The Friday Night Free Concert at Heritage Park, 1st and Main Street will feature Mike Lundeen at the keyboard.
“Mike has been one of our most popular concerts for several years,” Ralph Carlson, event organizer, said. “His music is a mix of lite classics, ragtime, contemporary pop, southern gospel with some pre- civil war and country. We are really pleased to get Mike back this year.”
The concert starts at 7 p.m. In the event of inclement weather it will move to the Common Grounds Coffee Shop. Come early and bring a lawn chair as seating is limited.
Fort Scott Area Community Foundation announces their
grant cycle for 2019
Don’t miss your chance to apply – deadline is August 31st, 2019!!
The Fort Scott Area Community Foundation is pleased to
announce that the grant cycle for 2019 is here.
Applications will be accepted from now
until August 31st.
This year, the Foundation will be awarding over $33,000 to local not-for-profits for projects that benefit our community. A certain dollar amount of the awards is reserved for projects that benefit local youth. The maximum grant to any one project is $5,000.
Applications can also be obtained by visiting www.fsacf.com, the Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce at 231 E. Wall St., or by emailing [email protected].
Please use the same email address to submit any questions you may have.
Completed applications must be received by 5:00 p.m., August 31st.
For information on grants awarded last year, click HERE.
Estella Elizabeth Meech, age 84, a resident of Ft. Scott, Kansas, passed away Sunday, August 11, 2019, at the Guest Home Estates in Ft. Scott.
She was born June 7, 1935, in Hepler, Kansas, the daughter of Oscar Jacob Gier and Lizzie Belle Goff Gier. She graduated from the Hepler High School where she excelled in basketball. While still in High School, Estella would take the Katy Railroad train on Friday evening from Hepler to Fort Scott to work at the Frisco Café. She stayed at Elizabeth Bowman’s boarding house on Wall Street. She would take the Katy train back to Hepler on Monday morning and had to miss her first class.
Estella married the love of her life, Dennis Walter Meech on June 6, 1953, by Judge Sam Mason in Ft. Scott. They had two sons, Dennis J. Meech and James W. Meech. Estella helped her husband, Dennis, on their dairy farm milking cows, gardening and raising their sons.
Estella also worked for Key Industries. In October of 1972, she started working for Ward-Kraft. She retired in 2003 as Credit Manager. Estella loved to write poems and stories. She also loved hosting family reunions and was famous in the family for her homemade noodles. She also loved to travel for business and taking her children and grandchildren on cruises and vacations. Estella was a caregiver to many family members and never hesitated helping anyone in need. She touched many lives with her generous heart.
Survivors include her son, Dennis J. Meech and partner, Barb Kirk, of Ft. Scott, grandchildren, Chris and CJae Meech of Ft. Scott, Cody and Taysha Meech of Canyon, Texas, and daughter-in-law, Diane Meech; also her son, James W. Meech and wife, Marita, of Ft. Scott and grandchildren, JW Meech of Canyon, Texas and Elizabeth Meech of Borger, Texas. Also surviving are a sister, Lela Ann Gier, of Ft. Scott, sisters-in-law, Juell “Julie” Ross of Topeka, Kansas, Joyce Meech, of Ft. Scott, Geneva Gier of Girard, Kansas, and Itha Jean Turitine, of Topeka, Kansas, and many nieces and nephews
. In addition to her husband, she was preceded in death by two brothers, Charley and Merle Gier and a sister, Opal Gier.
Rev. Chuck Russell will conduct funeral services at 10:00 A.M. Friday, August 16th at the Cheney Witt Chapel.
Burial will follow in the Evergreen Cemetery.
The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 P.M. Thursday at the Cheney Witt Chapel.
Memorials are suggested to the Alzheimer’s Association and may be left in care of the Cheney Witt Chapel, 201 S. Main, P.O. Box 347, Ft. Scott, KS 66701. Words of remembrance may be submitted to the online guestbook at cheneywitt.com.
The Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce is initiating a partnership program that aims to cultivate an entrepreneurial environment in the community.
What is an entrepreneur?
An entrepreneur is an individual who, rather than working as an employee, founds and runs a small business, assuming all the risks and rewards of the venture, according to investopedia.com.
“The big-picture vision for this initiative is to move Bourbon County forward as a great place to start and grow a small business and where existing businesses have access to all the resources they need to grow and achieve their potential,” Bill Michaud said.
Michaud is the chairman of the Chamber’s Business Resource and Development Committee.
Bill Michaud is the chairman of the Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce Business Resource and Development Committee. Submitted photo.
He and Chamber Executive Director Lindsay Madison are the primary workers to bring this initiative to Fort Scott, Michaud said.
