Dr. Daniel Minnis’s new location, 204 S. State Street.
Dr. Daniel Minnis is no stranger to Fort Scott.
Dr. Minnis managed Dr. Gary Brown’s dental practice for the last 14 years and when Brown wanted to retire, a buyer was sought.
” We diligently looked for a buyer without success and rather than close down the practice I decided to purchase … so patients would have access to care,” Minnis said.
Accent Dental LLC now has a new office at 204 State Street and is dedicated to providing high-quality dental care for the residents of Bourbon County, Minnis said.
The hours of operation are Monday-Thursday 8 a.m.-5 p.m. and the office can be reached at 620-223-0130.
Dr. Daniel Minnis and Jennifer Doherty, dental assistant prepare for the next patient at Accent Dental LLC.
The following questions were part of an interview with Minnis:
Education: University of Missouri Kansas City School of Dentistry
Experience: 30 Years, since 1988
Community involvement:
“Founded the Community Health Center of SEK Dental Clinic and serves as Chairman of the Board of the Community Health Center of SEK. I have worked as a volunteer for CHC/SEK for the last 14 years to help bring affordable Medical, Dental, and Mental Health Care to Southeast Kansas.”
What services do you provide to our community?
“All aspects of General Dentistry.”
Why did you pursue your career?
“I have desired to be a healthcare professional since the age of 14.”
Minnis employees from left: Alison Leach, receptionist; Dr. Minnis, Jennifer Doherty, dental assistant; Ashley Doyle, hygenist; Baylea White, assistant; Destiny Allen, assistant; Angie Smith, assistant. Not pictured: Katy Kanes, hygenist; Roger Nolte, DDS, and Latasha Vick, DDS.
Gordon Parks Museum Director Kirk Sharp holds the donated copy of the book, Half Past Autumn, that was donated by Mercy Hospital Foundation.
The Gordon Parks Museum Foundation received the Gordon Parks Exhibit from the Fort Scott Mercy Hospital Foundation Board on June 20, 2019.
The exhibit includes 67 of Parks’ photos and poems along with a church pew of the AME Church, a bronze bust of Gordon Parks and the book featuring Parks’ works, Half Past Autumn.
The bust of Gordon Parks that was donated to the museum.
The donated Gordon Parks Exhibit was formerly located at Mercy Hospital-Fort Scott until the hospital closed in December 2018.
Fort Scott native and world-renowned photographer and artist Gordon Parks, donated the collection of his work to Mercy Hospital-Fort Scott in 2002 to be displayed in honor of his parents, Sarah and Andrew Jackson Parks, according to Kirk Sharp, Gordon Parks Museum Director.
Prairie Land, a photograph by Gordon Parks taken in 1948, was donated to the museum.
The exhibit pieces will be rotated out periodically for public view and when not in use, will be stored in the museum’s archives.
Blue Dawn, by Parks in 1995, was donated.
“On behalf of the Gordon Parks Museum Foundation Board along with myself, we are extremely beyond excited and greatly honored to receive the collections here at the museum from the Mercy-Fort Scott Foundation Board,” Sharp said.
The Frisco Railway Station, Fort Scott, KS by Parks in 1949 was donated.
“Our goal with some of the collections is to eventually create a community travel exhibit on a temporary loan-out basis for local schools, organizations and businesses for the community to view,” he said.
The pew donated from the Mercy Foundation Board to Gordon Parks Museum.The plaque on the donated pew.
Work is beginning to create new space to display as much of the exhibit as possible, along with starting a Gordon Parks Travel Community Exhibit, he said.
“The Gordon Parks Museum Foundation would like to give thanks and gratitude to the Mercy-Fort Scott Foundation Board for its great gift to us and the community of Fort Scott,” Sharp said.
The Gordon Parks Museum is located on the campus of Fort Scott Community College, 2108 S. Horton.
