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Category Archives: Fort Scott
The Beacon Year in Review: Helping Those In Need With Help From the Community
The Beacon Director Dave Gillen and Assistant Director Ashley Heathman have compiled the 2023 statistics for the local helping organization.
“In 2023 we had a total of 145 new families totaling 322 new individuals between adults and children,” Heathman said. “Our new families were a mixture of new residents and current residents facing hard times due to the rising cost of living and facing job insecurity.”
The last few years of statistics that the Beacon keeps show an increase in the number of new families needing help.
In 2020, there were 102 new clients totalling 235 individuals, in
In 2021 there were 83 new clients totaling 147 individuals, in
2022 there were 147 new clients totalling 302 individuals and in
2023 there were 145 new clients totalling 322 individuals, Heathman noted.
“The Beacon helps Bourbon Country residents facing food insecurity, along with this we offer financial assistance for prescriptions, rent, and utility payments thanks to the Hack Foundation and Bourbon County Coalition.”
The Bourbon County Inter-Agency Coalition is a charitable organization that helps facilitate a working relationship between organizations.
“The Hack Foundation was a trust fund set up for the Presbyterian women to take care of Fort Scott citizens to help during certain financial situations,” Heathman said. “Hack comes from two sisters whose family used to own a greenhouse in Fort Scott.”
“All financial requests that come through our door are paid out by Bourbon County Coalition and the Hack Foundation,” Heathman said.
“We could not do what we do without our amazing donors and volunteers,” she said. ” David and I express sincere gratitude to everyone, all our donors and volunteers, as they continue to help us help others.”
During the 2023 calendar year, The Beacon also helped several local organizations and causes.
“The Beacon helped disperse 202 shoe vouchers for Community Christian Church to our clients for school shoes for their children,” according to the press release.
They donated food items to the Elks Club organization to help them disperse holiday meals to 103 homes; totaling 123 individuals.
They teamed up with the community to help provide Christmas presents and holiday meal boxes to 77 families; totaling 410 individuals.
“Throughout the year the Beacon donates to the Fort Scott School District food pantry, ” according to the press release. “We try to donate food items to Feeding Families In His Name (Wednesday evening community free meal) when we can.”
The organization assisted with family swim passes thanks to the Bourbon County Coalition, and helped donate hats and gloves to the Share the Warmth cause for Bourbon County.
The Beacon, which has a food bank, dispersed food for 3,241 families in 2023 serving a total of 4,305 adults and 2,955 children.
“We are looking forward to being able to assist Bourbon County residents again this year,” Heathman said. “According to Kansas Food Bank, we are the second largest food bank in Southeast Kansas. Thank You!”
“We would like to thank everyone for their generous donations whether that is monetary donations, their time, or food donations. We could not do what we do without you!” Heathman said.
Additionally, the Beacon is grateful for the donated 699 volunteer hours to the organization for 2023, she said.
“The Beacon also provides (to those who need them) hygiene necessities, formula, and diapers depending on availability as well,” according to a press release from the Beacon. “Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays we receive food donations from our local Wal-Mart that set out inside for anybody in need from 10 am to close.”
“A big thank you to Fort Scott Fire Department, Bourbon County Sheriff’s Department, Fort Scott FFA, and Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas for helping us unload the truck every month.”
“Last but not least we would love to thank our local churches, individuals, and civic organizations for helping us help others,” she said. “We truly reside in a very generous community, it would take us days to name every single person or group that helps our cause; please know we thank each one of you from the bottom of our hearts for blessing us with the ability to help others.”
Allen Schellack Retires As Director of Fort Scott Compassionate Ministries
After 11 years, Allen Schellack is retiring from Fort Scott Compassionate Ministries.
“When I worked for the city of Fort Scott I saw a lot of people needed assistance,” he said. “I was part of the local ministerial alliance at the time and felt the Lord leading me to ministry.”
In 2016 the ministry became a joint effort of community leaders, and area churches and was sponsored locally by the Fort Scott Church of the Nazarene.
The office is located on the second floor of the Senior Citizens Office at 26 N. Main.
Some of the services the outreach center provides are foster family outreach services, homeless outreach services, hygienic services, medical supplies, and fellowship.