“Lindsay Madison did the work to complete the application which resulted in us being selected,” he said. ” She and I have been the primary ones immersed in the details.”
Lindsay Madison is the Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce Executive Director. Submitted photo.
“The Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce representing Bourbon County has been selected by Network Kansas as a partner in the E-Community Program, a partnership program that aims to cultivate an entrepreneurial environment in partner communities throughout the state,” Michaud said. The Chamber was notified in June 2019.
“Bourbon County was awarded this partnership opportunity through a competitive application process in which 14 Kansas communities were vying for selection and only five new e-community partners were selected,” he said.
“The revolving loan fund and other E-Community resources can be the catalyst to build onto the many great improvements which have occurred in our community in recent years, “Michaud said. “This program is a resource that could help fund additional rehabilitation of downtown buildings which are currently very difficult to finance.”
E-Community loan funds can be used for building acquisition, renovations, inventory, expansion, relocation, equipment and other purposes.
One of the barriers to starting or growing a business is access to funding.
“The largest component of the E-Community Partnership is providing a locally controlled loan fund used to enable new business and existing businesses to overcome that barrier,” Michaud said. “There also additional resources available through Network Kansas to help businesses of all sizes including a variety of programs through StartupKS.”
The E-Community program also provides funding for several approved educational and personal development programs.
“These programs are geared toward teaching and developing potential and existing entrepreneurs,” he said.
Click below for a link to that inventory of programs:
The E-Community program was created through a Kansas Center for Entrepreneurship Tax Credit Program, according to the Fort Scott Chamber website.
Application Details
Applicants may include startup businesses and existing business purchases and/or expansions.
The minimum loan request is $5,000 with a $45,000 maximum amount available per applicant business, subject to availability. The terms for loans issued in the fiscal year 2019-20 will be 5 percent rate over a 10-year maximum term.
Applicants will be asked if the entrepreneur or business has a tax liability in arrears with the Kansas Department of Revenue or the IRS, or been involved in bankruptcy or insolvency proceedings.
Applicants will be asked to provide relevant details such as length of time in business, business name or entity changes, number of jobs to be created or retained, etc.
All business plans will be submitted with the application and should include key elements such as:
Executive Summary
Business Description
Products or Services
Short- and Long-Term Goals
Project Financing
Management
Ownership
Marketing Strategy
Description of Major & Prospective Customers
Description of Market & Competition
Financial Projections
Contact the Kansas Small Business Development Center at Pittsburg State University for assistance in developing a business plan, 620-235-4920.
How the application will be judged
The Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce Financial Review Board will use the following rubric to score all applications in the Bourbon County E-Community Program.
Criteria
Strength (1-4)
Weight (% of total)
Weighted Score
Financial Soundness
25
Owner/Operator Experience
20
Business Plan
25
Owner/3rd Party Funding
25
Community Commitment
5
TOTAL
100
SCALE
4 = Exceeds expectations 3 = Meets expectations
2= Partially meets expectations 1 = Does not meet expectations
Application Checklist
Be sure to include the following with your completed application:
$50 Non-refundable Application Fee
Business Plan including Financial Projections (1-year projection of profit & loss by month and 3 years of annual projections)
Financial Statements (if an existing business)
Income statement and balance sheet from within the past 90 days
Income statements, balance sheets, and complete business tax returns for the two (2) prior year-ends
A current list of business obligations
Applicant Resume
Personal Financial Statement from within the past 90 days
Three Letters of Reference
Other documents relevant to the project
Proposed purchase agreement
The existing or proposed franchise agreement
Existing or proposed lease agreement
Real estate contract
Contractor bids
Appraisals and environmental reports
Partnership agreement
Articles of incorporation & bylaws
History Of Initiative
The initiative was established as a part of the Kansas Economic Growth Act of 2004 to stimulate entrepreneurship and small business growth as a priority for economic and community development in the State of Kansas.
Click here to learn more about Network Kansas and E-Communities.
Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce is located at 231 E. Wall St., Fort Scott, KS 66701 and can be reached at 620-223-3566 or email [email protected].
Business card ad spaces are limited – sign up for yours now. Reach thousands of potential customers for only $50!
September/October table tents are in production now. Hundreds of these are displayed in hotels, stores, fast-food & sit-down restaurants all over Fort Scott for the entire months of September and October.
Have a special event coming up? Promote your event with a business-card ad for only $50!
Want more exposure for your business? This is your chance to reach thousands of customers at a super-affordable cost.
If you would like to place a business-card sized ad, email [email protected]
“Do thy diligence to come before winter.” 2 Timothy 4:21a
The voice on the other end of the line said, “You need to come quickly. Fred is dying.” Suddenly, I felt weak. I needed to sit down.
