Lamb and Cattle Show Sponsors Wanted for Spring Show

 

Hannah and Adam Montee. Submitted photo.

A couple with young children has taken on facilitating a youth livestock show. This spring is their third show.

Adam and Hannah Montee hosted a youth livestock show in the spring of 2021 at the Crawford County Fairgrounds to offer kids an opportunity to showcase their animals.

This was because so many livestock shows had been shut down due the COVID 19 Pandemic.

“We have 3 kids who are in 4-H now and show lambs, goats and calves, plus a 2-year old who can’t wait to show,” Hannah said.

At that 2021 show, 100 calves were shown by 60 exhibitors from six states, and $1,000 in cash and prizes were given away, according to Hannah.

“Our goal the first year was to raise $2,000 for updates to wash racks at the Crawford County Fairgrounds,” she said. “With help from sponsors, we are hopeful the project will be completed soon.”

In 2022, the Montees changed venues for the show to Fort Scott and had over 70 kids showing 150 animals.

It will be at the Bourbon County Fairgrounds again this year on March 17 -18.
“We changed venues because the (Crawford County) fair board did not want to work with us,” Hannah said. “The Bourbon County fair board wants show, clinics, etc. there and doesn’t care when others are scheduled.”

“We also needed full use of the fairgrounds – exhibitors able to stall in the barns, inside space, etc. and we did not have access to that at the Crawford County fairgrounds,” she said.

This year they are adding lambs to the livestock show: a prospect and possibly a progress lamb show on Friday night, March 17.

The Montees are looking for more business sponsors for this year’s show. There are different level of sponsorships from $100 to $500.

“Any sponsorship money goes directly to prizes for the kids,” she said.

Contact her at 620.704.4196 or email [email protected]

2023 Kansas State of the State Address

 

~~Governor Kelly Calls on Kansas Legislators to “Meet Her In the Middle” to Continue State’s Success~~

TOPEKA – Governor Laura Kelly tonight delivered her 2023 State of the State Address during a joint session of the Kansas Senate and House of Representatives.

To see the transcript of the address:

 

The video stream, provided by Smokey Hills PBS, is available at  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XoJWERxZt0I.

Community Involvement Fair on Feb. 2

Sending on Behalf of Chamber Member
Fort Scott Foward…
Community Involvement Fair
Here’s your chance to get involved and make a difference!
Plan to attend our Community Involvement Fair on Thursday, February 2nd
from 5:00 to 6:30 pm at the Ellis Fine Arts Center Lobby.
This event is perfect for anyone in our community looking to get involved more in 2023.
The first 75 people who go through the event will receive a gift

Click here for more info.

Thank you to our Chamber Champion members below!
Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce | 231 E. Wall Street, Fort Scott, KS 66701

Amended Agenda for FS City Commission This Evening

NOTICE OF AND AGENDA FOR MEETING
OF FORT SCOTT CITY COMMISSION
CITY HALL COMMISSION MEETING ROOM

123 SOUTH MAIN STREET

JANUARY 24, 2023
6:00 P.M.

I. Roll Call:

J. Jones T. Van Hoecke E. Woellhof K. Harrington M. Wells

II. Flag Salute:

III. Invocation: Led by: T. VanHoecke

IV. Approve Amended Agenda:

1) Consideration of CMB License on Premises for Aunt Toadies / Consent Agenda – 1411 E. Wall;

2) Bid Total Included for Consideration – Memorial Hall Steps Restoration / New Business;

3) Removal of Grant Consideration for ERS Systems / New Business – Dave Bruner.
V. Consent Agenda:

A. Approval of minutes of the regular meeting of January 10, 2023.

B. Approval of Appropriation Ordinance 1328-A totaling $1,010,092.41

C. Request to Pay – HDR – $13,328.46

D. Request to Pay – Baker Tilly – $7,898.91 – Fees for December 2022 –
Interim Management Services – City Manager and Lodging Fees.

