All posts by Loretta George

Bourbon County, Entertainment, Exercise, Fort Scott

Added Safety and Accessibility Coming to Riverfront Park

Leave a comment
The wayfinder map of Riverfront Park, North National Avenue.

Lights for the Bell Town Walking Trail at Riverfront Park on Fort Scott’s north entrance will soon be installed.

“They are LED downlights to light the trail at dusk for more safety,” Jerry Witt, chairman of the Fort Scott Bourbon County Riverfront Authority, said.

The Healthy Bourbon County Action Team is providing funds for the lighting.

The City of Fort Scott Streets Department is pouring concrete for the pedestals for the 27 pole lights which will stand about 12 feet high, similar to the poles in the historic downtown district. The streets crew has also done the trenching for the electrical pipe for the poles.

Fort Scott Maintenance II Employee Kyle Knight, left, and Fort Scott Streets Supervisor Jerry Morgan tell about the pedestals that were poured today for the new LED lighting in Riverfront Park.

“Max Fanning is doing the electrical work labor,” Witt said. “We are paying for that.”

Also slated for a 2019 completion date is paving and striping of the parking area, west of the park pavilion at the entrance. Also, a handicapped accessible wheelchair ramp will be built to the pavilion.

The Riverfront Park Pavillion had its ribbon-cutting in May 2018.

Last week, the Fort Scott Area Community Foundation granted the Riverfront Authority a $2,317 award to purchase metal picnic tables and benches for the pavilion, Witt said.

New Trails

Witt said the Riverfront Authority has applied for a Kansas Department of Transportation Grant to create additional trails on the south side of the Marmaton River, along the River Front Road.

“When we built the road in 2015, the grant was for road and trails,” Witt said. “But the cost of the road construction was higher than expected, so the trails were put on hold.”

Agricultural Engineering, Uniontown, is working with the Riverfront Authority in designing the 2, 953 feet of trails, which will be eight-foot-wide and have an asphalt surface, Witt said.

Overlook Moving

Flooding this past spring moved the recently built wooden overlook off its’ foundation and the Riverfront Authority is planning to move the structure to higher ground, Witt said.

Members

Members of the Riverfront Authority, from left Allen Warren, Arnold Schofield, Danny Magee, Jerry Witt, Dean Mann and Betty Boyko. File photo. Not pictured: Jeff Sweetser, Bob Love, and Penny Barnes.

Members of the Fort Scott Bourbon County Riverfront Authority are Witt,  Allen Warren, Jeff Sweetser, Bob Love, Betty Boyko, Danny Magee, Arnold Schofield, Penny Barnes and Dean Mann.

The organization was created in 2007.

 

Fort Scott, Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce

Taco Salad Nov. 5: Rotary Fundraiser

Leave a comment

Come support
Fort Scott Rotary’s
Taco Salad Fundraiser!
Tuesday, November 5th
(Election Day)
$6.00
(includes taco salad w/chips, dessert & drink)
11 am to 6 pm
Bourbon County 4H Building (at the Fairgrounds on S. Horton St.,
across from FSCC)
Tickets available from any Rotarian or the Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce.
Click here for Rotary’s Facebook page.
Offering Free delivery for orders of 6 or more!
Also,
For to-go orders,
call or text 620.215.2653
Bourbon County, Fort Scott

American Legion Post 25 Scuttlebutt

Leave a comment

American Legion Fort Scott Thompson-Harkey Post 25 is in 1st place in 2nd District membership. Today’s numbers have Post at 74 members or 97.37%.

Our 2020 membership goal is 76. We are currently 2 members short of 100%. Help Post 25 reach 100% by renewing your membership or by recruiting a new member.

If Post 25 reaches 100% by Friday, November 8, we will receive $100 for meeting the Department’s Veterans Day goal of 100% membership. We only need two renewals to receive the $100 membership award.

