A rendering of the Spring Hill Pork Processor’s plant to be located south of Fort Scott. Submitted.
Billy Madison will soon open his new business venture in Bourbon County, Spring Hill Pork Processors.
The pork processing plant will be located on 47 acres south of the Kansas Department of Transportation facility on Hwy. 69 south of the LaRoche Ball Park.
The business will manufacture pork for the Asian and Hispanic markets, Madison said.
The business will employ 15-30 people, and depending on experience, wages will start at $14 an hour.
“If you can bone meat, $18-20 an hour, depending on experience is our starting wage,” Madison said.
A U.S. Department of Agriculture inspector will be on-site every day, as required by law.
“The U.S. government provides their pay (for the inspector), we pay overtime if we have overtime,” he said.
“There are places in big towns where there are Asian and Hispanic markets,” he said. “It’s all in how you cut the pig up. Both like the skin left of the pig.” He said the meat cuts are a little different as well.
“We box a lot of meat and send it to meat markets, like Fanestil Meats in Emporia,” he said.
Madison is not sure how long the process will take to break ground at the site but estimates approximately three months.
The plant will not be a smell to the surrounding area, he said.
“There is no smell,” he said. “People don’t understand the process. We are not raising hogs (at the site).”
“All the (Bourbon County) commissioners came to our plant in Spring Hill,” he said. “They found out it doesn’t smell.”
The estimated investment in the plant will be over $2 million dollars by Madison, he said.
“We don’t have the numbers yet,” he said. “The bidding process is quite in-depth.”
Billy and his wife, Becky are the sole owners of the processing plant.
Billy and Becky Madison are the sole owners of Spring Hill Pork Processors. Submitted photo.
They live five miles south of Louisburg, but Billy lived in Fort Scott for a period of his early life.
He still has family who lives here.
“My dad, Warren, still lives there and my Uncle Frank Madison is a cattle rancher there.”
Two area food vendors are planning an event on March 27 at the Tractor Supply parking lot, on South Main Street in Fort Scott.
The Blue Spoon, Pittsburg, and Perry’s Pork Rinds, Bronson, are partnering for a second annual Spring Pop Up Event.
Blue Spoon
Christina Oberle and Brenda Davis are the owners of The Blue Spoon Food Truck. Submitted photo.From left are Christina Oberle and Brenda Davis. Submitted photo.
The Blue Spoon is a food truck whose specialty is a variety of macaroni and cheese dishes and was created in Pittsburg, by Brenda Davis.
Davis began her food truck venture in July 2017. Christina Oberle is a partner in the business.
“It became very well-liked and instead of a hobby it became a success,” Oberle said.
“The name (The Blue Spoon) just came to us… we thought and thought and thought,” Oberle said. “Brenda wanted to create a memory and have our customers walking away remembering who we are. With that, the Blue Spoon was formed and the logo created,” Oberle said. “Every dish is served with a blue spoon… if the dish needs a fork, well it’ll be white.”
“We specialize in mac ‘n cheese (dishes)… all varieties,” Oberle said. “Plain to Chicken Mac, to Chops and Cheese, which is a grilled pork chop in a bowl of mac ‘ cheese, and soon to be released, Lobster Mac.”
The Lobster Mac and Cheese bowl. Submitted photo.
“We have a great variety, eleven flavors, at big events,” she said. “We also serve fresh-cut fries, nachos, and funnel cakes. All with varieties… nothing plain Jane here, we even put it on a sandwich!”
Oberle lived a few years in Fort Scott, working at Lifetouch and Woods Grocery.
“I came to know a lot of people there and wanted to share our awesome food with Fort Scott,” Oberle said. “A few years ago we got into the Good ‘Ol Days and last year we were able to do the wonderful pop-up with Perry’s Pork Rinds! They are wonderful people and through this journey, we have had the great honor of meeting many entrepreneurs like them!”
The food truck is currently part-time, Oberle said.
“You just never know when this can become a full-time gig,” she said.
Perry’s Pork Rinds
Kelly and Thaddeus Perry are the owners of Perry’s Pork Rinds. Submitted photo.
