Monthly Archives: January 2019

Business, Fort Scott, Housing

Former Western Insurance Building Renamed: Fort Scott Lofts

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Image may contain: living room, table and indoor
A one bedroom apartment in The Fort Scott Lofts. Courtesy photo.

A renovated downtown apartment complex has been renamed and had some age restrictions lifted as of January 1, 2019.

The building that used to house the Western Insurance Company, between National Avenue and Main Street in downtown Fort Scott, is now called The Fort Scott Lofts.

“They wanted to rebrand it,” said Rachel Wheeler, leasing agent and onsite manager at The Fort Scott Lofts. “Many thought it was a senior citizen building. I think it confused a bunch of people.”

Under the former name of the apartments, Western Senior Living, 80 percent of the residents had to be 55 years old, Wagner said, and 20 percent under 55.

Western Senior Living opened in December 2016 following a major renovation of the building.

“My bosses went through the proper channels and got it  (the name and restrictions)changed,” she said. “Now if a person makes this amount of money, they pay this amount.”

Monthly rent starts at $370 for a one bedroom apartment and up to $625 for a two bedroom one, depending on income, she said.

Wagner can be reached at 620-223-1718 on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The apartments are not furnished, except for stove, refrigerator, microwave and dishwasher.

Currently, out of 35, 11 apartments are available, Wheeler said.

Some of the amenities are 120 channel Direct TV, water and trash are paid, Wheeler said. There is also an onsite laundry facility and off-street parking.

“We have a fitness room with a couple of exercise bikes and treadmills,” she said. “Pets are allowed. There is a one-time pet addendum of $200 (in the contract for pet lovers).”

“We have caring people that live here,” she said. “A group meets for coffee in the morning and another meets in the evening for wine and talking about the day.”

There are perks for living downtown.

A coffee shop, restaurants, and shops all within a few blocks.

Residents get a front row seat for the parades that Fort Scott celebrates events with, and also for Good Ol Days, the annual community event.

There are free local-artist outdoor music concerts just across the street in the summer, as well.

The owners of the building are Flint Hills Management, LLC.

A sister property, across First Street, will soon begin renovation of the old Union Building and will be called Union Lofts, she said.

“I’ll be managing it, too,” Wheeler said.

The Fort Scott Lofts, formerly Western Senior Living, 8 East First.
Area News

WW II “Rosie the Riveter” Kansas Women Honored

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AMERICAN LEGION AUXILIARY NOTIFIED OF GOVERNOR’S PROCLAMATION

The Kansas American Legion Auxiliary will honor nearly 120 heroic Kansas women who earned the moniker of Rosie the Riveter. These women answered the call to work on assembly lines, in shipyards, airplane factories, and other institutions in support of World War II’s military operations. “The Auxiliary wants to recognize its Kansas Rosies for their inspiring patriotism and service to Kansas and the United States,” Auxiliary President Karen Hasting said. “The Auxiliary will honor its known Rosie the Riveters during the American Legion’s Mid-winter Forum in Dodge City on February 1, 2019.

Auxiliary Vice-president Paula Sellens spearheaded the effort to organize a Roses for Rosies Ceremony. “I was hopeful that Governor Laura Kelly would support our event,” Sellens said. “The Legion Press Committee sent a request for a proclamation and described how patriotic the Rosies were. I received the Governor’s Proclamation today. I’m thrilled! The proclamation will be made a part of the ceremony!”

 

Bourbon County, Government

Bourbon County Commission Agenda Jan. 29

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Agenda

Bourbon County Commission Room

1st Floor, County Courthouse

210 S. National Avenue

Fort Scott, KS 66701

Tuesdays starting at 9:00

Date: January 29th, 2019

1st District-Lynne Oharah Minutes: Approved: _______________

2nd District-Jeff Fischer Corrected: _______________

3rd District-Nick Ruhl Adjourned at: _______________

County Clerk-Kendell Mason

9:00-9:45-Jim Harris

10:00-Employee Questionnaire

10:30-David Neville-Executive Session-non elected personnel-15 minutes

11:00-12:00-Justin Meeks

  • Matters relating to the security of a public body or agency, public building or facility or the information system of a public body or agency, if the discussion of such matters at an open meeting would jeopardize the security of such public body, agency, building, facility or information system.- 20 minutes.
  • Privileged on the attorney-client relationship.-20 minutes

12:00-1:30-Commissioners gone to lunch.

Fort Scott, Housing

Need Help? GNAT Is Taking Applications

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This property on South National Avenue was one of the projects that the Good Neighbor Action Team helped with. The house is owned by the Youth Activity Team, who is remodeling it as a fundraiser. GNAT has put in around 40 man hours on the project so far, Craig Campbell said.

For over a decade the Good Neighbor Action Team has been helping Fort Scottians with painting, helping rid yards of debris, building handicap ramps and other needed projects.

The team provides help for those who are not able to do the job themselves.

“A lot of times, people need a truck or chainsaw to get debris off their property,” Craig Campbell, a member of GNAT, said.

The volunteer group does all kinds of work, but GNAT doesn’t do roofs.

“We don’t put volunteers on roofs,” Campbell said. “There are grants available with no payback through USDA, also there are low-interest loans for different income levels and ages. We can put tradespeople together (for jobs like that), it requires expertise.”

“If people can’t provide materials or funds to help, we can help with that,” he said.

