What’s Happening in Fort Scott

What’s Happening in Fort Scott! July 25th Weekly Newsletter

Trolley Tours every Friday and Saturday on the hour.

Fridays 11am-3pm, on the hour, last tour leaves at 2pm

Saturdays 10am-3pm, on the hour, the last tour leaves at 2pm

$6 adults, $4 children 12 & under

UPCOMING CALENDAR OF EVENTS

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Fort Scott National Historic Site

Daily Guided Tours: 10am & 1pm

Currently closed Wednesdays & Thursdays

until further notice.

Visit your National Park!

Click here to see all the FUN classes at The Artificers, classes for ALL ages!

BINGO hosted by the American Legion Post 25 every 1st and 3rd Thursday of each month unless it falls on a holiday. Doors open at 6pm and Bingo starts at 7pm at Memorial Hall.

Farmer’s Market at the Gathering Square Pavilion every Tuesday from 4-6pm and Saturdays from 8am-12pm over 15 returning vendors and 11 new ones!

7/25-27 ~ Summer Garage Sale & Open House at Presbyterian Village, garage sale hours: 25th 4-7pm/26th 8am-7pm/27th 8am-12pm, open house hours: 26th-27th 10am-3pm, see flyer below for more information.

7/26 ~ Aging Forward hosted by First United Methodist Church located at 301 S. National, Fellowship Hall from 1pm-4pm, click here for more information.

7/26 ~ Flower Class by Sunshine Boutique at Common Ground Coffee Co., 6-8pm, click here for more information.

7/27 ~ Second Annual End of Summer Craft Creations at the River Room, food/drinks/crafts, 10am-4pm

7/27 ~ Paint & Pizza – Paint Party Horse at Papa Don’s Pizza, $5 to reserve your spot with $20 due at party, food and drinks available for purchase, click here for more information.

7/27 ~ Care to Share Golf tournament at Woodland Hills Golf Course, silent/live auction items, music, food, good company, see flyer below for more information! Community encouraged to come out and enjoy the fun, live music 6-9pm on the tennis courts!

7/27 ~ Jim Meech Agri-Med Crisis Foundation Inc. presents the Inaugural Agri-Med Crisis Fundraiser Event at Sharky’s Pub and Grub, silent/live auction items with live music featuring Trevor Holman and the Haymakers, pre-sales for smoked pulled pork meals $15/meal, see flyer below for more information and to order!

7/30 ~ Bourbon County Republican Candidate Forum, 6pm, Empress Event Center.

8/1 ~ Chamber Coffee hosted by Chamber Member Jim Harris at Empress Event Center, 8am

8/1, 2, 3 ~ Bourbon County Community Theatre performs Holy Mother of Bingo!, Ellis Fine Arts Center on the campus of FSCC, tickets are $12 for adults/$10 for children and Senior Citizens, click here for more information and to order tickets.

8/3 ~ Ride for Lils at Fort Scott Munitions, food trucks and other great things happening, 9:30am, click here for more information.

8/3 ~ 2nd Annual Bourbon County REDI Gala, dinner/live entertainment/online auction/live auction, all proceeds will be dedicated to providing scholarships for local students, single ticket/$50 and table of 8/$375, click here to purchase tickets and for more information.

8/2-4 ~ No Sales Tax Holiday Weekend – Shop Local in Fort Scott, receive a 9.4% discount on all purchases at participating locations TBA, shop local promotion organized by Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce.

8/8 ~ Chamber Coffee hosted by FSCC – John Deere, 8am.

8/9 ~ Burlington Recreation Travel Group Daytrip to Fort Scott, over 14 guests. Welcome!

SAVE THE DATE!

8/16-18 ~ Sunflower Ride at Kansas Rocks Recreation Park, raffle items/BBQ lunch/vendors, click here to pre-register and for more info.

8/17 ~ Pen and Ink Class with Philip Ortiz at The Artificers, 10am-12 or 1-3pm, click here to register or for more information.

8/20 ~ Fort Scott Community College Business Expo in Bailey Hall, 8am-11am, contact Tanya Potthoff if your business/organization would like to participate, see the flyer below for more info.

8/31-9/1 ~ Alumni & Friends Weekend at Fort Scott Community College, alumni social/hall of fame induction dinner/activity and athletic team/so much more, click here for more info.

8/30-9/2 ~ Uniontown Old Settler’s Picnic, car show/horseshow pitching/parade/vendors/food trucks, street dance begins at 7pm, click here for more information.

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SHOPPING ~ SUPPORT LOCAL!