E. AMS – $516,498.33 – first ½ of sludge removal at Wastewater Plant

F. Marbery Concrete – $33,720.00 – Lake Fort Scott Dam work

G. AG Engineering – $2,000.00 – Lake Fort Scott Dam engineering

H. Tyler Technologies – $53,925.19 – Yearly software service

I. Nuss and Farmer – $8,000 (December and January fees)

J. BBCO Redi – $5,100 (December and January fees)

K. Hawkins Inc. – $11,431.78 Water Treatment chemicals

L. Kansas 911 Council – $36,600 (call handling phone package for dispatch)

M. KMIT – $82,535 (Workman’s Comp Insurance, yearly)

N. Consideration for CMB License on Premises – Aunt Toadies – 1411 Wall St

VI. Public Comment:
(Sign up required. Comments on any topic not on agenda and limited to five
(5) minutes per person, at Commission discretion)

VII. Old Business:

A. Update on Costs to Move Existing Docks at Lake Fort Scott – Doug

B. Dave’s Demolition retracted bid awarded for 523 S. Heylman (BID #48-

2022). Consideration to go out for bids again.

C. Consideration to go out for demolition bids on 1107 W. 6 th St.

D. Update on Brick Street Policy – Tabled to 1/24/23 meeting, Bob Farmer
to Review.
1. Update by Bob Farmer – requested by Commission

2. Traffic Counts – M. Wells

3. Brick Specifications – J. Dickman

E. Update on Splash Pad location before the Commission votes.

1. Photo of Location – J. Jones

VIII. Appearances: Justin Pergont to address the Commission regarding the
Van Fossen Apartment Project.
IX. Public Hearing: None

X. New Business:

A. Consideration of Crosswalk and Signage to be painted on the alley road way
exiting onto Wall St. from the Common Ground drive through. – Presented by Thomas Russell and Jennifer LaRoche
B. Consideration to Increase Airport Hangar Rates – Seth Simpson

C. Consideration of Cost for Lake Fort Scott Boat Ramp – $2,740.00 (Not to
Exceed $3,500.00)
D. Consideration to go out for bid for Gunn Park RV Bathroom Renovation

E. Consideration to go out for bid on Fort Scott Pavilion

F. Consideration of advertising for Request for Qualifications (RFQ) for US-54 City Connecting Link Improvement Program (CCLIP) seeking qualified consulting firms for pre-construction engineering and project management.
G. Consideration of Memorial Hall Steps Restoration Bid – award winner
One (1) complete bid received, opened 1/24/2023 at 2:00PM at City Hall with Earles Engineering present with the City Clerk – $147,426.49
XII. Reports and Comments:

A. Interim City Manager Comments:

B. Engineering Comments:

C. Commissioners Comments:

J. Jones –

T. VanHoecke –

E. Woellhof –

K. Harrington –

M. Wells –

D. City Attorney Comments:

XIII. Executive Session If requested, (please follow script in all motions for
Executive Sessions)

XIV. Adjournment:

The Beauty Lounge Celebrates One Year Anniversary on Jan. 28

Sending on Behalf of Chamber Member
The Beauty Lounge…
New Location and One Year Anniversary!

The Beauty Lounge invites everyone to come out and celebrate their new location PLUS their one-year anniversary!

Lots of activities going on which include:

Permanent Jewelry

$10 Brow Waxes

$10 Flower Bouquets

Hair Tinsel

$10 Charcuterie Cups

Chair Massages $1/minute

40% off all products

Essential Oils with Bobbi Ogle

Injections w/ Blissful Aesthetics

(xeomin: $8/unit, filler:$100 off full syringe, Lipo shot:$35,

b12 shot:$20)

Free door prizes plus goody bags to the first 10 guests!

Endless cocktails and snacks

January 28th 2023

1-5pm

2 south Main Street

Thank you to our Chamber Champion members below!
Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce | 231 E. Wall Street, Fort Scott, KS 66701

Chamber Announces The Artificers Ribbon Cutting and Grand Opening Gala

 

The Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce announces a Ribbon Cutting and Grand Opening Gala to celebrate the launch of The Artificers, T.E. Freeman Studio & Kate Freeman Studio at 8 N. National Ave. in the Downtown Historic District on Saturday, January 28, 2023.  The ribbon cutting and remarks will take place at 5:45pm and the gala will follow from 6 to 9pm. Light refreshments will be offered.  The gala will feature art from Trent and Kate Freeman as well as some of their house artists that will be with them on a regular basis.  This long-awaited event will kick off the opening of the art gallery and hosting of art classes and workshops that will be held in the teaching studio.

