All posts by Loretta George

Black History Speaker Lunch And Learn Feb. 18

 

 

February is Black History Month.

The Gordon Parks Museum is bringing an author and entrepreneur to speak on how to choose one’s weapons in the face of adversity on Tuesday, February 18 at 11 a.m. with a “Lunch and Learn” presentation. The museum is located on the campus of Fort Scott Community College in the Ellis Fine Arts Center, 2401 S. Horton.

 

The guest speaker will be Frank Clay, Jr., author and a member of The National Speaker’s Association.

 

“We chose to bring Frank Clay as author, business coach, entrepreneur and veteran for his perspective on important figures like Gordon Parks, who helped shaped African American history and inspired others,” Kirk Sharp, director of the Gordon Parks Museum , said.

 

The presentation titled “Find the Right Weapons and Success is Yours”.

Participants are encouraged to bring their lunch and drinks with them.

 

Dessert will be provided.

 

“Find the Right Weapons and Success is Yours” is the presentation reflecting on lessons learned from Gordon Parks and how Gordon chose the right weapons to bring about change in his life and the world, according to a press release.

 

Clay will also speak on how Gordon’s book The Choice of Weapons, helped to inspire others such as Frank to find the right weapons in life.

 

Frank Clay, Jr. is also  the founder and principal of 2020 Solutions Inc.

 

Clay  holds a bachelor’s in business administration and a master’s in business management.

 

For more information about “Find the Right Weapons and Success is Your” presentation at the Gordon Parks Museum call 223-2700, ext. 5850 or email [email protected].

American Legion Mid Winter Forum Fort Scott Photos

Fort Scott American Legion Post Commander Carl Jower. Submitted photos.
Many thanks are due to Post 25 Legionnaire Bobby Matthews who gave of his time and expertise to photograph the recently concluded MidWinter Forum in Fort Scott.
The photos are from Friday night registration, Saturday’s Auxiliary meeting where the theme was the Wizard of Oz, Saturday’s general Legion meeting, Saturday’s Sons of the American Legion meeting held in Memorial Hall, and Sunday’s Four Chaplains ceremony.  

There were so many Fort Scott legion family members who contributed to the success of the MidWinter Forum.
 
A good time was had by all.
 
Submitted by Carl Jowers. Post 25 Commander.

Community Snapshot: Bourbon County Economy

The tagline for the 2020 Census is “Shape your future. START HERE.” Courtesy photo.

The 2020 Census is coming on April 1, 2020, and with it comes the opportunity to provide for community needs.

 

The data used is helpful because it impacts everything from school lunches to libraries to wastewater systems, Kansas Secretary of Commerce David Toland said in an April, 2019 press release.

 

It is vital to Kansas businesses and communities to have a full and accurate count of people living in the state, Secretary Toland said.

 

“Census results help determine how billions of dollars in federal funding flow into states and communities each year.

The results determine how many seats in Congress each state gets.

It’s mandated by the U.S. Constitution in Article 1, Section 2: The U.S. has counted its population every 10 years since 1790.” according to the census website.

 

The census gives a snapshot of communities.

 

For example, the per capita income in Bourbon County was $22,822 in 2018, according to  https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/bourboncountykansas/PST045219

 

Per capita income is determined by dividing an area’s income by its population and counts each man, woman, and child, even newborn babies, as a member of the population.  Household income counts all people residing under one roof as a household, according to investopedia.com

 

In Bourbon County, the median household income is $40,733 in 2018, according to the census website.

 

People living in poverty account for 16 percent of Bourbon County’s population.

 

Snapshot of Bourbon County

To get a snapshot of the local economic scene, FortScott.Biz asked local business, school and government entities some questions on what their employees earn and what services they provide the community.

 

The information given is intended to  look at the wages in the  public and private sectors. It also includes services the entities provide.

 

The Bourbon County Courthouse.

 

Bourbon County

The county has a land area of 635 square miles, and in 2019 had 14, 653 people living here, according to the government census website.

 

The Bourbon County government has 112 employees.

 

Jody Hoenor is the economic development director for Bourbon County and is the highest-paid employee earning $70,000 a year.