“For about seven years we have been the designated Salvation Army Disaster Relief and Services Extension Unit for Bourbon County,” Schellack said.
Because of this partnership, Schellack could provide disaster relief assistance, prescriptions (no narcotics) temporary lodging, gasoline for work and doctor, vision help with eyeglasses, and other needs on a case-by-case basis.
Through a relationship with the Fort Scott Ministerial Alliance, physical assistance is provided to individuals or families traveling through Fort Scott who have no other resources and need help to reach their destination. The assistance is distributed by the Fort Scott Police Department.
Some of Fort Scott Compassionate Care Ministries’ outreaches are free box fans in the summer; heaters, blankets, bedding, and towels in the winter, fire disaster packs, homeless/transient assist packs, Christmas presents for teens and families, and school supplies for middle and high school students.
The ministry is a 501 C(3) not-for-profit volunteer organization with no paid staff.
This is Schellack’s last week at the ministry.
“A minister never truly retires until God calls him home,” he said. “There will always be some kind of ministry wherever I go. I am retiring from Fort Scott Compassionate Ministries.”
He said Anglea Handly is transitioning to take care of the Compassionate Care office and the Salvation Army duties for Bourbon County.
To contact the ministry: 620.223.2212 or [email protected]
Chamber Coffee at Sleep Inn on January 18
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Unapproved Minutes of City of Fort Scott Commission Meeting on January 9
CITY OF FORT SCOTT
SPECIAL CITY COMMISSION MEETING
Minutes of January 9, 2024 Regular Meeting
A regular meeting of the Fort Scott City Commission was held January 9, 2024, at 6:00PM in the City Commission Meeting Room at City Hall, 123 S. Main Street, Fort Scott, Kansas.
ROLL CALL
Commissioners T. Van Hoecke, M. Wells, M. Guns and D. Olson were present with Mayor T. Dancer.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE AND INVOCATION T. Dancer led the Pledge of Allegiance and the invocation.
AUDIENCE IN ATTENDANCE Brad Matkin/City Manager, Jason Dickman/Earles Engineering, Jason Pickert/Chief of Police
APPROVAL OF AGENDA
The City Clerk requested that Approval of December 19, 2023, minutes be removed and put on the next agenda.
- Olson requested that New Business items B and C be swapped for order.
- VanHoecke moved to approve the agenda with the amendments. D. Olson seconded. All voted aye.
AGENDA APPROVED WITH THE OMMITANCE OF APPROVAL OF DECEMBER 19, 2023, MINUTES AND NEW BUSINESS ITEMS B AND C BE SWAPPED FOR ORDER.
CONSENT AGENDA:
- Approval of Minutes of the Regular Meeting of December 19, 2023, and January 2, 2024.
- Approval of Appropriation Ordinance 1351-A – $4,063,977.89
- Request to Pay – Earles Engineering & Inspection, Inc. – Project No. 23-430 – South Industrial Park Waterline Extension – Invoice No. 17054 – Inspection Fees – $17,473.48
- Request to Pay – Sprouls Construction, Inc. – Project No. 22-031B – Fort Scott Pavilion Project – Payment Application No. 3 – $70,875.00
- Request to Pay – Nowak Construction Co., Inc. – Project No. 22-305 – Contractor’s Project No. 231031 – South Industrial Park Waterline Extension – Contractor’s Application for Payment No. 2 – $231,061.95
- Request to Pay – T. Richardson Construction – Project No. 21-307 -Application for Payment No. 8 – 17th and Eddy St. Stormwater Improvements – Drainage – $23,619.44
- Request to Pay – Bourbon County Treasurer – 2023 Real Estate Taxes for City-owned properties – $43,301.08.
- Renewal of 2024 Cereal Malt Beverage License for Consumption on the Premises – Debra Cagle – DBA Fifthwheel Tavern – 206 N. Humbolt, Fort Scott.
- VanHoecke moved to approve the Consent Agenda. M. Guns seconded. All voted aye.