You can easily renew online at www.legion.org. It’s safe and secure and takes less than five minutes

You can also mail in your $40.00 renewal to the Post 25 Finance Officer.

 

Darrell Spencer

1183 185TH ST

Fort Scott, Ks, 66701.

 

I can also arrange to meet with you to pick up your renewal.  I’m retired so I can easily work around your schedule to meet you, but no 3 AM meetings please!

With the signing of the LEGION Act, any honorably discharged Veteran who served one day of active duty since December 7, 1941, can now join the American Legion.  Many Veterans are not aware they can join the largest Veterans fraternal organization in the world. If you know a Veteran, ask them to join us.

Upcoming Events

November 4. Post 25 meet and greet starts at 630 pm in Memorial Hall.

November 4. Post 25 general membership meeting starts at 7 pm in Memorial Hall.

Veterans Day Weekend: Schedule of Events
Honoring All Veterans since “1842” – Annual Veterans Day Celebration!

FRIDAY –  NOVEMBER 8, 2019

Evening Event – 7pm * Missourians Concert @ Memorial Hall, 1 East 3rd St.

SATURDAY * NOVEMBER 9, 2019

Afternoon:  1pm * Grand Ball Lessons @ Memorial Hall, 1 East 3rd St.

3pm * Veterans Day Parade @ Downtown Fort Scott, Main Street

Evening:    7pm * 1800’s Remembrance Grand Ball @ Memorial Hall, 1 East 3rd St.

SUNDAY * NOVEMBER 10, 2019

Morning:    9am * Veterans Church Service

10:45am * Community Christian Church Service, 1919 Horton St.

Evening:   6pm * Brent Giddens is ELVIS @ Memorial Hall, 1East 3rd St.

MONDAY * NOVEMBER 11, 2019

Mid-Morning Ceremony:  Please join us at The United States Cemetery No. 1

11am * Veterans Day Service * 900 E. National Ave.

Noon: 12pm * Veterans Day Lunch @ VFW Post #1165, 1745 S. National Ave. (Free will Donations)

November 14. American Legion Auxiliary Unit 25 meets at 600 pm in Memorial Hall.

November 14. American Legion Post 25 Color Guard meets at 730 pm in Memorial Hall. All Post 25 Legion family members can join the Post 25 Color Guard. This includes Auxiliary and Sons of the American Legion Squadron members.

November 16. Chartering American Legion Riders Chapter 25 at 10 am in Memorial Hall.  To join, you must own a motorcycle of at least 250 cc’s AND be a member of the American Legion, American Legion Auxiliary or the Sons of the American Legion.

We invite Legion family members from other American Legion Posts to join our Riders Chapter. If you have a current Legion membership in any American Legion family organization, we invite you to join us.

January 31 – February 2, 2020. Department of Kansas Midwinter Forum at Fort Scott.

 Informational Items

Additional shuttle drivers are needed. The VA-provided shuttle now transports dialysis patients to Pittsburg on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays plus area Veterans for VA hospital appointments on Mondays and Thursdays. Call or email me for more information on becoming a shuttle driver.

Auxiliary Unit 25’s first outreach program is to provide support to Veteran mothers of newborn babies at the Topeka VA Medical Center.  They are currently collecting needed items for newborns and all donations are greatly appreciated.  Diapers, body wash and shampoos, blankets and clothing are among the items requested. Call Unit 25 Vice President Marilyn Gilmore at 785.214.5618 for more information or to donate items. A copy of the flyer is attached.

 Attachments

 Fort Scott Veterans Day Activities.

 

American Legion Post 25 and VFW Post 1165 combined Color Guard.

 

Don’t hesitate to contact me with any suggestions or questions you may have about Fort Scott American Legion Post 25.

Carl Jowers. Post 25 Commander.