Perry’s Pork Rinds is a family-owned business, with the husband and wife team of Thaddeus and Kelly Perry.
Perry’s Pork Rinds sold their rinds last year at the pop-up event. Submitted photo.
They make small-batch pork rinds in the following flavors:
They recently expanded their business with a new product: fudge.
Chocolate walnut fudge. Submitted photo.
They can make up to 350 flavors but they feature chocolate walnut, chocolate fudge, birthday cake, and peanut butter.
Birthday cake fudge. Submitted photo.
“We use real cream and butter to make our fudge,” Kelly Perry said. “We pour them directly into containers and ship them nationwide and take them into the fairs and festivals.”
The cost for both rinds and fudge is $8 for 8 oz.
Fudge is poured into individual containers to sell to customers. Submitted photo.
“The company that we actually bought into is the same company that is selling inside of Bass Pro shops and Ozark Land,” Kelly Perry said. “We had to pay a hefty price for a custom kettle, as much as a small car!”
Ashtyn Dowell left, and Kelly Perry, are the new co-owners of Hound Nutrition. Submitted photo.
Hound Nutrition, 116 S. Main, is under new ownership.
Kelly Perry and Ashton Dowell have purchased the shop from former owner Haven Kelly, who is a Fort Scott Community College student and catcher on the school’s softball team. Haven Kelly became the tenant of the shop in August 2020, following the move of the Common Ground Coffee Shop to a different location.
“With the softball season starting, Haven was unable to give it the extra care it needed,” Dowell said.
Ashtyn Dowell, a 2020 Fort Scott High School graduate is one of the co-owners of Hound Nutrition. Submitted photo.
“We have a 50% investor from Oklahoma and Ashtyn represents his 50% of the business and works the retail side of the business,” Perry said.” I am another 50% owner in the business. All of us have some skin in the game so to speak.”
Kelly Perry is a new co-owner of Hound Nutrition. She also is the owner of The Protein Place in Iola and co-owner of Perry’s Pork Rinds in Bronson. Submitted photo.
The business sells meal replacement shakes, energizing teas, and protein coffee.
Submitted photos.
Customers can contact the business on Hound Nutrition Facebook page or Instagram, or coming soon, their new call-in line.
“We are selling the same products, but some new flavors are coming,” Dowell said.
There are some new services.
“The new service we provide is our delivery,” Perry said.
In addition, they are planning some upcoming events that will be hosted at the facility including: songwriter nights, joining the Chamber of Commerce, and tea parties “where we give informational meetings to anyone looking to start a program,” Perry said. “We break down each of the products one-by-one and educate customers on what the products do for their health. We sample a few of the products and for those who want to purchase the programs they can, or they can continue to pay for retail via our nutrition club.”
Herbalife Nutrition is the brand of product sold at the shop.
“Herbalife Nutrition is a multi-level marketing group we are #2 in the nation behind Amway,” Kelly said. “And the #1 nutrition company worldwide that has been in business for 40 years.”
“Anyone working behind the counter is an Herbalife Distributor that can sell any of our products,” Perry said. “Our nutrition clubs are a hub for people to come to try products, narrow down their wants and then purchase healthy products.”
“The customer receives one-on-one coaching and guidance from their independent distributor,” Perry said.
“Our hope is to pick up retail sales before the end of our lease in four months so the business can continue to grow and run in Ft Scott,” Perry said.
“All of the independent distributors are highly motivated self-driven and want to see a change in the community for the better,” Perry said.
“This is the second store that I have opened since January 18,” Perry said. “My husband is not involved (in this venture), he is fully invested into the pork rind business which is going full steam ahead.”
“We will soon be offering protein pretzel bites, protein waffles, and protein donuts in this location,” Kelly said.
Employees, who at this shop are called distributors, include Reaghn Dowell, Kelsey DeMott both of Fort Scott, and Chris Ames of Bronson.
Reaghn Dowell left, is in training at Hound Nutrition as a distributor. Training her is her elder sister, Ashtyn Dowell, center. Customer Kaelani Bryan, right, is purchasing a meal replacement shake and a tea on March 15.
Kelly Perry is also the owner of The Protein Place in Iola and co-owner of Perry’s Pork Rinds of Bronson, with her husband, Thaddeus.
