Monthly Archives: December 2018

Entertainment, Fort Scott, Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce

Christmas Parade Winners

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 The Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce would like to thank all who braved the cold for the 2018 Christmas Parade in Downtown Fort Scott Tuesday, December 4th. The theme was “It’s a Cowboy Christmas!” and the parade was sponsored by Briggs of Fort Scott.

The Chamber would also like to announce the parade entry winners: 1st place winner, receiving a $75 prize, was Fort Scott Community College; 2nd place winner, receiving a $50 prize, was Parkway Church of God Holiness. The 3rd place winner, receiving a $25 prize, was Twister Trailer.

Putting on such events takes many hands, time and talent. The Chamber is sincerely appreciative of all who volunteered, entered, and otherwise contributed to the parade.

Contact the Chamber for more information at 620-223-3566.

Business, Fort Scott

McDonalds Refreshed: Grand Opening Dec. 14

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McDonald’s Fort Scott is open once again for business, following a hiatus from November 13 to December 8, when the drive-through service only was available.

The restaurant is located at Main and 23rd Street, 2224 S. Main.

“McDonald’s Corporation wants to refresh and re-image McDonald’s nationwide,” Michael Durbin, general manager at the Fort Scott McDonald’s said.

Following the renovation, there are some new features.

A station called a kiosk, where customers can self-order and pay at the kiosk with a debit/credit card or pay at the counter has been installed.

Michael Durbin, general manager of Fort Scott’s McDonalds, demonstrates how to use the ordering kiosk at the restaurant, a new feature.

USB ports have been installed throughout the restaurant for cell phone and computer use.

New decor in grey and yellow has been installed.

Also new: no more McCafe HappyHour.

The grand-reopening of the store is Friday, Dec. 14 at 8 a.m., when the Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce will have a ribbon-cutting event.

A new food menu item is a mushroom swiss burger or chicken sandwich, Durbin said.

There will be food specials throughout the next week, including on Dec. 14 there will be 69 cent cheeseburgers from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.

A list of the foods that will be discounted until Dec. 22.

Mark McCoy is the owner and there are currently 60 employees.

 

 

Obituary

Obituary of Leon Foster

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Leon Foster passed away peacefully Tuesday evening December 11, 2018, in Independence, Kansas, with family members by his side. He was 94.

He was born in McCune, Kansas, August 2, 1924, to Marie (Tridle) and Earl Foster. At McCune High School he excelled as a student and an athlete in track and football. After graduation in 1943, he immediately joined the Navy and served his country during World War II until 1946 as a hydraulics engineer building turrets for aircraft bombers.

After returning home, he attended Kansas State Teachers College in Pittsburg where he graduated with a bachelors and master’s degree in teaching and coaching and an E.S. degree in administration. He also played football for the college from 1946-1948.

He spent his entire professional career in education. He taught high school and coached many different sports in Kincaid, Sedan, Cedar Vale and Fort Scott, Kansas. He was a principal at Turner High School and returned to Fort Scott to become Dean of Fort Scott Community College and later became the college president. He moved to Independence, Kansas later in his career to become the president of the Independence Community College before retiring in 1986. Throughout his career, he touched the lives of thousands of young students and athletes, employees and colleagues.

After retiring he and his wife Earline became active members in the Kansas and International Airstream organization. During their over 25 years of participation, they saw the world pulling their travel trailer to Mexico, Newfoundland, Alaska, Canada and all corners of the US. For nearly 30 years they would travel with their trailer to South Texas and spend their winter months with friends.

Leon is survived by his wife Earline Foster of Independence, Kansas, his sister Gloria Wintjen of Joplin, Missouri, his son Stephen Foster of Jackson, Wyoming, and daughter Joan Foster of South Padre Island, Texas. He also has 3 stepchildren Luann Baker, Steven Wulz, and Curtis Wulz. There are also many step-grandchildren and step-greatgrandchildren.

Funeral services will be held at 10:00 AM Monday, December 17th, at the Cheney Witt Chapel, Fort Scott, Kansas.

Burial will follow in the U. S. National Cemetery in Fort Scott.

The family will receive friends from 3:00 until 5:00 Saturday afternoon at the Potts Chapel, Independence, Kansas.

They will again receive friends from 3:00 until 5:00 Sunday afternoon at the Cheney Witt Chapel, Fort Scott.

Memorials are suggested to the Red Cross and may be left in care of the Cheney Witt Chapel, P.O. Box 347, 201 S. Main St., Fort Scott, Kansas 66701. Words of remembrance may be submitted to the online guestbook at cheneywitt.com.