 

The lowest hourly wage, $8.58 in the county, is for election board workers, according to files provided by Bourbon County Clerk Kendall Mason.

 

The county provides county law enforcement, emergency medical services (ambulance) in collaboration with the city of Fort Scott, road and bridge repair and maintenance, emergency preparedness, landfill, land deeds,  health department services, economic development services, appraisal services, Elm Creek Lake services.

 

For more information about the county, click below;

http://www.bourboncountyks.org/january-2020-minutes/

http://www.bourboncountyks.org/

 

 

 

USD 234 Board of Education Building, 424 S. Main

 

USD 234

USD 234 is the Fort Scott School District that provides education for pre-school through high school students.

 

It is also one of the biggest employers in the city.

 

“Currently we have 373 that we consider being full-time employees receiving benefits for our purposes,” Gina Shelton, USD234 Business Manager, said. “Full-time with the school is 630 hours a year or more which is the Kansas Public Employee Retirement System threshold. On a typical month, we run a payroll of 440 employees, which would include subs, recreation hourly, and other part-time help. The recreation department is a part of our budget and their employees are part of our payroll,” Gina Shelton, business manager of USD 234 said.

 

To view the USD234 Salary Schedule, which is on the website of the district:

 

https://core-docs.s3.amazonaws.com/documents/asset/uploaded_file/464450/USD_234_Salary_Schedule_19-20.pdf

 

To view the classified employees pay schedule:

https://core-docs.s3.amazonaws.com/documents/asset/uploaded_file/464459/Classified_Pay_Schedule_19-20.pdf

 

Ted Hessong, superintendent of the Fort Scott school district, is the highest-paid employee and earns $118,000 a year, according to the info provided by the district.

 

The lowest hourly wage in the district is for summer part-time not- on-contract and bus monitor employees, who earn $7.25 per hour, according to the info provided by the district.

 

Uniontown High School

USD 235

The Uniontown School District serves the area outside the Fort Scott district and the campus is located in western Bourbon County.

USD 235 provides education to pre-school through high school-age children and also has a fitness center for students and patrons in the district’s use.

“We have 123 employees on the payroll, with 79 full time,” Sherri Hartman, clerk for the district, said.

“The entry-level pay varies by position, but the lowest entry-level pay is 80% of $12.27 hourly. The highest entry-level pay is 80% of $19.65 hourly. Teacher placement is according to the salary schedule.”
“The highest earner is the superintendent, Brett Howard, at $95,350,” she said.
For information on the school district, click below:

 

 

Fort Scott Community College

Fort Scott Community College

 

Fort Scott Community College is a two-year college.

 

For January the FSCC payroll  had 173 faculty and staff, 56 adjunct instructors,  and 33 work-study students, Juley McDaniel, human resource director at the college, said.

 

The lowest entry-level wage for employees at FSCC is $9.50/hr. for full time regular staff employees working at an hourly wage.  FSCC has federal work-study students and tutors that are hired at a flat rate of $8.00/hr. and are part time student-filled positions.

 

“Median faculty salary is $41,967,” McDaniel said. “This does not count adjunct wages as they are paid per credit hour taught. Median staff wage is $37,450 when counting part time assistant coaches. This does not count student workers, but does take into account the migrant grant positions in other states where we serve as the fiscal agent. Median staff wage is $40,050 when not counting part time  assistant coaches. This does not count student workers, but does take into account the migrant grant positions in other states where we serve as the fiscal agent.”

 

To be considered full time for faculty is a bit different at the college level.

 

“Per the negotiated agreement between faculty and administration, full time entails 32-40 hours a week,” McDaniel said. “Our faculty fall into one of four categories – 169 day, 189 day, 209 day, and 12 month.”

 

Some of the services the college provides to the community:

The community service of student clubs and athletic teams, reading with elementary students, cleaning, supporting USD 234 activities like Family Fun Night, reading, first day of school welcome, fundraiser product disbursement , etc.   Over 6000 hours were clocked from athletics alone in 2018.  This doesn’t count student clubs like President’s Ambassadors, Phi Theta Kappa, Student Nurse Organization, McDaniel said.