“Funds come from donations from social clubs, for example, Pioneer Kiwanis, who is a constant donor to our cause,” he said.

“When a group takes on a project,  a church, for example, will help fill in the funding gap on the project they are working on,” Campbell said.

“I need to work with churches,” Campbell said. “They are a good source for locating people who could use GNAT help.”

Additionally, churches are a reliable source for providing volunteer workers for projects.

“We get a lot of volunteers from churches,” he said.

The volunteers are asked to give three hours of work per project.

“We think in terms of a three-hour time slot (for the project),” Campbell said. “From 9 a.m. to noon on a Saturday. For a volunteer to do that is wonderful.”

GNAT has tried to handle the project workloads using the model of Habitat For Humanity, he said.

Work project recipients are asked to provide family and friends to assist GNAT workers.

“We bring five people, you bring five people,” Campbell said.

In addition,  proof of income is required with one of the following: income tax return, pays stubs from the last two paychecks, a Vision card or Healthwave card.

“We are getting started thinking about the season (for projects) which is from March to October,” he said. “There will be an emphasis on painting this year.”

Applications can be picked up at the Beacon, 525 E. Sixth; the Chamber of Commerce, 231 E. Wall, or city hall, 123 S. Main.

“You can return the application to the place you picked it up, or to Jara Martin at 824 S. Main,” Campbell said.

Completion of an application, doesn’t guarantee acceptance of a project request.

 

 

 

Recipes

From Linderhof’s Kitchen . . . Martha Meinsen Scott

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CHEESE SCONES

 

I adore scones and a special tea treat are cheese ones.     They’re easy and bake up quickly. They are a cousin to a biscuit and this recipe can be transformed into those beloved Red Lobster Biscuits by dipping them in a half cup of melted butter to which a ¼ teaspoon of garlic powder has been added.     Me, I prefer them as is with a steaming pot of tea in the afternoon!

 

1 ¾  c. flour
2 t. Baking powder
½ t. Salt
1 c. heavy cream
1 c. grated Cheddar cheese

 

Preheat oven to 450

 

Mix flour, baking powder and salt together.  Stir in cheese and mix. Stir in cream until soft dough forms.     Put on floured board and knead a few times. Pat out ½ to ¾ inch thick and cut with biscuit cutter.   Place on ungreased cookie sheet.

 

Bake for 8 to 10 minutes until done.

 

IF, making Red Lobster biscuits, spoon the butter/garlic powder mixture over the biscuits as they come out of the oven.
Martha Meinsen Scott is a Fort Scott foodie who creates from her home, called Linderhof.

 

Area News

Fort Scott National Historic Site Opens Sunday

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Statement from FSNHS on the Resumption of Full Operations

With the enactment of the continuing resolution, staff at Fort Scott National Historic Site will have begun the process of resuming normal operations today, and anticipate all regular operations by tomorrow, Sunday, January 27, 2019.

Please visit www.nps.gov/fosc for updated information about the park.

Fort Scott National Historic Site employees are happy to be back at work, serving the American people and welcoming visitors to their national parks.

“We anticipate all regular operations by tomorrow, Sunday, January 27,”  said Carl Brenner, Chief of Interpretation and Resource Management.

Fort Scott

Madison Toth Wins Oratorical Competition

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Madison Toth receives an award from Post Commander Carl Jower Saturday.

Congratulations to Madison Toth, winner of the Fort Scott Oratorical competition on Jan. 26. Madison received a $100 gift card and certificate of participation from American Legion Post 25  Commander Carl Jowers and will represent Post 25 at the District Oratorical competition in Olathe next month.

The volunteers who helped with the  American Legion Oratorical Competition. Not pictured is Skyler McDaniel.

 

Fort Scott, Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce

2019 SEK Day on the Hill Jan. 31

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2019 SEK Day on the Hill
Join us for breakfast and networking with Chambers across SEK, State Legislators, SEK Businesses, and State Officials
2019 SEK Day on the Hill is coming! Join us in Topeka, KS on Thursday, January 31st for breakfast and networking with Chambers across SEK, State Legislators, SEK businesses, and State Officials.
We will enjoy a great breakfast at The Celtic Fox (118 SW 8th Ave., #202), learn about the SEK legislative priorities, and hear from several of our area Legislators and State Officials on what to expect this Legislative Session.
Afterward, we’ll cross the street to the Capitol to meet with your individual legislators, attend the House and Senate Chamber sessions, or attend a Committee meeting. Our goal is to ensure that our region has a strong unified voice in Topeka!
Click hereto register for this event. The cost, which includes breakfast, is $10 for Chamber members, $15 for Non-Chamber members.
Also, plan to attend the free networking event at 7pm, Wednesday, January 30, at The Downtown Ramada Hotel (420 SE 6th Ave., Topeka). We have reserved a block of rooms for SEK Inc. The phone number is (785) 234-5400 if you would like to reserve a room for that night.
For more information, contact Trisha Purdon (Montgomery County Action Council) at
(620) 331-3830 or email: [email protected]
Fort Scott

Oratorical Competition Jan. 26

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The Post 25 American Legion Oratorical Competition is Saturday, January 26 at 9 am. This year’s competition will be held at the First Southern Baptist Church at  1818 S. Main St.
The competition is open to the public. The winner of the Post 25 oratorical competition will compete against other 2nd District Post oratorical winners  on February 16 in Olathe.
 
Please come and support your Post and the students who have spent considerable time and effort preparing for this competition.