The museum is located inside the Ellis Fine Arts Center at FSCC. The museum is funded through donations and through the support of FSCC, Sharp said.
The annual Gordon Parks Celebration is Oct. 3-5, 2019 and will be a celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Gordon Parks film, The Learning Tree.
A sign near the front of the Gordon Parks Museum at FSCC gives a synopsis of Park’s accomplishments.
Fort Scott Community College, 2108 S. Horton, is the sight of the Independence Day Fireworks 2019 Event.
Fort Scott Elk’s Club has been organizing the Independence Day Celebration for several decades for the community.
It is held on July 3 at the campus of Fort Scott Community College, 2108 S. Horton.
“This really is a community event and it takes local governments, local businesses, and citizens that play in the fundraising golf tournament and donate, to make it all happen,” Bill Brittain, event chairperson said. “The Elk’s is really just the conduit that brings all of this together!”
“It started in the mid-1990s when another organization organized this and they stopped doing it,” Brittain said. ” I was on the city commission and possibly mayor at the time. The city manager at that time asked if the Elk’s would take this event over and we did.”
The Elks Lodge at 111 W. 19th. The Elks Club sponsors the fireworks display with help from the community.
The following is from an interview with Brittain.
Who organizes and facilitates the event?
“The Elk’s have been in charge of organizing and raising the funds for the community fireworks for around 25 years! I have been the chairperson all of that time. The Elk’s organize the fireworks with funding help from the City (of Fort Scott) and (Bourbon)County!
When will it start and end?
“It will start at around 9:15 to 9:30. We pick the time when it gets very close, to make sure it is dark! The show lasts a little over 20 minutes.”
“A couple of years ago the city asked us to move the event to July 3rd because of congestion and trash with everyone out there watching (and) shooting their own (fireworks) afterward. So it is on the 3rd.
Will personal fireworks be allowed during the event?
No.
“The city does not allow fireworks to be shot except on the 4th for
any other than this community fireworks display.”
Where is it held each year?
” They are shot off behind FSCC, back by the ball fields and people park along Horton and at the fairgrounds area. They have been shot there for as long as I can remember!”
Who will be lighting the fireworks?
“They are shot and come from J&M Fireworks which is a company that does this kind of displays.”
Tell about the Fort Scott Elks organization.
“We are very community minded and we try to do some things for Veteran’s,” Brittain said. “Some of the community events are of course the community fireworks, Christmas baskets
for deserving families, usually around 135, children’s Christmas party done by the Lady Elk’s which gives around 85 to 100 deserving children Christmas presents and a party, the children’s
fishing derby, the annual Community Thanksgiving Dinner organized by Margie Schwalm and family. We host a variety of fundraisers for other groups…again we are very reliant on the community and citizens as well as our dedicated members!”
“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.”
Darlene’s Antiques, 16 Scott Avenue, is having a complete online liquidation of the store. This is a large and extensive collection.
“Darlene has closed her antique and collectibles store a few years ago,” Jim Shoemaker, her husband said. “She has decided to sell her entire store inventory and the large personal collection of antiques.
This is the second of several online auctions that Crawford Auction Service will be doing for us. This auction starts to close at 7 PM Sunday, June 30th.”
There will be another auction in a few weeks, Shoemaker said.
“Darlene and I want to thank all the customers that have patronized her store since 2005,” Shoemaker said.
Jim Shoemaker is also selling his ham radio operations.
Jim Shoemaker has been a ham radio operator since 1953.
Burke Street Parade organizer Margaret Humphrey in the white, participates in a parade in years past. Submitted photo.
The community of Fort Scott is once again invited to the Burke Street Parade on July 4, to commemorate Independence Day in the U.S.
The parade is organized by people who live along the street on the city’s west side.
“We invite everyone,” Margaret Humphrey, one of the event’s organizers said. “This was started 37 years ago by myself, Susan Foster and Jill Gorman. Then Theresa Bahr helped with organizing after it became a bigger event. It was small and fun and we just continued every year. The crowd size varies depending on what day the 4th is on. We have walked in rain with small crowds–but if it is lightening we cancel.”
