The Bourbon County Fair 2018 kicked off Saturday morning with the 4-H Dog Show. Youth demonstrated their dog training skills with their pets.
Bourbon County Fair Dog Show
All posts by Loretta George
Good Changes At Common Grounds
Changes are coming for a local coffee shop.
Local farm produce is being purchased for menu items, some new equipment has been purchased to better serve the public and a change of location is on the horizon for Common Grounds Coffee Company, 116 S. Main.
Two ministries of the Fort Scott Church of the Nazarene are collaborating to bring area food that is produced locally to the public.
One part of the collaboration is Common Grounds, which is a ministry of the Nazarene church.
Stuffed green peppers, roasted zucchini, squash, and corn, along with tomato soup are on the menu of Common Grounds, using local produce.
These produce used for the menus are straight from a garden produced by AgPathway, which is another ministry of the local Nazarene Church. This ministry involves mentoring interested people in vegetable gardening.
In addition to AgPathway deliveries of local vegetables, Vicki Waldron, manager of Common Grounds, purchases food from the Fort Scott Farmers Market.
“This spring I started buying local produce from the local farmers market: potatoes for potato salad and onions,” Waldron said.
Motivating this change was the Healthy Bourbon County Action Team through a Pathways to a Healthy Kansas grant.
The HBCAT grant helped Common Grounds to purchase a refrigerated appliance that helps keep food cold and easily accessible.
“All we had before was a refrigerator,” Waldron said. “We kept opening it and couldn’t keep it cool enough.”
Additionally, the grant helped purchase a blender.
“A more environmentally friendly, quieter blender,” Waldron said.
Another big change for Common Grounds: a move to a different location in the near future.
“We are looking at, tentatively, to be in the new place by the first of the year,” Waldron said.
The new space will be on Wall Street and National Avenue, the former Fort Scott Tribune office.
Jennifer LaRoche is the owner of the building and is also on the Common Grounds board at the Nazarene Church.
Swimming Pool Closes August 12
The Fort Scott Aquatic Center will close for the season Sunday, August 12.
“Other area pools close at that time,” FS City Manager Dave Martin said. “The week before school starts, our staff starts to have school activities.”
USD 234 has its’ first day of school August 23.
Changes Coming To Downtown Fort Scott
The Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce Quarterly Downtown Meet and Greet gathered Tuesday morning at Papa Don’s Restaurant.
The purpose of the quarterly gathering is to network and share ideas on events, promotions and anything related to downtown.
Downtown businesses and other community members tell about upcoming events and changes. The next meeting will be in October.
Following are the highlights of the meeting:
- FS Economic Director Rachel Pruitt said the Union Block Building renovation project is progressing, in addition, there are plans for the Stout Building coming down to become a parking lot. The Union project, when completed, will provide 40 apartments and some business spaces.
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Union Building, First and Main streets, Fort Scott. 
Stout Building, National Avenue and First Street. - The Buffalo Grill will have a grand opening for the River Room event center located on its second floor, Saturday, Aug. 11. The event is a week before school starts. Jared Leek is the manager of the business.
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The Buffalo Grill was purchased in May 2018 by Al Niece. - Jared Leek purchased the storefronts at 14 and 16 S. Main, which will be an office for Front Door Realty, owned by Leek, and a new bookstore, Hedgehog Inc., to open in October by Dick and Jan Hedges.
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14 S. Main and 16 S. Main are now owned by Jared Leek.
- The City of Fort Scott has spent reserve money on development of businesses, City Manager Dave Martin said, adding “We can no longer do that.” Martin also stated he “feels good about the budget next year.
- July 12 there will be an FS Planning Commission meeting to discuss the current city codes that don’t allow living areas on the first floor of commercially zoned buildings. It is open to the public.
- There will be downtown outdoor movies, facilitated by Larry Gazaway on 1) July 20-Star Wars Night- people are invited to wear costumes of favorite Star War characters; 2) and August 17-Despicable Me.
- A music group, The Whiskey Raccoons, will be at the Liberty Theater, hosted by the Bourbon County Arts Council, Saturday, July 14.
- Musician Ben Grace will perform at the Boiler Room Brewhaus on July 20.
