All posts by Loretta George

Bourbon County

The Beacon Still Has 31 Families to Provide Christmas For: Help Is Needed

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The Beacon, a local helping agency in Bourbon County, is still in need of people to adopt a family for Christmas buying.

“We had 112 families needing to be adopted this year and have 31 remaining,”Ashley Heathman, assistant director of the Beacon said. “These are all Beacon clients with children still in school.”

“The families I have remaining are three families with four children,
four families with three children, seven families with two children, and seventeen families with one child,”she said.

“A majority of the remaining children to be adopted are teenagers mixed in with a couple of younger children,” she said. “Those who would like to adopt would need to come into The Beacon between 9 am and 1 pm this week by Friday at close to adopt the families. The presents drop-off is on Dec. 18th and 19th at Community Christian Church between 9 am and 1 pm. The minimum spending limit per child is $40.00. Gifts need to be wrapped and tagged with the child’s name and family number provided on the papers given during the adoption process.”

“The Adopt-A-Family program is a project that The Beacon takes great pride in,” said Heathman in a prior interview. “We help local Bourbon County families bring Christmas to their homes. After the application is filled out, we make the families available for the public and organizations to come in and ‘adopt’.  They then purchase gifts for the children and The Beacon puts together a rather large holiday meal package for the family. The children’s Christmas gifts are purchased, wrapped, and tagged with the family number and dropped off at Community Christian Church, where we sort into the proper family group.”

Those who want to adopt a family can come to The Beacon, 525 E. Sixth, on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, or Friday from 9  a.m. to 1 p.m. to pick the family they want to adopt or call 620-223-6869.

To view the prior feature:

The Beacon Sees An Increase In Local Families In Need

Fort Scott, Government

Multi-Day Fire Was Caused by Illegal Burning.

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The fire on Dec. 8-9 on North Hill Street from the Fort Scott Fire Department’s Facebook page.

Fort Scott Firefighters worked for several days on an old bridge fire near the city’s dog pound on North Hill Street. The fire was located on the north edge of Fort Scott.

The department received a call on December 8 at 12:46 p.m. of a fire on the  400 block of North Hill Street.

The cause of the fire was determined to be illegal burning, according to FSFD Chief Dave Bruner.

The property involved in the fire was the bridge as well as a large debris pile under the bridge.

“We cleared the scene at 3:42 p.m. but spent the evening and next morning monitoring and extinguishing hot spots,” Bruner said.

The access to the fire and terrain around it made it difficult to get in close proximity to the fire, he said.

The initial call involved the Fort Scott Fire Department with five personnel, the Fort Scott Police Department, the Scott Township Fire Department- with four personnel, and the Garland Fire Department with two personnel assisting,

Art, Bourbon County, Fort Scott, Government, History

Tourism Grants Awarded to The Artificers and The Lowell Milken Center Today

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Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce Director Lindsay Madison takes a photo of Kate and Trent Freeman accepting an award from Kansas Tourism on December 9. Taken from the Chamber’s Facebook page.

Kansas Tourism Department Director Bridgett Jobe handed over two grants today in Fort Scott.

“You can see that Fort Scott is going through a renaissance,” Jobe told attendees at the Artificers reception for the award presentation.

The Artificers

Kate and Trent Freeman were awarded the $25,000 grant designed to help local businesses develop new attractions.

“They have had an instrumental role in rehabilitating our downtown area….with an innovative approach to enhance the beauty of this community for years to come,” Bourbon County Economic Development Director Rob Harrington said.

Jobe told reception attendees that the Freeman’s “passion for the community really came through.”

 

Lowell Milken Center for Unsung Heroes

Taken from the Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce Facebook page. Kansas Tourism presented the LMC with a check to expand attractions.

The Lowell Milken Center for Unsung Heroes also received a $6,300 check from Kansas Tourism Director Bridgett Jobe today.

The grant is to help expand attractions that draw tourists to the community.

The center will use the funds to create a new history panel on an unsung hero in Ukraine who saved 100’s of children from starvation in her Ukrainian town, said Ronda Hassig, spokesperson for LMC.

“The Lowell Milken Center is a treasure,” Jobe, said. “Coming here inspires me to be a better person. It inspires me that it’s here in Kansas.”

 

 

Bourbon County, Government, Jobs

Danae Esslinger Hired As The New Uniontown City Clerk

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Uniontown City Hall. 2023

 

Danea Esslinger is the new Uniontown City Clerk, as of December 5.