“It is always on the 4th of July at 10 a.m. unless it falls on a Sunday,” she said
“The little kids that were in the parade initially, have their children in it,” Humphrey said. “Phil Hammons and Jill Gorman lead with patriotic songs. We started singing after the (Twin Towers during the terrorist strike in New York) fell–to promote patriotism.”
Frank Halsey is the traffic controller.
“This year Nate and Bailey Lyons will host the refreshments,” she said. “After the parade, we meet for cookies and drinks. We ask everyone to donate cookies.”
In 2018, Deb and Frank Halsey hosted the cookies and drinks under a tent on their lawn.Burke Street residents offer food following the parade.
Humphrey finds someone to host with refreshments at their home each year and makes the informational fliers.
“Barb Albright now helps with distributing information,” Humphrey said.
“The best part of the event is seeing the children who have so much fun going up and down the street in their bikes, wagons, lawn mowers, with animals,” she said.
“People have asked about trucks, etc.(being in the parade) but our parade route is short and once the parade starts, in seconds children are everywhere. It is a disorganized, organized parade.”
The Bourbon County Garden Club 2019. Front, from left: Leah Lewis, Barb McCord, Cheryl Bloomfield, Deb Lust, Sharon Campbell; back row: Priscilla Sellers, Ronda Hassig, Judy Wallis, Clara Scholfield, Karen Billiard, Jan Hedges and Rita Emmerson.
The Bourbon County Garden Club beautifies the town of Fort Scott.
“We do the flower baskets downtown,” Deb Lust, spokesperson for the group told the Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce Coffee attendees on June 20. “The city pays for them and we provide the labor.”
“We also do the three flower beds at the swimming pool and the planter in front of the city office,” she said.
“Barb McCord is the landscape architect,” Lust said.
There are several Kansas Master Gardeners in the club who are available to answer gardening questions from the public, she said.
Also available for questions is Krista Harding with the K-State Southwind Horticulture Agent, she said.
In years past, the club has organized The Secret Garden, a showcase for area gardeners.
“We need gardens for that,” Lust said, noting that task has become increasingly difficult.
The club meets the fourth Thursday of each month, except in the winter months.
“We encourage men and women to join us,” she said.
Martin Altieri, 38, is the Winfield Scott Elementary School Assistant Principal, starting July 22.
“My duties will be assisting (Principal) Ms. McGhee, who will be back in full capacity,” Altieri said. “I will assist with school operations, providing support to staff and students in order to meet their social, emotional, and educational needs, and helping to implement district curriculum and technology initiatives.”
Altieri has seven years teaching middle school social studies in the Shawnee Mission School District and served nine years in the U.S. Army.
He earned a Bachelors in Secondary Education from Emporia State University and a Masters of Science in School Leadership from Baker University.
Altieri’s hometown is Prairie Village, KS.
He has three children Morgan, 9; Marilyn 6; and Calvin, 4.
His parents are Michael and Joan, and he has two brothers – Matthew and Daniel.
Altieri has been involved in his community as a volunteer at Veteran’s of Foreign Wars (VFW) and Salvation Army. Additionally, he has coached baseball and soccer.
How did you become an educator?
“I have always enjoyed teaching and coaching and viewed education as a way to give back to the community and share my experiences and love of history with others.”
Did someone inspire you to teach?
“My mother, Joan. She went to college to become a teacher but opted not to enter the education field. She always said it was one of her biggest regrets.”
What is the best part of teaching for you?
“Developing relationships with students and parents. Seeing students excited to learn and looking forward to going to school. Watching students grow as young people and develop lifelong skills.”
What are the greatest challenges?
“Meeting the needs of students and ensuring learning is taking place for all students. Helping students deal with challenges outside of school.”
