Category Archives: Fort Scott

Bourbon County, Fort Scott, Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce

Friday Night Free Concert: Prairie Sunflower Strings

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Ralph Carlson introduces the Friday Night Concert musicians May 2019.

The Prairie Sunflower Strings will be the featured entertainment at this week’s Friday Night Concert. The musical group, consisting of eight musicians, play traditional folk music on  dulcimers, guitar, violin, and autoharp. A few newer songs will also be added into the mix.

 

“These talented musicians and vocalists have been playing together for four years,“  concert-series organizer Ralph Carlson said. “Members of The Prairie Sunflower Strings are Cherry Nelson, Joyce Love, Barbara Ray, and Jean Strader on mountain dulcimers, Charlena Burns on bowed dulcimer, Marilyn Adcock on autoharp and vocals, Sandy Hemphill on guitar, violin, and vocals, and Jack Hemphill on guitar. We are pleased to welcome this fine group back to the park pavilion. Come out and join us for a fun opportunity to see friends and enjoy some great music.“

 

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, the show will be moved to The Loading Dock at  Common Ground Coffee Co., 12 E. Wall

Fort Scott, Government

City Admin Offices Closed For Memorial Day

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The City of Fort Scott City Administrative Offices will be closed on Monday, May 30th, 2022 in observance of the Memorial Day holiday.  The offices will reopen on Tuesday, May 31st, 2021.

 

The City’s tree and brush dump site located on North Hill will also be closed on Saturday, May 28th, 2022 for the Memorial Day holiday.  It will be open again on Tuesday, May 31st, 2022 from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.

 

Fort Scott, Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce

What’s Happening in Fort Scott May 20th

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What’s Happening in Fort Scott!
May 20th Weekly Newsletter
So much fun coming up in Fort Scott,
share with your friends & family!
UPCOMING CALENDAR OF EVENTS
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TROLLEY TOURS,
ON THE HOUR FROM THE CHAMBER!
Friday 11am, 12pm, 1pm, 2pm
Saturday 10am, 11am, 12pm, 1pm, 2pm
$6 adults, $4 children 12 & under
50-minute narrated tour of Historic Fort Scott!
5/20 ~ No Friday Night Concert this week due to musicians setting up & playing at the Shead Farm Homestead Festival on Saturday!
5/21 ~ Step Into Summer Sidewalk Sale, Downtown and Around, see above for participating stores!
5/21 ~ Fort Scott Farmers’ Market, Skubitz Plaza, 8am-12pm
      5/21 ~ Public Forum: Stronger Together hosted by the Healthy Bourbon County Action Team, share ideas to improve 3rd St Park, 9-11am, all are welcome, breakfast burritos catered by Sharky’s!
5/21 ~ Shead Farm Homestead Festival, 2468 Calvary Rd, Garland, KS, 10am-5pm, click here.
5/21 ~ Kids Fishing Derby hosted to benefit Bourbon County Angels, click here for FB event.
5/23-5/24 ~ CHC/SEK Free Sports Physical – High School & Middle School Athletes, FSHS Auxiliary Gym, 9am-3pm, click here.
5/23 ~ City Land Bank Meeting, City Hall, 4pm
5/24 ~ Gross Insurance Educational Dinner, Lucci’s Cafe, 6pm, click here.
5/24 ~ Fort Scott Farmers’ Market, Skubitz Plaza, 4-6pm
5/26th ~ Chamber Coffee hosted by FSHS Alumni, FSHS Commons Area, 8am
5/26th ~ Chamber Annual Dinner & Awards Celebration, River Room, 5:30pm, Deadline to RSVP is Monday, May 23rd at Noon,
click here for details!
      5/26-5/27 ~ Kansas 6A Baseball
Tournament, LaRoche Complex
5/26 ~ Ladies Craft Night Kick-Off, Museum of Creativity, 6pm, click here.
5/27 ~ Friday Night Concerts in the Park, Heritage Park Pavilion, 1st and Main, 7pm
5/27-5/30 ~ KanRocks Memorial Weekend, click here.
5/27-5/30 ~ Symbols of Sacrifice Flags displayed on the grounds of the Fort Scott National Historic Site, volunteers welcome to help put out flags on Friday, 5/27.
5/28 ~ Fort Scott Farmers’ Market, Skubitz Plaza, 8am-12pm
5/28 ~ Angel Gifts Fundraiser, Bass Tournament, BBQ & Bourbon County Revival Band, Union Station, Uniontown, click here for FB event.
5/28 ~ Roller Skating, Buck Run Community Center, 7-9pm
5/30 ~ Memorial Day Program, US National Cemetery No. 1, 10:30am.
5/30 ~ Babe Ruth Baseball Tournament
5/31 ~ Parents Meeting Youth Football League, Buck Run Community Center, 6:30pm, click here for FB event.
6/2-6/5 ~ John Hill Summer Showcase Baseball Tournament
6/2 ~ Chamber Coffee hosted by Good Ol’ Days, 8am, Skubitz Plaza
SAVE THE DATE:
6/3-6/4 ~ Kansas Junior Limousin Breeders Field Day, Bourbon County Fair Grounds
6/3-6/4 ~ Good Ol’ Days Festival, click here for all the details.
6/3 ~ Good Ol’ Days Parade, Starting at 6th & Main St., 6pm, Deadline to register for the parade is May 31st, click here.
6/3-6/4 ~ Model Train Show at the Museum of Creativity, click here for info.
6/4 ~ Car & Bike Show hosted by Old 54 Cycles, Riverfront Park!
6/4 ~ Quilt Auction, Museum of Creativity, 1-3pm, click here.
6/7 ~ Becoming a Destination Business and Community Workshop by Jon Schallert
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The Good Ol’ Days Festival is coming June 3rd-4th. Get your Chicken Dinner tickets at the Chamber ~ only $8 for a 3 piece meal from Chicken Mary’s!
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SHOPPING ~ SUPPORT LOCAL!
Boutiques-Antiques-Flea Markets & more!
Clickhere 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.
Chamber Annual Dinner & Awards Celebration
Thursday, May 26th ~ make reservations today!
Ladies Craft Night Summer Kick-Off
Gross Insurance Educational Dinner
Shead Farm Homestead Festival
Jon Schallert presents a Destination Workshop in Fort Scott!
Early bird registration by May 31st $50, $75 after May 31st!
Click here to register online.
FORT CINEMA SHOW SCHEDULE THIS WEEKEND
THANK YOU TO OUR CHAMBER CHAMPION MEMBERS!
Entertainment, Exercise, Fort Scott