I never knew my father. Fred Hambrick was like a father to me. He was my “father” in the faith. He was my “Paul” and I was his “Timothy.” For many years, Fred was my pastor. When I gave my life to Christ, Fred baptized me. When I surrendered to the ministry, Fred mentored me. When I went to seminary, Fred tutored me. He has been a big part of my life. The thought of his dying before I could say “goodbye” was heartbreaking. I had to hurry.
The five-hour drive to Norman, Oklahoma only took four. When I arrived at the hospital, I was greeted in the hallway by Fred’s wife, Lola. My mind could not fully comprehend what she was saying – something about a severe stroke and it being only a matter of time.
I hurried into his room. He looked frail and weak on the hospital bed. “Fred,” I spoke loudly, “It’s me James.” He opened his eyes. His arms tried to lift as if he wanted to embrace me. I grabbed his hands and leaned in so he could hear me, “I love you.” The stroke had robbed him of his voice, but he mouthed, “I love you too.” I said, “I’ve told all your jokes and preached all your sermons. I need you to write me some more.” He seemed to want to laugh at my attempt at humor. I swear there was a smile on his face, but that was impossible. The stroke had taken his smile.
I talked to Fred for a bit. Eventually, I settled into waiting with his family. That night, Dr. A. Fred Hambrick was escorted by angels into the presence of Jesus Christ. Until the Lord comes back or calls me home, I will miss him.
Just before he died, the Apostle Paul wrote from a Roman prison to his “son” in the faith, Timothy. Toward the end of the letter we know as 2 Timothy, Paul tells the young preacher to hurry to see him. He says, “Come before winter.” If Timothy doesn’t get there by winter, it will be too late – Paul will be executed.
Have you ever had a friend, or a loved one die and you think, “It can’t be possible? I just saw him.” But you will never see him on this earth again. You think, “I was going to go see him this week. Or I was going to have supper with him next week. Or I was going to call him tomorrow.” Or that you were going to do this – or say that. But now it is too late.
Time is passing. The calendar is turning. There are only so many days in our lives. There are things in this life that will never be done unless they are done “before winter.” The winter will come, and the spring will pass. Flowers will bloom and then they will die. There are opportunities that we have on this summer day, but by November those opportunities will be gone forever.
The point is: Don’t wait too late. Reach out to that loved one. As you are reading this, there is someone on your mind. I didn’t put them there. God did. Call that person. If possible, go see that person. Tell them you love them. Don’t put it off. Tomorrow may be too late.
Come before winter.
James Collins is senior pastor at Fort Scott’s First Southern Baptist Church. He can be reached at (620) 223-2986, or through the website thepointis.net.
Peerless Products, 2403 S. Main, is the largest employer in Fort Scott with 420 workers.
And they need more assembly lines to grow their business, according to Dave Elliott, Peerless Products Culture and Morale Manager.
Founded in Fort Scott, Kansas in 1952, they manufacturer high-performance aluminum architectural and commercial windows for new construction, replacement and historical construction, according to their website.http://www.peerlessproducts.com/Corporate/About-Peerless
“We need to have the capacity to run more products through, to continue to grow,” Elliott said.
“We purchased the old American Standard warehouse in Nevada (MO) on I-49, we will use that as a staging warehouse,” Elliott said. “That frees up space in the Fort Scott facility for another assembly line.”
The employees the company is looking for?
“Somebody that has a good work ethic and a willingness to learn and grow,” Elliott said. In addition, applicants must have a valid driver’s license, and a high school diploma or GED.
The starting-out wage at the plant is $11 per hour, and “they usually work more than 40 hours a week.”
Day shift is from 6 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday.
“The hours on Friday depends on how much of the product is complete,” Elliott said.
Peerless offers a benefits package that offers health insurance, life insurance, a 401K and an “astounding profit-sharing program,” Elliot said.
Peerless also offers “employee care” activities such as chair massage a couple of times a year and currently are giving employees 20 lb. meat bundles. This processed beef and pork comes from what the company purchases at county fairs of 4-H animals.
Today, Aug. 9, Elliot and Karen Contreras will be at the Ellis Fine Art Center on the campus of Fort Scott Community College for a job fair.
Ellis Fine Arts Center
From 2-6 p.m. interested applicants are asked to bring their resume and come for a visit with the two Peerless Products representatives.
Kansas Lottery Transfers $173.6 Million to the State of Kansas in Fiscal Year 2019
TOPEKA, KAN. – The Kansas Lottery is pleased to announce it transferred more revenue to the State of Kansas in Fiscal Year 2019 than in Fiscal Year 2018.
The combined transfer from the traditional lottery and state-owned and operated casino gaming revenue totaled $173.6 million.