CONSENT AGENDA APPROVED
PUBLIC COMMENT: No public comments
OLD BUSINESS:
Review and Agreement of Code of Ethics – Ordinance No. 3563 – tabled from January 2, 2024 – T. Dancer asked if anyone would like to make a motion to accept and begin adherence to the Code of Ethics as it stands with no amendments. T. VanHoecke moved to approve adherence to the Code of Ethics as it is written with the option of making future amendments.
- VanHoecke withdrew his motion.
- Olson moved to approve the Code of Ethics with the changes he proposed.
- Olson amended his motion to move forward with the revisions he provided for the Code of Ethics.
- Wells seconded the motion with an additional amendment of the Commission being able to independently reach out by electronic communication to the City’s Bond Counsel, City Attorney, City Finance Director, City Clerk and City Engineer and “cc” the City Manager on all communications.
Further discussion was had on amendments to the Code of Ethics.
- Olson amended his motion further to include by submitting his revisions to City staff to revise the changes and return it to the Commission for a vote.
- Guns seconded the motion. All voted aye.
APPROVED TO SUBMIT D. OLSON’S AND M. WELL’S REVISIONS TO THE CITY ATTORNEY TO AMEND THE CODE OF ETHICS ORDINANCE AND RETURN TO THE COMMISSION FOR A VOTE.
Discussion of Advisory Boards from Work Session
- VanHoecke stated that discussion was had at the Work Session to disband the Lake Advisory Board, Golf Advisory Board, Airport Advisory Board, Electrical Board, Plumbing Board.
- Wells moved to keep the Design Review Board. T. VanHoecke seconded. All voted aye.
APPROVED TO KEEP THE DESIGN REVIEW BOARD.
- Wells moved to keep the Land Bank Board of Trustees. D. Olson seconded. All voted aye.
APPROVED TO KEEP THE LAND BANK BOARD OF TRUSTEES.
- VanHoecke moved to repeal the ordinance for the Lake Fort Scott Advisory Board. D. Olson seconded. All voted aye.
APPROVED TO REPEAL THE ORDINANCE FOR THE LAKE FORT SCOTT ADVISORY BOARD.
- VanHoecke moved to repeal the ordinance for the Golf Advisory Board. M. Guns seconded. All voted aye.
APPROVED TO REPEAL THE ORDINANCE FOR THE GOLF ADVISORY BOARD.
- Wells moved to keep the Planning Commission. T. VanHoecke seconded.
Discussion to table the decision to obtain legal counsel regarding combing the Planning Commission with the Zoning Board of Appeals.
- Wells withdrew his original motion.
- Wells moved to table a decision regarding the Planning Commission to obtain legal counsel about combining with the Zoning Board of Appeals. M. Guns seconded. All voted aye.
APPROVED TO TABLE A DECISION REGARDING THE PLANNING COMMISSION TO OBTAIN LEGAL COUNSEL ABOUT COMBINING WITH THE ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS.
- Guns moved to repeal the ordinance for the Electrical Board. D. Olson seconded. All voted aye.
APPROVED TO REPEAL THE ORDINANCE FOR THE ELECTRICAL BOARD.
- VanHoecke moved to repeal the ordinance for the Plumbing Board. D. Olson seconded. All voted aye.
APPROVED TO REPEAL THE ORDINANCE FOR THE PLUMBING BOARD.
- Wells moved to create an ordinance for a Contractors’ Advisory Board to include positions as presented by the City Manager for electrical, plumbing and a City Commission Liaison to be included. M. Guns seconded. All voted aye.
APPROVED TO CREATE AN ORDINANCE FOR A CONTRACTORS’ ADVISORY BOARD TO INCLUDE POSITIONS AS PRESENTED BY THE CITY MANAGER FOR ELECTRICAL PLUMBING AND A CITY COMMISSION LIAISON TO BE INCLUDED.
- Wells moved to keep the Streets Advisory Board with the changes that were suggested during the work session: the number of members on the board, include the City Commissioner Liaison, the City Engineer when needed and meet every other month or as needed. D. Olson seconded. All voted aye.