Other services FSCC provides:

  • Bourbon county tuition waiver up to 15 credit hours per semester,
  • Bourbon County High School Waiver for any Bourbon County high school student taking a concurrent class for one KBOR-approved class,
  • Ellis  Fine Arts Center– school programs, community meetings, etc. (multiple use by school district including testing, theater),
  • Gordon Parks Museum – free to visitors and hosts school field trips to schools,
  • Student Success Center – computer, internet, and printer access (up to 10 pages free) for students and general public,
  • Library access,
  • Host annually Math Relays, Music Contest, National History Day, Aggie Day,
  • Cosmetology services through Cosmetology Program,
  • Continuing ed. classes for the public, specialized training for businesses as needed,
  • Walking trail and old Lincoln Schoolhouse are maintained by FSCC maintenance,
  •   Free Kid’s Fairs twice a year
  •    Home Show help
  •   Kid’s College once a year
  •  Parade participation
  • Cosmotology provides free haircuts for students
  •  Cosmotology provides free hairstyling  and manicures at nursing homes (Pittsburg)
  •   Zumba classes last year
  • Donations to community events, prom/after proms, and other events
  •  Band volunteers at the Veteran’s Day celebration

 

 

http://www.fortscott.edu/About

 

Fort Scott City Hall.

 

City of Fort Scott

Deb Needleman, Human Resource Director for the city gave the following information:

 

The highest-paid employee earns $107, 463- City Manager Dave Martin.

 

Earnings of part-time entry-level positions are for summer seasonal help-life guards and golf cart attendees, Needleman said.

 

The lowest full-time entry-level employee in the city is $21, 555 per year.

 

The city has 100 full-time employees.

 

The city provides police and fire services, emergency medical services(in collaboration with the county government), public water services, public works (including streets), parks, lakes, the LaRoche Ball Park, an aquatic center,  a golf course, an airport, community development, economic development, and a tourism office, according to information provided by Needleman.

 

To learn more about the city of Fort Scott, click below:

http://fscity.org/

 

The Fort Scott Public Library although not a department of the city, does receive MILL Levy funds which pass through the City of Fort Scott,  but the City is a pass-through only for those funds, Needleman said.

 

Buck Run Community Center (BRCC) is owned by the city and the city provides funds to maintain and operate it, the decisions about activities that are offered operates through the recreation board, Needleman said.

 

 

 

For a private sector view, Ward-Kraft, Inc. gave the following information.

Ward-Kraft, Inc.

Ward-Kraft, Inc. is one of the largest employers in the county and has six companies under its umbrella. It is not a public entity like the others featured.

 

Ward-Kraft Holding Company, Inc  includes Ward-Kraft, Fort Scott Munitions, KW Cattle, Reprologix, 4-States Sanitation, and Christian Learning Center and has 326 employees, according to Gina Staudinger, Chief Business Officer with Ward-Kraft.

 

Average work hours involve three shifts for production 7 am – 3 pm, 3 pm – 11 pm, 11 pm – 7 am.     Office hours vary between 7 am – 5 pm.     All full-time members are expected to work at least 40 hours per week, and overtime as needed, Staudinger noted.

 

The median wage for employees is $15.50.

 

Entry-level wages are    $10.00 – $11.81 per hour base but vary with previous job experience and position filled.    For office personnel  is it $10.26 – $15.60; off-line production – $10.00 – $16.30; press operators, collator operators, machinists, machine maintenance – $11.60 – $22.20.

 

Non-government entities are not required by law to supply information and Ward-Kraft said they do not share who the top earner is in the business.

 

To learn more about Ward-Kraft, click below:

http://www.wardkraft.com

Citizens are asked to complete the U.S. Census Bureau survey when received on April 1, 2020.

 

Lance’s Looking At Bringing Groceries to Downtown Fort Scott

Loren and Regena Lance, owners of Mildred Store in Allen County. Submitted photo.

Loren and Regena Lance are contemplating duplicating what they have done to the Mildred Store in Allen County, in downtown Fort Scott. They have a grocery store in the town of Mildred, population 26.

See the end of this feature for how to give input to the Lance’s.

 

The Mildred Store in Mildred,KS, population 26.

“Loren and I purchased the Mildred Store six years ago this coming June,” Regena Lance said.  “We purchased the existing store because we saw a community need. We have taken a store in the middle of basically nowhere and made it a hub to the community and developed it into a destination business.”

