All posts by Loretta George

Bourbon County, Business, Health Care

Integrity Home Health Care/Hospice Moves to 1711 S. National

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Integrity Home Care and Hospice staff stand in front of their new location. From left: Kaitlyn Bray, referral coordinator; Chris Comstock, hospice clerical support; Brenda Bailey, quality improvement nurse; Kyli Gates, clerical director for home health; Sandy Hayes, clerical support for home health; Mary Wynn, clinical director of hospice and Becky Davied, administrator.

 

Health care in Bourbon County has changed in the last few years since Mercy Hospital closed in Fort Scott in 2018.

 

Mercy Home Health and Hospice transitioned to Integrity Home Care + Hospice on March 1, 2019, in Fort Scott.

 

On Feb. 26, the Integrity staff moved their office to 1711 S. National, Suite A, which is directly behind Domino’s Pizza.

 

Previously, they were located at 901 S. Horton.

 

“This is better space,” Becky Davied, administrator, said. “There were two levels there, this makes for a better working environment.”

 

The space is newly renovated by building owners Jamie and Jeff Armstrong.

 

“Jamie and Jeff have been very accommodating,” Davied said.

 

Integrity Home Care customizes care following illness, injury or surgery to help transition patients back home. They also work to improve strength and function and maintain wellness, according to information provided. Patients can recover in the comfort of home.

 

Home health provides wound treatment, dressing changes, medication management, patient education, skilled nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy and medical social work.

 

Call 620-223-1195 for more information.

 

Integrity Hospice offers the following services in private homes, assisted living, nursing homes or hospitals: pain relief, symptom control, 24/7 on-call nursing, education, guidance, caregiver relief, massage therapy, music therapy, pet therapy, pastoral services and grief support.

 

Call 620-223-1191 for more information.

 

There are 28 employees in the Fort Scott office.

 

“Our headquarters is in Springfield Mo, and we also have offices on the Missouri side in Joplin, Kansas City, Columbus, St. Louis, Monett, Lebanon and Festus,” Davied said.

 

In Kansas, Integrity Home Health and Hospice provide services in  Allen, Anderson, Bourbon, Crawford, Cherokee, Linn, Neosho, Miami counties.

 

Business

Pole Replacement in Uniontown

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Evergy line men replace a rotted pole at the corner of 5th Street and Fulton in Uniontown Tuesday afternoon.

Evergy Energy, a local utility company, with an office in  Fort Scott, replaced a pole at Fifth and Fulton Streets in Uniontown on Tuesday afternoon, according to Evergy Line Foreman Tom Rogers of Fort Scott.

In the buckets are from left: Richie Forrester, Fort Scott and Daniel Gangloff, Fort Scott.

Business, Fort Scott

New Car Dealer in Town: Old Fort Auto

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Old Fort Auto dealership employees: from left Matt Bowersock, Rich Aydelotte, Matt Harvey. Not pictured is Becky Heidrick.

A new vehicle dealership has opened at 213 Scott Avenue, next to Mayco Ace Hardware.

 

The official first day of Old Fort Auto was March 2.

 

The business has been a thought in Rich Aydelotte’s mind for many years.

 

“This is something I’ve wanted to do for a lot of years,”  he said. Aydelotte and Matt Harvey are the business partners in the new venture. “I thought this was the time to do it. I have no reservations or doubts about it.”

 

Both will be selling the vehicles.

 

Matt Bowersock will be the business manager and also sell vehicles as well.

 

Becky Headrick will be the comptroller, title clerk, and receptionist.

 

“We are going to specialize in trucks, heavy trucks and sports utilities and cars, too,” Aydelotte said. “We will sell only late models.”

 

“Three-quarter ton trucks, heavy and light duty,” he said. “We are trying to purchase what people in Fort Scott drive.”

 

“Financing, we have lots of different sources, outside lending with national lenders, credit unions and local institutions,” Aydelotte said.

 

“They are going to be good deals, priced right,” Matt Bowersock said. “We’ll take trade-ins.”

 

“We chose the location because it was downtown,” Aydelotte said. “We are leasing the building from Skitch Allen.”

 

Hours are 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday, Saturday 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.

 

Contact the business at 620-644-5015 or Aydelotte at his cell phone, 620-215-0986.

 

 

Old Fort Auto first’s load of vehicles on Feb. 28.
Entertainment, Fort Scott

Presentation Explores Lives of Free-Born Children after Civil War

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Gordon Parks Museum at Fort Scott Community College in Fort Scott, KS, will host “Children of the Promised Land,” a presentation and discussion by Angela Bates on Tuesday, March 17 at 12:00 P.M. at The Ellis Family Fine Arts Center,  Fort Scott Community College, 2108 S. Horton St. Fort Scott, KS.