620-215-1688

[email protected]

Bourbon County, Schools

USD 235’s Jackie Hall Awarded Gold For Facilitating Model P.E. School

Leave a comment

 

Kansas Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance Model School presented Jackie Hall an award on Thursday, October 24, 2019 at Pittsburg State University. Left to right: Chris Rose KAHPERD Model School Committee member; Karla Stenzel KAHPERD president; Jackie Hall, USD 235 Physical Education Teacher; Karl Ely,  member of the Model School Committee. Submitted photo.

The state’s physical education association recently awarded Uniontown teacher Jackie Hall with the highest award for a model school that promotes a quality physical education program.

Jackie Hall, USD 235 Physical Education Teacher. Submitted photo.

The Kansas Association of Health, Physical Education, Recreation, and Dance Model School Program is designed to identify and recognize and award schools that provide and model school physical education programs, according to Hall.

“The award process promotes quality physical education throughout the state of Kansas,” she said.

“The award rubric included 12 areas of criteria for the Gold Level… ALL levels had to be met and documented,” Hall said.

The areas include the amount of time spent by students in physical activity, providing instruction to both boys and girls,  pursuing professional development as a teacher, the school districts facilities for p.e.(including a variety of and sufficient quantities of equipment), maintaining a hazard-free environment,  teacher curriculum instruction practices, assessments of students, administrative support (funding), inclusion of students with disabilities and collaborating with classroom teachers for integrated instruction to students.

“I have been teaching at West Bourbon Elementary School for 38 years,” she said. ” Our school administration and staff realize the importance of physical education, and I try very hard to provide a wide variety of activities to challenge ALL students to be physically active. I am very honored and humbled to receive this award on behalf of our school. I am so blessed to work with a great staff.”

KAHPERD Model School Award 2019 Gold Level was presented last week to Hall during the association’s state conference at Pittsburg State University. Hall also made two presentations during two session of the conference.

Government, Kansas

Governor’s Water Conference is Next Week

Leave a comment

 

 

WHO: Governor’s Administration, Kansas Water Office

WHAT: The Governor’s Conference on the Future of Water in Kansas

WHEN: Thursday, November 7 and Friday, November 8

WHERE: NEW LOCATION – Hyatt Regency, 400 W Waterman Street, Wichita, KS

TIME: 8:30 a.m.

 

Information: The eighth annual Governor’s Conference on the Future of Water in Kansas will address relevant and current water resource issues as well as the continued implementation of the Kansas Water Vision and integration into the Kansas Water Plan to ensure Kansas water needs are being met, now and in the future.

There will be keynotes the morning of Day 1 including Jill Wheeler, head of Sustainable Productivity for Syngenta in North America; Lt. Governor Rogers; Matthew Lohr, Chief NRCS; and Rollin Hotchkiss, BYU. There will be breakout sessions in the afternoon.

 

Topics include:

  • Sustainability Across the Supply Chain
  • Flooding Impacts
  • Groundwater Quality
  • The Arbuckle
  • Reservoir Sediment Management

 

The fourth Water Legacy Award will be presented at the conference Tuesday morning and ‘Be the Vision’ nominees will be recognized as well.

 

To view the brochure for a current list of speakers and panelists visit: www.kwo.ks.gov   

 

Day two will build on the water policy and vision implementation discussions from the previous day with technical presentation posters and talks. Graduate and undergraduate students will present their research posters.

 

This event is open to credentialed members of the media.  Please RSVP to the Kansas Water Office by phone (785) 296-3185 or email Katie Patterson-Ingels, Communications Director at [email protected].

 

The Governor’s Conference on the Future of Water in Kansas is hosted by the KWO and K-State /Kansas Water Resource Institute. Major sponsors for the event include 96 Agri Sales, Inc., Black & Veatch, Burns & McDonnell and Great Lakes Dredge & Dock.

Bourbon County, Business, Fort Scott

Coy Pollmeier: Young Entrepreneur

Leave a comment

Although Coy Pollmeier, 19,  is a professional bull rider, he has taken up boot repair as a side job.