Produce offered by the Mildred Store. Submitted photo.

“We feel after nearly six years in business we have an idea of how to be competitive and provide a great service to our community,” she said. “We would hope to be able to duplicate this in Fort Scott, if we decide to pursue this opportunity.”

Mildred Store is known for sandwiches and live music that happens monthly.

Submitted photo of the Mildred Store.

” Several people from Fort Scott visit our Mildred Store, especially on the third Saturday of the month which is our ‘Music Night’ and had commented on how nice it would be to have a store like this in the downtown area of Fort Scott,” Regena said.

“After thinking it over and discussing it with employees of the city of Fort Scott, we have decided to give it further consideration,” she said.

Submitted photo  of the Mildred Store.

“The situation in Fort Scott is similar to what we saw in Mildred,” Regena said. “There is a need in a community that could be fulfilled by a small store that stocks all the basic goods and a few specialty items. We are not trying to compete with any other existing businesses in Fort Scott just hoping to fill a void that has become apparent in the downtown area.”

Submitted photo of the Mildred Store.

Location

No location has been determined yet, she said, but the future grocery store would be in downtown Fort Scott.

 

When

“If we do decide to move forward with this venture we will be looking a late spring start up,” she said.

Submitted photo of the Mildred Store.

 

Community Input Sought

“We are looking for community input on what they would like to see in a future store, as far as staple goods, store hours and any other possible suggestions,” Regena said. ” We would like to invite anyone interested to come visit the Mildred Store to see how we could model a new store off of our existing one. Mildred Store is open seven days a week Monday through Saturday 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday 9 a.m.  to 4 p.m.”

“Music night is this Saturday night starting at 6:30 if anyone is interested in coming to see what’s happening in Mildred,” she said.

To comment ideas for staple goods and store hours, use the store’s Facebook page: Mildred Store or call  the store at 620-439-5424.

IF: Christian Women’s Event Feb. 29

From left: Elaina Koppa, Rebekah Houser, and Bethany Johnson pray together. Photos courtesy of Kenny Felt Photography.

IF, a Christian women’s ministry conference, is planned for Saturday, February 29 at  9 a.m.Fort Scott Middle School, 1105 E. Twelfth.

 

IF God is real, then what? That is the premise of the ministry to women.

 

Area women are asked to join others from local churches to look into God’s Word through teaching,  conversations, worship of Jesus, and hearing stories, according to information provided from organizers.

 

Bible Study. Courtesy of
Kenny Felt Photography.

 

Presentations from popular Christian leaders, including Beth Moore, Sadie Robertson, Jennie Allen, and Bianca Olthoff will be from the IF: Gathering 2020 Livestream.

 

Also included is live music from local artists Madison Christian and KaLisa Veer.

 

The cost is $25 and includes a coffee bar, light pastries, lunch, and snacks, plus receive a free notebook and pen.

 

To purchase tickets:

http://www.iffortscott.wixsite.com/home

 

A few local IF participants  were interviewed by FortScott.Biz:

How has IF impacted your life?

Rebekah

“Last year was my first time attending an IF event…and I don’t know why I waited so long to join,” said Rebekah Houser, who will be the photographer for the 2020 event. “I loved the event so much that I’ve done every IF: Equip study we’ve held since then. It has filled the hole I’ve had since I graduated out of my high school youth group and has seriously been a huge blessing. Some of my closest friends now are the women who have also participated in these studies alongside me.”

Rachel

“After suffering the loss of my brother four years ago, I decided to attend a Christian women’s event at a local church, one that I didn’t attend,”  Rachel French, IF: Fort Scott Steering Committee Member said. “It was totally a God move. Over the years, the Lord has laid on my heart to promote unity throughout the body of Christ here in our community. Since that initial gathering, I have seen our IF: community put aside our differences and focus on the core common beliefs that we share.”

Bethany

“When I first attended the gathering in 2017, I was new to Fort Scott and was still trying to find my place in the small town scene, having grown up in a larger city,” Bethany Johnson, IF Steering Committee Member said. “I was asked to serve at the IF: Gathering and I came excited to learn and worship with other women. I quickly realized how much I needed to be there. I soaked up teaching from God’s Word and powerful and encouraging stories. That was just the beginning of how God has used this ministry to impact my life and connect me to other Christian women in my community.”