Dowell said they will be focusing on setting up meetings for Herbalife, the supplier of their products, and those interested in say, a weight loss program.
“We can help them along their journey,” Dowell said.
From left: Tyler Ericson, Helen Bolling, Rayma Ridge, Amber Ericson, and Mandie Ericson. All “pickers” for THRAMS Antiques and Collectibles in Bronson. Submitted photoPhoto credits: THAM’s Antiques Facebook page.
THRAMS Antiques has been open in Bronson for about four months and was started by women because of their hobbies that turned into a business.
“We pick up antiques and furniture in our spare time,” Mandie Ericson, one of the pickers said. “This is a hobby that we started several years back and used the extra room at the Bronson Locker (same building and same family) to display our unique finds. We take passion in finding rare collectible antiques that can be repurposed and used in homes.”
According to https://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Picker,
a picker is an early bird who hunts swap meets, estate sales, thrift stores, etc, and scoops up the good deals – often for resale in antique shops or on eBay.
“All antiques have a story to tell, and they become more valuable over time,” she said. “It is our passion to make people happy and for people in our area to have the opportunity to shop for antiques and unique items.”
“We find things (to sell) through people selling on the marketplace and estate sales as well as people wanting us to buy from them directly,” said Mandie Ericson.
The antique storefront is adjacent to the Bronson Locker, 504 Clay Street.
THRAM’s Antiques and Collectables is located next door to Bronson Locker in Bronson, KS. Photo credit: Facebook
“Helen Bolling is the owner of the Bronson Locker so we had room to open it in the old hardware building (adjacent to the Bronson Locker) and we think it’s a great addition to the town of Bronson,” said Mandie.
The name of the antique shop is THRAM’s Antiques, with the R for Rayma Ridge, recently added.
T is for Tyler Ericson, H is for Helen Bolling, R is for Rayma, A is for Amber Ericson, and M is for Mandie Ericson.
Helen and Mandie work at the Bronson Locker, while Amber Ericson, the main investor of the antique shop, is a 4th-grade teacher at Uniontown. Tyler Ericson is currently at Pittsburg State University pursuing her degree in elementary education and Rayma works in insurance, helps at the locker when she can and has her own disc jockey business.
“Helen is Amber’s mom and Mandie and Tyler are Amber’s daughters-in-law and Rayma is my sister,” Mandie said. “I basically manage the Bronson locker so we take care of the antique shop through the locker while Amber teaches at school.”
Mandie and Helen work at the antique shop during the day while Rayma and Tyler help on weekends and Amber helps after school and weekends, Mandie said.
The antique store will be open every weekend in March on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and Sunday from 12:30 to 3 p.m.
Contact Amber (call or text) 620-363-1159 to schedule an appointment or with any questions regarding the store, according to their Facebook page.
Photo credit: THAM’s Antiques from their Facebook page.
“Our family has been collecting antiques for several years and really enjoy it,” Mandie said. “We have very nice collectible items, household basics, as well as one-of-a-kind furniture for fantastic prices!”
Photo credit: THAM’s Antiques from their Facebook page.
A special meeting of the Fort Scott City Commission was held March 4th, 2021 at 4:00 p.m. in the City Commission Meeting Room, 123 S. Main Street, Fort Scott, Kansas.
ROLL CALL:
Commissioners Kevin Allen, Pete Allen, Randy Nichols, and Lindsey Watts were present with Mayor Josh Jones presiding.
AUDIENCE IN ATTENDANCE: Michael Hoyt, Jeff Deane, Bob Farmer, and Justin Meeks
CONSIDERATION:
City Attorney Interviews
Jeff Deane, Bob Farmer, and Justin Meeks submitted letters of interest for City Attorney. Tiana McElroy withdrew her letter of interest.
The following questions were asked and answered by the candidates:
Tell us about yourself and why you want to serve as City Attorney for the City of Fort Scott.
How responsive can you be to emergency situations as emergencies regularly arise for local units of government?
What do you perceive to be the City Attorney’s role in dealing with the Council? City Manager?
What do you do when an individual commissioner’s actions may be in violation of local, state, and federal law?
