All posts by Loretta George

Obituary

Obituary of John Kruger

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John Fredrick Kruger

John Fredrick Kruger, age 68, resident of Ft. Scott, KS, died Wednesday, November 11, 2020, at his home.

He was born February 11, 1952, in Ft. Scott, the son of Elvin and Margaret Johnson Kruger. He graduated from Uniontown high school with the class of 1970. He married Vicki Harris on April 22, 1972, in Ft. Scott.

John worked for Mid-Continental Restoration for many years until retirement. He enjoyed playing slow pitch softball with his many friends. He was a big fan of the KC Chiefs, KU basketball, stock car racing, and Elvis music. John was known as “Chicken Man” for his prowess in raising fighting chickens.

He attended the Fort Scott Church of the Nazarene.

Survivors include his wife Vicki of the home; a son, Leroy Kruger and wife Christina, Ft. Scott; a daughter Brooke Bolin and husband Ron, Ft. Scott; 2 sisters, Linda Turner and Gail Dalton of Ft. Scott; a sister-in-law, Terri Shelton and husband Don, Ft. Scott; 4 grandchildren, Jordan Holdridge, Austin Kruger, Lexi Kruger, and Raegan Bolin; 3 great-grandchildren, Blakyn, Kyson, and Cali Holdridge with one more on the way; and several nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents.

Rod Perez and Rev. Virgil Peck will conduct funeral services at 10:00 AM Tuesday, November 17th, at the Fort Scott Church of the Nazarene.

Burial will follow in the Evergreen Cemetery.

The family will receive friends from 5:00 until 7:00 PM Monday evening at the Cheney Witt Chapel.

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

Fort Scott, Mercy Hospital

Listen to Podcasts of Mercy Hospital Closing

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Sarah Jane Tribble, a journalist who spent two years telling the story of the closing of Mercy Hospital, offers her podcasts for the listening public.
“Want to ignore what’s happening in DC and escape COVID for a moment?” she said on her Facebook page.  “Here’s a distraction: All chapters of my new podcast Where It Hurts are available via@KHNews&@stlpublicradio
Here’s a list of Fort Scott residents who bravely opened up and shared their pain and courage: Tanner and Sherise Beckham, Dave Martin, Fred Campbell, Reta Baker, Pat and Ralph Wheeler, Dr. Maxwell Self, Linda Findley, Karen Endicott-Coyan, and the late Roxine Poznich, who owned Books & Grannies.
Listen here: https://podcasts.apple.com/…/where-it…/id1529977695…
‎Where It Hurts on Apple Podcasts
Business, Fort Scott

Maycumber Receives Community Block Development Grant

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Chris Maycumber, owner of Mayco Ace Hardware.

Chris Maycumber. owner of Mayco Ace Hardware, 205  Scott, is the recipient of a Community Development Block Grant to repair his building. The grant was for $225,000, with Maycumber matching with $75,000.

 

According to the website:   https://www.kansascommerce.gov/program/community-programs :

“The Small Cities Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program allows the Department of Commerce to distribute federal funds to Kansas cities and counties looking to improve their community.

CDBG awards are given in four primary categories:

  1. Annual Competitive Grants
    1. Water and Sewer
    2. Housing Rehabilitation
    3. Community Facilities
  2. Economic Development Grants
  3. Commercial Rehabilitation Grants
  4. Urgent Need Grants”
Maycumber’s grant is for rehabilitating his building.

“It’s to fix up the appearance of the building exterior,” he said. “The roof, windows, doors, and anything that will get the building up to  city code.”

The CDBG process began in 2018, he said.

“After a few snafu’s and the COVID-19 pandemic, it put us behind,” Maycumber said.

When the state does a CDB Grant, the project is put into a state-wide website, where contractors can bid on the specifications.

Although he can’t determine the contractors for the project, Maycumber said he hopes to use local businesses.

Currently, Agricultural Engineering Associates, Uniontown, is providing the building specs, he said.

“The state hasn’t put their money up yet, then we do, then the process to bid begins,” Maycumber said.

Thirty days after the project has let bids, they will know who the contractors are.

“Hopefully, by the end of November,” he said. “Then they will have so many days to finish the project.

The storefront at 203 State, north of the hardware store is the focus of the grant.

The last store in that building was Dollar General Store, who left in 2015, he said.

