All posts by Loretta George

Entertainment, Fort Scott

Fort Scott Munitions Gives Customer Appreciation Day June 2

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Good Ol’ Days weekend, May 31 -June 2 Fort Scott Munitions is celebrating BIG.

“We are involved in Good Ol’ Days, plus we have our Customer Appreciation Day,” Robbie Forrester, president of Fort Scott Munitions said.

A car show, free hamburgers, raffles, giveaways and in addition the whole store will have discounted items ranging from 10 percent to 50 percent off the regular price.

Fort Scott Munitions is a United States distributor of lead-free rifle and handgun ammunition and the store is located at 523 E. Wall, just off the Hwy. 69 ramp.

The Second Annual Car and  Bike Show will be June 2 at 9 a.m., with the doors opening at 8 a.m.  It is a family-friendly, alcohol-free environment, according to Forrester. Registration is free.
There is a limit of 200 bikes and 200 cars for the show.
Preregistration is available in store and online at www.fortscottmunitions.com
There will be Best of Show cash prizes for both car and bike categories. The prizes are: 1st place $500, 2nd $250, 3rd $100. Winners will be announced at 2:30 p.m.
There will be 1000 Platinum Beef Burgers cooked for customer appreciation day, provided by KW Beef, a local Registered Angus Ranch. The hamburgers will be cooked by representatives of Traeger’s Grills.
A charity 50/50 Raffle for Jordan Karleskint and Carter Collier will be available with the winner announced following the car and bike show winners announcement.
The items in the store are discounted between 10%-50%.
“Everything in the store will be at least 10 percent off,” Forrester said. “There will be a special on Springfield Guns that day.”
“New items we are just coming out with, 357 sig rounds, will be discounted in the store that day,” Dustin Doherty, marketing manager for Fort Scott Munitions said. Also 9 mm nickel-plated and 9 mm TPD plated ammunitions are for sale that day.
There will be giveaways throughout the day, as well.
Special Guests include:
Sheriff David Clarke  (ret.), President of David A. Clarke Enterprises and Spokesman for America First Action;
Kris “Tanto” Pronto and Dave “Boon” Benton, two of the survivor soldiers of Benghazi;
Blue Line Bears (non-profit) – Megan O’Grady;
Got Your Six Coffee Company – Eric Hadley;
Thin Red Line K-9 – Amy and Ted Donaldson.
In the Good Ol’ Days parade on Thursday evening, there will be Hummers, a  race car, and trucks provided by Fort Scott Munitions, and will also include some of their special guests.
Store hours change
As of May 1, store hours have changed at Fort Scott Munitions.
“Most gun stores are closed Monday and Tuesday,” Forrester said. “We’ve expanded hours Wednesday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday is 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. If customers need something Monday and Tuesday, they can call us.”
To contact the store call 620-223-1277.
From left: Dustin Doherty, marketing manager of Fort Scott Munitions; Caleb Osborn, loading manager and Robbie Forrester, president, stand in front of a new display in the store, a mountain lion being brought down by a pair of dogs.
Uncategorized

Educational Tour of Circus Grounds Offered To Local Schools

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EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITY
Carson and Barnes Circus would like to announce a special educational opportunity for children of all ages to experience the magic of the circus May 18 and to meet our special animal friends up close and personal. All participating schools are in for a unique circus day adventure.
Participating classes’ (students) will engage in an enchanting tour of our menagerie; plus, an educational program about our Asian Elephants. This is available to all students even if they do not have the opportunity to attend one of our performances. We believe that this is a chance to expose children to a unique culture in a world of wonder.
Your group will be greeted on the circus grounds by one of our staff members and led through our animal menagerie. What an incredible opportunity to learn about magnificent endangered creatures! We also have a special treat in store for the children; a surprise visit from some of our young entertainers who will perform a short skit. We will reveal our newest creatures at the show to all the kids who come back!
This exciting opportunity is available for all students and staff with absolutely no cost to anyone. You provide the transportation to the grounds and we provide the activities. The activities will start at 11:00 a.m. the morning the show arrives. This experience has been a huge success in the past and is always a very exciting and fun adventure for the adults and children. Schools have even brought sack lunches and had a picnic after the tour. Our portion of the event will last about 30 minutes but you are welcome to stay as long as you like and gaze upon the magnificent set up of the circus tent.
If you wish for your school (classroom) to participate in this once in a lifetime event, please provide the requested information below and fax to (580)-326-7466 or email to [email protected]. Once we receive your information we will contact you to confirm your reservation. If you have any question or concerns please feel free to contact our Advance Promotions Coordinator, Kelsey Winship @ 580 326-2233.
NOTE: THIS FORM MUST BE FAXED OR EMAILED IN FOR US TO BE PREPARED FOR YOUR GROUP FIELD TRIP.
REGISTRATION REQUEST:
School Name: ______________________________________________________
Contact Person: ______________________________________________________
Contact Phone Number: ______________________________________________________
Approximate # of Children Attending: ______________________________________________________
Approximate # of Adults Attending: _____________________________________________________________
The City your School Resides In:

