, and the Dakotas the Great Plains : Oklahoma, Kansas, Nebraska, and the Dakotas
by Mike Cox

“From the famed Oregon Trail to the boardwalks of Dodge City to the great trading posts on the Missouri River to the battlefields of the nineteenth-century Indian Wars, there are places all over the American West where visitors can relive the great Western migration that helped shape our history and culture. This guide to the Great Plains states of Oklahoma, Kansas, Nebraska and the Dakotas–one of the five-volume Finding the Wild West series–highlights the best-preserved historic sites as well as ghosttowns, reconstructions, museums, historical markers, statues, and works of public art that tell the story of the Old West. Use this book in planning your next trip and for a storytelling overview of America’s Wild West history”

What’s Happening in Fort Scott Dec. 17 Newsletter

What’s Happening in Fort Scott!
December 17th Weekly Newsletter
So much holiday fun happening in Fort Scott,
share with your friends & family!
CHRISTMAS LIGHT TROLLEY TOURS RUN
NIGHTLY THRU DEC. 23RD (EXCEPT THE 18TH)
UPCOMING CALENDAR OF EVENTS
________________
TROLLEY TOURS!
Every Friday & Saturday!
50-minute narrated Trolley Tour
of Historic Fort Scott. Every hour on the hour. Departs from the Fort Scott
Chamber at 231 E. Wall St.
Friday hours: 11 am until 3 pm
Saturday hours: 10 am until 3 pm
$6 adults & $4 for 12 yrs. & under
THE FORT SCOTT NATIONAL HISTORIC SITE OFFERS DAILY GUIDED TOURS AT 10 AM & 1 PM, 7 DAYS/WEEK – FREE!
12/17-23 ~ CHRISTMAS LIGHT TROLLEY TOURS, run nightly at 5:45 and 7pm through the 23rd, limited tickets remaining, $8 adults/$5 kids 12 and under.
12/17 ~ BLYTHE FAMILY BENEFIT AT LIBERTY THEATRE, chili feed tickets available at the Chamber for $5, evening will include a raffle, auction and DJ. Click here for info.
12/17 ~ HOLIDAY PARTY-IN-A-BAG PICKUP FOR KIDS, come meet Miss Val & Choose Your Holiday Party-in-a-Bag! 12-5pm, Fort Scott Public Library. Click here for more information.
12/18 ~ THE LAVENDER PATCH EXTENDED HOLIDAY HOURS, 9am to 12pm, 620-223-1364, 2376 Locust Rd. See flyer below for more info.
12/18 ~ JINGLE BELL HOLIDAY MART, Bourbon County Fairgrounds, 9am to 3:30pm, click here for info.
12/18 ~ WREATHS ACROSS AMERICA LAYING OF THE WREATHS, 11am, National Cemetery No. 1 in Fort Scott.
12/18 ~ PAINT & PIZZA ART PARTY, 11am, by Happy Snappy Art, to be held at Papa Don’s, click here for info.
12/18 ~ MURDER AND MAYHEM II book signing, 1-3pm, Hedghog.INK! 16 S. Main St. See flyer below for more information.
12/18 ~ CHRISTMAS IN THE PARK, Gunn Park, click here for more info, 5-9pm.
12/21 ~ VIRTUAL STORYTIME: STAR BRIGHT & WINTER LIGHTS, 10-11AM. click here for more information
12/21 ~ BEER & BROWSE GUY’S NIGHT AT ANGIE DAWN’S BOUTIQUE, 4-7pm, click here for more information.
12/22 ~ BREAKFAST WITH SANTA AT DRY WOOD CREEK CAFE, 9am-1pm, click here for details.
12/23 ~ 2ND ANNUAL LIGHTS, COCOA & COOKIES OF BARBEE ST. 5-8pm, 806 S. Barbee St. click here for more details.
12/27-31 ~ KID’S WINTER ART CAMP BY HAPPY SNAPPY ART, 1-4pm each day, $125 per person, click here for details.
HAPPY HOLIDAYS
FROM THE CHAMBER!
SAVE THE DATE:
1/5 ~ Dare to Dream Women’s Entrepreneurship Series Event, 5 to 7pm, dinner & childcare provided., click here for more info. & to RSVP.
1/9 ~ Bouquet making class at Sunshine Boutique, $10 per person – reserve your spot today! 620-223-6007
1/13-14-17 ~ Alvin Ailey’s Kansas City Dance Group Ballet Performance, and other Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration Events, click here.
SHOPPING ~ SUPPORT LOCAL!
Boutiques-Antiques-Flea Markets & more!
Click here for Chamber member
specialty shopping & other retail in
Downtown & other areas of the community.
Fort Scott Area
Chamber of Commerce
620-223-3566
In This Issue
Chamber Highlights
Click here for our
Membership Directory.
We THANK our members for their support! Interested in joining the Chamber?
Click here for info.
Thinking of doing business in or relocating to Fort Scott?
Contact us for a relocation packet, information on grants & incentives, and more!
Seeking a job/career?
We post a Job of the Day daily on our Facebook page, distribute a monthly job openings flyer, and post jobs on our website.
Many opportunities available!
Housing needs?
Click here for a listing of our Chamber member realtors.
Click here for our rental listing.
FITNESS FOR EVERYONE IN FS!
Many fitness options are available…
SPIN classesnow offered bySmallville Athletics, Tues & Thurs at 5:15 pm. $5/class or $50/mo unlimited
Total Body Fitness ~ M & W Karen Reinbolt at BRCC@
8:15 am $20/8 week session.
Zumba~ M,W, F @ 6pm Monalynn Decker at BRCC $40 for a 12-week session.
Indoor Fitness/Gyms at
I AM Rehab + Fitness, Smallville Athletics, and Buck Run!
Wreaths Across America Wreath Laying Ceremony
Hedgehog.INK! Book Signing Event
CHRISTMAS IN THE PARK DEC 11TH & 18TH
FSHS THESPIANS COMEDY IMPROV SHOW
THE LAVENDER PATCH EXTENDED HOURS
BEER & BROWSE GUY’S NIGHT AT ANGIE DAWNS!
FORT CINEMA SHOW SCHEDULE THIS WEEKEND
THANK YOU TO OUR CHAMBER BOOSTER MEMBERS!

