KDOT requesting comments on STIP amendment

 

The Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT) requests comments on an amendment to the FFY 2024-2027 Statewide Transportation Improvement Program (STIP) document.

The STIP is a project specific publication that lists all KDOT administered projects, regardless of funding source, and includes projects for counties and cities as well as projects on the State Highway System. The list of projects being amended to the STIP can be viewed at http://www.ksdot.org/bureaus/burProgProjMgmt/stip/stip.asp.  In addition to the project list is Administrative Modification #1 for narrative updates in the STIP.

The approval of the STIP amendment requires a public comment period, which concludes Nov. 1. To make comments on the amendment, contact KDOT’s Division of Program and Project Management at (785) 296-3254.

This information is available in alternative accessible formats. To obtain an alternative format, contact the KDOT Division of Communications, (785) 296-3585 (Voice/Hearing Impaired-711).

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Obituary of Jean Reeves

Jean Ann Reeves, age 80, a beloved resident of Fort Scott, Kansas, passed away on Thursday, October 12, 2023, at St. Luke’s East Hospital in Lee Summit, Missouri. Jean was born in Zilwaukee, Michigan, to parents Nelson and Georgia Bauer.

 

In 1961, she graduated from Beaverton High School, embarking on a path that led her to Fort Scott, where she and her family settled in 1978. Together, they ventured into the world of business, establishing their own Welding Supply enterprise.  She furthered her career by providing dedicated support during her tenure at Mercy Hospital and the Hudson & Mullies Law Firm.

 

Jean’s true joy in life revolved around her precious grandkids, who ranged in age from 23 to as young as 6. Her heart swelled with pride as she attended their numerous activities, from swim meets to volleyball matches, basketball games, and dance recitals.  As a mother and grandmother, Jean conveyed a nurturing spirit that touched the hearts of those around her.

 

Throughout her life in Fort Scott, Jean was a dedicated member of Pioneer Kiwanis, PEO Chapter FU, and the Magazine Club. Her legendary card-playing skills and predictable Sonic drink runs leave a lasting impression on all who knew her.

 

Jean is survived by her loving daughters and their spouses, Amy and Dan Kelly, Rachel and Chris Pruitt, and Carrie and Whitney Archer. Her legacy continues through her cherished grandchildren: Will, Jack, Kate, Brooklyn, Sydney, Grayce, Ruby, Dalton, and Holden, each holding a special place in her heart. Additionally, she leaves behind several nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents and sister, Barbara Wasalaski.

Her memory lives on in the hearts of those who knew her and will be deeply missed every day.

 

A memorial service to honor Jean’s life, officiated by Rev. Dusty Drake, will take place at 10:30 AM on Friday, October 27th, at the Cheney Witt Chapel.

Family and friends are invited to pay their respects on October 26th from 5-7 PM at the funeral home.

Memorials be made to CASA, a cause dear to Jean’s heart. Contributions may be left in care of the Cheney Witt Chapel at PO Box 347, 201 S. Main St., Fort Scott, KS 66701.  To share your cherished memories and words of remembrance, please visit the online guestbook at cheneywitt.com.

Fort Scott Radio Station Recognized by Kansas Dept. of Commerce

Tim and Deb McKenney at the recent awards ceremony. Submitted photo.

A local business was recognized during the recent ceremony by The Kansas Department of Commerce held in Wichita on Oct. 12.

To The Stars: Kansas Businesses Awards is an annual awards program that recognizes businesses across the state for the valuable contributions they make to the Kansas economy and to the well-being of their communities, according to https://www.kansascommerce.gov/kansasbusinessawards/.

Fort Scott Broadcasting Co. Inc was recognized as the Southeast Kansas Regional Winner in Retail and Service. Tim and Deb McKenney are the owners of the business.

The award plaque was received by the McKenney’s. Submitted photo.

“Deb submitted the information,” Tim McKenney said.  “It was really just a statement about the station’s 70th birthday under the same family ownership and management coming up next year.  She mentioned some of our programs we air regularly such as the city, county, and school talk shows to keep folks in tune with current happenings in the area.”

“The award was for 69 years of community service to our community,” Deb said.

 

The order of the awards at the ceremony. Submitted photo.