The 203 and 205 State building is owned by Maycumber with his mother, Joyce Maycumber.

 

203 State Street is the storefront just north of Mayco Ace Hardware, which is 205 State Street. It is all one building that will receive updates from a new grant that Chris Maycumber received.
Bourbon County, Schools

Uniontown School District Honors Veterans With A Parade

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USD 235 students, staff and surrounding community honored U.S. Veteran’s this afternoon with a parade in Uniontown.

Flags, horses, trailers full of FFA members and the high school band along with the Bourbon County Sheriff’s Office, the Bourbon County Fire Department, had a mild November afternoon to celebrate Veteran’s Day.

An event honoring vets is usually held in the high school gym, but because of COVID 19 pandemic restrictions, staff decided to host a parade.

Below are some of the participants.

Students lined the schools walking path and waved to the vets, with community members intermixed.

Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas, COVID-19

CHC/SEK Fort Scott Receives Mobile Unit With SPARK Funds

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CHC’s mobile testing unit can be set up wherever needed. Submitted photo.

 

Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas will soon have a mobile testing unit available to help during the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas, 403 Woodland Hills Blvd.

 

“Community Health Center requested funds to purchase a portable shelter system  to accommodate COVID-19 testing,” said CHC CEO Krista Postai.  “Once a vaccine is available, mass drive-through immunizations providing shelter for patients and staff in winter and summer weather (will be possible). The structure is portable and can be at the clinic site and/or used for outreach testing/vaccinating across the county. The shelter price included electricity, freight, HVAC unit and covered trailer for storage and transport.”

“As we continue to provide testing – and plans are being made for mass immunizations — winter weather is on the way and the structures will protect patients and staff from the elements,” she said.” Additionally, these units also block the sun’s rays which made our summer testing challenging for staff who endured 100+ temperatures to provide testing services. The shelters are durable and can be used for years to come.”

 

Krista Postai. Submitted photo.

 

 

The shelter has been ordered but not received as of this date, Postai said

 

CHC plans are to set it up outside the CHC building once it’s received.

 

The front door of the Community Health Center of
Southeast Kansas at Fort Scott.

 

 

 

Bourbon County, COVID-19, Schools

St. Mary’s Catholic School Receives SPARK Grant

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St. Mary’s Catholic School
St. Mary’s Catholic School has received SPARK funds to provide laptops for students and increased technological capabilities. along with a small transportation bus.
The Strengthening People and Revitalizing Kansas (SPARK) Taskforce is leading Kansas forward in recovery from the far-reaching effects of COVID-19, distributing funds provided from the U.S. Coronavirus Relief Fund, according to its’ website https://covid.ks.gov/spark-recovery-office/
St. Mary’s students enjoy lunch outside as an aid to social distancing at the school..Submitted photos.

 

Technology
“We will use the money to buy laptops for our students to use at school and also to be used at home if we were to be shut down again by the state,” Principal Josh Regan said.  “We will also be purchasing new laptops for our computers with software upgrades that are capable of bringing remote learners, who have been required to isolate or quarantine, into our classroom via Zoom.”
Josh Regan. Submitted photo.
Cameras and WIFI access
 ” We have purchased Swivl cameras to make that experience more seamless and interactive for remote learners with SPARK FUNDS as well,” he said. ” We are also updating our WiFi access points throughout our school to accommodate more devices on the system.”
Purchase of small bus
“We were given funds to assist in the purchase of a small bus for the school, based on transportation needs and difficulties especially due to COVID,” Regan said.
Entertainment, Fort Scott National Historic Site

Fort Scott NHS’s 38th Annual Candlelight Tour Goes Virtual

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Fort Scott National Historic Site glows during a past annual candlelight tour event.

 

 

Fort Scott Kan. – Enjoy Fort Scott National Historic Site’s 38th Annual Candlelight Tour from the warmth and comfort of your own home. The virtual tour will air on the park’s web page (www.nps.gov/fosc) and Facebook (www.facebook.com/FortScottNPS) at 7pm central time on Friday, December 4, 2020. There is no cost or fee for participating and Rangers will answer questions during and immediately following the program

 

This year’s virtual tour will share images of the traditional 1,000 candle lanterns around the parade ground and will feature six stops exploring 1840s health and safety, law and order, and equal treatment. Was there equality between officers, enlisted soldiers, and even, their horses?