Holiday Youth Programs at the Public Library Are Offered

Fort Scott Public Library, National Avenue at 2nd Street.
Submitted by Valetta Cannon
Fort Scott Public Library
Youth Librarian & Assistant Director
 
 
 
For Kids: 
Teen party in 2019 at the library. Submitted photo.
Party: Meet Miss Val to pick up a holiday party-in-a-bag on December 17, 20, or 21. Miss Val will hand out bags to kids ages birth-5th grade from Noon to 5 pm on December 17 & 21 and from Noon to 4 pm on December 20. Come to the downstairs desk and ask for Miss Val! While supplies last; items are subject to availability. While there is no minimum age limit, the bags are designed primarily for kids ages 3-11. Each bag will contain:

Holiday Activities, Games, Gifts, and Treats. Kids can choose between a Cozy and a Chic party bag.

Letters to Santa: While picking up your holiday bag, write a letter to Santa and send it to the North Pole through the library’s Magic Mailbox.
Dec Our Walks: The library’s sidewalks (aside from the painted front walk) are bare. Bring them to life for the holidays! Ask for a chalk bucket at the downstairs desk and Dec the Walks. A laminated sheet of design ideas will be provided, and adult supervision is required.
Activities for ALL AGES: 
Go on a Candy Cane Hunt in the library! Now through the end of December, you may hunt for candy canes every day the library is open. Here’s how it works: Find a paper candy cane in a book from the children’s or young adult sections. Bring it to the front desk, along with the book so our staff can record which title was found. Get a real candy cane in exchange for the paper one! Limit 1 per day per person. No age limit.
 
Candy Guessing Contest:How many pieces of candy do you think are in this year’s Holiday Candy Jar? If your guess is the nearest to the correct number, you will win the whole jar! Share it with your loved ones or enjoy it all by yourself. In the event of a tie, the candy will be split evenly (as possible) between contestants. The contest will be open for entries from November 15 – December 15, 2021. Winner(s) will be notified within 2 days of the contest’s end. Entries missing critical information or made after the contest end date (Dec. 15 @ 11:59 pm) will be disqualified. Limit 1 entry per person. Must be able to pick up at the Fort Scott Public Library after the contest ends. Library staff and their immediate family members are not eligible to participate. Fill out this form to enter: https://forms.gle/4RgkLSZ32Ki9jM6VA
For 6th – 12th Graders: Our first indoor, in-person event at the library since March, 2020 will be this year’s Holiday Teen Party for middle and high school students!  The party will take place in the upstairs main room of the library on December 20, 4-5 pm. Pre-Registration is REQUIRED for all attendees. Go here to register: https://forms.gle/ms84YVtHAJLJMhAQ9 Due to covid concerns, we need to keep the crowd small, so registration will be capped at 25 people. Parents are encouraged to drop their teens off and pick them up at the end of the party, rather than stay in the party area for the whole event. MASKS ARE STRONGLY ENCOURAGED AND HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.
Activities:

Saran Wrap Ball Game
Gift Exchange Game (we provide the gifts)
Scavenger Hunt
Handmade Gift Wrap Craft
Pin the Nose on Rudolph
Enjoy free treats

Other Youth Services the Library Continues to Offer:
Book Bags:Miss Val compiles book bags on popular topics for easy curbside checkout. Each bag contains ten books, plus some stickers and/or a bookmark. The drawstring bag, bookmarks, and stickers are free for the patron to keep, while books check out for three weeks. You must be a card-holder in SeknFind with an unrestricted account in order to check out a book bag. There is no limit on how many bags you may check out at one time. Order your bag using this form: https://forms.gle/58aynMG1meWxH6dq5, ask for one at our downstairs desk, or call the library. 
Current topics: 
For ages Birth – 1st Grade: Boys’ General Interest, Girls’ General Interest, Christmas, Construction, Cozy Books, Early Readers Level 1, Early Readers Level 2, Farm, Mystery, Silly Stories, Snow, and Winter
For Grades 2nd – 5th: Early Readers Level 3
 
Maker Kits: Make something cool with Miss Val!

To order & participate:
1. Choose which maker kit you’d like. Currently you may select from:
Kit #1: Paper Weaving (Easy/Preschool)
Kit #2: Yarn Bowls (Intermediate/Elementary)
Kit #3: Paper Cup Towers (Easy STEM)
Kit #4: Straw Structures (Intermediate STEM)
Kit #5: Pipe Cleaner Challenge (Intermediate STEM)
Kit #6: Garden in a Cup (Easy/Preschool)

Kit #7: Recyclables Challenge (Intermediate STEM)
2. Contact the library to order yours by calling (620) 223-2882, filling out this form,
 or emailing [email protected].
3. You may order 1 kit PER CHILD at a time. Once you have finished with the kit, order the same one again or a different one. Available while supplies last. Caution: Some kit items are not safe for young children. Parental supervision is strongly advised for children ages 3 and under.
4. Go to the Maker Kits Playlist on YouTube
to watch the accompanying video so your child can use the items in their kits right along with Miss Val.

 
1,000 Books Before Kindergarten: The Library offers a free early literacy program called 1,000 Books Before Kindergartenfor children from birth through kindergarten. Each complete reading of a book that the child hears counts toward their 1,000 books, and participants receive rewards for reaching each 100-book milestone. You may choose to track your child’s readingthrough the 1,000 Booksor the Reader Zone app (contact us for the code), on regular paper, or whatever works for you. Email Miss Val or message the library on Facebook with each 100-book milestone you reach, along with a photo of your child holding a printed or handwritten sign showing the milestone and/or a book, for the library to share your child’s success on their Facebook page (optional)If you choose the photo option, we will post it in our program’s Facebook album and print a photo for you to keep. Either way, we will also give them the sticker for that milestone and a free book of choice from a reward book list (you may get them through our curbside or in-library pickup). We do allow children below kindergarten age to continue on beyond 1,000 books for additional rewards. Visit this link: 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten Signup Form to sign your child up online, or email Miss Val at [email protected].
 
Storytime: Order your bags for the remainder of December, and then join Miss Val online each week for another themed storytime! Watch the videos weekly on your schedule while enjoying the snack, and then create the accompanying craft with instructions from Miss Val. Current & upcoming themes: Holiday Music, Star Bright & Winter Lights, and New Year’s. To order, fill out this form: https://forms.gle/eGp6fLqStaCYL3Fd8  Near the end of each month, we distribute the bags for the following month, so keep an eye on the library’s Facebook page or other social media for updates.
 
6-12th Grade Group: The self-named Dragon’s Nest Teen Group meets on Wednesdays at 4:30 pm. Most meetings are held online via Google Meet, but this week will be a hybrid Book Discussion meeting, held both in person at the Keyhole AND online on Google Meet. To register for December meeting bags, fill out this form. If your middle or high schooler would like to join the in-person meeting, they may show up at the Keyhole at 4:30, Wed., December 15 ready to discuss books. Next week’s (online only) activities will be Word Games and Creative Writing/Drawing, and the following week, we will create our own versions of “Wreck This Journal” for the new year. Necessary supplies are provided in the bags. ear the end of each month, we distribute the bags for the following month, so keep an eye on the library’s Facebook page or other social media for our new month’s registration form.