Obituary

Obituary of David Lee Graham

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David Lee Graham, age 54, resident of Ft. Scott, KS, died Tuesday, December 11, 2018, at Mercy Hospital, Ft. Scott.

He was born on June 12, 1964, in Ft. Scott, the son of Billy and Shirley Nutter Graham. He graduated from Fort Scott high school with the class of 1982. David worked for Pizza Hut, MOKAN Drive-In, and the Fox Theater. He worked the remainder of his career as a mechanic. He worked for several auto dealerships including Cox Motors in Pleasanton, KS. He also worked for Fort Scott Truck and Tractor. David enjoyed NASCAR and NHRA Racing and was a big Pittsburg Steelers and Kansas City Chiefs fan. He loved his little dog Maria. The family wishes to extend a special thank you to Ft. Scott Manor, Pittsburg Rehab, and Fresenius Kidney Care in Ft. Scott and Pittsburg.

Survivors include his parents, Billy and Shirley Graham, Ft. Scott; a sister, Grace Sweat and husband Billy, Ft. Scott; a brother, John Graham and wife Carol, Denver, CO; nieces and nephews Robert Nolan and wife Alisa, Kimberly Nolan, Christopher Graham, and Tim Graham; great-nieces, Ashton and Adelynn Nolan; and cousin and special friend, David Silvera.

There was cremation.

The family will receive friends for a celebration of life visitation from 1:00 until 3:00 Saturday, December 22nd, at the Carriage House, 301 S. Main, Ft. Scott.

Memorials are suggested to Lee’s Paws and Claws and may be left in care of the Cheney Witt Chapel, P.O. Box 347, 201 S. Main, Ft. Scott, KS 66701. Words of remembrance may be submitted to the online guestbook at cheneywitt.com.

Business, Fort Scott, Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce

Quarterly Downtown Meet and Greets Schedule for 2019

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The  Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce hosts Quarterly Downtown Meet & Greets from 8:30 to 9:30 am at a different downtown location for downtown business owners or representatives, or anyone in the community with an interest in downtown to attend and share thoughts and ideas related to downtown and to stay current on new happenings.

The first one of the year will be pushed back to Tuesday, February 5th as the Ritter’s of Boiler Room Brewhaus will be the host and they are not available on January Tuesday morning dates.
The tentative schedule for the Downtown Meet & Greets for 2019:
All of these meetings are on Tuesdays from 8:30 to 9:30 am:
February 5th – Boiler Room Brewhaus
April 2nd
July 2nd
October 1st
Fort Scott, Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce

TOY SOLDIER CONTEST WINNER

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 The Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce sponsored its 2nd annual Toy Soldier Contest this year where the public could purchase blank wooden templates from the Chamber and express their artistic ability by painting the soldiers which are now on display for the public to view through the New Year.

A total of 13 new soldiers were submitted for judging this year, in addition to those entered last year for a total of 29 soldiers currently on display primarily in the Downtown Historic District.

After a tough decision by the judges, the prize of $50 in Chamber Bucks Certificates was awarded to Mathew Morgan of Uniontown who painted his soldier as The Grinch. Mathew’s winning soldier, along with two others, may be viewed in front of Nate’s Place, 750 S. National Avenue. Other soldiers are along Main Street and in front of the Courtland Hotel.

The Chamber would like to thank all who participated and is looking forward to next year’s contest. For questions or more information, contact the Chamber at 620-223-3566 or email [email protected].

Area News

Local Wreaths Across America Ride Dec. 15

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Wreaths Across America will be having a ceremony at the Rostrum at Fort Scott National Cemetery, 900 E. National at 11 a.m. on Dec. 15.

“We will meet at CFI, 4701 E. 32nd, Joplin, MO, Saturday 15 December at  8:00 am,”  Kevin Wagner, organizer, said.

“We’ll go KSU from CFI at 8:15 am en route to Pittsburg Walmart, 2710 N. Broadway.”

“We should arrive at Walmart at approximately 9:00 am and plan to go KSU from there at 9:15 am to Ft. Scott National Cemetery.”

“A group from Fort Scott will be leaving 5 Corners Mini Mart, 1122 S Clark St,  at 8:30 am en route to Pittsburg Wal Mart.”

For route and times click below:
Business, Fort Scott, Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce

Chamber Coffee at Community Christian Church Dec. 13

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WEEKLY CHAMBER COFFEE REMINDER
Join us for Chamber Coffee
Hosted by:

Community Christian Church
 
 

Location:

1919 S. Horton St.
Thursday, December 13, 2018


Click here for Community Christian Church’s website.