Third Street Park Improvements on the Horizon

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Third Street Park is just east of Hwy. 69 past the railroad overpass on the south side of the street. This is a view from Wilson Street looking up the hill.
This Saturday residents of the east side of Fort Scott are invited to give input on what they would like to improve at the park on east Third Street.
The park is a  city block that is sided by Third Street on the north, Hill Street on the east, Fourth Street on the south and Wilson Street on the west. It is a tree shaded area, one half of which is on a hill, one half is a ball diamond.
“This is the second public forum for the East Side Creative Placemaking project called Stronger Together: Building Up Our Communities,” Rachel Carpenter, Program Director  for Healthy Bourbon County Action Team said. “At our last public forum we were able to pick out common themes that will build up our community. Some of the themes were access to food, more events on the east side and park improvements.”
The event is to focus on park improvements.
“We received the Patterson Family Foundation Grant of $560,000 and there is $70,000 for this project,” Carpenter said. ” We want east side residents to be engaged in the decision making.”
The timeline for construction to be done at Third Street Park is October 2023, she said..
The basketball court is  in the foreground and some of the play equipment and pavilion is seen in the background.
“At this public forum we will engage the east side residents and ask what improvements they would like to see at Third Street Park,” she said. “Some examples would be upgrading playground equipment or fixing up the basketball court.”
The southwest corner of the park can be seen at Wilson and 4th Street.
“It is really up to them what on what we should prioritize,” Carpenter said.
The southeast corner of the park is seen at Hill and Fourth Street.
The event will be  tomorrow Saturday May 21 from 9 to 11 a.m.  at Third Street Park.
“We will be serving breakfast burritos and giving away a cooler and $40 gas vouchers to 5 Corners Convenience Store!,” she said.
From in the middle of the park, looking down on the ball diamond at Third Street Park.
Fort Scott, Government

Kevin Allen Resigns As Fort Scott City Commissioner

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Kevin “Skitch” Allen. Taken from Facebook.