The total revenue transferred to the State through traditional lottery game sales was $74.9 million. Revenue transferred from state-owned and operated casino gaming totaled $98.7 million. Kansas Lottery retailers saw record commissions in FY19 of $17.3 million.
Traditional lottery sales in Fiscal Year 2019 were $295.3 million. Lottery sales were 9.79 percent higher than in FY18 when sales were $268.9 million.
“It’s the Kansas Lottery’s mission to engage our players in a fun and secure way while also doing our best to try and maximize a return to the State,” said Kansas Lottery Executive Director Stephen Durrell. “We do that by looking at ways to keep our players interested and excited about our games. The Lottery is continuing to add new games and second-chance promotions that offer unique experiences, and we thank all of our players and retailers for their continued support.”
A portion of proceeds from traditional lottery sales was dedicated to paying for the 272 Lottery vending machines being rolled out to select retailers across the state. The Kansas Lottery avoided interest and financing costs by paying for the vending machines from operating funds.
“Our vending machine roll-out has been methodical as we try to look for the best retailers to maximize the effectiveness of the machines,” Durrell said. “We look forward to the opportunity for increasing our sales and transfer to the state through vending machine sales. Vending machines offer easier access for our players to find their favorite games and takes the burden off our retailers during times of high retail sales.”
The Kansas Lottery also transferred a combined $8.3 million to the Problem Gambling and Addictions Grant Fund. The transfer included $80,000 from traditional lottery games and $8.22 million from state-owned and operated casino gaming, as required by state law.
“The Kansas Lottery values its relationship with the four managers the State contracted with to manage these casinos,” Durrell continued. “The casinos generate millions of dollars for the state and helps the Lottery accomplish its mission by maximizing the State’s revenue.”
Below is a breakdown of traditional lottery sales and the distribution of revenue from state-owned and operated casino gaming as well as information on where the Lottery money goes.
COMMUNITY INVITED TO STORE EXPANSION CELEBRATION AND FOOD DRIVE AUGUST 10
Gordmans to Provide Donation to The Keyhole
Gordmans in Fort Scott will be expanding its merchandise beyond its home décor and toys assortment to include popular name brand apparel, footwear, beauty products and accessories at the lowest possible prices compared to department stores. Gordmans, located at 2400 South Main Street, will celebrate its expansion during an in-store event Saturday, Aug. 10 beginning at 10 a.m.
As part of the celebration, Gordmans is giving back to the community by supporting The Keyhole with a food drive and $500 donation. The Keyhole is an organization that provides meal and afterschool programs to children in the Fort Scott community. The food drive is being held in conjunction with Gordmans’ back-to-school campaign to raise awareness and funds for No Kid Hungry, a national nonprofit dedicated to ending childhood hunger.
In addition to the food drive, Gordmans will have giveaways and special offers for guests.
Free Gifts Plus Shopping Cards: The first 100 guests to visit Gordmans when it opens at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Aug. 10 will receive a free gift and have an opportunity to win a $50 gift card or a $5 shopping card.
Rewards Galore: Gordmans guests who enroll in the Style Circle Rewards program will enjoy incredible payback rewards, a birthday gift and more.
Gordmans Credit Card Savings:Gordmans’ guests who apply and are approved for a Gordmans credit card will receive 20 percent off their first day’s purchases.
“At Gordmans, we have put the fun back into shopping by creating an exciting store where terrific deals and popular name brands are at every turn. Fresh new merchandise deliveries arrive weekly in our stores, creating the thrill of a great find,” said Michael Glazer, President and CEO of Stage. “We are excited to invite our loyal guests and newcomers to join us as we celebrate Gordmans’ expansion in Fort Scott and support The Keyhole.”
Below are suggested kid-friendly food items that the Keyhole will be accepting at Gordmans on Aug. 10.
Juice boxes
Fruit cups
Granola bars
Trail mix
Peanut butter
Jelly
Applesauce
Bottled water
Other nutritious snacks
Guests also have the opportunity to support No Kid Hungry by purchasing food-themed lunch totes, water bottles and drawstring packs online at gordmans.com/nokidhungry. Items feature unique characters and fun sayings kids will love and parents will approve. Gordmans will donate 50% percent of the retail sales price of each item to No Kid Hungry.
Gordmans is part of the Stage community of stores. Stage has opened 74 Gordmans this year, including the store in Fort Scott. By the end of 2019, there will be over 150 Gordmans stores across the country.
About Stage Stores
Stage Stores, Inc. is a leading retailer of trend-right, name-brand values for apparel, accessories, cosmetics, footwear and home goods. The Company operates in 42 states through 645 BEALLS, GOODY’S, PALAIS ROYAL, PEEBLES, and STAGE specialty department stores and 141 GORDMANS off-price stores, as well as an e-commerce website at www.stage.com.