Boutiques-Antiques-Flea Markets & more!

Click here for Chamber member

specialty shopping & other retail in

Downtown & other areas of the community.

Fort Scott Area
Chamber of Commerce
620-223-3566
In This Issue

Calendar of Events

Special Event Features

THANK YOU Chamber Champion members!!

Chamber Highlights
Click here for our
Membership Directory.
We THANK our members for their support! Interested in joining the Chamber?
Click here for info.
Thinking of doing business in or relocating to Fort Scott?
Contact us for a relocation packet, information on grants & incentives, and more!
Seeking a job/career?
We post a Job of the Day daily on our Facebook page, distribute a monthly job openings flyer, and post jobs on our website.
Many opportunities available!
Housing needs?
Click here for a listing of our Chamber member realtors.
Click here for our rental listing.

Summer Garage Sale and Open House at Presbyterian Village!

Care to Share Golf Tournament ~ Come out and enjoy food, music, silent/live auction items!

Second Annual End of Summer Craft Creations at the River Room!

Inaugural Agri-Med Crisis Fundraiser Event at Sharky’s Pub and Grub!

No Sales Tax Holiday Weekend – Shop Local, Shop Fort Scott!

Upcoming Movie Schedule @ Fort Cinema

THANK YOU TO OUR CHAMBER CHAMPION MEMBERS!
Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce
231 E. Wall Street
Fort Scott, KS 66701
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Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce | 231 E. Wall Street | Fort Scott, KS 66701 US
 

Obituary of Florence Karnes

Florence Marie Karnes, age 95, resident of Fort Scott, KS died Friday, July 26, 2024, at her home.  She was born October 30, 1928, in Fulton, KS the daughter of Howard and Lola White Taylor.

She married Harrison Edward Cox in 1945, in Erie, KS.  He preceded her in death in March 1974.  She later married Warren Eugene Karnes on October 30, 1977, in Fort Scott.  He preceded her in death in February 1998.

Florence worked for Walder’s Bakery, Key Work Clothes, and was the manager of the Salvation Army store.  She was a member of the V.F.W Ladies Auxiliary.  Florence was a generous person, always helping someone.  She enjoyed making quilts and baking, especially peanut butter cookies.

 

Survivors include five sisters, Betty Payne, Arcadia, KS, Shirley Driscoll, Denver, CO, Donna Thomas, Wagner, OK, Edna Page, Fort Scott, and Barbara Underwood, Fort Scott.

She was preceded in death by three brothers, Joe, Bill, and Howard; and three sisters, Marita, Ethel, and Mary; and her parents.

 

Funeral Services will be held at 10:00 AM Thursday, August 1st, at the Cheney Witt Chapel.

Burial will follow in the Sheffield Cemetery, Arcadia, KS.

A visitation time will be held from 9:00 AM Thursday until service time at the funeral home.

Memorials are suggested to the donor’s choice 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 online at cheneywitt.com.

Due to Popular Demand, Bourbon County Community Theatre Adds Additional Performance

The newly formed Bourbon County Community Theatre is adding an additional performance to its production of “Holy Mother of Bingo!” by Patrick Walsh., according to director Angie Bin in a press release.
Due to popular demand and nearly sold-out performances for Aug. 2 and 3, BCCT is adding a third performance for 7 p.m. Aug. 1 at the Ellis Fine Arts Center at Fort Scott Community College.

 

A scene from the Bourbon County Community Theatre “Holy Mother of Bingo” from its Facebook page.
The interactive murder mystery comedy involves five real rounds of Bingo with prizes donated from many businesses in the area.
In a scene from Holy Mother of Bingo,
Tickets are $12 for adults and $10 for children and senior citizens. The purchase of a table of 7 or 8 gives audience members a $2 discount per ticket. Tickets are available at bcct.ludus.com, from the Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce, or at the door if tickets remain. Seating is limited.
The show is directed by Bin with Assistant Director Mark Bergmann.
More information can be found on the Bourbon County Community Theatre Facebook page. BBCO Community Theatre, LLC is a non-profit community organization formed last year whose mission is to bring education, community, and culture to southeast Kansas through theatre.

Bourbon County Community Theatre President Matthew Wells said he has been involved in the performing arts his whole life and it brought “joy…to the community and… brotherhood and bonds… amongst those who participated in the community theater.”

A scene from the Holy Mother of Bingo Theatre production rehearsal from its Facebook page.