What’s Happening in Fort Scott Dec. 10

What’s Happening in Fort Scott!
December 10th Weekly Newsletter
So much holiday fun happening in Fort Scott,
share with your friends & family!
Cocoa and Caroling Late Night Shopping Event
UPCOMING CALENDAR OF EVENTS
________________
TROLLEY TOURS!
Every Friday & Saturday!
50-minute narrated Trolley Tour
of Historic Fort Scott. Every hour on the hour. Departs from the Fort Scott
Chamber at 231 E. Wall St.
Friday hours: 11 am until 3 pm
Saturday hours: 10 am until 3 pm
$6 adults & $4 for 12 yrs. & under
THE FORT SCOTT NATIONAL HISTORIC SITE OFFERS DAILY GUIDED TOURS AT 10 AM & 1 PM, 7 DAYS/WEEK – FREE!
12/10 ~ COCOA & CAROLING LATE NIGHT SHOPPING EVENT, 5-8pm, Downtown Fort Scott, stores open late and complimentary cocoa by Museum of Creativity in front of Sunshine Boutique. See graphic above for list of participating stores. Find the hidden mistletoe in each store to win Chamber Bucks!
12/10 ~ SUNFLOWER SPREADS CHRISTMAS CHARCEUTERIE WORKSHOP, 5:30pm, $45 per person, Liberty Theatre, click here for info.
12/10 ~ BOURBON COUNTY CASA HOLIDAY FUNDRAISER, 7-9pm at the home of Mitch & Colleen Quick, click here to RSVP (deadline December 3rd).
12/10-23 ~ CHRISTMAS LIGHT TROLLEY TOURS, kick off the 10th and run nightly at 5:45 and 7pm through the 23rd, except no tours on the 11th or 18th, book the whole trolley for $125 or individual tickets are $8 adults/$5 kids 12 and under.
12/11 ~ SANTA AT OLD FORT AUTO FOR PICS, everyone welcome, 3rd & Scott St., 9am to 1pm!
12/11 ~ THE LAVENDER PATCH EXTENDED HOLIDAY HOURS, 9am to 12pm, 620-223-1364, 2376 Locust Rd. See flyer below for more info.
12/11 ~ MUSEUM OF CREATIVITY HOLIDAY OPEN HOUSE, 10am to 6pm, 102 S. National Ave., see flyer below for more info.
12/11 ~ EVERYTHING MUST GO SALE AT BOILER ROOM BREWHAUS – BUSINESS CLOSING SALE, 2-5pm, click here for details.
12/11 ~ FSHS THESPIANS PRESENT A COMEDY IMPROVE SHOW AND THESPIAN PERFORMANCE SHOWCASE, 7:30pm, see flyer below for details.
12/11 ~ CHRISTMAS IN GUNN PARK event nights on the 11th & 18th, Gunn Park, click here for more info, 5-9pm. See below or click here for event schedule.
12/15 ~ ROTARY CHRISTMAS SOCIAL, Crooner’s Lounge, 6:30pm.
12/16 ~ CHAMBER COFFEE, hosted by City of Fort Scott, City Hall, 8am.
12/16 ~ FORT SCOTT HIGH SCHOOL WINTER CHOIR CONCERT, 1005 S. Main St., 7pm, all are welcome!
12/17 ~ BLYTHE FAMILY BENEFIT AT LIBERTY THEATRE, chili feed tickets available at the Chamber for $5, evening will include a raffle, auction and DJ. Click here for info.
12/18 ~ THE LAVENDER PATCH EXTENDED HOLIDAY HOURS, 9am to 12pm, 620-223-1364, 2376 Locust Rd. See flyer below for more info.
12/18 ~ JINGLE BELL HOLIDAY MART, Bourbon County Fairgrounds, 9am to 3:30pm, click here for info.
12/18 ~ WREATHS ACROSS AMERICA LAYING OF THE WREATHS, 11am, National Cemetery No. 1 in Fort Scott.
12/18 ~ PAINT & PIZZA ART PARTY, 11am, by Happy Snappy Art, to be held at Papa Don’s, click here for info.
12/18 ~ CHRISTMAS IN THE PARK, Gunn Park, click here for more info, 5-9pm.
12/22 ~ BREAKFAST WITH SANTA AT DRY WOOD CREEK CAFE, 9am-1pm, click here for details.
12/27-31 ~ KID’S WINTER ART CAMP BY HAPPY SNAPPY ART, 1-4pm each day, $125 per person, click here for details.
HAPPY HOLIDAYS
FROM THE CHAMBER!
SAVE THE DATE:
1/5 ~ Dare to Dream Women’s Entrepreneurship Series Event, 5 to 7pm, dinner & childcare provided., click here for more info. & to RSVP.
1/9 ~ Bouquet making class at Sunshine Boutique, $10 per person – reserve your spot today! 620-223-6007
SHOPPING ~ SUPPORT LOCAL!
Boutiques-Antiques-Flea Markets & more!
Click here for Chamber member
specialty shopping & other retail in
Downtown & other areas of the community.
Fort Scott Area
Chamber of Commerce
620-223-3566
In This Issue
Chamber Highlights
Click here for our
Membership Directory.
We THANK our members for their support! Interested in joining the Chamber?
Click here for info.
Thinking of doing business in or relocating to Fort Scott?
Contact us for a relocation packet, information on grants & incentives, and more!
Seeking a job/career?
We post a Job of the Day daily on our Facebook page, distribute a monthly job openings flyer, and post jobs on our website.
Many opportunities available!
Housing needs?
Click here for a listing of our Chamber member realtors.
Click here for our rental listing.
FITNESS FOR EVERYONE IN FS!
Many fitness options are available…
SPIN classesnow offered bySmallville Athletics, Tues & Thurs at 6 pm. $5/class or $50/mo unlimited
Total Body Fitness ~ M & W Karen Reinbolt at BRCC@
8:15 am $20/8 week session.
Zumba~ M,W, F @ 6pm Monalynn Decker at BRCC $40 for a 12-week session.
Indoor Fitness/Gyms at
I AM Rehab + Fitness, Smallville Athletics, and Buck Run!
BOURBON COUNTY CASA FUNDRAISER EVENT
SANTA AT OLD FORT AUTO
SATURDAY FOR PICTURES
CHRISTMAS IN THE PARK DEC 11TH & 18TH
FSHS THESPIANS COMEDY IMPROV SHOW
DECEMBER NEWSLETTER FROM THE
MUSEUM OF CREATIVITY
CHRISTMAS LIGHT TROLLEY TOURS RUN
NIGHTLY DEC. 10TH THRU 23RD (EXCEPT 11TH & 18TH)
THE LAVENDER PATCH EXTENDED HOURS
FORT CINEMA SHOW SCHEDULE THIS WEEKEND
THANK YOU TO OUR CHAMBER BOOSTER MEMBERS!
Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce
231 E. Wall Street
Fort Scott, KS 66701