Classes and workshops will start February 1st, and those interested can sign up for emails at their website theartificers.com and always be the first to know what’s being offered. The Gallery will also periodically feature master artists who will teach workshops about their art.

Trent & Kate will also be conducting a silent auction of some exclusive pieces of artwork as well as a special announcement, regarding the artwork. Only those in attendance will have the opportunity to purchase these pieces.

The Freeman’s recently moved to Bourbon County from Kansas City after selling their home and studio.  Trent has been a mixed media sculptor for 26 years and received his Undergraduate in Fine Art from Emporia State University.  Kate Freeman is a ceramist and acrylic painter as well as the marketing and day to day management of the studio.   The Freeman’s have been restoring the Hammons’ Real Estate building and are planning to continue the restoration and have their residence in the upper level.  The Freeman’s are glad to be part of the Fort Scott community and are excited and encouraged by the amount of support they have received from fellow business owners and residents of Fort Scott and the surrounding areas.

 

The galleries first artists will include; Kenny Felt- photography, Tim Kienzle- copper jewelry, Erin Shevling- pottery, Dianne Miller- glass, Kristin Girard- electroforming jewelry, Kristan Hammond- photography, Rachel Painter- painting, Amy Smith- mixed media, and “Forged in Fire” Champion, Ryan DeMott- Bladesmith.

 

Chamber members and the community are welcome and encouraged to attend the ribbon cutting and gala event this Saturday.  The Artificers look forward to a festive evening by suggesting cocktail attire or nice dress.  Although the event is free, those attending are requested to RSVP under the event on fortscott.com or email [email protected].

 

 

Chamber Coffee at the River Room Event Center on Jan. 26

ANNOUNCING THIS WEEK’S
CHAMBER COFFEE
Join us for Chamber Coffee hosted by
The River Room
Thursday, January 26th
8am
3 W. Oak Street
The Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce invites members and guests to a Chamber Coffee event this Thursday, January 26th at 8 a.m. hosted by The River Room Event Center, 3 W. Oak Street. Coffee, juice, and light refreshments will be served in addition to door prize drawings.
The River Room is a beautiful venue for weddings, receptions, banquets, conferences, meetings, and more. Capacity of the event center is technically 700 people for standing room only, and up to 400 can be seated comfortably. Located in the heart of the Downtown Historic District, The River Room view overlooks the Fort Scott National Historic Site National Park located at the north end of downtown.
Known as the Stout Building, the property is listed with the National Register of Historic Places and maintains significant architectural integrity to when it was erected in 1912 by The Fort Scott Grain & Implement Company, selling implements, buggies, carriages, wagons, touring cars, and tires. The building housed a number of businesses over the years and was saved and extensively restored in the early 2000’s by Dean and Becky Mann after being vacant long-term and becoming dilapidated. Al Niece, of Niece Products, purchased the building in 2018 from the Mann’s following their retirement and relocation to keep it alive as an asset to the community and visitors.
In November 2022, Cathy Bishop who recently retired from Niece Products became the new Event Coordinator for The River Room.
Any member business or organization wanting to host Chamber Coffee in 2023 is encouraged to contact the Chamber to save a date by calling 620-223-3566 or emailing [email protected].
We hope to see you there!
Thank you to our Chamber Champion members
shown below!
FORT SCOTT AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
620-223-3566
Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce | 231 E. Wall Street, Fort Scott, KS 66701

Obituary of James Belknap Jr.

James Hargraves Belknap, Jr., 84, of Fort Scott, Kansas, passed away Thursday evening, January 19, 2023, at his home surrounded by his loved ones. He was born March 3, 1938, in Tulsa, Oklahoma, the son of James Hargraves Belknap, Sr. and Thelma Francine (Warwick) Belknap.