Anyone Want To Be A Leader? by Patty LaRoche

Patty LaRoche. 2023.
Author: A Little Faith Lift…Finding Joy Beyond Rejection
www.alittlefaithlift.com
AWSA (Advanced Writers & Speakers Assoc.)

Caitlin Clark became a household name last year when she set records in the Division 1, college women’s basketball league.  As a player for the University of Iowa, she is the first female to have consecutive 1000-point seasons, setting multiple records with that college.  When she left the university to join the Indiana Fever of the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA), the media-hype followed. As she became the face of the WNBA by appearing in commercials with Nike, Gatorade and State Farm Insurance, she also was disparaged for getting all the attention other female players never had received.  Who did this young up-start think she was?

Caitlin refused to speak negatively against other players when they publicly criticized her.  Soon, they realized that she, single-handedly, was filling arenas wherever she played, and their popularity was soaring because of her skills. Rookie players now were being given a chance to play, whereas in the past they were buried on the bench.

The basketball phenom attended Dowling Catholic High School in Iowa.  Her former coach, Kristen Meyer, spoke about her former player and how important the faith component was for her to attend that school.  “She knows her gifts are a gift from God.”

According to “Tales From the NBA,” Clark has been recognized as the “girl counterpart to Stephen Curry.”  Dave and I now pay to watch her games on television.  The other night, the announcer said this about Clark: “She makes other people look better with her assists.”  Caitlyn still scores points, although not like she did at the collegiate level. Now, she sets records for the times she finds another player on the court and passes the ball to her so her teammate can score, sometimes even when she could take a shot herself.

Caitlin is a leader, and let’s face it.  Effective leaders are in short supply.  Today, employers speak about the difficulty of finding/developing a good leader, and they are frustrated because of it. From baseball to a manufacturing plant to a marketing expert, those in management have shared with me that they “can’t find anyone qualified.”

These employers think they see potential in a worker and attempt to elevate him/her to a leadership position, only to find that those people lack the skills necessary.  They cannot hold anyone accountable, fail to see needs as they arise, and set no example of dedication and hard work.  These employees could learn from Caitlin who sets an example of one willing to elevate her teammates by helping them do better.

Our best role model for this is Jesus Christ who came to serve and to set an example for us to do likewise.  In Mark 10: 43-45, we read Jesus’ words: “…whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”      

He, God in human flesh, the night before he was crucified, washed the feet of his disciples, an act of humility and selflessness, and one typically performed by slaves for their masters.  He made his disciples better men by setting an example for them.  There’s no better way for a true leader to lead.  Caitlin Clark is proving that true.  As Christians, we need to do likewise.

REDI Gala Is August 3

Sending on behalf of Chamber Member

Bourbon County REDI…..

You are cordially invited to the

2nd Annual Bourbon County REDI Gala

featuring Right on Red, a variety band from Kansas City

Saturday, August 3rd, 2024

Liberty Theatre

113 S. Main St.

Fort Scott, Kansas 66701

6:30pm

Cash Bar, Dinner, & Live Auction

$50 single ticket

$375 reserved table of 8

Suggested cocktail attire, theme is an “End of Summer Soiree”, suggested colors: purple, blue, and other floral shades.

Attention All Swifties!

Enter for a chance to win a Taylor Swift Hand-Signed Acoustic Guitar!

Tickets are $20/each or $100/for 6.

(Winner does NOT have to be present to win)

All proceeds go to the Bourbon County REDI Scholarship Fund!

Click here to purchase tickets or call 620.215.3546

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

AD: Joshua Jones for KS House of Representatives District 4

 

Josh Jones.

Joshua Jones: Candidate for Kansas House of Representatives District 4

Hello there! I’m Joshua Jones, a proud resident of Bourbon County, where my family’s legacy spans back to the 1850s. My wife Karen shares this deep connection, with her family settling in western Bourbon County around the same time. Together, we’ve celebrated 23 years of marriage and have been blessed with three wonderful children: Taylor and Madison, both 23, and David, who is 19. 

 

**My Promises to You:** 

 

  1. **Give Back My Salary** 

   My belief is simple: if the people I serve benefit, then I benefit. We are all in this together. I am giving back my salary because your tax dollars should work for you. 

 

  1. **Year-Round Accessibility and Transparency** 

   How often do you only hear from politicians during the election? During my time as Mayor/City Commissioner, I was the first to hold public forums to get citizens’ input. 

 

“The position I am running for encompasses all of Bourbon County and most of Linn County. Over the past few years, through my business, I have expanded my connections in Linn County.  