Kevin K. Allen resigned his position as Fort Scott City Commissioner on April 17,  at the Fort Scott City Commission meeting.

Allen stated the reason he is resigning:  he is in the process of moving into his home at 507 Brown Street on the city’s east side, which is just outside the city limits.

Kevin Allen has served on the commission for two years and as mayor for five months, he said.

The current commissioners are Josh Jones, Tim Van Hoecke, Shane Walker and Matthew Wells.

He gave his opinion on the commission’s accomplishments in the last two years:

The city meetings are now recorded on YouTube for transparency and accountability to the citizens.

There are no time limits now when a citizen wants to speak to the commission at the meeting.

The streets department is now 10 employees, up from four, and has a budget of $1 million, up from $200,000.

The county and city governments are sharing services, which saves the taxpayers money.

Sunday liquor sales were approved, to gain tax revenue.

Several stop signs were removed, that were not needed.

Unused properties in Fort Scott and Lake Fort Scott were sold, and money put towards amenities at the lake.

A Land Bank was created.

A local city attorney was hired, replacing a Kansas City area one, saving the city $150,000 a year.

The city government now buys local services and insurance.

The commission has “focused more on infrastructure” and is “fixing up parks.”

“It’s been a great pleasure to serve as commissioner,” Allen said. “It’s time for me to mount up and ride.”

The commissioners expressed appreciation for Allen’s service.

In an interview on April 18 with Josh Jones, who is the president of the commission,  said he assumes the commission will interview the candidates for the vacant position and if there are an abundance of letters of interest, they will narrow it down, then interview.

The following is a press release from the City of Fort Scott:

“Persons interested in applying to fill the position vacated by Commissioner Kevin Allen are asked to submit a letter of interest to:  City Clerk, Diane Clay at 123 S. Main, Fort Scott, Kansas  66701 or by email at [email protected].  Letters of interest must be received by the City Clerk by 12:00 p.m. on Tuesday, May 31st, 2022. Only individuals who reside in the City limits of Fort Scott are eligible to apply.   Once the appointment has been made, it will become effective at the next scheduled City Commission meeting and the term will expire in December of 2023.

        Any additional information or questions may be obtained by contacting Diane Clay, City Clerk at 620-223-0550.”

A later phone call from Fort Scott City Attorney Bob Farmer stated the state law that requires residency within the city limits can be found in the Kansas Government Handbook, page 27, regarding qualifications.

 

Entertainment, Fort Scott

Register for the Good Ol Days Parade

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Register Now for the Good Ol’ Days Parade

Friday, June 3rd, 6pm

“41-derful Years of Family, Friends, and Fun”

In recognition of the 41 years of the Annual Good Ol’ Days Celebration!

Deadline to Register: Wednesday, June 1, 2022
Good Ol Days Parade .png
Click here to register

Thank you to our Chamber Champions for all of your support!
Chamber Champions Logo Image 2022 - Ledger Size.png
Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce

[231 E. Wall St.] – [620.223.3566] – [fortscott.com]
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Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce | 231 E. Wall Street, Fort Scott, KS 66701
Business, Fort Scott

Tri-Valley Holds Award Ceremony

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Labconco is the Business of the Year for 2022. Submitted photos.

On Friday, April 29th , Tri-Valley Developmental Services held their 2022 Award Ceremony to celebrate individual achievements as well as community support in Bourbon county.  The ceremony took place at 1 pm at Tri-Valley’s Service Center located in Fort Scott’s Industrial Park.  Awards were presented to the following individuals:

Business of the Year – Labconco

Employer of the Year – Wendy’s Ol’ Fashioned Hamburgers of Fort Scott

Achievement Award – Crystal Douglas

Winfred Jent Award – Judge Mark Ward

Mark Ward was selected at the Winfred Jent Award winner for 2022. Submitted photos.