Esslinger has been on the Uniontown City Council for 13 years and lived in Uniontown for 29 years.  Both of her children, Breanna and Brenton, graduated from Uniontown High School. She is the daughter of David DeWayne and Deana Fuhrman of Bronson.

 

Danae Esslinger. Submitted photo.

 

She graduated from Garnett High School and received a Bachelor’s Degree in Business, with an emphasis in management from Pittsburg State University.

Recently, the council has had difficulty finding a new clerk to replace Sally Johnson who wants to retire from that position.

That’s when Esslinger decided to apply for the job.

At last month’s Uniontown City Council Special meeting, she resigned from her council position and applied for the job.

“I am wanting to do some things that make the city even better,” Esslinger said.

Duties of the Clerk

From a prior interview with Sally Johnson, retiring city clerk, she told of the duties of the Uniontown City Clerk.

“The Clerk position entails performing all duties as defined by Kansas State Statute and City Ordinances:  receive and disperse monetary funds and maintain financial records; complete various administrative reports; grant applications & administration; prepare, mail and apply payments of monthly customer utility billing; assist residents via phone or walk-in; attend and record minutes of all city council meetings, write monthly community newsletter; maintain city website; other duties as required.”

New Treasurer

Sally Johnson is retiring as Uniontown’s City Clerk.

Sally Johnson is the new treasurer of the council, following the resignation of Charlene Bolinger, which was effective Nov. 13.

This part-time job is to “do bank reconciliation and make sure the clerk is getting things done correctly,” Johnson said.

 

Entertainment, Exercise, Fort Scott

Skating Rink Is Nearly Completed for Christmas on the Bricks, Parade Is This Evening

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The new ice skating rink at the Gathering Pavilion on North National Avenue on December 4.

The new synthetic ice skating rink will open on Friday, December 6, from 4 to 9 p.m. on North National Avenue at the Gathering Pavilion.

The rink is a new event offered for Christmas on the Bricks Festival, and the rink will be open five weekends through the first weekend of January, according to the Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce website.

Hours on Saturday, December 7 will be from 12 pm-9 pm and on
Sunday, December 8 from 12 pm-4 pm

Starting next week, the rink will be open on Thursdays as well.

Admission is anticipated to be $5/skater.

People will sign waivers, skates will be for adults and children and also assistive devices will be available.

“Please be patient with us, this is all new,” Striler said about the skating rink procedures prior to skating.

Thanks to those in the community who came together to bring this project from dream to reality, according to the Chamber of Commerce website. The rink was totally paid for by donations.

 

Robert Coon’s A1Towing moved the rink room to the pavilion on Dec. 4.

The rink room will be the skate storage area for the skate rental and for paying for skating.

Brock Coon helps clean off the rink in preparation for the opening. Brock is the son of Robert Coon whose business, A1Towing, helped moved the rink room to the Gathering Pavilion on North National Avenue.
The list of those helping with the rink setup. Submitted photo.

The rink project had delivery and setup help through help from the following:  Matthew Wells and the Great Expectations Restoration crew, Kevin Allen, Craig Campbell, Robert Coon, Jeremy Dare, Frank Halsey, Jeff Allen Electric, Scott King, Rob Pfohl, Mitch Quick, Jared Weaver, The Bourbon County Sheriff’s Office for surveillance, The Fort Scott Public Library for the mobile hot spot, Heidrick’s True Value for the squeegees, Shawn Pytlowany for lighting. The skating rink room was constructed by the Fort Scott High School Career and Technical Education whose instructor is Jason Johnson.

The Annual Christmas Parade Is This Evening, Dec. 5

Fort Scott High School Band entertained the crowd at the Christmas parade from a past year.

To kick off the festival weekend is the annual Christmas Parade. The following is the list of almost 60 participants who are scheduled to be in the parade.

The lineup begins at Wall and National, in front of the radio station going north.

Park entries as close as possible to the west curb when lining up.

The entry number should be placed on the right/passenger side of your entry. Numbers can be picked up until 5 p.m. at the Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce at 231 E. Wall. If not picked up then, one can pick up at the radio station at Wall and National Avenue.

Entry participants are asked to pause briefly at the Heritage Pavilion at First and Main Street so the judges can announce your submitted  remarks to tell of your business/organization/ entity.