APPROVED TO KEEP THE STREETS ADVISORY BOARD WITH THE CHANGES THAT WERE SUGGESTED DURING THE WORK SESSION: THE NUMBER OF MEMBERS ON THE BOARD, INCLUDE THE CITY COMMISSIONER LIAISON, THE CITY ENGINEER WHEN NEEDED AND MEET EVERY OTHER MONTH OR AS NEEDED.
- VanHoecke moved to repeal the ordinance for the Airport Advisory Board. D. Olson seconded. All voted aye.
APPROVED TO REPEAL THE ORDINANCE FOR THE AIRPORT ADVISORY BOARD.
NEW BUSINESS:
Selection of City Commissioner Representatives to Advisory Boards
Bourbon County REDI City Commission Representative
- Guns moved to retain T. VanHoecke as the City Commission
Representative to the Bourbon County REDI Board. M. Wells seconded.
All voted aye.
- VANHOECKE APPROVED TO REMAIN THE CITY COMMISSION RESPRESENTATIVE TO THE BOURBON COUNTY REDI BOARD.
Land Bank Board of Trustees City Commission Representative
- Guns moved to select D. Olson as the City Commission Representative to the Land Bank Board of Trustees. T. VanHoecke seconded. All voted aye.
- OLSON APPROVED TO BE THE CITY COMMISSION REPRESENTATIVE OF THE LAND BANK BOARD OF TRUSTEES.
Lake Fort Scott Advisory Board City Commission Representative
- Wells moved to table the selection of the Lake Fort Scott Advisory Board City Commission Representative until the ordinance is repealed. T. VanHoecke seconded. All voted aye.
SELECTION OF THE LAKE FORT SCOTT ADVISORY BOARD CITY COMMISSION REPRESENTATIVE IS TABLED UNTIL THE ORDINANCE IS REPEALED.
Fort Scott Public Library Board City Commission Representative
- VanHoecke moved to retain M. Wells as the City Commission Representative
to the Fort Scott Public Library Board. M. Guns seconded. All voted aye.
- WELLS APPROVED TO REMAIN THE CITY COMMISSION REPRESENTATIVE TO THE FORT SCOTT PUBLIC LIBRARY BOARD.
Fort Scott Housing Authority Delegate
- VanHoecke moved to select T. Dancer as the Fort Scott Housing
Authority Delegate. M. Wells seconded. All voted aye.
- DANCER APPROVED AS THE FORT SCOTT HOUSING AUTHORITY DELEGATE.
Healthy in All Practices (HIA)
- VanHoecke moved to select M. Guns as the City Commission Representative to the Healthy in All Practices Commission. D. Olson seconded. All voted aye.
- GUNS APPROVED AS THE CITY COMMISSION REPRESENTATIVE TO HEALTHY IN ALL PRACTICES COMMISSION.
Approval of Golf Advisory Board recommendations – (8) Letters of Interest submitted to fill (4) vacancies – Golf Advisory Board recommendations made on December 27, 2023.
- VanHoecke moved to table the recommendations to fill board vacancies pending the approval to repeal the ordinance of the Golf Advisory Board. M. Wells seconded. All voted aye.
APPROVED TO TABLE THE RECOMMENDATIONS TO FILL BOARD VACANCIES PENDING THE APPROVAL TO REPEAL THE ORDINANCE OF THE GOLF ADVISORY BOARD.
Request to Amend Ordinance No. 3604 – Membership Terms – Golf Advisory Board recommends change City/County requirements in the ordinance as stated on Staff Request for Commission Action
- Wells moved to table the recommendations to change membership requirements pending the approval to repeal the ordinance of the Golf Advisory Board. T. VanHoecke seconded. All voted aye.
APPROVED TO TABLE THE RECOMMENDATIONS TO CHANGE MEMBERSHIP REQUIREMENTS PENDING THE APPROVAL TO REPEAL THE ORDINANCE OF THE GOLF ADVISORY BOARD.
Consideration of Change Order No. 1 – Sprouls Construction, Inc. – Project No. 22-032 – KDOT Sub-Area Road Extension & US-69 at 20th St. Repair – Final Measured Quantities – Decrease of $7,341.20
- VanHoecke moved to approve Change Order No. 1 with Sprouls Construction Project No. 22-032 for a decrease of $7,341.20. D. Olson seconded. All voted aye.