How soon could you start or desire to start if offered the position?
How accessible and what avenues would you be accessible to the Commission and City Manager (in person? By phone?
Can you explain what services would be provided based within your salary’s terms?
Consideration of accepting RFQ’s for City Engineering services – Jeremy Frazier, City Manager, informed the Commission that the City has been searching for a City Engineer position. We have not received any applications to this date. He asked the City Commission to consider to seek RFQ’s for engineering firms. The RFQ would be due on March 16, 2021.
R. Nichols moved to approve to solicit RFQ’s for engineering firms. P. Allen seconded. All voted aye.
APPROVED TO ACCEPT REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS FOR CITY ENGINEERING FIRMS WITH A DUE DATE OF MARCH 16, 2021 AT 11:00 A.M.
L. Watts moved to recess the open meeting at 4:45 p.m. due to the withdrawal of one of the candidates. J. Jones seconded.
SUSPENDED THE OPEN MEETING AT 4:45 P.M. DUE TO THE WITHDRAWAL OF ONE OF THE CANDIDATES. THE OPEN MEETING WILL RESUME WHEN THE NEXT CANDIDATE ARRIVES.
J. Jones to resume the open meeting at 5:15 p.m. K. Allen seconded. All voted aye.
RESUMED OPEN MEETING AT 5:15 P.M.
J. Jones moved to suspend the open meeting until 5:55 p.m. L. Watts seconded. All voted aye.
SUSPENDED OPEN MEETING UNTIL 5:55 P.M.
J. Jones moved to resume the open meeting at 5:57 p.m. L. Watts seconded. All voted aye.
RESUMED OPEN MEETING UNTIL 5:57 P.M.
ADJOURNMENT:
L. Watts moved to adjourn the special meeting at 6:22 p.m. J. Jones seconded. All voted aye.
Lavetta Simmons, middle, holds a Sharing Bucket with other supporters of the helping organization. Photo credit: Facebook.
A local helping organization has a good problem.
Too many people wanted to contribute to their upcoming garage sale.
They have worked to solve the problem.
Care to Share, a local helping organization for cancer patients and their families, is having two garage sales in the coming weeks.
“We have had many ask if they could add to our garage sale at 106 Washington when we posted it,” said Lavetta Simmons, secretary/treasurer of the group. “It was a full garage with the Marsh’s belongings. So, we have scheduled another one, and we invite anyone that would like to come to set up their own space to join us, and have their own sale and collect for their own sale, for a small donation to help cover rental expenses for the day.
Or, we will take your donations for Care To Share Cancer Support Group/The Sharing Bucket.”
The first garage sale is at 106 S. Washington, Fort Scott. Household items donated by Donnie and Barbara Marsh will be for sale.
The Marsh’s are Simmons in-laws who died recently.
“They were always involved with Care to Share,” Simmons said. “We’ve moved things into the garage, that the family is selling.”
The sale is scheduled for Saturday, March 27 from 8 a.m. to noon.
The Marsh garage doors open on the west side of the garage, in the alley.
“Miscellaneous items from Donnie and Barbara Marsh’s many years together, with their wishes to donate to Care To Share Cancer Support Group to fill The Sharing Bucket,” Simmons said.
Some of the items for sale at the Marsh garage sale to benefit Care To Share. Photo credit: Facebook.Some of the items for sale at the Marsh sale to benefit Care to Share. Photo credit: Facebook.
The group is providing bags to fill with items, then you make an offer for the bag.
The second garage sale will be Saturday, April 10 from 8 a.m. to noon at Buck Run Community Center, located just east of the Fort Scott Aquatic Center on Main Street.
For more information contact. Lavetta Simmons-620-224-8070.
Care to Share office is housed at the CHC/SEK facility at 902 South Horton Street, across from Medicalodge. Photo Credit: Facebook.
The group has an office at the Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas facility on South Horton Street. CHC donated to office space to Care to Share. Housed in the space are wigs, bras, books, Ensure products, walkers and other personal items for cancer patients. One can meet by appointment to see the items.