Members of the community are invited to attend the free program. Contact Kirk Sharp at 620 -223-2700 ext. 5850 for more information.

The program is made possible by Humanities Kansas.

“This is a Lunch and Learn event so everyone is welcome to bring their lunch and drinks. Dessert will be available,” said Museum Director, Kirk Sharp.

Nicodemus, a small, unincorporated town in Graham County, is the only remaining western town established by African Americans during the Reconstruction Period following the Civil War.

Today the town is a National Historic Site. This pictorial history explores the unique experience of mothers and their children in Nicodemus, some of whom were the first members of their families born free.

Angela Bates is the executive director of the Nicodemus Historical Society. She presents educational programs across the nation covering Nicodemus, Exodusters and black towns in the West, Buffalo Soldiers, and black women in the West.

“My great uncle, Henry Williams, was the first baby born in Nicodemus just a month after my great-grandmother Emma arrived with the first group of settlers in 1877,” said Bates. “He was one of the first in his generation born on the free soils of Kansas. He represents the many children of his generation that were reared by parents who were former slaves.”

“Children of the Promised Land” is part of Humanities Kansas’s Movement of Ideas Speakers Bureau, featuring presentations and workshops designed to share stories that inspire, spark conversations that inform, and generate insights that strengthen civic engagement.

For more information about “Children of the Promised Land” contact the Gordon Parks Museum at 620 -223-2700 ext. 5850 or visit http://www.gordonparkscenter.org/
About Humanities Kansas
Humanities Kansas is an independent nonprofit spearheading a movement of ideas to empower the people of Kansas to strengthen their communities and our democracy. Since 1972, our pioneering programming, grants, and partnerships have documented and shared stories to spark conversations and generate insights. Together with our partners and supporters, we inspire all Kansans to draw on history, literature, ethics, and culture to enrich their lives and serve the communities and state we all proudly call home. Visit humanitieskansas.org.

Art, Bourbon County

Bourbon County Arts Council 28th Annual Fine Arts Exhibit

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Bourbon County Arts Council 28th Annual Fine Arts Exhibit

The Bourbon County Arts Council will present their 28th Annual Fine Arts Exhibit, March 5th through 7th, at the Danny and Willa Ellis Family Fine Arts Center, on the Campus of Fort Scott Community College.

“The mission of the Bourbon County Arts Council is to foster, promote and increase the knowledge, appreciation and practice of the arts in our community,” said Deb Halsey, who is  a board member and also  co-chairing the Fine Arts Exhibit along with President Deb Anderson.

The Exhibit will be open to the public on Thursday and Friday, March 5th and 6th, from 12:00 pm to 7:00pm, and on Saturday, March 7th, from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm. A Reception will be held on Thursday evening from 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm, to honor this year’s Juror and artists; the public is invited to attend and enjoy the opportunity to meet and visit with them about the art. (Note: In previous years, the reception was held on Wednesday evenings. The change to Thursday was made in hopes of allowing a greater number of community members to attend.) The Bourbon County Arts Council will host the Chamber Coffee at 8:00am on Thursday, March 5th.

Artists will have their work on display and for sale in this multi-media exhibit, with categories including Ceramics, Drawing & Graphics, Fiber Arts, Glass, Jewelry, Mixed Media, Painting (oil and acrylic), Pastels, Photography,Printmaking, Sculpture, and Watercolor. A “themed” category was added to the Exhibit, with this year’s theme being “My Hometown”. An artist may create a piece in any of the above catogories, in relation to the theme. In recent years, artists from Kansas, Missouri, Minnesota, North Carolina, and Vancouver, British Columbia have participated in this show. This year, 55 artists have contributed 148 pieces of art. Local artists presenting at this year’s Exhibit include Elaine Buerge, Cheyanne Carpenter, Steve Floyd, Chance Fuhrman, Jane Gaines, Barbara Gibson, Deb Halsey, Bobbi Kemna, Cindy Lipe, Paul Milks, Connie Neil, Jezeriah Simpson, Bri Stokes,and Jean Strader.