APPROVED CHANGE ORDER NO. 1 WITH SPROULS CONSTRUCTION PROJECT NO. 22-032 FOR A DECREASE OF $7,341.20.
Consideration of Contractor’s Application for Payment No. 1 (Final) – Sprouls Construction, Inc. – Project No. 22-032 – KDOT Sub-Area Road Extension & US-69 at 20th Street Repair – $148,783.80 – Certificate of Substantial Completion included.
- Guns moved to approve the payment of $148,783.80 to Sprouls Construction, Inc. for Project No. 22-032. T. VanHoecke seconded. All voted aye.
APPROVED THE PAYMENT OF $148,783.80 TO SPROULS CONSTRUCTION, INC. FOR PROJECT NO. 22-032.
Consideration of Change Order No. 2 – Bennett, Inc. – Project No. 23-005B – Engineer’s Project No. 217314-022 – Infantry Substation Sanitary Sewer Relocation – $129,530.00
- VanHoecke asked J. Dickman/City Engineer to confirm for the citizens that this portion of the payment would be reimbursed to the City by Evergy. J. Dickman confirmed.
- VanHoecke moved to approve Change Order No. 2 on Project No. 217314-022 with Bennett, Inc. for $129,530.00. D. Olson seconded. All voted aye.
APPROVED CHANGE ORDER NO. 2 ON PROJECT NO. 217314-022 WITH BENNETT, INC. FOR THE AMOUNT OF $129,530.00.
Approval of 2024 Cereal Malt Beverage (CMB) License for Consumption on the Premises and Retail Sale of Original and Unopened Containers – Kevin Allen – DBA Aunt Toadies – 1411 E. Wall, Fort Scott – 2023 CMB License was issued for Consumption on the Premises only, requires new approval.
- VanHoecke moved to approve the 2024 Cereal Malt Beverage License for Consumption on the Premises and Retail Sale of Original and Unopened Containers for Kevin Allen DBA Aunt Toadies at 1411 E. Wall, Fort Scott. D. Olson seconded. All voted aye.
APPROVED THE 2024 CEREAL MALT BEVERAGE LICENSE FOR CONSUMPTION ON THE PREMISES AND RETAIL SALE OF ORIGINAL AND UNOPENED CONTAINERS FOR KEVIN ALLEN DBA AUNT TOADIES AT 1411 E. WALL, FORT SCOTT.
RESOLUTIONS:
Resolution No. 1-2024 – DESIGNATING THE OFFICIAL CITY NEWSPAPER FOR THE ENSUING TERM OF THE GOVERNING BODY OF THE CITY OF FORT SCOTT, KANSAS
- Olson moved to approve Resolution No. 1-2024 as presented. M. Wells seconded. All voted aye.
APPROVED THE FORT SCOTT TRIBUNE IS THE OFFICIAL CITY NEWSPAPER FOR THE ENSUING TERM OF THE GOVERNING BODY OF THE CITY OF FORT SCOTT, KANSAS.
Resolution No. 2-2024 – DESIGNATING THE OFFICIAL DEPOSITORIES FOR THE PUBLIC FUNDS OF THE CITY OF FORT SCOTT, KANSAS
- Olson moved to approve Resolution No. 2-2024 as presented. M. Wells seconded. All voted aye.
APPROVED THE CITY STATE BANK, THE UMB BANK, THE LANDMARK NATIONAL BANK, THE LIBERTY SAVINGS ASSOCIATION, AND THE UNION STATE BANK; ALL OF FORT SCOTT, KANSAS; AND THE KANSAS MUNICIPAL INVESTMENT POOL OF TOPEKA, KANSAS, BE DESIGNATED AS THE OFFICIAL DEPOSITORIES OF THE PUBLIC FUNDS OF THE CITY OF FORT SCOTT, KANSAS, A MUNICIPAL CORPORATION.
Resolution No. 3-2024 – EXEMPTION FROM GENERALLY ACCEPTED ACCOUNTING PRINCIPLES UNDER K.S.A. 1120A
- VanHoecke moved to table approval of this resolution until the January 23, 2024, City Commission meeting. M. Wells seconded. All voted aye.