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Christmas In the Park: A Fort Scott Family Tradition

Students working on decorations for the Christmas In Gunn Park event. Submitted by FSHS Building Trades Teacher Michael Casner.

A local group of people who love the community gathered in Gunn Park in April 2021 and together envisioned a Christmas event that they hope will grow each year.

The event has new leadership this year with many family activities.

Gunn Park is the largest public park in Fort Scott and is located on the west side of the city, off of Park Avenue.

This year Christmas in Gunn Park is Saturday, Dec. 11, and Saturday, Dec. 18 from 5-8 p.m.

A living nativity, Santa Claus, a toy drive for local children,  a chili feed, hot cocoa and coffee, kids crafts, a hayrack ride, trolley rides, music from local Fort Scott High School students, and some local vendors for shopping will provide a little something for everyone.

The event is free, Guns said.

“Goodwill donations are always welcome and will go towards expanding Christmas in Gunn Park next year,” she said. “We will be collecting new unwrapped toys for our “Fill the Truck Toy Drive” with donations going to Bourbon County Angels, Angel Gifts to fulfill Christmas wishes for kids in Bourbon County.”

“Everyone on the planning committee has a variety of reasons why they chose to join,” Melissa Guns, one of the organizers, said. “We want good things for Fort Scottians. We want to spread Christmas cheer and enrich the place we call home… Most of all, we want a place for both those who love Christmas …while offering a place for those who may struggle around the holiday season, a place to find a little peace and joy.”

Parking

Gunn Park will be closed for regular traffic during the event. Vehicles with handicap parking tags or window hangers will be allowed to drive into the park near the event.

Public parking is available on Burke Street in the Fort Scott Community College Nursing Building parking lot, north of the tall Fort Scott water tower, and also in the Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas parking lot at Ninth and Horton Street.

Busses to and from the event will bring guests in and out of the park from the parking lots.

Those who have helped:

The planning committee consists of Craig Campbell, Doug Guns, Melissa Guns, Bailey Lyons, Shannon Johnson, Josh Jones, Tom Robertson, and Devin Tally.

Shelter houses are being decorated by Niece of Kansas, Inc. (Shelter 1), Kiwanis (Shelter 2), Shannon Johnson/Clark Street Lights (Shelter 3), Shaunn Pytlowany (Shelter 5), and Bourbon County Cars (Shelter 4).