- Two art strolls by the Bourbon County Arts Council are offered on 1) July 27-which also includes a wine stroll and concert by Blane Howard and 2) September 14.
- The Pioneer Harvest Fiesta Parade is Oct. 18; the Fiesta is Oct. 19-21 at the fairgrounds.
- Fort Scott Holiday Open Houses are November 8 and December 13.
- Fort Scott Veterans Weekend Celebration is November 10-11. There will be a ball at the Fort Scott National Historic Site.
- The FS Halloween parade is Saturday, Oct. 27.
- The FS Christmas parade is December 4.
- The Homes for the Holiday Tours and Fort Scott National Historic Site’s Candlelight Tour will be Dec. 7-9.
- Horse-drawn carriage rides will be offered Saturday, Dec. 15, starting at Cheney-Witt Funeral Chapel.
- Becky Snelson provides nurse massage therapy from Suite 202 of the Shiney Studios, 123 National Avenue and is offering a massage special of $10 off any service in July, she said. She can be contacted at 913-424-8863.
- Art In the Yard, a new artists event, is September 15 at Bobbi Kemna’s, 1366 215th Street, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Over 20 artists are scheduled to present their wares, Kemna said. She is on Facebook.
- Gary Palmer can make coupons for businesses to include in trolley tickets envelopes for tourists.
- The downtown directory sign, on the north end of Main Street, is $100 per year, renewable in July and is available for promoting a business.
- The Bike-Share Program is providing 10 yellow bikes for residents and visitors for free. Several bikes are located at the Chamber office, 213 E. Wall; Fort Scott Community College-2108 S. Horton; Nate’s Place Restaurant-750 S. National; Peerless Products, 2403 S. Main. Participants must sign a waiver and show a drivers license. If under 18 years old, a parent must be present when the waiver is signed.
- The Timken Foundation has $55,000 in grants to give away to non-profits according to Lindsay Madison, Chamber director. Grants are given in arts and culture, civic and community, education, health and hospitals, human services and recreation categories.
- A new ranger has been hired and will be at the Fort Scott National Historic Site (FSNHS) on July 27. His name is Carl Brenner.
- FSNHS offers Trail Blazer Camps each summer for youth 9-13 years old.
- July 31 there will be a candidate forum at the Fort Scott High School auditorium. Questions should be submitted to the Chamber before the forum.
- Craw-Kan Telephone Cooperative is constructing fiber optics in Fort Scott and plans to connect in the fall. Craw-Kan will be hosting the Chamber coffee on August 9 and needs to partner with a Chamber member to use their space that morning, since the business does not have an office in the city.
- There were 100 riders who participated in the Marmaton Massacre Mountain Bike Race at Gunn Park over the weekend. Promotion is needed to promote the bike/hike trails as a year-round activity, Chad Cosens said.
- Riverfront Park is beginning construction of an overlook of the Marmaton River and Mill Creek, to be completed this fall.
- Gary Palmer offers printing services for flyers, posters, coupons, etc., with a designer on staff.
- Smallville Crossfit is offering a lifting competition in the fall.
It’s REALLY Cool: Tropical Joe’s Hawaiian Shaved Ice Comes to Fort Scott
On July 6, Joe Pauly opened his Tropical Joe’s Hawaiian Shaved Ice business in the parking lot of Family Video on South National Avenue.
“I started the company for two reasons,” Pauly told FortScott.Biz. “I loved shaved ice, it’s so good and such a fun business where you get to put smiles on faces. And reason two is I have six children, the oldest being 11. My hope is that someday this will be their summer job to teach them about work, business, communication and how to serve people.”
Pauly lives in Pittsburg and wanted to open his first store there.
“However, there is already an established shaved ice business there and my supplier said ‘Why not Fort Scott?’,” Pauly said. “He had a shaved ice business there for years, Tad’s Shaved Ice, and said it was a great town that supported the business.”
Pauly listened to the advice and went to where the demand was.
“It’s been great,” he said. “The people of Fort Scott love their shaved ice and I am glad to be able to bring it back to them.”
Many people have thanked him for putting the business in Fort Scott.
“Some said they had been driving to Nevada and Pittsburg for shaved ice,” Pauly said.
Pauly plans to remain open through September, he estimated.