APPROVED TO TABLE APPROVAL OF RESOLUTION NO. 3-2024 – EXEMPTION FROM GENERALLY ACCEPTED ACCOUNTING PRINCIPLES UNDER K.S.A. 1120A UNTIL THE JANUARY 23, 2024, CITY COMMISSION MEETING.
Resolution No. 4-2024 – NOTICE OF HEARING WITH REFERENCE TO ALLEGED UNSAFE AND DANGEROUS STRUCTURE LOCATED AT 922 E. WALL – PUBLIC HEARING DATE – FEBRUARY 20, 2024, AT 6:15PM.
- VanHoecke moved to approve Resolution No. 4-2024 regarding the alleged unsafe and dangerous structure at 922 E. Wall with a Public Hearing to be held February 20, 2024, at 6:15PM. M. Guns seconded.
- Guns, T. VanHoecke, D. Olson and T. Dancer voted aye. M. Wells voted nay.
APPROVED RESOLUTION NO. 4-2024.
Resolution No. 5-2024 – NOTICE OF HEARING WITH REFERENCE TO ALLEGED UNSAFE AND DANGEROUS STRUCTURE LOCATED AT 515 S. HEYLMAN – PUBLIC HEARING DATE – FEBRUARY 20, 2024, AT 6:15PM.
- VanHoecke moved to approve Resolution No. 5-2024 regarding the alleged unsafe and dangerous structure at 515 S. Heylman with a Public Hearing to be held February 20, 2024, at 6:15PM. M. Guns seconded.
- VanHoecke, T. Dancer and M. Guns voted aye. M. Wells and D. Olson voted nay.
APPROVED RESOLUTION NO. 5-2024.
Reports and Comments
Comments were made by the City Manager, City Engineer, Commissioner VanHoecke, Commissioner Wells, Commissioner Guns, Commissioner Olson, and Commissioner Dancer. Available on the City of Fort Scott YouTube Channel.
- Wells moved to adjourn the meeting at 7:24PM. M. Guns seconded. All voted aye.
MEETING ADJOURNED AT 7:24PM.
Submitted by:
Lisa A. Lewis, City Clerk
New Business: Country Club Kids Daycare
Jessie Combs, 27, opened her business, Country Club Kids Daycare in Fontana, KS in 2020. Then re-opened her business in Fort Scott when she moved here in October 2023.
She provides child daycare services for children ages six weeks to five years old, for Fort Scott families and the surrounding areas.
The business hours of operation are from 7 a.m . to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. The daycare is located on South Broadway Street in Fort Scott.
In her care currently are her three children and three daycare children (2 full-time, 1 part-time).
“I have 1 full-time and 1 part-time opening for toddlers (18 mos-5 yr),” she said.
She is the only employee and is licensed for up to 10 children.
To contact the business, email [email protected]
Combs began the business initially to stay home with her own three children. “I enjoy being able to serve the community and working with children,” she said.
She graduated from K-State in 2018 with a Bachelor of Science degree in biology.
Following graduation she worked in scientific research, helping to characterize pharmaceuticals to prepare them for U.S. Food and Drug Administration clinical trials, she said.
“I’m also a Certified Nurse Assistant,” she said.
“I got my daycare license in April 2020 in Miami County and in October 2023 in Bourbon County,” she said.
To earn a daycare license in Kansas contact your local Kansas Department of Health and Environment office to get started.
“There’s an online application, fingerprints, background check, health and wellness checks, a small fee, and licensing will come to inspect your daycare for compliance,” she said. “There are also classes you must take to become licensed including being Pediatric CPR and First Aid certified and child development and daycare specific classes required.”
Witts Take Ownership of Hedgehog INK on February 1
With support from her husband, Jordan, and three kids, Randi Witt, Ivan, Ava, and Lydia will take ownership of the Hedgehog.INK! bookstore at 16 S. Main on February 1.
The phone number will remain the same (620) 670-2752 but the email: [email protected] is new. Both the website and Facebook page will remain the same.
“We will take over running those on Feb. 1,” Randi said.
The store was opened by Jan and Dick Hedges in 2018, and Dick died in 2022. Jan announced in December 2023 that she was selling the bookstore.