Allison Leach, Danyell Miles, and Susan Carrillo are decorating a grand entrance to the park.

Fort Scott Community College Welding Program and Fort Scott High School Carpentry, Welding, and Art Programs have each created festive displays.

“Mike Miles’ display is sure to please, and Robert Coon, with A1 Towing, is also providing us with a display anyone who grew up in the ’80s is sure to get a kick out of,” Guns said.

Buck Run Community Center is providing activities for kids.

USD 234 and FSCC volunteers are helping with shuttling people to and from the park, and the Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce is providing the town trolley for moving people through the park on event nights.

Matt Harvey with Fort Scott Auto is running a hayride with his trailer.

Additionally, USD 234 is allowing the Fort Scott Police and Fire Departments to use their kitchen to cook up over 200 pounds of high-quality ground beef purchased by the committee at a special rate made possible by The Butcher Block.

Ward Kraft Inc. has donated the rest of the chili ingredients for a meal that is sure to give us all some extra warmth, she said.

Dollar General has donated bowls and spoons.

Ward Kraft Inc. is also helping folks to stay warm with coffee and Kathy Reed has donated hot chocolate.

Angel Gifts will be the recipient of the “Fill the Truck Toy Drive” and they have volunteered to help along with FSCC Cheer Team.

Skitch Allen is donating additional port-a-potties for the events.

“Finally, the guys from Fort Scott’s Parks Department are in full swing to help us get the grounds ready and the electrical properly connected,” she said. “Jeff Allen also helped consult on the electrical.”

“These groups, along with the City of Fort Scott and a grant from the Fort Scott Area Community Foundation have helped to make this year’s Christmas in Gunn Park possible,” she said.

Melissa Guns, center, representing the Christmas in the Park organization, received the grant from the Fort Scott Area Community Foundation on November 12, 2021. At left is FSACF presenter Gregg Motley, and Carla Farmer, right.

The vendors for Dec. 11 are Blessed B Creations and Hope Designs by Neen. On Dec. 18, Sparkle R Jewelry, Paparazzi Jewelry will be a vendor.

Vendor registration for December 18 is open through December 16. Interested vendors can sign up at https://forms.gle/PC8M4ufzADNxpBLb6

Schedule for Dec. 11

5 – 8:30 p.m: Angel Gifts Toy Drive, chili feed, hot cocoa and coffee, a vendor shop, kids crafts, hayrack ride, trolley rides, a live Nativity scene by Bethel Community Church, vendors selling items.

The chili feed will be provided until all the chili is gone.

All other events run throughout the evening.

5:30-6 p.m.           Music by the Fort Scott High School  Orchestra
6- 6:15 pm           Santa and a special guest arrive, tree lighting,  and sponsor acknowledgments.
6:30 – 8:30 pm    Pictures with Santa
6:15-6:45 pm       Music by FSHS Jazz Band
7- 7:30 pm             Music by FSHS Choir Ensemble
7:45 – 8:15 pm     Combined music performance by FSHS Jazz Band and Choir
8:30- 8:45pm       Event activities wrap-up

8:45 – 9 pm            Final hayrack and trolley rides to busses
9 pm                         All bus runs to parking completed and park gates lock for the night.

Schedule for Dec. 18

5 – 8:30 pm          Angel Gifts Toy Drive, hot cocoa and coffee, vendor shop, kids crafts, hayrack and trolley rides, and live Nativity scene by Bethel Community Church, vendors selling items.

5 pm – Until?      Food Vendors – Butcher Block & Tres Polito Food Truck
5:30 – 8:30 pm Christmas music performance by Bourbon County Revival
6- 6:15 pm          Santa and special guest arrive, tree lighting, sponsor acknowledgments.
6:30- 8:30 pm    Pictures with Santa
8:30- 8:45 pm    Event activities close
8:45 – 9 pm          Final hayrack and trolley rides to busses
9 pm                      All bus runs to parking completed and park gates lock for the night.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Christmas Light Trolley Tours Dec. 10-23

Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce presents the 2021 Christmas Light Trolley Tours
See the Christmas Lights of Fort Scott!
Book your tour today!
Friday
Dec 10th
thru
Dec 23rd
5:45 & 7:00PM
Every evening except
Dec 11th & Dec 18th due to Christmas in the Park.
Arrive early before the tour for
complimentary hot cocoa, cookies,
candy canes & glow necklaces!
Book the whole trolley for just your group,
or purchase individual tickets for
$8 adults, $5 kids 12 and under.
Elves will be aboard each tour for caroling & fun!
Tour lasts 50-minutes to an hour.
Pre-paid reservations required.
Cash, check or credit card.
Call us at 620-223-3566 to book your tour over the phone, or send us an email.