 

What is your favorite part of the event?

Rebekah

“My favorite part about IF is the building of a community with women from other churches and denominations. I love that IF isn’t about putting one denomination over another. It’s simply about creating a community with other women in your town and forming relationships with them. Then, the opportunity to join an IF: Table or participate in the short six-week IF: Equip studies can continue to build and solidify those relationships. No matter what age or denomination you are, we just get together to love each other and lean into each other. I love that,” Rebekah said.

 

Rachel

“I love that IF: Fort Scott doesn’t end when the gathering is over. We have weekly and monthly opportunities for the women of the community to get involved and continue to learn and grow more in their faith. We offer weekly Bible studies that start every six to eight weeks, with our next study starting on March 10th. We also offer monthly IF: Tables, where six women meet for two hours over a meal and have a conversation over a topic provided by the IF: Gathering team,” Rachel said.

From left: Rebekah Houser, Elaina Koppa, Brodi Dare, Jessica Majors, and Suzanne Griffin, during an IF small group event. Photos courtesy of Kenny Felt Photography.

Bethany

“This event is unlike any other women’s conference or retreat I have ever attended. We come together and watch recordings of other women and Christian leaders share powerful teaching from God’s word and testimonies of what He is doing in their lives. Since I volunteer as a youth sponsor and spend time with teenage girls each week at my church, my favorite part is gathering with women from every age and background to be united in one purpose. I am encouraged because it is an opportunity for teenage girls to see other girls their age leading women much older than them,” Bethany said.

 

 

How has attending challenged you personally?

Rebekah

“Since attending IF, I’ve felt compelled to not only get to know other women in my community better but get to truly know them. I have so many new close relationships with women now that one year ago I did not! I needed that desperately, and they have truly been a lifeline for me on so many occasions. I have the best and most understanding husband, but sometimes you just need a great group of ladies to lean on too,” Rebekah said.

 

Rachel

“This will be my fifth gathering and after each event I feel God stretching me to grow deeper in my faith and rely on him more. We get to hear from so many amazing speakers who communicate the word of God in a way that is different than a regular Sunday morning service. Through the IF: Equip app the speakers provide more content which has allowed me to continue learning from these godly women,” Rachel said.

Bethany

“Through attending this event, I have had the opportunity to study the Bible with other women, serve in many ways out of my comfort zone, and lead alongside new friends. I am challenged to grow in my relationship with Jesus through this event. There are many free resources available to study Scripture and dive deeper into your faith through the IF: Equip App,” Bethany said.

 

For more information click below:

http://www.iffortscott.wixsite.com/home

 

Active Shooter Training Available From FS Police Dept.

Fort Scott Police Department Officer Derick Burke. File photo.

Violence in America is a  threat, and the Fort Scott Police Department is scheduling a training session to help local entities deal with the possible threat.

“The FSPD will be hosting this training with certified trainers from ALICE coming to Ellis Fine Arts Center to do the training for us,” FS Police Officer Derick Burke said.

“Our local businesses, churches, schools, and hospitals are often where there is a larger gathering,” Burke said.  “Most recently we have been seeing more and more churches being the target.  In the past, it had been seen more in schools.  This training is being offered so people in our community can take what they learned from certified ALICE trainers back to their church, business, school, and be able to hold their own training.  Job turnover is always a possibility and when a new employee is hired, you shouldn’t have to call around to schedule a training with someone else, simply put the person you had trained by a certified ALICE trainer to good use and keep the drive for workplace safety alive.”

 

“ALICE is an acronym for a systematic approach to combat an active shooter or violent intruder situation by using proactive response strategies,” Burke said.  “This type of training is set up for all ages, young and old, male or female.”

ALICE stands for:

Alert- Notification and recognition of the possibility of danger.

 

Lockdown- If evacuation is not the safe option, barricade entry points and prepare for evacuation or the possibility to counter the threat.

 

Inform- Communicate on the shooter location with clear and concise information by any means possible.