Volunteers Still Needed

Diane Striler, the leader of the festival project, said volunteers are still needed for Saturday night for a few venues from 8 to 10 p.m.

Contact the Chamber of Commerce,620- 223-3566

 

Uncategorized

Kansas State Park Annual Permits and 2025 Campsite Reservations Coming Soon  

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TOPEKA – Are you eyeing a cozy cabin by the water, aiming to complete your Kansas State Park bucket list, or breaking in a new tent? Mark these important dates for purchasing annual park permits and reserving campsites at Kansas State Parks on your calendar.

Starting December 9, 2024, annual permits for visiting and camping at Kansas State Parks will be available for purchase online and at state park offices.

  • Annual State Park Vehicle Permits that cover unlimited entry to all Kansas State Parks through December 31, 2025, at a cost of:
  • $25 for a standard annual vehicle permit, available for residents and non-residents
  • $13.75 for senior/disabled Kansas residents
  • Unconventional Vehicle Permit: $52.50 (for UTVs and golf carts, allowed on improved roads and parking areas only, and available only at state park offices)
  • Annual State Park Camping Permits that cover all daily camping fees (utility fees still apply) at all Kansas State Parks through December 31, 2025*, at a cost of:
  • $202.50 if purchased before April 1 or after September 30
  • $252.50 if purchased between April 1 and September 30
  • 14-Night State Park Camping Permits that cover daily camping fees (utility fees still apply) on a total of 14 nights at Kansas State Parks for $112.50.

Camping permits do not cover additional daily utility fees or prime site fees, and valid state park vehicle permits are also required. You must be 18 or older to rent a campsite or cabin at Kansas State Parks.

*All campers are limited to 14 consecutive days and a five-day absence is required before returning to the park to camp again.

In addition to these state park permits, reservations for campsites during the prime season (April 1 through October 31) at Kansas State Parks will open on:

  • December 13, 2024, at 12 p.m. CST for: Cedar Bluff, Cheney, Clinton, Eisenhower, Hillsdale, Kanopolis, Meade, Milford, Pomona, Perry, Sandhills, and Tuttle Creek state parks.
  • December 20, 2024, at 12 p.m. CST for: Crawford, Cross Timbers, El Dorado, Elk City, Fall River, Glen Elder, Historic Lake Scott, Lovewell, Prairie Dog, Webster, and Wilson state parks.

For those planning to visit Kansas State Parks during holiday weekends, please note these minimum stay requirements for campsite and cabin reservations:

  • Campsites:
    • Memorial Day Weekend: 4-night minimum including May 22-25, 2025
    • July 4th Weekend: 3-night minimum including July 3-5, 2025
    • Labor Day Weekend: 3-night minimum including August 29-31, 2025
  • Cabins:
    • Memorial Day Weekend: 3-night minimum including May 23-25, 2025
    • July 4th Weekend: 2-night minimum including July 4-5, 2025
    • Labor Day Weekend: 3-night minimum including August 29-31, 2025

To improve your chances of reserving a campsite on your preferred dates, the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks recommends the following tips:

  1. Familiarize yourself with CampItKS.com or ReserveAmerica.com in advance of the December opening dates.
  2. Ensure your login information is current, with a complete profile, or create an account if you’re new to these platforms.
  3. Download the CampItKS mobile app for easy access on the go.
  4. Set reminders for state park permit sales and campsite reservation dates.

For a complete list of Kansas State Parks, including maps and available amenities, visit ksoutdoors.com/State-Parks.

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Fort Scott, Youth

Toy Drive Next Week For Area Children

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Fort Scott Fire Department personnel wanted to get involved in their community at Christmas time.

Assistant Chief Mike Miles said the firefighters saw other departments in the region do a toy drive for the community and decided last year to organize one.

The toy drive will be from 5 to 8:30 p.m. on Wednesday, December 11 in front of the fire station.

“We wanted to get involved,” he said. “I’d seen it done elsewhere. We also do a boot drive in front of the department at 1604 S. National from 5 to 8:30 p.m. for monetary donations which will raise funds to buy gift cards for older children.”

“We will direct people with toys through the bay where they can leave their toys and go onto Judson Street then,” he said.

“We lower the bucket (on the fire truck) and people can drop toys in.”

Bicycle donations for ages 4-12 are needed.

The Beacon,  a local helping agency and the local Elks Lodge will be the recipients of the toys that will be distributed to children.