 

James graduated from Chetopa High School in 1956, and served in the US Army as a Radar Technician from 1958 until 1960. He was a Press Operator for Ennis Business forms from 1984 until retiring in 2003. He owned and operated Bronson Locker in Bronson, Kansas from 1974 until 1984, and Jim’s Lawn Mower Service and Repair for twenty years. He was a member of the United Methodist Church in Chetopa, Kansas, a Lifetime Member of the Columbus Masonic Lodge, and a former member of the Bronson Ruritan.

 

James is survived by a son, Joseph Allen Belknap (Anita), of Chetopa, Kansas; two daughters, Deborah Kaye Fouts (Dean), of Mound Valley, Kansas, and Kimberly Diane Roberts (Tom), of Fort Scott; six grandchildren, eleven great-grandchildren, and one great-great-grandchild.

He was preceded in death by his parents, a brother, Robert H. Belknap, and a sister, Thelma Sue DeMent.

 

Following cremation, Darren McColm will conduct graveside services at 2:00 p.m. Monday, January 30, 2023, at the Oswego City Cemetery in Oswego, Kansas, under the direction of the Konantz-Cheney Funeral Home. Condolences may be submitted to the online guestbook at konantz-cheney.com.

 

Obituary of Sarah Eckles

Sarah Eugenia Wesner Eckles, 83, passed away peacefully in her home on January 22, 2023. Sally was born November 23, 1939, to Ermal and Hulon Albright Wesner in Ida, Louisiana.

She attended college at Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, where she was a member of Phi Mu sorority, the Honor Society, and met her husband-to-be, Robert Lee Eckles. At LSU, she received her Bachelor of Science degree in Home Economics and had a long career as a social worker in New Orleans.

Sally and Bob were married September 4,1960, at the Church of the Covenant, New Orleans. They celebrated 62 years of marriage in September, 2022.

She was a devoted wife, mother, friend and member of the First Presbyterian Church.

Bob and Sally arrived in Fort Scott from Pittsburg, Kansas in the early seventies to raise their three young daughters. For 33 years she worked for Bourbon County SRS (now CFS) as a caseworker and supervisor. There she built true and lasting friendships with her co-workers. Her concern for those in need was a primary concern for her in both her public and private life.

Her parents preceded her in death.

Sally is survived by her devoted husband, Bob, their daughters, Margaret (Harvie Jordan), Mobile, Alabama; Alice Eckles (Ross Conrad), Middlebury, Vermont; and Ruth Eckles (Joe Rizzolo), Bahama, North Carolina, as well as five grandchildren: Kate Jordan, the Rev. Sarah Jordan, Violet Eckles-Jordan (Rose’ Hernandez), Thea Price-Eckles and Ana Price-Eckles, and her brother Jim Wesner (GeorgeAnn Wesner), Cincinnati, Ohio.

 

Sally will be remembered by many who love her as a kind and wise friend, a devoted mother, and a gifted vocalist who gave so richly of her talents in the choir at First Presbyterian Church as well as community choirs for many years. She performed with the Madrigals, a dinner-theater style presentation through Fort Scott Community College, and played Mother Superior in a local theater production of “Sound of Music,”among other roles over the years.

 

Among her many sources of pleasure were her memberships in a birthday club lunch group and a women’s supper club, Second Shift, in Chapter CA of the PEO Sisterhood and in Presbyterian Women.

 

She loved nature, adventures, travel, and took her family on many vacations over the years – from the Grand Canyon to Yellowstone National Park to a cruise on the Mediterranean Sea. One of the special joys of her life was that she and Bob were able to take each grandchild on a graduation trip of their choice, this included excursions to Paris, Spain, Scotland, and Ireland.

 

In 2010, she received the Presbyterian Women’s annual Life Membership for Faithful Service. She was an ordained Elder in the church, and over the years served as a mentor to confirmands, worked with the Logos program, and hosted the Monday Lunch for Senior High students.

 

She was thankful for her church community and noted many times over the course of her illness how their prayers gave her peace, comfort, and held her up in her time of need.