Bourbon County

New Pathway

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David Goodyear points to the acres of corn recently planted as part of the AgPath ministry. Goodyear is the coordinator of the project.

“Remember not the former things, nor consider the things of old. Behold, I am doing a new thing;  does not it spring forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a pathway in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.”             Isaiah 43:18-19 from the Holy Bible.

This is the key verse that members of Fort Scott Church of the Nazarene (FSCN) chose to begin a new ministry.

The ministry is called Pathways and it is a partnership with other churches and individuals within Bourbon County to reach those who want out of self-destructive life choices.

It started when FSCN members Mike Watson and Jimmie Jones were conversing about the Celebrate Recovery, a group that meets at the church.

“We get these folks in jail, some are ready for something else,” David Goodyear, coordinator of Pathways said. “We’ve tried to help them but they get out unannounced and go back to where they came from. We felt like we were letting them go through the gaps.”

That’s when Pathways was birthed.

“We started last fall…with a vision statement,” Goodyear said. “The church board endorsed it. I became the coordinator.”

The Pathways ministry collaborates with Next Steps, a Local Connections to Success Program that is facilitated weekly by community volunteers, that meets on Monday evenings at the First United Methodist Church.

One of the strategies of Pathways is a work program called AgPath. AgPath is an agricultural project where participants will plant, grow, harvest and market vegetables. It is being developed to help hone teamwork skills and provide some earnings for participants.

They had the vision, they needed the means.

Then God stepped in.

“I went to Jody (Hoener) to ask her to help us write a grant for the program,” Goodyear said. “She said there was a grant out there waiting for an idea. She had us apply. (Then) I went to the committee meeting of the Healthy Bourbon County Action Team.”

The Pathways AgPath group received $20,000 to help the program get started.

David Goodyear received a grant from Pathways AgPath May 3 from Blue Cross/Blue Shield Pathway to A Healthier Bourbon County.  In the center is Virginia Barnes of BCBS and Jody Hoener of Healthy Bourbon County Action Team.

“We got a new All Terrain Vehicle, planter, tiller, spreader, fertilizer, seed, irrigation equipment and still got a few more (items)to get,” Goodyear said.

“The profit will be shared with others,” Goodyear said. “The Beacon and Feeding Families In His Name.”

Goodyear has started the planting of the acreage, located just off Hwy. 54 near the KOA Campground, with the help of a part-time employee, Malachi Schmidt, Deerfield, Mo.

Malachi Schmidt takes a break while putting up wire in preparation for the tomato planting.

Corn has been planted on the donated acreage on Hwy. 54. Next will be tomatoes, peppers, green beans and squash, he said.

Two to four people from the Next Steps program will help in the process along with volunteers from the community comprised of William James and Francy Schafer, Kevin and Kerry Wunderly,  and Gretchen and David Goodyear.

“We want to work into their lives, to develop kinship,” Goodyear said. “The whole point is to build community.”