James Oliver will serve as Juror for this year’s Exhibit. He holds his BFA from Denison University in Granville, OH, his MA from Easten Illinois University in Charleston, IL, and his MFA from Tulane University in New Orleans, LA. Mr. Oliver has acted as Pittsburg State University Assistant Professor of Painting and Drawing since 2001, and was Assistant Professor of Painting and Drawing at Denison University from 1997 t0 2001. James has taught courses at Pittsburg State University in Designed World, Intro to Art Studio, Drawing, Perspective Drawing, Color Theory and Application, Painting, Structural Anatomy and Figure Drawing, Special Topics of Plein Aire Painting, Portrait Painting and iPad for the Artist, and Graduate Drawing. He has participated in numerous Group Exhibitions, and his works have been featured in Solo Exhibitions in Deleware, Illinois, Missouri, New York, and Oklahoma. Mr. Oliver has affiliation to the College Arts Association, the Popular Culture/American Culture Association, and FATE(Foundation in Art:Theory and Education. Publications include American Art Collector and New American Paintings.

The Danny and Willa Ellis Family Fine Arts Center is located at 1208 Horton St., in Fort Scott, Kansas. There is no admission charge for this event, and all are encouraged to come and enjoy a wonderful collection of original artwork.

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Bourbon County, Business

Iron Star Southside Being Renovated

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A section of Iron Star Antiques and Such, 3 N. Main is being renovated.

Iron Star Antiques and Such owner Barbara Trimbur was sitting at the cash register on Wednesday, with the sound of hammer’s pounding in the background.

 

“Every year I try to improve the store,” Trimbur said. Last year she renovated half of her store at 3 N. Main, this year, she is renovating the south half.

 

“We are redoing the floor, took off the drop-down ceiling that was put in during urban renewal in the 60s,” Trimbur said. “We are going back to the old ceiling tile. And new light fixtures and fans.”

 

The contractor for the renovation is Ron Query Construction, Fort Scott.

 

The store remains open during the renovation.

 

The window on the store’s Wall Street side is covered over with plywood, following  a January 2020 storm.

 

Trimbur said she had the plans in place to start the reno well before the window blowout, and added that the glass is being provided by Peerless Products, a local company.

 

The renovated space should be operational again in mid-March, Trimbur said.

 

Trimbur said there are four women in the store’s co-op of selling decorative items, furniture and more.

 

“There are several ladies that sell stuff and we take turns working,” she said. “They pay a commission to the store and can work it off, like a co-op.”

 

Asked if anything was new on the horizon for the store, Trimbur replied with a laugh “I would always welcome someone to buy it from me, so I can retire.”

 

To follow the store on Facebook: The Iron Star.

 

 

Business, Entertainment, Fort Scott

Common Ground Coffee to Move Shop Mid-March

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Common Ground Coffee Shop will be moved to this location at 12 E. Wall later this week..

Common Ground Coffee shop’s last day of operation at its current, 116 S. Main location will be Friday, March 6.

A new chapter for this local meeting place will then begin.

“We will be closed Saturday, March 7 through 10,” Jennifer LaRoche, a member of the Common Ground board, said.  “We have a tentative date of March 11th to be back in business.”

” We are going to close out the five-year journey with some live music from 7-8 pm by Rick Hite and friends,” she said.

Common Grounds Coffee Company, 116 S. Main.

The coffee shop will be back in business about two blocks away at 12 E. Wall.

There will be no sign on the building at  12 E. Wall, LaRoche said. Pictured is the protective fence that keeps people from getting too near the westernmost LaRoche building which is still being renovated.

The new space has more space, an enlarged commercial kitchen,   a  conference room and meeting space with a stage.

In addition, there will be a drive-up window that will be opened once the staff is “settled in”, LaRoche said.

The stage space will also need a little more work when the business is first moved in.

“It will be heated with portable heaters,” she said.

Signage will be temporary on the door to the new building, until warmer weather when it can be placed on glass, she said.

 

Common Ground Coffee Shop is a ministry of Fort Scott Church of the Nazarene.

 

 

Electrician Kirk Bryant, Jennifer LaRoche and Kasey Gross work on Feb. 25 towards the goal of opening the new Common Ground Coffee Shop in mid-March. LaRoche is the owner of the building that is being renovated at 12 E. Wall. Gross is the coffee shop coordinator, LaRoche said.
Area News

Hwy. 69 Expansion Continues in Two Projects

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Expansion work on Hwy. 69 in November 2017.

Travelers to Pittsburg and south will see progress on the expansion of U.S, 69 Hwy. starting Monday, March 2.

Expanding the highway from two-lane to four-lane has been on-going for about three years in Southeast Kansas.

This is the first project slated for U.S. Hwy. 69 to begin in 2020.

When the press release was published yesterday, questions arose on the FortScott.Biz Facebook page about the remaining sections of 69 Hwy. being completed.

Here are the answers from the Kansas Department of Transportation:

Second Project 2021-2022

A second project for the remaining section is scheduled to start in the spring of next year, according to officials.