About the Beacon

The Beacon Food Pantry in Fort Scott, KS, is dedicated to alleviating food insecurity by offering essential food assistance to households in need. Our mission is to ensure that individuals and families have access to nutritious food, supporting their health and well-being during challenging times, according to its website.

 

About the Elks

The Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks of the U.S.A. is a
 Fraternal Organization whose mission is to:

To inculcate the principles of Charity, Justice, Brotherly Love and Fidelity; to recognize a belief in God; to promote the welfare and enhance the happiness of its Members; to quicken the spirit of American patriotism; to cultivate good fellowship; to perpetuate itself as a fraternal organization, and to provide for its government, the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks of the United States of America will serve the people and communities through benevolent programs, demonstrating that Elks Care and Elks Share, according to its website.

 

Bourbon County

Fund Matching Day is Today for Fort Scott Area Community Foundation’s Support of Local Entities

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Fort Scott Area Community Foundation FSACF is offering $25,000 to match community donations to 11 charitable funds today,   December 3, during National Day of Giving.

“The support we received from our residents and friends of the community was outstanding last year, and those funds allow the foundation and the participating organizations to make a real impact in important community projects,” said Becky Tourillott, FSACF Chairwoman.  “A website — https://www.fortscottgives.org<https://www.fortscottgives.org/>  has additional information, and allows donors to make contributions online for their convenience.”

Becky Tourtillott from the FSACF website.

 

Match Day is an exciting fundraising campaign to support local nonprofit organizations and the work they do in our region, according to a press release from FSACF.

This year, the Community Foundation, through a generous grant from the Patterson Family Foundation, is offering up to $25,000 in matching funds for contributions made to eligible funds.

 

“Our first Match Day in 2023 was a wonderful success, and with the matching funds grant, we added a total of $89,551 to our participating funds. We are very excited to have the opportunity to participate again this year, and we invite to the community to give together during Match Day 2024,” said Tourtillott. “The support of our community donors, combined with the match dollars, allows us to grow the endowments and provide ongoing support for our charitable partners. These local organizations and the services they provide are important to Bourbon County and make a true difference.”

 

Community contributions support each organization’s endowed fund held at FSACF, according to the press release. The funds are invested to produce present and future income, which organizations can use for operations, programs, or special projects.

The $25,000 match pool will be divided among the participating organizations’ endowments in proportion to their share of community contributions, subject to a 20% limit. The full 100% of each donation will be placed in the organization’s endowed fund, and the match amount will be made available to the organization immediately, according to the press release.

 

Donations for Match Day can be made in three different ways:

  • Online at FortScottGives.org or
  • In person, delivered to Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce, 231 E. Wall, on or before Tuesday, December 3 or
  • By check, mailed to FSACF, P.O. Box 901, Fort Scott, KS 66701 with a postmark date no later than December 4, 2024. Please make checks payable to: Fort Scott Area Community Foundation

 

Funds participating in Match Day are: Anna Faye and Robert Gordon Steele Memorial Funds, Care to Share Cancer Support Endowed Fund, First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) of Fort Scott Endowment, Fort Scott Area Chamber Foundation, Fort Scott Area Community Foundation General Endowment Fund, Fort Scott Area Public Parks Endowment, Dr. Pratt & Pauline Irby Endowment, John Valentine & Patricia Jean Neff Health Care Fund, Shepherd Family Endowment Fund, and the Shirley Yeager Animal Friends Foundation.

 About FSACF

The Fort Scott Area Community Foundation’s (FSACF) goal is to partner with and be a resource to organizations whose goals are to improve the quality of life in the Fort Scott, Kansas, area. FSACF strives to create connections between donors and a variety of many worthwhile causes, according to its website.

FSACF was launched in August 2007 to meet the needs of Fort Scott and the surrounding area. FSACF encourages philanthropy and provides donors with a variety of giving options. The Foundation assists donors in meeting their charitable goals by creating a giving and granting environment that addresses the immediate and long-term needs of the Fort Scott area.

The current FSACF Board:

Business, Fort Scott

Fort Scott Barber Shop Waits To Reopen Their Business

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This photo is from the opening of Fort Scott Barber Shop in 2021. From front to back are Jaylisha Montanez, Giancarlo Montanez, and Jose Montanez, the three barbers in Fort Scott Barber Shop. Mayra Montez stands beside her husband, Jose. Jose Montanez Jr is in the barber seat.