 

As your state representative, I plan to leverage these relationships, along with engaging with other citizens, to address Linn County concerns and work together to create beneficial legislation. 

 

In Bourbon County, I am the only candidate who resides here.

Issues such as the lack of an emergency room directly affect me and our community. While the announcement of Freeman Health System coming to town gives me hope, we must remember past promises, like the one involving Noble, which did not materialize. 

 

 Being the only Bourbon County candidate, it is crucial for me to ensure that Freeman’s arrival becomes a reality. Securing state-level support will be essential to ensure Bourbon County has adequate healthcare. 

 

Issues like Pike Reservoir where the proposed lake would encompass cemeteries where I have family buried. No matter if I am for or against a project I would commit to involving citizens in the process like I did when I was City Commissioner. 

 

Living in Bourbon County also provides me with a unique understanding of medium to smaller issues, such as trains blocking intersections for hours or the challenges faced by public schools competing in the same KSHSAA class as private schools, which I have personally experienced as an injustice.  

 

These are issues I can address at the state level, and my residency in Bourbon County gives me a unique perspective and dedication to tackling them. I am committed to working tirelessly for the betterment of both Bourbon and Linn Counties.” 

 

 

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This ad paid for by Joshua Jones Candidate/Treasurer

Obituary of Dale Shelton

Dale Lee Shelton died unexpectedly Sunday evening July 21, 2024, at Nevada Regional Medical Center.   He was born February 11, 1957, in Fort Scott, Kansas to Everett Frank Shelton and Mildred Irene Shelton, and grew up attending schools in Richards, Missouri and Fort Scott, Kansas.

On May 18, 1984, Dale married Shelly Turner with the couple celebrating their 40th anniversary in 2024. The pair welcomed their son Braden into the world in 2000. Dale worked 30 years for the US Postal Service as a postal clerk before retiring in 2008 to enjoy spending time with his family. Dale had a love for sports, especially baseball, which he shared with Braden. This helped create a truly special bond between the two. Dale coached Braden’s baseball and basketball teams over the years as his son grew up, and later took the opportunity to coach alongside Braden, together teaching a new generation of kids. The family also made many wonderful memories traveling around the state to Braden’s baseball and basketball tournaments and competitions.

Dale was an avid fan of the Kansas City Royals and the Kansas City Chiefs, a car nut, and a hard-working jack-of-all-trades handyman and mechanic.  He spent his free time working on cars, caring for his pets, going on daily walks with his wife, and watching ballgames. He was a selfless and kindhearted man who would always go out of his way to lend a helping hand to those who needed one and was especially devoted to his wife and son. Dale had a laid-back personality and a goofy sense of humor. He was generous in spirit and loved by everyone who knew him. Dale was a gentle, patient, and loving soul. A man with all the answers who is already greatly missed.

Dale was baptized into Christ in February of 2000 and was a member of Community Christian Church. A devoted Christian with a servant’s heart, Dale showed Jesus’ love to others through endless acts of service.

Survivors include his wife Shelly of the home, one son Braden, two sisters Linda Evans and Lana Beerbower (Gil) of Fort Scott, sister in law Sue Shelton of Redfield and aunt Lora Mason of Pittsburg, mother in law Sharon Ashcraft, sister in law Tammy Pruitt (Terry) of Fort Scott, as well as numerous other nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents Everett and Mildred Shelton, a brother Dennis Shelton, and beloved pet Barkley.

 

Rev. Dusty Drake will conduct funeral services at 1:00 PM Monday, July 29th, at the Community Christian Church.  Cremation will follow.

The family will receive friends from 4:00 until 6:00 PM Sunday the 28th at the Cheney Witt Chapel.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to the DALE SHELTON MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP 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 online at cheneywitt.com.

 

Candidate Forum Tonight, July 25, at Fort Scott High School

Join us for the 2024 Election Candidate Forum

Thursday, July 25th

Doors open 5:30pm for Meet & Greet w/Candidates

Forum beings at 6pm

(will also be on Facebook Live ~ Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce page)

Candidates in the races below have been invited to attend & participate in the forum.

U.S. House of Representatives 2nd District

Kansas Senate District 13

Bourbon County Commissioner Districts 1, 2, and 3

Bourbon County Attorney (unopposed)

Bourbon County Register of Deeds (unopposed)

Bourbon County Treasurer

Bourbon County Clerk (unopposed)

Bourbon County Sheriff

Thank you to our Chamber Champions for your support!