“Work on both projects will be occurring at the same time,” Priscilla Petersen with the Kansas Department of Transportation said. “With a fall letting, construction on the northern project will likely start in the spring of 2021. We’ll have more information available on the second project later this year.”

The second project will have bid letting this fall.

“KDOT will let a second project this autumn to expand the remaining miles on U.S. 69 in Crawford County to four lanes,” Peterson said.  “The second project will start three miles north of Arma and end at the Crawford-Bourbon county line.”

 

” These two Crawford County projects, when finished, will make U.S. 69 a four-lane expressway from Kansas City south to Pittsburg, * Peterson said.

 

There are currently no projects scheduled to expand U.S. 69 south of Pittsburg, she said.

 

2020- 21  Project

 

The Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT) plans to start the project, which will expand a six-mile section of U.S. 69 in Crawford County to a four-lane divided expressway, during the week of March 2, according to a KDOT press release dated Feb. 27.

 

The expansion project begins north of the U.S. 69/K-47 junction and continues north to end three miles north of the Arma city limits. Two lanes will be added to the existing U.S. 69 alignment.

 

Two-way traffic is being maintained on the existing lanes of U.S. 69 while the new lanes are under construction. Traffic will be switched to the new lanes when the existing lanes are rebuilt. Early project activity includes grading and work on box culverts off the highway.

 

KDOT awarded the $21.8 million construction contract to Koss Construction Co. of Topeka. According to the project schedule, the new expressway will be open to unrestricted traffic by mid-August 2021.

 

Persons with questions may contact Bob Gudgen at KDOT-Pittsburg, (620) 308-7621, or Priscilla Petersen at KDOT-Chanute, (620) 902-6433.

 

U.S. 69 Highway runs from Minnesota to Texas.

 

Uncategorized

Sunshine Boutique Expands: Rental Opportunity on Main Street

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Sunshine Boutique owner Georgia Brown stands in front of her storefront on Wall Street.

Long-time store owner Georgia Brown is expanding Sunshine Boutique.

 

The store will be expanding to the east, through a door in the store to the property at 2 S. Main that the Brown’s also own.

 

 

“We are excited about the expansion,” Brown said.

 

 

The store is a family affair.

 

She, her husband-Donnie and granddaughters Rilie Creollo, Kinede Houdashelt and Tucker Ross are all involved with the store.

 

 

The door behind the black shelf in the middle of this photo, leads to 2 S. Main and is where the expansion of Sunshine Boutique will be.

 

“There will be new boutique clothing, a designated wedding planning area and we will make our all-occasion flower section bigger, this includes fresh flowers in a cooler,” Brown said.

“The girls have been wanting to do clothing for several years,” she said.

 

Sunshine Boutique has been selling new clothing since January 2020.

 

Donnie is co-owner, Rilie is the assistant manager, Kinede’s wedding cakes will be featured, and Tucker does technology-part time, Brown said.

 

The Browns own 2 S. Main and 4 S. Main, which were recently vacated by the Lowell Milken Center for Unsung Heroes, which had used it for storage the last year, she said.

 

“We have not used the west side of the street very much, for the past year,” Norman Conard, executive director of the center said.

 

The new LMC, at 1 S. Main,  is  across the street from the 2 and 4 S. Main.

 

“The new building is so popular that everyone, teachers and students, want to be in the new building,” he said.

 

Rental Opportunity

 

4 S. Main will be available for rent next week, Brown said.

 

It is 1,300 square feet, has two areas divided by a half wall, a bathroom and an area in the back that has been used as a staff room, Brown said.

 

 

2 and 4 South Main.

 

 

 

Fort Scott

Knights of Columbus Lenten Meal Begins Feb. 28

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Men from the Catholic Church serve fish, potatoes, spaghetti, green beans, coleslaw, and grilled cheese sandwiches. Women of the church provide desserts.

 

The Knights of Columbus Fish Fry begins Feb. 28 at the Mary Queen of Angels Kennedy Gym at 705 S. Holbrook.

 

The meal is served from 5-7 p.m. each Friday until April 3 this year and if past years are any indication there will be a line to get the meal.

 

The annual community event includes southern fried fish, baked white fish, meatless spaghetti, or grilled cheese sandwiches with sides of french-fried potatoes, a baked potato, green beans, or coleslaw along with desserts provided by the women of St. Mary’s Catholic Church and drinks.

 

A free-will donation allows the Knights to contribute to local charities and the local Catholic school, said Deborah Skeen, church secretary.