What’s Happening if Fort Scott Weekly Newsletter

What’s Happening in Fort Scott!
December 3rd Weekly Newsletter
So much holiday fun happening in Fort Scott,
share with your friends & family!
Candlelight Tours, Art Show, & More this weekend in Fort Scott!
UPCOMING CALENDAR OF EVENTS
________________
TROLLEY TOURS!
Every Friday & Saturday!
50-minute narrated Trolley Tour
of Historic Fort Scott. Every hour on the hour. Departs from the Fort Scott
Chamber at 231 E. Wall St.
Friday hours: 11 am until 3 pm
Saturday hours: 10 am until 3 pm
$6 adults & $4 for 12 yrs. & under
THE FORT SCOTT NATIONAL HISTORIC SITE OFFERS DAILY GUIDED TOURS AT 10 AM & 1 PM, 7 DAYS/WEEK – FREE!
12/2 ~ FSCC THEATRE PRESENTS “A VERY HAIRY CHRISTMAS”, 7pm, Ellis Fine Arts Center – FREE ADMISSION! See flyer below.
12/2 ~ FSHS Red/White Basketball Scrimmage, 6:30pm, High School gym, meet the Tigers, all winter sports athletes will be introduced along with cheer & dance team performances. Free will donation admission.
12/3 ~ FSHS Season Opening Wrestling Tournament, 3pm, FSHS Main Gym.
12/3-4 ~ CANDLELIGHT TOURS OF THE FORT, tickets are SOLD OUT, tours both Friday & Saturday evenings.
12/3-4 ~ WEEKLY LIVESTOCK SALE AT FORT SCOTT LIVESTOCK MARKET, sale starts at 10am both Friday & Saturday, cafe open as well, visit their Facebook page for details.
12/3-4 ~ THE ARTIFICERS 5TH ANNUAL ART SHOW (first show here in Fort Scott!), 10am to 9pm both Friday & Saturday in the lobby of Front Door Real Estate next door to Crooner’s Lounge/Liberty Theatre. See event here for more info.
12/3 ~ CREATIVE CANVAS PAINT CLASS AT THE ELKS LODGE, 6-9pm, click here for info.
12/4 ~ LANDMARK NATIONAL BANK – SOUTH LOCATION HOSTS SANTA FOR VISITS, 8-11am, 2300 S. Main St. Click here for info.
12/4 ~ BREAKFAST WITH SANTA AT FORT SCOTT COMMUNITY COLLEGE, 9-11am, Bailey Hall, $2 per person. See flyer below for info.
12/4 ~ THE FORT OUTDOORS HOSTS BREAKFAST AT THE BARN, 10:30am-1pm, click here for details.
12/4 ~ STORYTIME AT HEDGEHOG.INK!, cookie decorating, visit with Santa, and storytime! 1-2:30pm at Hedgehog.INK!, 16 S. Main St. See flyer below for more info.
12/4 ~ BATTLE AT THE BORDER BEEF LIVESTOCK SHOW, Bourbon County Fairgrounds, 10am, click here for info.
12/4 ~ CLARK STREET LIGHTS VISIT WITH SANTA, 5-8pm, free cookies & popcorn, free will donation, 753 Clark St., click here for info.
12/4 ~ YUM YUM! BAKED GOODS AUCTION AT THE ELKS LODGE, 6pm, click here for details.
12/6 ~ FSHS & FSMS Holiday Band Concert, 7pm, FSHS Main Gym.
12/7 ~ CHRISTMAS PARADE ~ “March into Christmas, 6pm, deadline to enter is Monday the 6th at 1pm ~ get your entries in today! Mayor’s Tree Lighting immediately following the parade, Christmas Crafts & visits with Santa at Papa Don’s following the tree lighting.
12/9 ~ CHAMBER COFFEE, hosted by Sunshine Boutique, 8am.
12/9 ~ STREET ADVISORY BOARD MEETING, 4pm at City Hall.
12/9 ~ DEL BRENNA JEWELRY TRUNK SHOW + OLIVE OIL & BALSAMIC VINEGAR TASTING, Crooner’s Lounge, 5-9pm, see flyer below.
12/9 ~ CANDY HOUSE WORKSHOP HOSTED BY MUSEUM OF CREATIVITY, 6pm, all ages welcome, $10, RSVP by Dec. 7th, see flyer below.
12/9 ~ LAKE ADVISORY BOARD MEETING, 7pm at City Hall.
12/10 ~ COCOA & CAROLING LATE NIGHT SHOPPING EVENT, 5-8pm, Downtown Fort Scott, stores open late and complimentary cocoa by Museum of Creativity in front of Sunshine Boutique.