“With the amounts of rain that we are getting and will be getting through Sunday there will possibly be some road closures,” William Wallis, Bourbon County Emergency Manager said. “Most, of if not all, of the county roads that normally flood, have signs posted before the crossing that state, ‘impassable due to local flooding.’
Bourbon County Public Works Director Eric Bailey said he hadn’t received any calls on road closures as of 11:45 p.m. on March 12.
“Understanding your surroundings and be mindful of any creeks or river crossings in your area is very wise,” Wallis said. “Never attempt to cross any water over the road, especially if it is flowing across the road.”
Call 911 if there is an emergency situation, he said.
A Good Neighbor Action Team past project, before volunteers, worked on painting the house. From the Good Neighbor Action Team Facebook page.After the GNAT volunteers painted the house. From the GNAT Facebook page.
Good Neighbor Action Team is gathering resources and also looking forward to helping people with projects in the community of Fort Scott.
If a person is interested in serving on the committee, organizing a group of friends, co-workers, a civic club, relatives, or your neighborhood, contact Craig Campbell on the Good Neighbor Action Team Facebook page.
The first organizational meeting of the 2021 GNAT season is at 4 p.m. on March 18 at Fort Scott City Hall.
“Clint Anderson, the Bourbon County Appraiser, will speak on the topic of GNAT projects and the impact on assessed valuations of the property,” Campbell said. “AndJeremy Frazier, Fort Scott City Manager, will speak on his experience with a similar organization in Cushing, OK.”
“I am willing to meet with citizens in small groups if unable to attend the first meeting on the 18th,” Campbell said.
Interested people are encouraged to attend the meeting.
Ideas will be discussed for this year’s projects.
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.
GNAT has tried to handle the project workloads using the model of Habitat For Humanity, Campbell said.
Work project recipients are asked to provide family and friends to assist GNAT workers.
For example, if GNAT provides five people, the recipient will need to bring five people to help with the project, he said in the prior feature.
In addition, proof of income is required with one of the following: income tax return, pay stubs from the last two paychecks, a Vision card or Healthwave card.
Logo from the Good Neighbor Action Team Facebook page.
The FSCC Spring Rodeo is from March 12-14, at the southern side of the college, located at 2108 S. Horton.
There are four hundred contestants from 20 colleges who will participate, said FSCC Assitant Rodeo Coach Caitlyn Wiswell.
Caitlyn Wiswell. Photo credit-FSCC.
Tickets go on sale on March 10 at 2 p.m. To secure a ticket contact the following number, 913-259-8453. Tickets are sold on a first-come, first-served basis.
Schedule of events:
Friday, March 12th:
9 am- Slack, $5
7:30 pm- Performance, $10
Saturday, March 13th:
9 am- Slack, $5
1 pm- Performance, $10
7:30 pm- Performance,$10
Sunday, March 14th:
1 pm- Short Go, the top ten in each event perform, $10.
Limited fan space is available with the FSCC COVID-19 regulations listed below.
Fort Scott Community College will allow spectators to attend athletic events up to 25% fan seating capacity.
FSCC students must present their student ID in order to attend the games.
All fans must wear masks for both indoor and outdoor venues.
There shall be no concession allowed.
No outside food or drinks allowed.
Every effort will be made to ensure a 6-ft area marked off separating the teams and participants from the spectators.
These are among the FSCC Rodeo Sponsors for 2021. Submitted photo.
The cover of Marti Wells-Smith’s new book. Submitted photos.
Marti Wells-Smith is not a stranger to pain and loss.
Her only child died an unexpected death in 2019.
A Fort Scottian for 18 years, Wells-Smith has written a book that relays her innermost thoughts and emotions concerning her son’s death.
She hopes it will help someone else with loss.
“Lamentations of the Heart – Mingled with Peace and Joy, was recently published through MSI Press, and soulfully combines contemporary poetry with nonfictional prose to reach out to others who have experienced similar pain and loss,” she said in a press release.
Written from a Christian perspective, it is a book that provides comfort and hope in the healing process, she said.
The book has true stories of people she has met both in Fort Scott and in other communities where she grew up and lived.
Wells-smith has a bachelor of arts degree in English and sociology from Pittsburg State University and has worked as a writer and in varied positions in radio, authoring numerous human interest stories, articles, and poems over the years, she said.