 

Rev. Dr. Jared Witt will officiate funeral services at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, February 4, 2023, at the First Presbyterian Church under the direction of the Konantz-Cheney Funeral Home.

Visitation is at 10:00 a.m., prior to service time.

The family requests that in lieu of flowers, memorial donations be made to First Presbyterian Church and The Beacon, and may be left in the care of the Konantz-Cheney Funeral Home, 15 W. Wall Street, P.O. Box 309, Fort Scott, Kansas, 66701. Condolences may be submitted to the online guestbook at konantz-cheney.com..

 

Obituary of Clarence William Willey

Clarence William “Bill” Willey, age 69, resident of Deerfield, MO, formerly of Lane, KS, passed away Thursday morning January 19th, 2023, at Cox Barton County Hospital in Lamar, MO.  He was born July 3rd, 1953, in Garnett, KS to Lloyd Warren Willey and Ester Rebecca Ashburn Willey.

Clearance, “Bill”, or “Billy” was raised in Lane, KS, and graduated from Central Heights in Richmond, KS.  Bill would serve thirty-five years in the military before his retirement. Bill spent three years in the U.S. Marine Corp from 1972 to 1975, and then he served thirty-two years between the Kansas Army Reserves and Kansas Army National Guard before retiring from the military in April for 2007.

Survivors include his three children, Brian Willey of Louisburg, KS, Jeremy Willey (wife Nikki) of Deerfield, MO, Deedra Doherty (husband Josh) of Columbus, KS; six grandchildren Brooke, Kayla and Carter Willey, Christian Doherty, Haven Cooper, and Neaveh Doherty; his brother David Willey and Helen Johnson; as well as numerous nieces and nephews.

He is preceded in death by two brothers Lloyd and Johnny Willey, his sister Sally Willey, a niece Vona Jo Willey, and his parents.

Graveside services will be held at 11:00 AM Friday, January 27th, at the U.S. National Cemetery Fort Scott with military honors.

Memorials are suggested to the Bill Willey Memorial Fund and may be left in care of the Cheney Witt Chapel, PO Box 347, 201 S. Main St., Fort Scott, KS 66701.  Words of remembrance may be submitted to the online guestbook at cheneywitt.com.

 

 

Two Infrastructure Issues Affected Fort Scott Yesterday

Fort Scottians experienced a couple of infrastructure problems on Jan. 23.

There was a power outage.

“From what we are hearing from Evergy (the electric utility)it was an outage in a substation,” Brad Matkin, Fort Scott City Manager said. “They did a great job getting the problem located and solved in a timely manner and we appreciate this.”

Brad Matkin. Submitted photo.

According to a call to Evergy, it was a substation problem and the outage was first reported at 10:44 a.m. with power restored at 11:06 a.m.

In addition, there was a water line break in the city.

“A lot of times the weather is a main issue for these water line breaks,” he said.  “They happen more in the winter than in the summer because of the weather changes. One day it is in the 50’s and the next is in the 20’s,”

“They also are caused by the lack of rain,” Matkin said.  “This weather change causes the ground to shift which causes our water lines to break.”

“Other reasons for these water leaks are caused by other utility contractors hitting the water lines when digging, which was the cause for the leak yesterday,” he said.

A Fort Scott City Crew works on a water main break on Jan. 23. Photo from the city’s Facebook page.

Unfortunately this problem is not a new one as Fort Scott had 62 water leaks last year, according to Matkin.

What major projects need to happen to minimize these outages of both electricity and water?

“We cannot speak for Evergy on what projects they have in the works, but we do have a couple of water projects we are working with our engineer to get started, but again, with the weather we have, we will have leaks and we will continue to work hard to service our citizens.”

“We do not see very many lateral breaks which is good and shows our lines, even though they are old, are still in good condition,” he said.

Matkin save thanks to city workers on the city’s Facebook page last evening.
 “Thanks Bill Lemke, Stanley McKeen, Jason McReynolds, Brady Coffman, Joseph Reid, and Dayton Mitchell for your hard work,” he stated.