 

“A lot of people in the community have said it’s good food for the money,” Skeen said.

 

 

Fort Scott

Kiwanis Pancake Feed Until 7 p.m. This Evening

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Community members enjoy visiting at the Fort Scot Kiwanis Pancake Feed at Buck Run Community Center on Tuesday.

 

Members of the community came to Buck Run Community Center for the annual Fort Scott Kiwanis Club Pancake Feed, starting at 11 a.m. today.

 

For a $5 donation, attendees are served pancakes, sausage and a drink.

 

The event is open until 7 p.m. this evening, Feb. 25.

 

The Kiwanis Club provides support for many local charities and awards scholarships to local students.

 

Below are photos from the lunch session of the pancake feed:

 

Buck Run is located at 735 Scott Avenue.

 

Some of the projects of the Fort Scott Kiwanis Club were showcased on a poster of the gym at Buck Run Community Center.
Glenn Newcomer, left, and Dale Johnson, sell the tickets to the pancake feed on Feb. 25.
A banner at the pancake feed in Buck Run Community Center.
Addisyn Fowler, Fort Scott High School Key Club member, left, along with Fort Scott Kiwanis Club members Bob Eckles and Clyde Stepps serve pancakes on Feb. 25.
Sponsors of the pancake feed are featured on a poster during the meal.
On the stage in the gym are Ralph Carlson and Wib Mowen on guitars and Carolyn Tucker, keyboard, who entertain the attendees during lunch session at the pancake feed. Helping with the sound system is Dave Oas.
Bourbon County, Exercise, Fort Scott

Downtown Walking Trail In The Works

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Rita Schroeder and J.T. Heckman make a presentation to the Healthy Bourbon County Action Team of Feb. 6 of the proposed downtown walking trail. Submitted photo.
A local leadership class has taken on a project of creating a walking trail downtown with funding from Healthy Bourbon County Action Team.
Bourbon County Lead Class 2020 heard of the funding opportunity from Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Lindsay Madison.
 
“Lindsay brought the opportunity up to the class of extra funds from Healthy Bourbon County Action Team that we could use for our class project and we came up with a healthy walk downtown with educational fun facts about downtown Fort Scott,” Rita Schoeder, LEAD Class member said. ” What it was and what it is now!”
Rita Schroeder and J.T. Heckman present to the Healthy Bourbon County Action Team on Feb. 6. Submitted photo.
“Our presentation proposed to Healthy Bourbon County Board for approval was held at the Empress Event Center, Thursday, February 6th,” Schoeder said.  “I and one other class member, J.T. (Heckman), presented to the board for approval of the design of the signs.”
Also included in the presentation was an example of a fun facts sign with QR code for younger audiences to use cell phones while approaching the sign, then scanning on the phone. It will then show images, reading material and recorded audio of the fun fact, Schroeder said.
“Some signs will show how many feet you have walked as well.,” she said. “At the Feb. 6 meeting, the budget and project were approved.”
 
The definitive location of the downtown trail is not final but the starting place will be at the Fort Scott Chamber, 231 E.Wall Street, Schroeder said.
There the walkers will receive a brochure of the walking trail, and the statistics of how many feet the walking trail is from start to finish.
The brochure will show the fun fact markers and highlights of the downtown walking trail.
What is the benefit of having a walking trail downtown?
According to Schroeder:
  • It’s a walk of downtown historic Fort Scott for people who work and live downtown, residents, and visitors of all ages.
  • The walk promotes retailers, restaurants, and points of interest.
  • Walkers will learn fun facts about Fort Scott’s history.
  • The hope is to challenge the next generation of opportunities to continue  Fort Scott’s growth. 
  • Small town hospitality will welcome visitors and share what Fort Scott represents and has to offer.

By mid-March/April, the project will be presented to the Fort Scott Design and Review Board and if approved will then go to the Fort Scott City Commission for final approval.

 The completion date for the project is in June, Schroeder said.
“Before Good Ol’ Days, fingers crossed,” Schroeder said.
Members of the LEAD Bourbon County 2020 group have been divided into subgroups with the following tasks:
Naming the trail and gathering historical facts
based on the number of mile marker signs along the trail:
Matthew Chaplin, Devin Tally, Tony Tirri, JT Heckman.
Marketing and design of brochures, flyers, and printed maps to be picked up at the Chamber and/or trailhead, designing a welcome sign and mile marker signs,  and getting quotes on pricing and installation:
Rita Schroeder, Ashley Keylon, Katie Allison.
Mapping the route, identifying sign placement and number of mile marker signs needed:
Traci Reed, Amy Budy, Kyla Probasco
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