Daniel Meara spent his early years in Fort Scott, though he attended high school and college elsewhere. But upon finishing law school, he and his family came right back to Fort Scott where he started his practice, which continued for the next 45 years.

But while Meara settled into a lengthy career of practicing law, which included time spent as city attorneys for different towns as well as the Bourbon County Attorney for a decade, law was not Meara’s goal when he entered college.

“There were no lawyers in my family that I was aware of,” Meara admitted. “When I was in college, I really didn’t know what to do.”

Eventually, Meara settled with graduating in 1965 with a degree in English and a minor in biology. But when a good friend of his went to take the Law School Admission Test, Meara decided to try it as well and scored well enough to enter law school.

With no fear of being drafted, since he had failed to pass the physical exam when he volunteered because of the effects of a childhood illness, Meara decided to continue his schooling.

While in law school, Meara married his wife JoAnn, and when he completed and then passed the bar exam, they decided to move to a smaller town to start his practice and raise their family.

“It seemed like a nice place to live,” Meara said of returning to his hometown of Fort Scott.

That decision became history as Meara opened his practice Sept. 1, 1970, and carried it on until Sept. 1, 2015. But now Meara looks forward to retirement, though it will not start immediately, despite the retirement party held in his honor Tuesday evening, as he closes out his practice.

“You can’t just walk away,” Meara said, saying he has stopped taking new business and is now wrapping up other responsibilities before he can officially retire.

While Meara said he is looking forward to retirement and working on house projects, reading more books for his book club and organizing photos, he still considers the idea of retirement a little unsettling after so many years of practicing.

“It’s an adjustment,” Meara said. “I spent 45 years building up my practice.”

Meara said with his retirement, he and his wife are looking forward to visiting their seven children scattered around the states and the United States, one of whom is now practicing law herself, as well as spending time with their grandchildren.

“That’s something we want to be able to get more of,” Meara said, saying previous visits were often brief because of his duties in Fort Scott.

While Meara says he “stumbled into” his law practice after changing his mind during his college education, he considers that career a blessing and encouraged his children to not be afraid of switching majors in college if they find something else they enjoy more. Meara said the worst thing that could happen is ending up in a job one does not enjoy.

“I was fortunate enough to find a job I enjoy doing,” Meara said, saying his favorite part of the job has been meeting people. “Everybody has a story and you can run into some of the most interesting stories.”

The Fort Scott City Commissioners recognized certain city leaders and employees for their years of service during their meeting Tuesday evening.

“I think it’s really nice to be able to recognize our employees,” Mayor Cindy Bartelsmeyer said to those they honored. “We appreciate the service of all of you.”

Ten employees were awarded a certificate and a gift for their years with the city in their respective departments, ranging from five to 40 years.

Cpl. Caleb Bell and Det. Jason Eastwood of the Fort Scott Police Department, City Manager Dave Martin and codes technician Alpha Money have served the city for five years. Tom Embry of water distribution was recognized for 10 years of service and Rick Hurd of water collections for 20 years. Fire Chief Paul Ballou and Capt. Dale Bollinger of the Fort Scott Fire Department have each been with the city for 25 years while Lynn Plain of the wastewater treatment plant has served for 30 years.

Finally, City Attorney Bob Farmer was honored for 40 years of service with the city.

“It’s been my pleasure, it really has,” Farmer said. “I’ve enjoyed every, almost every, minute of it. It’s a pleasure to serve people like you.”

“He’s one of the top five city attorneys in the state of Kansas,” city commissioner Sam Mason said.

Public Utilities Director Richard Cook also took the meeting as an opportunity to announce his retirement after 34 years with the city, effective on Sept. 25. The city will hold a reception in Cook’s honor that same afternoon.

“I have thoroughly enjoyed my 34 years here,” Cook said. “But now’s the time for me to move on.”

City Manager Dave Martin said when he first took on his own position with the city, he recognized that Cook had the skill and experience to be director of his department.

“It’s been a real pleasure working with Richard,” Martin said.

The commissioners unanimously approved lowering the speed limit on National Street from 30 mph to 20 mph during the period of construction south of 6^th Street, upon the recommendation of Police Chief Travis Shelton.

Fort Scott and area residents are encouraged to get involved with their public library as it and other libraries around the nation participate in Library Card Sign-Up Month through the month of September.

“As is every month, September is a great month to get a library card,” library director Lisa Walther said, saying the library provides numerous services to the community. “There’s a lot of stuff they can come get.”

The Fort Scott Public Library is part of a consortium that includes 41 libraries, allowing someone with a Fort Scott library card, for example, to check out books from any one of those other libraries or place a hold on books from them.

The area library also provides eBooks for those who would like to read books on their kindle or other device. Those can even be checked out from home instead of coming to the library itself.

“We’re always adding new items,” Walther said.

Those without a library card can get one just by bringing their driver’s license and proof of address, at no cost for Kansas residents or owners of Kansas property. In just the last month, the age limit was changed so library card holders can be as young as five years old.

Events such as a weekly book reading every Tuesday at 10 a.m. will also be provided to those youngest community members. An event for school-aged children will be hosted at the library during an upcoming weekend, with more details to come.

The local library also encourages members of the community to take part in the National Read a Book Day, Sept. 6.

Fort Scott and the Chamber of Commerce celebrated its local Dairy Queen with a ribbon-cutting ceremony Monday morning at its new location on Highway 69 north of Wal-Mart.

Though the Dairy Queen franchise has been part of Fort Scott for many years, it now has a new appearance as a Dairy Queen Grill & Chill, offering not just treats, as it had at its previous location on National Street, but full meals as well.

Owners Dr. Rick and Karen Kellenberger became a part of the Dairy Queen franchise while their family lived in Iowa, although they did not plan to remain in that business even after coming to Fort Scott.

“I had not thoughts at all of another Dairy Queen,” Dr. Rick Kellenberger said of when they heard the Dairy Queen was for sale and risked closing. “But I didn’t want to see Fort Scott lose the franchise.”

Kellenberger with his brother and their wives invested in the business, remodeling the building and making sure it continued to provide treats to Fort Scott. But about three years ago, Kellenberger said the city of Fort Scott came to them concerning the location and plans to work on that intersection.

“There are a lot of issues with that location,” Kellenberger said.

The couple then looked for a new area they could build and in recent weeks opened the new location to the public. Kellenberger said he hopes the new, more convenient location will bring more business to Fort Scott.

“This has been a long journey,” Karen said. “There have been a lot of bumps on the road to get here.”

But the ribbon-cutting and gathering of local business leaders signaled an end to that journey and a new beginning with its opening as the Dairy Queen continues to provide services to Fort Scott.

“Thank you for your investment in the community,” chamber of commerce director Lindsay Madison said.