“Riding bulls is what I do most of the time and leather/ boot-repair is what I do on the side,” he said. “I only do boot-repair on the side because I also travel a lot …professionally, in the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association.”

Pollmeier purchased the leather/boot repair shop equipment from John Renard earlier this year. Renard retired after providing the service to Bourbon County for decades.

If one has a good pair of boots, they can last for years, with a few repairs now and then.

Pollmeier is providing that service to those who want to keep a good pair of boots for a long time.

CP Leather and Boot Repair is the name of his new business.
“I… work out of my house,” he said. “I have a drop off site in town.”
He is in the process of perfecting the craft.
“I have spent time with a few other repairmen picking up things here and there but it has been mostly trial and error,” he said. “I have been working on repairing boots for probably about the last eight months and I’m just now going public about it.”
A boot before repair. Submitted photo.
The same boot after being repaired by Pollmeier. Submitted photo.
“I can repair most boots and shoes to an extent,” Pollmeier said. “I am the only one in the shop, so it is all done by myself. It usually takes me a few hours to completely redo a pair of boots.”
The leather/boot drop off site is Hills Service Gas Station, 308 No. National Avenue.
Contact Pollmeier at 620.215.4937.
Bourbon County, Business

David Foster, Local Farmer, Expands Horizons

1 Comment
David Foster, Chief Executive Officer of Terrakat LLC.
David Foster, who is a fourth-generation Bourbon County dairyman,  still makes his living providing for his wife and children on the family farm at 1035 Hwy 39.
In addition to tending to his milk cows, he started a new business this year called Terrakat LLC.
The equipment spreads the manure that his herd of dairy cows produces daily.

“The equipment allows the farmer to spread manure on the field providing nutrients to the soil that is needed to raise crops,” Foster said. “Manure is fertilizer.”

Terrakat manure spreader. Submitted photo.
“Terrakat (his business) was formed in March once I knew I had found a product that not only would be beneficial for Foster Dairy but also be beneficial for others as well,” he said.
The equipment is manufactured in Turkey.
“I flew over to Turkey in March (2019) to meet with the manufacturers, that I would then contract to produce my first ag equipment product of a manure spreader,” Foster said.
He had done his research but wanted to see first hand the product.
“I have a good company with good quality steel, good workmanship and willingness to allow me to make any changes I feel necessary to make the product better,” Foster said.
“Once I had returned, I placed an order for two units that had a capacity of 20 tons of manure each,” Foster said.  “We planned to keep one for ourselves at Foster Dairy and then to sell the second unit.”
Foster began the business to save money on agricultural equipment for Foster Dairy,  and then to build a business that can save others money on needed equipment, he said.
“I am providing a quality product that is more cost-effective and (additionally)then spending dollars locally for my business needs, for example, Captured Images Photography, SkyyFoxx,  My1Stop.com to name a few,” he said.
It’s been a project that has unfolded this year.
“They (two pieces of equipment) arrived in a shipping container in July during the Bourbon County Fair,” Foster said. “After getting them unloaded and finishing some assembly, we waited for a window to demo the spreader where the ground was not too wet to spread manure. Which was difficult this year. When we did, we hired a drone company to take some professional footage as well as a photographer to take some high-end photos.”
He made his first sale this month.
“I took one of the units to the Ozark Fall Farmfest farm show in Springfield at the beginning of October where I made my first sale!” he said.  “To my surprise, it wasn’t the model on display but one size bigger. That order for a T28 Terrakat Manure Spreader was placed last week and expected to ship this Friday.”
“The highlight of my first farm show wasn’t simply making a sale, but more importantly, to get feedback from other farmers and ranchers in the four-state area and to compare Terrakat to five other well-know brands of manure spreader,” Foster said.  “After hearing from them, I was even more pleased to learn that I not only beat the competition on unit price, but had more features packed into a lower maintenance design with more volume capacity!”
“I also had a promising meeting with one of the country’s largest farm cooperatives last week in partnering with Terrakat to offer my manure spreaders to all of their 14000 members across the country,” he said.  ” I have generated a lot of interest in a very short time. Terrakat is still in the startup/launch phase. I’m booked to go to the Tulsa Farm Show on December 12-14th. I have already had people tell me they are looking forward to seeing a Terrakat spreader at that show.”
“Meanwhile, I have been working on some added features to include scales, removable beaters, and GPS-ready variable rate flow control to name a few,” he said.
Besides being a dairyman and this new business venture, Foster owns another business called Cash Cow Enterprise LLC where he has reclaimed and salvaged used metal buildings for the last 12 years.
Foster is still working on website design for Terrakat LLC, a promotional video, establishing a nationwide dealer network, designing feature enhancements,  and “my next product- line rollout, and another trip to Turkey to work on designs and other products with my manufacturer.”
Foster’s phone is 620-224-9433,  and website: www.terrakat.com
or his Facebook page.
Foster graduated Uniontown High School  in 1998, Fort Scott Community College in 2000, and  Kansas State University with a degree in animal science and a degree in agricultural communications
He is involved in his community through Farm Bureau, 4-H, FFA,  Bourbon County Fair Board, and Dairy Farmers of America.