 

 

 

 

Bourbon County

Bourbon County Commission Agenda May 15

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Agenda

Bourbon County Commission Room

2nd Floor, County Courthouse

210 S. National Avenue

Fort Scott, KS 66701

Tuesdays starting at 9:00

Date: May 15th, 2018

1st District-Lynne Oharah Minutes: Approved: _______________

2nd District-Jeff Fischer Corrected: _______________

3rd District-Nick Ruhl Adjourned at: _______________

County Clerk-Kendell Mason

9:00-9:45-Jim Harris

9:45-11:00-Cutler and Coyan fence viewing

11:00-12:00-Justin Meeks

Executive Session-Privileged in the Attorney/Client relationship

Executive Session-Matters relating to the security of a public building

12:00-1:30-Commissioners gone to lunch

1:30-2:00-Update on NRP/Meeting times/Letters/Maps

2:00-2:15-Clerk/Election 2019 Budget

2:30-Employee Handbook

Justifications for Executive Session:

          Personnel matters of individual non-elected personnel

          Consultation with an attorney for the body or agency which would be deemed privileged in the attorney-client relationship

          Matters relating to employer-employee negotiations whether or not in consultation with the representative(s) of the body or agency

          Confidential data relating to financial affairs or trade secrets of corporations, partnerships, trusts and individual proprietorships

          Preliminary discussions relating to the acquisition of real property

          Matters relating to the security of a public body or agency, public building or facility or the information system of a public body or agency, if the discussion of such matters at an open meeting would jeopardize the security of such public body, agency, building, facility or information system

Fort Scott

A Work In Progress

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As one drives by the house on South National Avenue, several dumpsters sit in the driveway, and a new banister on the front porch indicate there is construction going on.

The house at 1311 S. National was purchased by the local Youth Activities Team to be rehabilitated, then it will be sold as a fundraiser to help provide a multi-sensory playground for the community at Ellis Park.

Work has been ongoing since last year when the house was purchased.

Diana Mitchell is spearheading this Youth Activities Team (YAT) project.

“We are still tearing down some ceilings, and rearranging some rooms,” Tom Robertson, a member of the YAT said. “We have contractors lined up for when demolition is done.”

“It’s taking longer than we thought,” Robertson said.

Anyone wanting to volunteer to help with this project may contact Mitchell at 620-224-3633 or Robertson at 620-224-7707.

 

Fort Scott, Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce

Chamber Coffee Updates

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Chamber members mingle for the social time before the announcements at Thursday’s coffee at Woodland Hills Golf Course.

The Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce weekly coffee is hosted by members at a different location each week of the year, except Thanksgiving and Christmas.

This week it was held at the Woodland Hills Golf Course on South Horton Street, hosted by the City of Fort Scott, who is the owner of the course.

At Chamber coffees, members may tell of events in their respective businesses and organizations and share a cup of coffee beforehand.

The host of the coffee then tells about the business/organization.

The highlights of this week’s coffee:

  • Lead Bourbon County, a leadership exploration and development program, finished the nine-month-long classes Thursday, Deb Needleman, co-facilitator said. The class project is creating modules for mentors to use with high school students in time together. A new class will be starting in September and runs until May. Contact Needleman or Robert Uhler for more information.
  • This Saturday, May 12, the U.S. Post Office employees are initiating a food drive with residents leaving bags of non-perishable food by their mailboxes, according to Sue Emmons. Emmons is director of The Beacon, a helping agency, and recipient of the food drive. Fort Scott FFA and Michele Lyon are helping with the drive, she said.
  • Next week is National Nursing Home Week and Medicalodge Fort Scott will celebrate with residents, Lynnette Emmerson said. They will be celebrating the 1920s on Monday, 30s on Tuesday, 40s on Wednesday, 50s on Thursday and 60s on Friday, she said.
  • Jerry Witt, with the Riverfront Authority Board, said there will be a ribbon cutting for the new pavilion May 17 following the Chamber coffee at 8:45 a.m. At 6 p.m. that evening there will be free hot dogs, chips, dessert, and watermelon, Allen Warren, another member of the authority, said. At 6:30 Jason Richison and Kinley Rice and a country-western band from Oklahoma will perform. In case of inclement weather, the performance will be moved to Memorial Hall.
  • Warren also told the group that Friday and Saturday the Pioneer Harvest Fiesta is having a swap meet at the Bourbon County Fairgrounds. There will be concessions available.
  • Maps are available for the town-wide garage sale this weekend from the Chamber website, Executive Director Lindsay Madison said.
  • Briggs Auto has a car sale going on and has positions open as well, Carol Lydic said.
  • Jackie Warren, co-superintendent of the open class at the Bourbon County Fair, said there will once again be a hay bale contest and King Arthur Baking contest and two new categories in the quilt department: a coaster and “quilt on a stick.”
  • On May 18 the Carson Barnes Circus will have two shows, one at 4:30 p.m. and one at 7:30 p.m. at the Bourbon County Fairgrounds, Madison said. The event is sponsored by the Chamber. At  11 a.m. there will be an educational session about the circus and 3 p.m. there will be an elephant wash with the Fort Scott Fire Department performing the duties. Tickets can be purchased at the Chamber for $14 adults, $6 child. At the door, the costs are $20 adult and $12 child.
  •  Bill Drury’s A Passion For Service Seminar will be offered May 22 in the a.m. and p.m. at the Empress Event Center, Madison said.
Fort Scott City Manager Dave Martin tells the history of the Woodland Hills Golf Course at the Chamber Coffee Thursday morning.