 

Counter- If evacuation is not possible, counter with noise, movement, distraction and distance, making it more difficult for the shooter to shoot accurately.

 

Evacuate- When it is possible to evacuate, run from the danger and exit quickly.

 

“The training is open to anyone willing and wanting to learn, and then take what they learned, and teach it to others,” Burke said.  “Age, gender, strength, size….does not matter.  This training is tailored to fit anyone. ”

 

Registering for this class by visiting the website www.alicetraining.com, look for the dates, June 16- June 17, 2020.

 

The training will take place from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m,  in Fort Scott at the Ellis Arts Center on the Campus of Fort Scott Community College, 2401 S. Horton.

 

 

The cost is $595.00 for early bird registration, $695.00 for anyone after the first 10 registrants.

 

 

County Commission Meeting Starts at 1:30 p.m. Feb. 11

Please note that the meeting will begin at 1:30pm in the Commission Room at the courthouse. At 6:00pm meeting will be at the Ellis building on the FSCC campus for Windfarm discussion.

Agenda

Bourbon County Commission Room

1st Floor, County Courthouse

210 S. National Avenue

Fort Scott, KS 66701

 

Date: February 11, 2020

1st District-Lynne Oharah Minutes: Approved: _______________

2nd District-Jeff Fischer Corrected: _______________

3rd District-Nick Ruhl Adjourned at: _______________

County Clerk-Kendell Mason

1:30-2:00 – Jim Harris

2:00-2:15 – Hubert Thomas, Bridges

2:15-2:45 – Susan Bancroft, EMS

2:45-3:00 – Mary Pimberton, Windfarm

3:30-3:50 – Justin Meeks, Consultation with an attorney for the body or agency which would be deemed privileged in the attorney-client relationship

4:00-4:15 – Bill Martin, Executive Session (Personnel matters of individual non-elected personnel)

4:30-6:00 – Lunch

6:00-7:30 – Windfarm Discussion @ FSCC-Ellis Building

Visage Spa Moves Shop

Nancy Johnson,  a licensed esthetician, moved her office uptown to 5 E. Wall.

Nancy Johnson, a licensed esthetician, has moved shop.

“I wanted to be downtown,” Johnson said.

Formerly on the south end of Fort Scott, she has moved her business, Visage Skin Care Spa, to 5 E. Wall.

The move took place in November 2019, but then Johnson and her husband took an extended vacation.

Johnson has been in the business for 13 years and received her training at the Euro Institute of Holistic Skin Care in Renton, Washington.

The services she provides are facials, waxing, lash and brow tinting,  sugaring, body and foot treatments and she sells Niko Organic Skin Care products.

She can put together a gift basket for a loved one for Valentine’s Day or any special occasion.

Johnson is hosting the weekly Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce coffee on Feb. 13 at 8 a.m., with a ribbon-cutting for the business to follow the coffee at 8:30 a.m.

Johnson works by appointment and can be reached at 620.224.6455.

 

The lobby of Visage has been transformed into a modern waiting space.
Johnson’s facial spa area.

Moe’s Breads Grand Opening

Moe’s Breads Bakery is having a grand opening on Feb. 15 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

“We will have drawings for merchandise and coupons,” said owner Melissa McCurry. “Seventy-five cents coffee, $1 single biscuits and gravy and are giving away 100 mini-muffins for a door prize.”

“We are doing a raffle for the 3rd-grade boys’ basketball to go to state, tickets are $1,” McCurry said.  “We will draw at the grand opening for a full pan of cinnamon rolls.”

Hours of the bakery are from 5 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.  Saturday and Sunday hours are 7 a.m. to 2 p.m.

To place an order, call 620-768-8009.

Every morning McCurry makes homemade biscuits and homemade gravy and starts selling it and other breads, cookies, muffins along with hot and cold drinks at 5 a.m.

There is a lounge area in the bakery with a couch, table, and chairs in an adjacent room.

The list of food items sold:

The fruit loaves include banana, pumpkin, blueberry, and zucchini. They sell for $6. Apple cinnamon and caramel pecan swirl loaves are $7.

Cookies include banana chocolate chip, peanut butter, chocolate cream for $4 a dozen, no-bake cookies sell for $6.