Foster is the only employee at this time for Terrakat LLC, but expansion will require employees in the future, he said.

“Overall, I believe my new company will be successful because I am modeling it after my successful business of Cash Cow Enterprise LLC,” he said. ” I have learned that I don’t sell anything that I don’t use myself. I work on slim margins to make the best deal and to remain competitive.  I take pride in feeling like I am helping farmers and ranchers like myself by providing a good quality alternative at a lower price than the competition.”
Fort Scott, Fort Scott Police Department, Schools

Police Department Received Report of Criminal Threat to FSHS

Leave a comment
Fort Scott High School.
 USD 234 Superintendent Ted Hessong received a report from the Fort Scott Police Department that a criminal threat was made regarding Fort Scott High School on Oct. 28.
A person was accused of posting a social media threat against the high school on October 28, just about the time Fort Scott High School lets out for the day.
“The Fort Scott Police Department reported to me this afternoon, (Oct. 28) after school was out, that they had received information from a third party website that a criminal threat was made on the high school this afternoon,” Hessong said.  “FSPD investigated the report this afternoon and found that no credible threat was made upon the high school.”
“It was a hotline based out of California,” FSPD Captain Jason Pickert said. “They received an anonymous tip that a video had been posted on a social media site.”
“We learned upon investigation the person does not have an account with that media site, so it was falsely reported,” Pickert said.
“We spoke with the suspect involved and did independent research,” he said. “The person was local, but not a high school student.”
“We notified Ted Hessong shortly after the report came in, about 3:20 p.m.,” Pickert said. “I think it was a false report from the get-go.”

The incident was  communicated to the school district parents through the school messenger mass phone call system that a report of a criminal threat was made, it was investigated, and no credible threat was made upon the high school, Hessong said.

“The safety and security is the number one priority of the school district,” Hessong said. ” I want to thank Chief (Travis) Shelton and his detectives and officers for reporting and investigating the possible threat.  It is nice to know that our local law enforcement agencies, FSPD and the Bourbon County Sheriff’s Department, supports our schools.”
Fort Scott, Government

Bancroft Returns as Fort Scott Finance Director

Leave a comment
Susan Bancroft is the new Fort Scott Finance Director. Submitted photo.

Susan E. Bancroft, 44, started as the new City of Fort Scott Finance Director on October 9.

However, Bancroft is not new to the City of Fort Scott.

“I left the City of Fort Scott as Assistant City Manager/Finance Director to work for USD 234 as the Business Manager in 2012,” she said.  “I was employed by them for three years when I realized I wanted to chase my career.  I then went to work for NPC International as HCM Director in Pittsburg.  NPC employs roughly 40,000 employees and is the largest franchisee for Pizza Hut and Wendy’s in the nation.”