City Manager Dave Martin gave a background of Woodland Hills Golf Course: The city bought the property in 2011 “at a good price”,  hired Jon Kindelsparger, took five years to see a difference in the course, (but) revenues have steadily increased.

Clubhouse manager for three years,  Shannon O’Neil, said he is “continuing our forward progress, and currently there is a golf course cart building under construction.” He said last year 10,000 people played golf at the course, and “interest is continuing to grow.”

Upcoming events at the course:

Kiwanis Tournament, May 18, to raise money for scholarships; Memorial Day weekend, there will be a three-man scramble; June 9 at Mercy Hospital Scramble to buy new equipment for the hospital.

 

Business, Fort Scott

Main Street Gallery: Six Businesses

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Julie McClellan of Main Street Gallery and Gifts. Julie and son, Josh, are the owners.

Julie McClellan joined forces with her son Josh McClellan in 2000 to open a retail shop in Fort Scott.

The shop has moved from 8 N. Main to National Avenue across from the post office then to 24 N. Main. It was at this location they renamed the shop from Spice of Life to Main Street Gallery and Gifts.

“After 10 years at this location, we outgrew the space and bought the old J.C.Penney building at 23 S. Main,” Julie said.

Through the years they added more offerings for their customers.

Today they have gifts, home decor, custom and antique furniture, gluten-free products, a homebrew supply shop, herbs, essential oils and supplements in addition to an upholstery shop, picture frame and mat shop and additionally they rent out space to the Spoiled Brat Salon next door at 19 S. Main.

In the lower level of Main Street Gallery and Gifts is a flea market with many vendors.

“Josh’s wife, Rechelle, and my husband, Gene, and granddaughter Shelby help out in this multifaceted business,” Julie said.

Julie shows Josh’s “The Frame Up” shop located on the first floor of Main Street Gallery. He can do custom framing and matting.
Julie gets information from a customer about an upholstery project at Gene’s Upholstery, in the back of the store.
A homebrew supply shop is located in Main Street Gallery.
Essential oils, supplements, and gluten-free bread are also available at Main Street Gallery.
A flea market with several booths is in the basement of Main Street Gallery.
A booth in the flea market at Main Street Gallery.
Fort Scott, Sports

Sign Up For Summer Programs At Buck Run Center

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Buck Run Community Center is located at 735 Scott Avenue.

Thinking of activities for the kids to do this summer?

The first of May marked the first day of registration for all summer programs at Buck Run Community Center.

“Parents, don’t wait to sign up,” Tom Robertson, director of the center, said. “We do have limits on some programs.”

Tom Robertson is the director of Buck Run Community Center.

Programs such as youth baseball/softball, adult slow-pitch softball, adult racquetball, pickleball, and co-ed kickball are offered.

In addition, cooking and craft classes for youth, cheerleading, dance, basic tumbling, youth fitness, Little Athletics Camp, Sports Camp, Tot Lot Day Camp and Adventure Class require pre-registration beginning May 1.

Also offered are basketball camp, drama performance camp, volleyball camp and football camp, junior golf camp, youth tennis program and swim lessons.

At the aquatic center at 7th and Main streets- infant aquatics, water fitness, and swim teacher certification are taught. The center opens May 28, Memorial Day.

The Fort Scott Hurricanes is a competitive swim team open to swimmers 18 years old and younger, who can swim at least one length of the pool.

Adults are not left out of activities.