 

Fort Scott Barber Shop at 118 E. Wall is owned and operated by the Montanez family. They were winners of multiple awards including Best Barbershop in the Midwest when they had their business in the Kansas City area.

They moved to Fort Scott in 2021 and started a new barber shop in the historic downtown district, across from the Fort Scott National Historic Site.

A dispute with the City of Fort Scott over the safety of the historic building closed the business almost a year ago, ownerJose Montanez said.

“I am not wanting to fight with the city,” Montanez said in an interview with fortscott.biz when contacted about the business being closed for almost a year. “I just want to open my business.”

It’s been over a month since the city took down the street barriers on Wall Street.

“A lot has been said at the city commission meetings, but when I ask to sit down and talk, nobody wants it,” he said.

The work on the facade of the building has been completed, which the city had some concerns with.

“It took some time to get a reputable business to take on the project,” Montanez said. “We had a structural engineer come in who certified it wasn’t a structural wall, just the facade of the building needed to be fixed.”

“So we proceeded to replace the bricks on the facade, and the city inspector came in to give final approval. For some reason, he was stripped of his power to give final approval on this specific project, unlike any other project,” Montanez said.

“Ever since then, we have been going back and forth. For some reason we haven’t been able to open our business back up, even though it’s fixed,” he said.”The street has been reopened, which tells us the city feels safe. If they felt it was a hazard to the community they wouldn’t have opened the street back up.”

“It’s sad for us. We see many businesses closing and we want to stay,” he said. “It’s been a heavy burden.”

“The City brought its own private engineer which could not write a report as requested from the City and ended up quitting after fully inspecting the inside and outside of the property and charged no fees due to his ‘inability’ to write a report,” Montanez said.

“We fixed the facade, at this point they want to do an inspection on the whole building,” Montanez said. “It’s been a month and a half since the barriers were taken down. A dumpster has been placed in front of the building to make it look like they are keeping the public safe.”

The family of three barbers have been working in other studios and salons to make ends meet, he said.

“We want to open up the building, we want to show we are wanting to stay,” he said.

The Fort Scott Barber Shop, 118 E. Wall. Submitted photo.

To view the story on the opening of the business:

Opening Soon: Fort Scott Barbershop, 118 E. Wall

Exercise, Fort Scott, Government

Updates at Buck Run Community Center Ongoing

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The Buck Run Community Center has seen some updates in the facility recently.

The renovations were done by employees at the center, Lucas Kelley the Recreation Director, Dustin Fly the Maintenance Supervisor, and Katie Chipman the Office Manager.

“It is all funded by proceeds from our fitness center,” Kelley said. “Total renovations cost us $2,000.
Renovations on the Buck Run Community Center. Submitted photo.
In the concession stand:
“We added new flooring to replace the old stained carpet and
reorganized/simplified our tables and serving machines,” he said.
The lounge area. Submitted photo.
In the lounge area:
“We removed the original unused office and replaced it with a new seating area,” he said.
The front desk area of the Buck Run Community Center. Submitted photo.
The front desk area makeover:
“We gave our front desk a new look using contact paper! This gives our front desk a more modern feel,” Kelley said.
Future projects at Buck Run Community Center include painting in the weight room, gyms,  and meeting room.
“We are also planning on installing 3/8” thick rubber flooring throughout our entire Fitness Center after the first of the year,” he said.
Buck Run Community Center, 735 Scott Avenue.
The Fort Scott Recreation Department is located at 735 S Scott St, Fort Scott.
To contact BRCC phone 620-223-0386 or email [email protected] or view the website at brcc.recdesk.com
Fort Scott, Jobs

Youth Services Supervisor at Fort Scott’s Library: Mackenzie Kaemmer

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Mackenzie Kaemmer. Submitted photo.

Mackenzie Kaemmer, 26, is the new Youth Services Supervisor at Fort Scott Public Library.

“The beginning of my journey here at the Fort Scott Public Library has now begun, I could not be more grateful for this opportunity,” she said. “A big part of my position will be planning, scheduling, and coordinating regular and special programs for preschool, elementary children, and teens. There are many exciting programs underway; once active, such programs and services will be posted on the library website, and Facebook page, and displayed in the library. We are currently taking part in a program, Grow your Heart with Reading, in which everybody can try to win a festive Grinch tree or a giant snuggly Grinch by reading a book or donating items to our local pantry. Every contribution will get your name into the drawing on December 20th!”