Kai Runnells, Express Employment Professionals Business Developer in her office at 119 S. Main, June 2019.
All across America, unemployment is low.
Nationally, total nonfarm payroll employment went up in May 2019 with approximately 75,000 jobs, and the unemployment rate remained at 3.6 percent, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics https://www.bls.gov/news.release/pdf/empsit.pdfon June 9. Employment continued to trend up in professional and business services and in health care.
A recent business opened an office in Fort Scott to help other businesses find suitable employees in this era where job seekers have diminished.
In April 2019, Express Employment Professionals opened an office in Fort Scott at 119 S. Main. The franchise is based out of Independence, since 2004.
The location of Express Employment Professionals, in between Fort Scott City Hall and Crooner’s Lounge on Main Street.
“The staff and company provide businesses with their workforce needs,” Kai Rannells, business developer with EEP and the local representative, said. Rannells can be reached at 620-644-5050.
“There is a small fee for businesses,” she said. “This covers payroll burden liability. (The fee) varies on types of jobs.”
Because of the low employment rate, candidates without jobs need more coaching, Rannells said.
“Businesses are afraid of what it could cost to train and then retain employees,” she said. “That cost will fall on us. When a company brings in a new employee it costs a fair amount of money and if the employee doesn’t end up lasting, they are out that amount.”
EEP provides temporary or contract staff and do temporary to hire staffing.
“That’s where they start out temporary, and after probation is met, the company is able to hire them as a permanent employee,” Rannells said. “A lot of companies do that to make sure it’s a good fit for their team. We also do direct hires and professional searches.”
“We like to focus on helping people find the right candidate and job seekers find good careers,” she said.
“If someone is looking for a job, we do interviews to see what company would be a good fit of those hiring and we try to place them,” Rannells said. “It is a free service for job seekers.”
Adam Bancroft of Fort Scott has died in a two-person fatality wreck in Bourbon County earlier this evening, according to KOAM news on its’ Facebook page:
Flexbuild has demolition containers in front of the Union Block Building on North Main Street in Fort Scott’s Historic District.
There will be lots of activity at the corner of First and Main Streets in the next few weeks, according to Paul Wagner, Co-Founder of Flexbuild, Merriam. Flexbuild is the general contractor for the demolition of the Stout Building and the renewing of the Union Block Building in downtown historic Fort Scott.
The Union Block building, three storefronts at 18, 20 and 22 South Main are in the “build-back” phase, now, following demolition phase, Wagner said. The project is slated for completion for the end of 2019, he said.
“The buildings have been gutted by Skitch’s Hauling, Excavation, and Demolition,” Wagner said. “He has done a great job.”
These buildings will be transformed into 25 market-rate apartments ranging from 750 to 1,100 square feet in size. In addition, there will be a community room, exercise room, and an office area.
“The community rooms will be in the front, where the glass is,” Wagner said. “Everything else will be apartments. These are nice accommodations. In the back of the north building, there will be a courtyard for residents.”
“Just recently we got the building permit (from the city),” Wagner said. “Westar (Energy) is moving the electrical lines out of the way, to keep us safe. And we got the state fire marshall approval, which is a big step.”
Flexbuild is moving from demolition to reconstructing on the Union Block Building and is currently working with a local quarry to fill the crawlspace under the buildings, he said.
Tony Kresnich, Flint Hills Holdings, holds the contract for the project, Wagner said. Neil Sommers, Louisburg, is the architect.
“We are trying to do as many local subs as possible,” he said. “Electrical, plumbing, HVAC, concrete, masonry, painting and carpentry. Between subs and my workers, there will be 15-20 workers.”
The Stout Building, National Avenue and First Street will be demolished in the next two weeks, according to the general contractor for the project.
The Stout Building, at National Avenue and First Street, will be completely demolished and a parking lot/park rebuilt on the spot, Wagner said.
The Union Block buildings were built in the 1880-90s, Wagner was told.