 

1840’s soldiers at Fort Scott lived in isolation because of being distant from towns, other outposts, families, and friends. They also faced inequality because Officers were paid more and had nicer, more spacious, living quarters. If officers were sick, they could be treated in their quarters and if in trouble, they were subject to house arrest. Enlisted soldiers were paid a fraction of an officer’s salary, and they shared bunks in a room with 25 other soldiers. If they were sick, they were treated at the hospital in an open group setting and if in trouble they were sent to a cell in the guardhouse. Both also enjoyed the holidays differently.

 

Fort Scott was an active military post from 1842-1853, which was a time of rapid growth and change in the country. As Fort Scott was being built, the nation grew west. With this growth, Fort Scott changed, the mission of its soldiers changed, the environment changed, and the nation changed. However, the soldiers at Fort Scott continued to serve faithfully, despite the constant change.

 

Fort Scott National Historic Site hopes you enjoy our virtual Candlelight Tour as much as our other virtual events this year (all available on www.nps.gov/fosc) and we hope to see you in person for all of our on-site events in 2021.

 

From November 1-March 31, Fort Scott National Historic Site, a unit of the National Park Service, will be open for its winter hours of operation. The site exhibit areas and historic buildings are open daily from 8:30 am-4:30 pm. The park grounds are open daily from ½ hour before sunrise until ½ hour after sunset. To find out more or volunteer at the Fort, please contact the park at 620-223-0310 or visit our website at www.nps.gov/fosc.

 

COVID-19, Entertainment, Fort Scott, Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce

Fort Scott Veteran’s Day 2020

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Several activities are planned for Veteran’s Day 2020 in Fort Scott.
On Nov. 10 there is a reception for veterans at the Boiler Room Brewhaus, National Ave. at Wall Street in downtown Fort Scott.
A Veteran’s Day Ceremony will be held on Nov. 11 at 11  A.M. at the Bourbon County Fairgrounds on South Horton Street
A lunch for vets will follow at VFW Post 1165 on National Avenue.
On Nov. 13, free trolley tours will be provided by Fort Scott Tourism, located at the Chamber of Commerce office on Wall Street.
For more information: 620.670.2750.
The Fort Scott Veteran’s Day Parade starts at 3 p.m. on November 14.
Line-up for parade entries will be at 6th Street and Main Street.
The parade route will go north on Main to Wall, then west to National Avenue, and south back to 6th Street.
This event is sponsored by Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce.
“As a Chamber member, they asked me to be the organizer/coordinator this year,” Diann Tucker said.
“The purpose of the parade is to show our honor and respect to our past and current military and to increase awareness of and the sacrifice for what has been done to maintain the freedom we enjoy each day.”
Virus avoiding steps because of the COVID 19 Pandemic
“We are asking that everyone maintain safe social distancing and wear masks when you cannot,” Tucker said.  ” We want to adhere to all CDC and local guidelines.  This will be an outdoor event and there should be no problem for family units to socially distance themselves from others.  Parade entries will easily be socially distanced from those attending the parade.”
COVID-19, Fort Scott, Health Care

City of Fort Scott Receives SPARK Funds

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Fort Scott City Hall.
The City of Fort Scott has received SPARK grants to help with COVID-19 expenses.
The Strengthening People and Revitalizing Kansas (SPARK)  Taskforce is charged with leading Kansas forward in recovery from the far-reaching effects of COVID-19, with funds distributed from the U.S. Federal Government, according to its website https://covid.ks.gov/spark-recovery-office/.

Previously,  $9,975 was received for personal protection equipment (PPE)  and cleaning expenses the city incurred since the pandemic began in March 2020, Susan Bancroft, the city’s finance director said.

Susan Bancroft is the City of Fort Scott Finance Director. Submitted photo.

 

In addition, the city received $142,000 on October 9, 2020 to cover the following categories,  according to Bancroft.

 

PPE-$31,500 and Public Health Expenses-$15,000.

 

“Public Safety will receive funding to protect essential workers during the pandemic, as well as address disinfecting several community facilities,” Bancroft said.  “The City of Fort Scott will be purchasing MSA self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) for our firefighters, rechargeable Gen Eon Misters to disinfect public areas, air purifiers for several locations, PPE and additional janitorial services.”