The categories were:

  • AgriBusiness – companies that stand out in the agribusiness industry – including agricultural production, products and services, and agri-tourism
  • Apprenticeship Champions and Partners – companies and other entities that excel providing registered apprenticeship programs in Kansas
  • Business Innovation – companies from any sector incorporating innovative technologies in their business
  • Healthcare/Nonprofit – noteworthy services provided by either healthcare facilities or nonprofit organizations
  • Manufacturing/Distribution – outstanding achievement for companies large and small involved in manufacturing and distribution
  • Non-Traditional Talent Pools – companies that have gone above and beyond to hire those with prior involvement in the justice system, youth, seniors or individuals with disabilities
  • Retail/Service – exceptional performance by businesses selling goods, products and/or services
  • Under 30 Entrepreneurs – young entrepreneurs achieving business success under the age of 30
  • Welcome Back – entrepreneurs and businesspeople who once left Kansas but have returned to make their mark in the Sunflower State.

Businesses and individuals from across the state were honored for their outstanding contributions to Kansas communities and the state’s economy at the ceremony, according to a press release.

Governor Laura Kelly announced at the ceremony that Atwood-based SurePoint Ag Systems has won the 2023 Governor’s Award of Excellence and Tank Connection in Parsons earned the Governor’s Exporter of the Year Award, according to the press release.

A record 297 businesses, organizations and individuals were nominated in nine categories for this year’s To the Stars: Kansas Business Awards, according to the release. Nominees were reviewed and scored for various criteria such as business expansion, employee recruitment and retention practices, training and educational programs, capital investments, and support of local community events. A total of 245 Merit Awards and 43 Regional Awards were presented at the event. Additionally, one nominee in each category was designated a Statewide Winner, making them finalists for the Governor’s Award of Excellence.

To view the list of award winners: https://www.kansascommerce.gov/kansasbusinessawards/#h-merit-award-winners

In the regional award winners division for retail/ service across the state, the winners were:

From the Southeast section of the state,  the regional winner was Fort Scott Broadcasting All Hit 103.9 fm, 98.3 fm, and 1600 am.

East Central
JT’s Grill

Northwest
Shores Napa Auto Parts

Northeast
Lumber House True Value

South Central
Country at Heart

Southwest
Jetmore Veterinary Service

 

KS Flags Are Half-Staff In Honor of Judge Malcolm

Governor Kelly Directs Flags be Flown at Half-Staff in Honor of Magistrate Judge William Malcolm


TOPEKA
— Today, in accordance with Executive Order #20-30, Governor Laura Kelly directed flags be lowered to half-staff at the State Capitol Complex and all court buildings and facilities until Monday, October 23, 2023, to honor 21st District Magistrate Judge William Malcolm, who died from injuries sustained in a car accident earlier this month.

“Judge Malcolm was a dedicated public servant who, for nearly two decades, worked hard to ensure justice for the citizens of Clay and Riley counties,” Governor Laura Kelly said. “On behalf of the State of Kansas, I thank him for his service. My deepest condolences go out to his loved ones.”

Judge Malcolm passed away on October 15, 2023. A public visitation will be held on Sunday, October 22, 2023.

To receive email alerts when the governor orders flags to half-staff, please visit:  https://governor.kansas.gov/newsroom/kansas-flag-honors.  

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Killers of the Flower Moon Free Movie Premiere in Fort Scott Oct. 20

Killers of the Flower Moon Free Movie Premiere in Fort Scott

 

Friday, October 20, 2023, the Friends of Fort Scott National Historic Site, Inc. and Fort Scott National Historic Site are sponsoring the premiere of Killers of the Flower Moon, as a part of the nationwide release. The free premiere showing is at 6:40 p.m. and is hosted by the Fort Scott Cinema, 224 W 18th St, Fort Scott, KS 66701.

The free tickets are available at the box office at show time.

 

In the late 1800s, oil was discovered on the Osage Indian Reservation in present-day Osage County, Oklahoma. The members of the Osage Nation earned royalties from oil sales through their federally mandated “head rights,” and, by the 1920s, the richest people in the world were members of the Osage Nation. Then, one by one, the Osage began to be killed off.

The family of an Osage woman, Mollie Burkhart, became a prime target. Her relatives were shot and poisoned. And it was just the beginning, as more and more members of the tribe began to die under mysterious circumstances.

FBI agents infiltrated the region, struggling to adopt the latest techniques of detection. Together with the Osage they began to expose one of the most chilling conspiracies in American history. This conspiracy of theft, terror, and genocide helped launch J. Edgar Hoover’s FBI.

This film is an adaptation by Director Martin Scorsese of the book Killers of the Flower Moon, a narrative nonfiction by David Grann.