She has also worked in social services, and served on a variety of boards, including Shirley Yeager Animal Friends Foundation and Mother to Mother Ministries.
She assisted with crisis services, providing resources and support for individuals and families in need through Southeast Kansas Mental Health.
She continues to raise funds for Paws and Claws with a booth at the Treasure Hunt Flea Market in downtown Fort Scott.
The book is available locally and online.
Lamentations of the Heart is available at Hedgehog INK!, also in downtown Fort Scott, with a book signing to be announced in the near future.
The book is also available through MSI Press, Amazon, and Barnes & Noble.
The author can be reached at her website: martiwellssmith.com.
A poem from her book:
SADNESS, LEAVING
by Marti Wells-Smith
Grief, in time,
is but a gentle missing;
a breath of want
for those gone on,
for those held dear–
a fond desire to bring them closer;
a wish to draw them near.
Sadness transforms,
making way for tomorrow,
as we each choose what will follow
in the aftermath of sorrow.
Matthew 5:4 Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
The men of Knights of Columbus Council #796 serve the Lenten meal in February 2020.
New this year because of the COVID-19 Pandemic, the annual Knights of Columbus Fish Fry planned a drive-through pickup of the food served.
There are only two dates left for the event, both on Fridays from 5-6:30 p.m. March 12, and March 19.
Because of the pandemic, all the workers will be wearing masks and gloves to serve the meals.
But as in the past, it will be at 702 Holbrook, at Kennedy Gym, which is a part of Mary Queen of Angels Catholic Church.
The fish fry in 2016.
The Knights of Columbus is a Catholic men’s organization, that has a “great tradition of fish fry’s nationwide,” Mark McCoy, spokesman for the group said.
The meal had to be simplified this year because it is a drive-through, McCoy said.
“Meal #1 will be catfish, french fries and coleslaw, Meal #2 is catfish, cod, fries, and coleslaw and Meal #3 is baked cod with fries and coleslaw,” McCoy said.
There will be no home-made desserts this year that have been provided by the ladies of the parish in past Lenten fish fry meals.
A row of homemade desserts lines tables at the Knights of Columbus Lenten Fish Fry in February 2020 at Kennedy Gym.
Logistically, it would not work, McCoy said, since the drive-through was new this year.
The annual Lenten fish fry is also a community event where lots of conversations happen between attendees, McCoy said.
“We look forward to going back to sit down dining” in the future, he said.
Stephanie Hallacy is the Nurse Practioner when the Uniontown Clinic opens in April 2021. Submitted photo.
Stephanie Hallacy, APRN, FNP-C. will be the medical care provider when the new Girard Medical Center at Uniontown opens in April 2021.
“We hope to open in the first couple of weeks in April, but that is dependent upon when our Rural Health Clinic Certification is completed,” Hallacy said.
Hallacy has worked for Girard Medical Center since 2013 as a Nurse Practioner in their clinics as well as its walk-in clinic, she said.
From 2006-2014 she was a flight nurse for EagleMed.
Prior to that, she worked as a registered nurse in an intensive care unit in Oklahoma from 1994 – 2006.
Hallacy received her 1994 associate degree in nursing from Grayson County College in Denison, TX, her bachelor of science in nursing from the University of Oklahoma, and her master of science in nursing from Pittsburg State University in 2012.
She was originally a pre-pharmacy major in college.
“But that changed while working there as I realized that I wanted to be more directly involved in the care of the patient,” she said.
The clinic is housed in a building on the campus of Uniontown High School, south of the football field and will serve both the school and the community.
The Girard Medical Center at Uniontown Clinic is located south of the Uniontown High School football field.
“We are hoping to be a resource for the Uniontown school for their student physicals and hopefully other medical services,” she said. “We also want to be the provider for the community for both acute illnesses as well as for the prevention, screening and management of chronic health conditions.”
In the first stages of the brand new clinic, she will be part-time.
“I believe initially the days that I will be providing care will be Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday from 8 a.m.-5 p.m.,” she said. “This may change as we depending upon the volume of the clinic and needs of the community.”