12/10 ~ SUNFLOWER SPREADS CHRISTMAS CHARCEUTERIE WORKSHOP, 5:30pm, $45 per person, Liberty Theatre, click here for info.
12/10 ~ BOURBON COUNTY CASA HOLIDAY FUNDRAISER, 7-9pm at the home of Mitch & Colleen Quick, click here to RSVP (deadline December 3rd).
12/10-23 ~ CHRISTMAS LIGHT TROLLEY TOURS, kick off the 10th and run nightly at 5:45 and 7pm through the 23rd, except no tours on the 11th or 18th, book the whole trolley for $125 or individual tickets are $8 adults/$5 kids 12 and under.
12/11 ~ MUSEUM OF CREATIVITY HOLIDAY OPEN HOUSE, 10am to 6pm, 102 S. National Ave., see flyer below for more info.
12/11 ~ FSHS THESPIANS PRESENT A COMEDY IMPROVE SHOW AND THESPIAN PERFORMANCE SHOWCASE, 7:30pm, see flyer below for details.
12/11 ~ CHRISTMAS IN THE PARK event nights on the 11th & 18th, Gunn Park, click here for more info, 5-9pm.
12/15 ~ ROTARY CHRISTMAS SOCIAL, Crooner’s Lounge, 6:30pm.
12/16 ~ CHAMBER COFFEE, hosted by City of Fort Scott, City Hall, 8am.
12/17 ~ BLYTHE FAMILY BENEFIT AT LIBERTY THEATRE, chili feed tickets available at the Chamber for $5, evening will include a raffle, auction and DJ. Click here for info.
12/18 ~ JINGLE BELL HOLIDAY MART, Bourbon County Fairgrounds, 9am to 3:30pm, click here for info.
12/18 ~ WREATHS ACROSS AMERICA LAYING OF THE WREATHS, 11am, National Cemetery No. 1 in Fort Scott.
12/18 ~ CHRISTMAS IN THE PARK, Gunn Park, click here for more info, 5-9pm.
12/22 ~ BREAKFAST WITH SANTA AT DRY WOOD CREEK CAFE, 9am-1pm, click here for details.
HAPPY HOLIDAYS
FROM THE CHAMBER!
SHOPPING ~ SUPPORT LOCAL!
Downtown Fort Scott is booming!
Click here for Chamber member
specialty shopping & other retail in
Downtown & other areas of the community.
Fort Scott Area
Chamber of Commerce
620-223-3566
In This Issue
Chamber Highlights
Click here for our
Membership Directory.
We THANK our members for their support! Interested in joining the Chamber?
Click here for info.
Thinking of doing business in or relocating to Fort Scott?
Contact us for a relocation packet, information on grants & incentives, and more!
Seeking a job/career?
We post a Job of the Day daily on our Facebook page, distribute a monthly job openings flyer, and post jobs on our website.
Many opportunities available!
Housing needs?
Click here for a listing of our Chamber member realtors.
Click here for our rental listing.
FITNESS FOR EVERYONE IN FS!
Many fitness options are available…
SPIN classesnow offered bySmallville Athletics, every Mon & Wed at 5:15 pm, and Tu & Thurs at 6 pm. $5/class or $50/mo. unlimited.
Total Body Fitness ~ M & W Karen Reinbolt at BRCC@
8:15 am $20/8 week session.
Zumba~ M,W, F @ 6pm Monalynn Decker at BRCC $40 for a 12-week session.
Indoor Fitness/Gyms at
I AM Rehab + Fitness, Smallville Athletics, and Buck Run!
FSCC THEATRE PRESENTS
A VERY HAIRY CHRISTMAS – FREE ADMISSION
THE ARTIFICERS CHRISTMAS ART SHOW
FSCC PRESENTS BREAKFAST WITH SANTA
BOURBON COUNTY CASA FUNDRAISER EVENT
HEDGEHOG.INK! BOOK STORE HOSTS STORYTIME, COOKIE DECORATING, & VISIT WITH SANTA
CLARK STREET LIGHTS PRESENTS
VISIT WITH SANTA
CHRISTMAS PARADE ~ DOWNTOWN FORT SCOTT
DEL BRENNA JEWELRY TRUNK SHOW +
OLIVE OIL & BALSAMIC VINEGAR TASTING

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Bourbon County Local News