 

There are 25,288 Osage Tribal Members who live across the globe, with just under half residing in Oklahoma. In “Killers of the Flower Moon”, the language you hear is taught by Osage Nation Language Teachers, the traditional clothing you see is made by Osage artists, and the landscape is the Osage Nation Reservation. They are not relics. The Osage Nation is a sovereign Nation that is thriving. A people of strength, hope, and passion, honoring the stories of the past and building the world of the future.

 

This is but one series of the many traumas experienced in Native American history. The National Park Service encourages you to be part of the discussion and learn more at www.nps.gov/fosc, www.nps.gov/subjects/americanindians, or www.osageculture.com. This event is a portion of a series of programs and events around the Native American Experience that Fort Scott National Historic Site and the Friends of the Fort have been hosting such as Wahzhazhe, the Osage Ballet.  Additional programs are to be announced soon.

 

Fort Scott National Historic Site’s, a unit of the National Park Service, exhibit areas and visitor center are open daily from 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. The park grounds are open daily from a half hour before sunrise until a half hour after sunset. To find out more or become involved in activities at the Fort, please contact the park at 620-223-0310 or visit our website at www.nps.gov/fosc.

 

-NPS-

 

Image of Mollie Burkhart.  Credit Photo as: The Bismarck Tribune, June 16, 1926

Bourbon County Community Theatre Presents Voices from the Grave Tour

Bourbon County Community Theatre Presents Voices from the Grave Tour

 

The newly formed Bourbon County Community Theatre, LLC presents their inaugural production entitled Voices from the Grave.

 

Voices from the Grave takes place from 6-9 p.m. on Oct. 28 at Riverfront Park in Fort Scott, KS. Guests will enjoy a guided walking tour of short acting vignettes centering around stories of murder and mayhem in Fort Scott. Scenes were written by the students in the Advanced Drama class at Fort Scott High School and are based off of stories from local author Brian Allen’s books about Fort Scott.

 

Tickets are $10 for adults and $7 for students and are available from the Chamber of Commerce in Fort Scott. Tour times must be pre-scheduled and run every 10 minutes. Parents must accompany children under the age of 14.

 

More information can be found on the Bourbon County Community Theatre Facebook page or by contacting Angie Bin at 620-729-9622 or [email protected].

Chamber Halloween Parade on Oct. 28

Halloween Parade

The Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce announces this year’s Halloween Parade will be held Saturday, October 28th at 11:00 a.m. in Downtown Fort Scott.

Prior to the parade, starting at 10:00 a.m., there will be special activities including pictures with a spooktacular backdrop at the City Scales building on North Main and face painting by Fort Scott High School Thespians.

The parade trick-or-treats merchants along Main Street, starting at La Hacienda, south to 2nd Street, crossing the street then heading north back to Skubitz Plaza. Any businesses or organizations in the community not located along Main Street are also welcome to set up a table on the sidewalk providing treats, coupons, or other handouts for kids. Children are encouraged to bring a sack or bag to collect treats along the parade route.

Following the parade, a free slice of Papa Don’s pizza and a drink will be served to kids in costumes.

The Chamber is currently seeking sponsors and donations for the pizza lunch following the parade.

Contact the Chamber if interested at 620-223-3566

Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce | 231 E. Wall Street, Fort Scott, KS 66701

Chamber Coffee Hosted by Sleep Inn

ANNOUNCING THIS WEEK’S
CHAMBER COFFEE
Join us for Chamber Coffee hosted by

Sleep Inn & Suites

Thursday, October 19th

8am

302 E. Wall

The Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce invites members and guests to a Chamber Coffee event this Thursday, October 19th at 8 a.m. to celebrate the 9th Anniversary of Sleep Inn & Suites located at 302 E. Wall St. Coffee, juice, and light refreshments will be served in addition to a door prize drawing.

Sleep Inn and Suites is a 59-room simply stylish hotel that offers a long list of great amenities such as free parking, free Wi-Fi, free breakfast, access to a well-equipped fitness center, business center, and an indoor heated pool with a sundeck. Sleep Inn & Suites is convenient for business and leisure travelers and brings thousands of visitors each year into downtown Fort Scott.

 

Contact the Chamber of Commerce at (620) 223-3566 for more information.

 

Click here for their Facebook Page!

We hope to see you there!

Thank you to our Chamber Champion members
shown below!
FORT SCOTT AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
620-223-3566
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Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce | 231 E. Wall Street, Fort Scott, KS 66701