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

Ongoing Revitalization of 110 S. Main Has Target of Fall Completion

Kathy and Tracy Dancer own the former Scottish Rite Temple, 110 S. Main. Submitted photo.
The former Scottish Rite Temple, 110 S. Main, is in a constant stage of revitalization.
Kathy and Tracy Dancer, who purchased the building at a public auction, plan an “ongoing effort to revitalize the building and increase the useable commercial space.  We also want to improve the energy efficiency of the building.”
Terry and Kathy Dancer. Stock photo.
The work will be a combination of restoration and renovation.
“The first project is new signage for the front of the building,” she said.  “We will be removing the blue plastic lettering designating the building as the Scottish Rite Temple and replacing it with a new sign for the cafe and retail store.  We are also installing a new ceiling and lighting in the south half of the building.”
The ceiling is being replaced in the south half of the building. . Submitted photo.
“Because the building is part of the historic district, we are working with the Fort Scott Design Review Board,” she said.  “Any changes to the exterior of a building in the historic district including painting, windows, and signage must go through the Design Review Board.  They have been very helpful during this process and a great source of feedback for our plans.”
Completed mural in the south side of the building by local artist Rudy.Castillo. Submitted photo.
New windows, heating, and air conditioning are coming.
“Next, we will be installing glass windows in archways to restore the storefront appearance,” she said.  “The new windows mean you will be able to see into the cafe and retail store if you are walking or driving down Main Street.”
” We are also adding several new HVAC…  Once HVAC is installed, we will be moving and expanding our retail store into the south portion of the building.  Moving the retail store to the south side of the building will more than double the amount of space we have for the Mercantile and Market store.  The additional space will allow us to add new vendors and craftspeople to the retail store.”
“New HVAC will also be installed for the Speak Easy space we created on the second floor,” she said.  “This will allow us to operate the Speak Easy year round.”
Speakeasy was a term used during Prohibition for drinking establishments and illegal bars,  Dancer said in a prior interview. “They were usually hidden away in a building and sometimes you needed a password to be allowed to enter. Fort Scott had several speakeasies including The Green Lantern, operated by J.D. McClintock.”
On the horizon
“The Speak Easy will reopen in the Fall after we have installed new HVAC.  We plan on being open  two evenings a week for cocktails and light food.  We had an excellent response to our soft opening in the Spring so we are really excited to reopen on a regular basis.  While we wait for reopen, we have been working on the cocktail menu and working with suppliers to provide additional Kansas made wines, beers, and spirits.”
“We will also be hosting another Murder Mystery Dinner in October.  The dinner we hosted this past spring sold out quickly and was very well received.  Tickets for the October show will be available in mid-August.”
 
They are in the process of applying for grants focused on energy efficiency to defray the cost of adding HVAC and energy efficient windows and lighting.
“We might need to adjust the scope of some of the work based on the grant amounts, but we still plan on completing these projects,” she said.
” The new ceiling and lighting for the south half of the building has already started,” she said. “New sign letters for the front of the building have been ordered and should be ready for installation in August.  The HVAC and storefront will take a bit longer since we will be ordering equipment and materials for these projects.”
“We hope to have the work completed by late Fall this year,” Dancer said.
“Our other BIG project is the distillery.  We are in the final stages of the Federal licensing process to open the distillery and then we will file for state licensing.  We do not have a projected opening date yet but we hope to be in production by the end of this year.”
Artist rendition of the new sign at 110 S. Main. Submitted photo.

Kansas ARTS COMMISSION GRANT AWARDED TO LOWELL MILKEN CENTER

 

 

The Lowell Milken Center for Unsung Heroes received a grant for $6,800 from the Kansas Arts Commission.! The grant will be used to honor three unsung heroes from the Japanese Internment Camps during WWII. Those unsung heroes are Mitsuye Endo, Aiko Herzig-Yoshinaga, and Minoru Yasui. The grant will allow for a historian presentation about the camps, a community book read of George Takei’s “The Called Us Enemy,” a public showing of the movie “Betrayed: Surviving an American Concentration Camp,” and a performance by the St. Louis Osuwa Taiko Japanese Drummers in the Lowell Milken Park at the Center.

Kansas Arts Commission: The Kansas Arts Commission (KAC) is dedicated to promoting, supporting, and expanding Kansas’ creative industries and enriching communities through arts and culture.

About the Lowell Milken Center: The Lowell Milken Center is a non-profit 501 (c) (3) that works with students and educators within a range of diverse academic disciplines, to develop projects focused on unsung heroes. Our mission is to share those projects and the stories of these unsung heroes with our community through our museum at the Lowell Milken Center and through special cultural events.