“I heard about Jan planning to sell the store, and I knew this was the opportunity I had been waiting for,” Randi said. “Jan and Dick created a magical space that makes you feel good when you walk inside. The store has something for everyone, from books to unique items and gifts.”
The whole family enjoys bookstores.
“In college, Jordan and I would frequently visit a used bookstore in downtown Lawrence,” she said. “Now we enjoy taking our kids to bookstores. Hopefully, our bookstore can give others the same memorable experience and be a place they want to frequently visit.”
The name of the bookstore will remain the same.
“Even though I will be the new owner, I see this as a continuation of the amazing bookstore Jan and Dick brought to our community,” she said. ” I plan to put my own spin on the space and expand our offerings over time. I will continue to accept books for credit or donation. In addition to books, you can purchase journals, art supplies, candy, handmade purses, goat milk soaps, and lavender products. We definitely want to continue supporting local authors. Please follow us on social media for updates as we grow!”
“I am going to explore expanding hours of operation and will announce that on social media,” she said.
The current hours of operation will be Monday 10 am – 2 pm and Tuesday through Saturday 10 am – 5 pm.
“I will be running the store day to day, and I will rely on help from my kids,” Randi said. “This is definitely a family venture.”
St. Mary’s Fundraiser for Church Rebuilding
What’s Happening in Fort Scott
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Jennifer Gum-Fowler Starts As Director of Fort Scott Public Library on January 18
Jennifer Gum-Fowler will start as the director of the Fort Scott Public Library on January 18.
“I have already begun to plan some programming for the coming year,” Gum-Fowler said. “I have many ideas that I want to try. I am also thinking of ways to make the community as excited about libraries as I am.”
“As the Library Director, I am responsible for the everyday running of the library, of course,” she said. “I am also responsible for the outreach and partnerships with the library. On top of that, I get to do adult programming and will curate the adult collections. I will also do the interlibrary loans.”
For her, the best part of being a library director is collaborating with the community and being able to bring all kinds of programming and partnerships to the library. “I love it when people come into the library and say, ‘I didn’t know that libraries did that.’ Libraries have gone through a real renaissance and are not what your great-grandparents would have thought of.”
” The biggest challenge is changing how people view libraries,” she said. “There is the idea that libraries are no longer relevant today, and that couldn’t be further from the truth. Libraries are vital parts of growing and healthy communities. They are not places one goes for shushing but for information, programs, and community connection. Books are just the beginning of what libraries offer communities.”
Gum Fowler received a Bachelor of Arts in History from Washburn University.
“When I started my library journey, I completed the state APPLE training for new directors in the Southeast Kansas Library System,” she said. “After finishing that, I realized I wanted to do more in libraries, so I returned to school and got my master’s in library science (MLS) from Emporia State University. While there, I was invited to join the Beta Phi Mu Honor Society, an international professional society for accomplished librarians.”
“In 2014, I got the library in Kincaid voted in as an actual library,” she said. “Since then, I have worked hard to get it as part of the national and state library organizations. ”
Under her direction, Kincaid Public Library has grown to be a part of the community, she said.
She has been a member of the Association of Rural and Small Libraries (ARSL) and the Kansas Library Association (KLA) since 2017. She is a part of the Intellectual Freedom Committee for the KLA and is the Southeast Kansas Library System (SEKLS) Executive Board Vice-President.
She has been married to Chad Fowler for 28 years and has three adult children “and way too many cats,” she said.
The family was an active part of 4-H when the children were younger, she said. “I personally enjoy weaving, needle felting, and watercolors. I grew up doing pre-1840 reenacting and still love primitive camping. I am also an avid geek and love Dr. Who, Marvel, Firefly, and Star Wars. All that said, I also love reading, with high fantasy and sci-fi being my favorites.”
Currently, she is commuting to Fort Scott.
“I live around 10 miles from the Bourbon line in Anderson County,”
she said. “It is a fast and enjoyable commute to work. I will use the time to listen to some audiobooks. I can’t wait to start working in Fort Scott. It is a beautiful city.”
Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration on January 17
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Tips For Winter Home Safety