 

Economic Support $6,500:

 

“The Coronavirus Pandemic has created a completely different landscape for tourism,” Bancroft said. ” No longer are people interested in going to big cities with crowded venues.  Instead, they are looking to visit towns like Fort Scott where they can get away from those crowded areas.  Specifically, they are interested in getting outdoors.  Fort Scott and Bourbon County are uniquely positioned for this type of activity.  We have a plethora of agritourism businesses that people have greatly enjoyed visiting over the years, such as the Lavender Patch, Black Dogs Farm, Gunn Park Trails, T&C Wildlife, Anderson Elk Ranch and more.  The funds received for economic support will be used for direct mailings, professional photos, drone video, agritourism postcards and brochures and pay per click advertising.”

 

 

Technology costs $89,000:

 

“Travel has become very limited due to COVID-19,” Bancroft said.  “Furthermore, public safety workers need to continue educational training for certification.  These technology funds will enable a training area to be created for this purpose.  Computers for telework, a projector, tables and chairs and a whiteboard will be purchased to create this learning environment.  In addition, in order to reduce the contact when officers are out patrolling, mobile dispatch units, additional computers for telework, and an Ecitation program with printers for records management will be purchased.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bourbon County, Health Care

Progress on Uniontown Health Clinic

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Gene George and Hugh Wunderly retrieve lumber for the concrete ADA sidewalk they are building for the Uniontown Health Clinic.

Work is underway for the Uniontown Health Clinic located on the campus of USD 235.

The clinic is a collaboration of the school district, Uniontown Ruritan, Girard Medical Center and Bourbon County.

They recently received a SPARK Grant from the government and a Jayhawk Wind (wind energy company) grant to move forward with repurposing the building south of the high school football/track field into a health clinic for the community.

 

To view a recent story on the clinic:

 

Uniontown Health Clinic Moving Forward To Open in 2021

Marbery Concrete, Fort Scott, had workers getting ready to pour for the new disability access sidewalk at the Uniotown Health Clinic on Nov. 6
Ruritan Member Joe George removes concrete for the disability access sidewalk that will be poured on Monday by Marbery Concrete, Fort Scott. The Uniontown Health Clinic recently received grants to move forward with the project.

 

Bourbon County, Business, Jobs

New Employment Help Center Opens in Old Kress Building, Grocery Store Will Open Soon

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A1 Towing and Moving, Fort Scott, moves shelving into the new grocery store, which will be located in the Old Kress Building, 17 S. Main.

A resource center in the former Kress Building, 17 S. Main is open in downtown Fort Scott.

The center is called the BWERC which stands for Bourbon County Workforce and Entrepreneur Resource Center.

The first floor is currently being prepared to sell groceries, while the second floor is open for business as a multi-partner center to help with COVID-19 related issues.

 

Downtown Grocery Store

BAJA Investments LLC, Healthy Bourbon County Action Team and a  local farm and ranch food cooperative grocery store will be located on the first floor, according to info from Hoener.

BAJA Investments will manage the grocery store that will open sometime in the second half of December 2020, said Bill Michaud, developer for the business. The store is as yet not named, Michaud said on Nov. 3.

The first-floor space will have shelving, coolers and freezers for
local produce and meat.

This will increase access to healthy food,  and make more food available for local food assistance programs, Hoener said.

 

To view a recent story on the grocery store, click below:

New Grocery Store In Downtown Fort Scott Is Coming

 

Employment Related Services

Through a multi-partner collaboration of Bourbon County government , Pittsburg State University Small Business Development Center www.pittstatesmallbusiness.com, Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce http://fortscott.com/, Fort Scott Community College http://www.fortscott.edu/ , Kansas Works http://sekworks.organd BAJA Investments LLC , the hope is to address the urgent COVID-19 related crisis needs in Bourbon County, according to information provided by Jody Hoener, economic director for the county.

The large room of the B WERKS Center on the second floor of the Old Kress Building in downtown Fort Scott.

 

The building will be used for distance learning and teleworking and also a place for childcare businesses to become legal and thus help in childcare relief during the pandemic, Hoener noted.

A work room in the BWERC Center in the old Kress Building in downtown Fort Scott.

The plan is to give businesses the tools and technical assistance needed for increased  online capabilities and the assistance to
obtain the money needed to sustain their business.

There is also unemployment and job-seeking assistance.

Amy Kauffman, career advisor with KansasWorks sits at a desk in the Kress Building on Nov. 3. KansasWorks helps with job search assistance and employment related services.