Board of Director’s Award – Ken Anderson

Lifetime Achievement Award – Mertz Tax Service

The Lifetime Achievement Award went to Mertz Tax Service with Janice Allen accepting.Submitted photos.

Refreshments were served following the ceremony.  Attendees received a Tri-Valley cup as a takeaway.

Submitted by Tricia Campbell, Special Projects Coordinator at

Tri-Valley Developmental Services.

 

 

Fort Scott, Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce

Weekly Chamber Coffee at Nelson State Farm on May 19

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Join us for this week’s Chamber Coffee!
Hosted by Kale Nelson State Farm
Celebrating 100 Years of Good Neighbor Spirit!
Thursday, May 19th, 8am
1805 S. National Ave.
The Kale Nelson State Farm Insurance office is proud to serve Fort Scott, KS with Insurance and Financial Services, with a focus on resident relocations to the Bourbon and Linn County area. Kale’s team of licensed Insurance Professionals are here to help get you correct Insurance coverage for your specific needs. Not only can they help with Auto Insurance, Homeowners Insurance, Life Insurance and Financial Services to the Fort Scott, KS area including the surrounding Bourbon and Linn County areas, but they are also able to assist small business owners with their Commercial lines of Insurance. Give them a call today for a personalized Insurance Quote!
Visit Kale Nelson State Farm’s Facebook page HERE!
Visit Kale Nelson State Farm’s website HERE!
Thank you to our Chamber Champions listed below!
Fort Scott, Sports

Greyhound Football Legacy Center Launching

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Fort Scott Community College letter jackets are the first memorabilia to be placed in the Greyhound Football Legacy Center, 11 N. Main.

Supporters of football at Fort Scott Community College have filed for non-profit status from the State of Kansas and are in the process of setting up a Greyhound Football Legacy Center, Inc.

They have a board of directors, and set up by-laws.

“We just started the process of a 501 3c status,” Jack Milligan, president of the group, said. “We’ve hired an accountant firm.”

“We are setting up alumni chapters throughout Kansas and other states,” he said.

“We don’t have members, we have teammates,” Milligan said. “There is a lot of energy for it.”

“We are affiliated with the Fort Scott Community College Alumni  Facebook page,” he said.

They have joined the Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce, because the group wants “to be a part of the community,” Milligan said.

And they have a website: https://www.savegreyhoundfootball.com/

They have also rented 11 N. Main from Eddie Townley for a Greyhound Football Legacy Center, which will be a gathering place for the group.

11 N. Main.

 

Milligan is president of the organization, Doug Ropp is vice president; Jerry Witt is vice-president at large; directors are Steve Bowers, Jim Barrows, Jim Chapman, Matt Glades, Kevin Gundy and Steve Williams.

“We have a great network of business experience and success on the board and will use that to regain the football program and many other things in the community,” Milligan said.

“We will staff the center with volunteers, local and otherwise,” he said.

The center will house old football uniforms and trophies, along with computers and furniture. Currently there is a large conference table and chairs in the building.

The group plans to launch into the community during Good Ol Days, the annual homecoming event of Fort Scott on June 3-4.

The group is hopeful of bringing football back to the community college, following the recent closing of the program.

“The FSCC Board of Trustees unanimously voted to end the historic Greyhound Football program in November 2021,”  according the group’s website.

The group’s goal is to bring it back for the 2023 season.

 

Fort Scott, Government, Schools

USD 234 Special Board Meeting: New Super And Principal Hired

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NEWS RELEASE

 

Monday, May 16, 2022

 

Members of the USD 234 Board of Education met at 5:30 p.m. on Monday, May 16, 2022, for a special board meeting.

President James Wood opened the meeting.

The board went into executive session to discuss personnel matters for nonelected personnel.  The board returned to open meeting and approved the following:

 

A.    Employment of Destry Brown as Superintendent of Schools for the 2022-23 school year

B.    Employment of Dr. Zach Johnson as the Fort Scott Middle School Principal for the 2022-23 school year

C.    Transfer of Jennifer Herring, Winfield Scott cook, to high school cook for the 2022-23 school year

D.    Base salary adjustment for Bryce Daly, district technology technician, effective July 2022

 

The board adjourned.

 

Bourbon County Local News