Bancroft’s husband died this summer, which changed her life priorities.

” Unfortunately, life threw me a curveball when I lost my husband in June of 2019 in a car accident east of town,” she said. ” My life’s priorities changed and I started looking for something closer to home.  I am thankful that the City of Fort Scott welcomed me back to work in the position of finance director.  I have a lot of catching up to do but am very excited to be back.”

 

Bancroft replaces Rhonda Dunn, who resigned for a job in private industry.

 

Bancroft earned her bachelor of science degree from Missouri Southern State University in business administration.

 

Her family includes daughter, Bailie Hughes and son-in-law Victor Hughes; son- Gunnar Brown: step-daughter – Kynleah Bancroft and daughter – Allie Brown.

 

 

 

Art, Business, Fort Scott

Taylor Qualls, Decor Creator: Young Entrepreneur

1 Comment
Taylor Schilling Qualls. Submitted photos.

This is part of a series that highlights young entrepreneurs, under 30 years of age, in Bourbon County. If you would like to nominate a young entrepreneur, submit to [email protected] the name and email/phone number of the person, along with why you are nominating them and your name.

Taylor Qualls, 22, is the owner of her own business, Hazel Bee Ink.
” I create customized gifts and hand-lettered products,” Qualls said.  “I have also created wedding invitations, signs, and decor. I have made a little bit of everything. I mostly do calligraphy, but I also make custom dip mugs and coasters, pet portraits, home illustrations, and wall signs. I have also made wedding invitations and I address envelopes! “
Qualls is currently attending Pittsburg State University and will complete her bachelor of music education with an emphasis in vocal music in December 2020. She and her husband are living in Pittsburg. She is from Fort Scott and graduated with an associate of arts from Fort Scott Community College in 2016.
“I have always been one of those people who doodled in their notebooks,” Qualls said. ” During the summer, I would change my handwriting, and then practice it over and over again until it became muscle memory just because I thought it was fun.”
Some of Qualls creations. Submitted photos.
Her first job using her penchant for drawing was for a friend.
“My first hand-lettering job was for a friend, Kristian Brennon’s, wedding,” she said. “After that, I got married and ended up making all of the signs, wedding party gifts, bouquets, programs, and centerpieces for my own wedding.”
“I honestly didn’t plan on pursuing it until my husband, family, and friends began encouraging me to,” Qualls said.
In January 2019, another young entrepreneur, Delynn Abati. asked her to make a cake topper for a customer of hers. She is a local Fort Scott baker.
“Then she asked me to make a couple more,” she said. ” One day, she asked me if I had a business name so that she could tag my page in it. That’s when I finally decided to go for it.”
Eight months later, the business has grown “beyond my wildest expectations,” she said.
Some of Qualls creations. Submitted photos.
“I used to dream about having my own business one day, and now it’s a reality. I am so thankful for all of the support and encouragement I have received from my people on this wild journey of mine. I would list them out, but there really are so many important people that helped me create Hazel Bee Ink.”
Qualls has no employees, “but my husband, friends, and family have helped me out tremendously!”
Qualls is expanding her business to retail.
“I recently started selling products at a store in Pittsburg named Sonder & Co. and it has been such a blast,” she said. ” If you haven’t heard of them, I would highly recommend looking them up. I have started looking into opening an Etsy store and I will hopefully be setting up booths at some craft shows and festivals in 2020!”
Her family consists of her husband, Levi Qualls and their pup, Hazel.
Her extended family include her parents-Travis and Tina Schilling,
 grandparents-Dale and Donna Schilling, Ed and Ladonna Cox and her in-laws, Rex and Michelle Qualls.
A portrait of her dog, Hazel. Submitted.

Qualls was recommended by  Kasey Eaton.

 

“She did a cake topper for my daughters graduation cake,”  said  Eaton.  “She is very talented and artistic.”

 

Contact info: [email protected]
Check out Qualls Facebook page to see more of her creations.