Yeast bread orders must be placed 24-hours prior and start at $5: white, wheat, French, challah, jalapeno cheese, ciabatta, cinnamon rolls, and sourdough.

Coffee can be purchased for $1.25 and tea for75 cents. Soda, milk, orange juice, and energy drinks are also sold.

 

My1Stop:Online Printing Services

My1Stop employees, from left: Kevin Collins, Sioux City, Iowa, national sales representative; Rozemma Perry, Fort Scott, inside sales; Tina Wilson, Cato, inside sales; Brice Leonard, Nevada, MO, sales representative.

Local business, My1Stop, is an online print company that makes promotional items for other businesses.

The business creates plastic cards, key tags, forms, envelopes, shipping labels, gift card carriers, medical ID forms and wristbands, industrial labels, among other items.

“We started in 2005 when we saw the need to sell print online and also to sell nationally and internationally,” according to Tina Wilson, who works inside sales and customer service.

“We want to make businesses in Fort Scott grow,” she said.

The business has been family owned and operated all those years.

“In 2020, we decided we needed to be involved more in the community,” Wilson said.

The staff: Kevins Collins, national sales; Rozemma Perry, inside sales; Wilson, and Brice Leonard, sales representative, are taking part in the community through involvement in the  Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce, Young Professional League,  mentoring and local youth and church organizations. Other staff are marketing, graphic design and accounting.

They recently hosted a Chamber Coffee to tell their story.

To contact, call 1.800.MY1STOP.

They are located at 3200 Liberty Bell Road, Suite 300.

The hours of operation are Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. CST.

Orders can be placed online 24 hours a day online.

http://www.my1stop.com/

 

Bolton Law Office Moves Dowtown

Attorney Andrew Bolton, left, Christian Cox, office manager, right.

Attorney Andrew Bolton moved his office to a downtown location in November 2019.

 

He specializes in family law.

 

“Divorce, custody, adoptions,” Bolton said. “I also do estate planning and other help.  A general practice, like small-town lawyers do.”

 

Bolton said he enjoys helping people and the profession allows him to do that. He often works with people at a low point in their life.

” It’s nice that in a small town I usually know the person,” he said.

 

He can be reached at 620-644-9210.

 

Bolton said he is usually at his Fort Scott office on Thursdays and Fridays.

 

 

Bolton graduated from Fort Scott High School in 1999,  went to Pittsburg  State University and then earned his law degree from Notre Dame University in 2006. He worked for with a firm in Lawrence until 2012 when he started his own firm.

 

In 2015 he opened an office in Fort Scott and Louisburg, and just recently moved his office downtown, 14 S. Main.

 

Modern Woodmen Financial and Bolton Law Firm are housed in offices at 14 S. Main.

Obituary of Jerry Eugene Nafgzer

Jerry Eugene Nafgzer, 83, of Fort Scott, Kansas, formerly of Lancaster, Ohio, went to be with his Lord peacefully, Monday afternoon, February 3, 2020 at the Guest Home Estates of Fort Scott.

He was born November 23, 1936, in Obetz, Ohio, the son of Burl Monroe and Hazel (Dewey) Nafzger. He married Judy Arlene Kilbarger on March 6, 1959 in Sugar Grove, Ohio, she survives of the home.

Jerry was a man who loved the Lord and was loved by all who knew him. He and his wife, Judy, moved here from Lancaster, Ohio, five and a half years ago to be near their son and his family.

In addition to his wife, Judy, he is survived by a son and wife, Jerry and Debbie Nafzger, of Fort Scott, daughter and husband, Victoria and Mark Alten of Lancaster, Ohio, a grandson and wife, Matthew and Stefanie Alten, and 3 granddaughters, Sarah Beth Alten, MacKenzie and husband, Ricky Salgado and Shelby and husband, Kenny Shaw and eight great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents and a brother, Tom Nafzger.

Pastor Adam Reynolds will officiate graveside services for Jerry Nafzger at 10:30 a.m., Friday, February 7, 2020 at the Maple Grove Cemetery under the direction of the Konantz-Cheney Funeral Home, 15 W. Wall Street.

Condolences may be emailed to the online guestbook at konantz-cheney.com.