Chamber members and guests are encouraged to attend for networking, community announcements, and to learn about the hosting business or organization.
Members may pay $1 to make an announcement about an upcoming event, special/sale/discount, or news of any kind.
Upcoming Coffees:
December 20th – City Hall
December 27th – No Coffee in Observance of Christmas
January 3 – Chamber Board @ Chamber Office
January 10 – Fort Scott Pharmacy
Bourbon County

Hwy. 69 in Bourbon County Completion Extended to 2019

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Workers pause for a consult on U.S. Highway 69, south of Fort Scott on Dec. 11.

Even though traffic is now running head-to-head on the new U.S. 69 corridor in Bourbon County, the section will not be completed until next year.

“We’re giving the contractor a time extension on this project because of extensive deterioration on the existing lanes,” Priscilla Petersen, Public Affairs Manager for the Southeast Office of the Kansas Department of Transportation, said.

“The deteriorated sections are to the point where additional concrete patching is necessary,” she said. “The contractor plans to begin removing the old pavement this month, but weather conditions won’t allow for placement of new concrete until next March. This extra patching extends the completion of the project until late spring/early summer of 2019.”

“A reduced speed limit of 55 mph is posted on the new lanes, with four crossovers posted at 45 mph. After the entire project is open to four-lane traffic the speed limit will again be increased to 65 mph.”

The Crawford County section will be next in the expansion to a four-lane highway from a two-lane highway.

“There are two connecting expansion projects planned for U.S. 69 in Crawford County,” Petersen said. “The first is the Arma Connection U.S. 69 expressway. The Arma Connection is six miles long. It will start at the U.S. 69/K-47 junction north of Pittsburg and continue north, ending three miles north of the Arma city limits. Construction is tentatively scheduled to begin in early 2020.”

 

“The U.S. 69 Crawford County expansion is five miles long. It will begin three miles north of the Arma city limits and end at the Crawford-Bourbon county line. Construction is tentatively scheduled to start in early 2021.”

 

“I can’t give an exact date for completion of these projects since the plans are still being developed,” Petersen said. “Both projects would likely require two construction seasons. We’ll have more details moving forward.”

 

 

 

Entertainment, Government, Kansas

New Interpretive Signs Greet Kansas Byway Travelers

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TOPEKA – Travelers on the 12 scenic or historic byways in Kansas will enjoy their trips even more this year thanks to new or upgraded interpretive signs at 39 locations across the state. Kansas Byways are a collection of routes that highlight the beauty, history and heritage of Kansas; help stimulate the economy through tourism; and promote a positive image of the state.

 

The Kansas Byways program is jointly managed by the Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT), the Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism (KDWPT), the Kansas Historical Society (KHS) and the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA). Nine of the routes are scenic byways (two of which are national scenic byways) and three are historic byways.

 

The latest $1.44 million project included construction of five new kiosks housing interpretive panels, the rehabilitation of 12 existing kiosks and their signs, 26 interpretive signage plazas and 12 Kansas Byway welcome boards which will guide travelers to the byways as they travel the state. In all, 142 panel surfaces were produced.

 

KDOT and KDWPT received a $220,000 National Scenic Byway grant from the FHWA in 2010 to develop the Kansas Byways Interpretive Plan. KDOT and KDWPT evenly split the required 20 percent match of $44,000. Fermata, Inc. of Austin, Tex., was awarded the contract for the plan, which served as the basis for the signage project.

 

In 2014, KDWPT received a two-phase Transportation Alternative Grant from the FHWA which was administered through KDOT for design and construction. RDG Planning and Design, Omaha, Neb., was responsible for the design phase ($235,560). GSR Construction, Inc., Lawrence, served as general contractor ($986,168) for the construction phase. KDWPT paid the required 20 percent match for each phase.

“The project is the result of a huge partnership, and we want to thank our partners in this effort,” said Scott Shields, KDOT Byways Manager. “They include the National Scenic Byway Program, the FHWA, local byway committees, KDOT and KDWPT staff, local Kansas Byway cities and counties and the KHS.”

Members of the local byway committees appreciate the enhancements to their byways.

“The kiosk and new interpretive signage add so much to the history and understanding of the surrounding area for tourists to stop and read,” said Kaye Kuhn, Gypsum Hills Scenic Byway, south central Kansas.

 

Jayne Humphrey Pearce added, “The Western Vistas Historic Byway Steering Committee is delighted that these new features are now available to those exploring our byway.”

For information about exploring the Kansas Byways, visit https://www.travelks.com/ksbyways/.