Kaemmer with the Grinch Tree at the Fort Scott Public Library. Submitted photo.

 

Her job responsibilities are to acquire new materials and remove or discard unneeded items for youth, catalog library materials, plan regular and special programs for preschool, elementary
children and teens, participate in the statewide summer reading program for youth, outreach to area schools, preschools, and daycare facilities,  develop book displays and other art forms in the children’s area, create publicity flyers for youth programs, assist patrons,  instruct youth and parents on how to use the internet at the library, assist with the library’s website and social media, spearhead new library technology, maintain program statistics and submit monthly reports to the director.

Kaemmer attended Pittsburg State University and received her Bachelor of Science in Psychology with an Emphasis in Developmental Disabilities.

“Prior to university, I spent a summer as an instructional assistant at Kansas State School for the Blind (KSSB),” she said. “During my time at Pittsburg State University, I was the head graduate assistant for the University Testing Center. Under this, I was also given the opportunity to instruct a college-level General Psychology course.”

 

She hails from Overland Park, Kansas, and attributes her family—parents Bobby and Suzanne Kaemmer and siblings Kassidi, Cody, and Cooper—with helping her along life’s way.

 

“Before attending college, I knew I wanted a profession in which the directive was to provide aid for the community; I knew I wanted to help others. Growing up I underwent around ten surgeries, while there were plenty of hardships there was also time to reflect. I wanted to apply my experiences and what they have taught me towards spreading such lessons to others in hopes of enabling a better experience and strengthening an optimistic outlook on the past, present, and future.”

 

About The Library

The Fort Scott Public Library is open Monday through Friday 9:00 am-6:00 pm and Saturday from 9:00 am-2:00 pm; holidays may differ.

“On November 27th we close at 12:00 pm, and we are closed on November 28th, 29th and 30th. We will reopen as normal on Monday, December 2nd at 9:00 am,” she said.

Fort Scott Public Library, 201 S. National Avenue.

 

Bourbon County, Food, Fort Scott, Youth

The Beacon Sees An Increase In Local Families In Need

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The Beacon is located at 525 E. Sixth Street, Fort Scott. Submitted photo. Ashley Heathman, assistant director, David Gillen, director, and Destiny Holderfield, food administrator.

 The Beacon is an interfaith, not-for-profit network in Bourbon County that has been in existence for 40 years. They assist community residents with food, utilities, and other necessities during times of need.

“We are dedicated to providing an efficient link between churches, civic groups, and other service organizations to those in need,” according to Dave Gillen, the director.

This time of year, the community gears up to give gifts and food to those who need it.

“The Adopt-A-Family program is a project that The Beacon takes great pride in,” said Gillen. “We help local Bourbon County families bring Christmas to their homes. After the application is filled out, we make the families available for the public and organizations to come in and ‘adopt’.  They then purchase gifts for the children and The Beacon puts together a rather large holiday meal package for the family. The children’s Christmas gifts are purchased, wrapped, and tagged with the family number and dropped off at Community Christian Church, where we sort into the proper family group.”

Those who want to adopt a family can come to The Beacon, 525 E. Sixth, on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, or Friday from 9  a.m. to 1 p.m. to pick the family they want to adopt or call 620-223-6869.

Community Christian Church, 1919 S. Horton is where the Adopt A Family gifts are sorted and distributed.

There is an increase in the number of local families in need this year.

 “This year we have 112 families, which includes 290 children that will be up for ‘adoption.’These families are current Beacon clients or families needing help in Bourbon County. Last year we had 77 families for the Adopt-A-Child program so we had a major increase in local families in need this year.”

“This program could not be possible without the help of individuals, businesses, organizations, and our local fire department,” he said. “It takes many volunteers to transfer and sort food from The Beacon to the Community Christian Church gym.” 

“The Beacon also helps supply food items for the Elk’s Christmas Basket that is delivered the Sunday before Christmas,” he said.

“We are very busy this time of year with food and toy donations, sign-up, and just everyday activities,” he said. “We average about 25 to 30 families a day for food distribution and do some financial assistance to help residents of Bourbon County. The Beacon celebrated our 40th year helping Bourbon County this year. “

“We are dedicated to providing an efficient link between churches, civic groups, and other service organizations to those in need.“