For adults there are fitness classes, dance lessons and Tae Kwon Do classes.

Shelter house rentals and camping sites are available in Gunn Park on Park Avenue.

The big rock shelter house at Gunn Park.

In addition there is Lake Fort Scott located off Indian Road, south of the city, Lincoln School Walking Trail located at West 18th Street, the Betty Run Willard Fields/Ty Cullor Field located at 2108 S. Horton, Ellis Park located at 12the and Williams streets, Third Street Park located at Third and Hill streets, Nelson Park located at the corner of Grant and Elm streets, Woodland Hills Golf Course at 2414 S. Horton and the James Tedesco Memorial Skate Park at Fourth and Scott streets.

For more information contact Buck Run Community Center at 620-223-0386, check out its Facebook page or click here

buckruncommunitycenter.org

BRCC is owned by the City of Fort Scott.

Fort Scott, Schools

Elementary Students Visit Lowell Milken Center

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Nurse Mary Bickerdyke, interpreted by Tiffiny Durham and Dr. Ben Thayer, interpreted by Mason Lumpkins, portray a scene during the Civil War.
Students raise hands to answer questions during the presentation.

Freedom’s Frontier National Heritage Area awarded the Lowell Milken Center for Unsung Heroes an Interpretive Grant in the amount of $2145 for the project honoring Unsung Hero Mary Bickerdyke.

On  May 7, visitors learned more about Unsung Hero Mother Mary Bickerdyke because of that grant.

Bickerdyke was a Civil War nurse who built 300 field hospitals with the help of the U.S. Sanitary Commission and created new standards in soldier care. Her zeal in her profession earned her the name “Cyclone In Calico.”

Tiffiny Durham interprets Mary Bickerdyke to students at Lowell Milken Center May 7.
Mason Lumpkins interprets Civil War Doctor Ben Thayer to the group of students.

The Lowell Milken Center collaborated with the Fort Scott National Historic site in presenting the story to over 140 students from Fort Scott.

Tiffiny Durham, FSNHS Museum Technician interpreted Bickerdyke to the visitors at the center, while Mason Lumpkin, Excelsior Springs, Mo. interpreted Dr. Ben Thayer for the group.

The group consisted of the fifth-grade students at Eugene Ware Elementary School and first and second-grade students at Christian Learning Center.

This photo is of the students watching a short video on the Unsung Hero project about Bickerdyke which was produced by a then-student, Theresa Schafer.

The presentation not only taught each attendee about the past but information about the Red Cross, local blood drives and ways to volunteer was included.

Megan Felt, right, the program director at the center, introduces Ruth Waring, the American Red Cross drive local coordinator to the group.
Following the presentation, students were given a tour of the Lowell Milken Center for Unsung Heroes. Here, Eugene Ware fifth-grade students of Abby Dixson look at the project about the “Little Rock Nine” project at the center.
Christian Learning Center first and second-grade students of Kelly Love get a hands-on demonstration from Dr. Ben Thayer on how a broken arm was treated during the Civil War.

About Freedom’s Frontier
The Freedom’s Frontier Interpretive Grant program was started in 2012, according to information provided.

Since then, more than 97 projects have been awarded grant funding, according to information provided. Grant projects have been completed on both sides of the Missouri-Kansas border, in the 41-county region that comprises the heritage area.

Projects awarded grant funding must interpret local history, and connect to one or more of the three major themes of the heritage area: the shaping of the frontier, the Missouri-Kansas Border War, and the enduring struggle for freedom.

Grants range in amount from under $1,500 to $5,000. All awards over $1,500 require that the grant recipient show a local match of half the amount of the award. This match can be in the form of cash, or in-kind donations and staff and volunteer time.

Freedom’s Frontier National Heritage Area is one of 49 heritage areas in the U.S. Heritage areas are nonprofit affiliates of the National Park Service (NPS). They act as coordinating entities between the local organizations telling nationally significant stories and the NPS.

Freedom’s Frontier was established as a heritage area on October 12, 2006, when signed into law by President George Bush. The heritage area’s management plan was approved by the Department of the

Bourbon County

Eat Local Produced Food

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Bryan Holt, a member of Live Local Bourbon County speaks to attendees of The Buy and Eat/Meet and Greet Thursday evening.

Small shifts in spending habits can have big results on a community’s economy.

So said Live Local Bourbon County member and spokesman Bryan Holt to attendees of Thursday evening’s Buy and Eat/Meet and Greet public meeting at Memorial Hall.

The event was sponsored by Blue Cross/ Blue Shield Pathways to Healthy Kansas.

“A 10 percent shift in spending at local restaurants would mean an additional $400,000 plus to our local economy on an annual basis,” Holt said. “If I spend $200 eating out every month and say I took $20 of that and moved it from Taco Bell to Papa Don’s or Sharkey’s or LaHacienda that’s going to make a big impact in our economy.”

“When you do business locally…it also helps to strengthen the social fabric of our community,” Holt said.

An example Holt gave was Norris Heating and Air Conditioning.

“They are in their third generation of local ownership,” Holt said. “Every year they do a very large donation to The Sharing Bucket, a locally owned business who is supporting cancer (survivors).”

Making purposeful efforts will stimulate our economy and its social fabric, Holt said.

Nat Bjerke-Harvey, a first generation young farmer was another guest speaker at the meet and greet.

Nat Bjerke-Harvey, a food producer from Manhattan, speaks to the Meet and Greet attendees Thursday evening at Memorial Hall. Facilitator of the event is Jody Hoener, seated in background.

Harvey started an approximately one-acre farm outside Manhattan five years ago with his wife and has started a wholesale business working with local retailers and restaurants off of his farm, he said.

“After two to three years of production, we decided we were going to add another farmers market or diversify into a (selling produce to a) restaurant (business), Harvey said.

They chose the restaurant route and worked out a plan.

Each week Harvey sends out emails to restaurants telling them of the food products that are available from his farm.

Harvey then takes orders from the restaurants on Monday and Tuesday. Wednesday he harvests the produce and delivers it on Thursdays. On Fridays, he harvests for the Downtown Manhattan Farmers Market.

“I think there is a great opportunity in Kansas for growing synergy (collaboration)between farmers and restaurants,” he said.

Demand for local food and food safety and liability issues were part of a panel discussion involving Harvey, Kathy McEwan, Krista Harding and Ann Stark.

Nat Bjerke-Harvey, Kathy McEwan, Krista Harding and Ann Stark listen intently as facilitator Jody Hoener poses questions to the panel.

“There is a trend towards people who want to know who is growing their food and food that provides the most nutrient load,” McEwan, a K-State Extension Family, and Consumer Science Agent said.

Krista Harding, K-State Extension Horticulture Agent said: “It’s our responsibility to grow food safely.”

To have a plan for the safety of food produced locally, Harding recommended Food Safety Training classes in Olathe May 17 and May 23 which are $20 per person.

The 2015 Food Safety  Modernization Act (FSMA) will have an impact on food production in the near future, McEwan said.

To learn more about FSMA: https://www.fda.gov/Food/GuidanceRegulation/FSMA/

If a food producer makes $25,000 or less on his produce per year there is an exemption in FSMA, McEwan said.

Stark, a local insurance agent recommended talking to one’s property insurance agent to add an incidental insurance policy “so you can be covered correctly.”

“The cost will vary, some are based on gross receipts,” Stark said.

David Goodyear received a Pathways to a Healthy Kansas Implementation Grant May 3 from Blue Cross/Blue Shield in the amount of $20,000 at the Meet and Greet. Presenting the check is Virginia Barnes.from BCBS and Hoener.

David Goodyear, representing Pathways AgPath, was presented a check for $20,000, for purchasing equipment to help at-risk individuals in the community to produce food together.

“Each year we have a community project,”Hoener said. “This year our focus is on healthy food. The Pathway AgPath (Goodyear is a coordinator for) was a perfect fit with our focus to promote locally produced food in the community.  There is a natural connection between it and Common Ground, but David is also seeking out connections with G&W food and the Beacon.”

The names are confusing because the giver of the grant is Pathways to a Healthy Kansas and the recipient is PathwayAgPath, a piece of a local ministry of Pathway.

Pathway is a ministry of the Fort Scott Church of the Nazarene with a board that is multi-denominational and collaborates with Next Steps, a program to combat cycles of poverty in Fort Scott.

A future feature will tell the story behind this ministry and what they are doing in the community.