The business is open seven days a week from 2 to 10 p.m. and is located at the corner of 18th Street and National Avenue in the Family Video parking lot.
FSHS Thespians Benefit from International Thespian Festival
Nineteen Thespians from Fort Scott High School Troupe #7365 attended the International Thespian Festival at the University of Nebraska June 25-July 1.
The students joined 4,500 others from around the world to experience a week of intensive theatre-related workshops and classes and attend top-notch student theatre performances. This year’s festival had over 700 workshops taught by Broadway professionals, university faculty and theatre educators and over 55 performances.
“Going to any sort of Thespian Festival, either state or international, I’ve connected with other people and shared the love of theatre with them. We’ve seen many beautifully done shows and enjoyed being there,” said senior Karina Kantilal.
Seniors Alyx Brooks and Hunter Adamson joined 650 other students in auditioning for college scholarships. Over sixty colleges gave out scholarships at the festival and both seniors were called back by numerous colleges.
In addition, Adamson, the FSHS Thespian President and a KS State Thespian Officer and FSHS Thespian Vice President and KS State Thespian Representative Mesa Jones, a junior, attended special leadership classes throughout the week.
“Getting to go to the leadership workshop helped open my eyes to ways of being a helping hand and all around better leader for my troupe. I met amazing young activists and feel as though I understand the positive influence theater is for young minds more. The trip was outstanding and I loved every second,” Adamson said.
FSHS Thespian Director Angie Bin, FSHS English Teacher Mark Bergmann, and Thespian parent Amy Labbe were sponsors for the event.
“It is truly the most amazing experience. The incredible workshops are taught by successful industry professionals and are invaluable to students seeking careers in the biz. The shows are full of the most talented young people who are the future Broadway stars of our country. It was the best week of my year!” Labbe remarked.
Students worked throughout the school year to fundraise the $790 registration fee for the festival. Many were able to attend last year’s festival for free due to a Send a Troupe grant won by FSHS from the Educational Theatre Association and were determined to experience the festival again.
Junior Kaitlyn Hanks said, “I can’t wait to come back. International Thespian Festival is truly like a second home to me, it’s the happiest place on Earth for a bunch of Thespians, from the great people to the amazing teachers and extraordinary shows.”
Obituary of Margaret Akin
Margaret A. Akin, age 76, a former resident of Bourbonnais, Illinois and more recently of Ft. Scott, Kansas, passed away Monday, July 9, 2018, at the Menorah Medical Center in Overland Park, Kansas.
She was born June 4, 1942, in Kankakee, Illinois, the daughter of Oswald T. Bourelle and Norma K. Bentrott Bourelle. She married Douglas Akin. Margaret had worked as a mental health tech at various hospitals in Illinois prior to her retirement in 1990.
She enjoyed fishing, woodcrafts, painting, gardening and attending her granddaughter, Kaitlyn’s many theater, and 4-H events.
Survivors include her daughter, Darla Hanks, and husband, Tony, of Redfield, Kansas, a son, Wade Herter, of Pasadena, California and three grandchildren, Kaitlyn Hanks, of Redfield, Kansas, Octavia Jackson, of Hopkins Park, Illinois and Shizzel Glenn, of Kankakee, Illinois. Also, surviving are her longtime friends the family of the late Bill & Sharon Bacon, Billy, Tresa, Patty and Chris Bacon, Jami Knautz, James Tennant and their families all of West Frankfort, Illinois; and a brother, William T. Bourelle, of Perryville, Missouri, and three nieces.
There was cremation.
A gathering for friends and family will be held at 1:00 P.M. Sunday, July 22nd at the Commons Room of the Scott View Apartments, 315 Scott Ave, Ft. Scott, Kansas.
Memorials are suggested to the Margaret Akin Memorial Fund and may be left in cthe are of the Cheney Witt Chapel, 201 S. Main, P.O. Box 347, Ft. Scott, KS 66701. Words of remembrance may be submitted to the online guestbook at cheneywitt.com.
Mountain Bike Racing In Gunn Park
Although Kansas does not have mountains, it does have some pretty hills in Gunn Park that were used to test the skills of mountain bikers this past weekend.
The 5th Annual Marmaton Massacre Mountain Bike Race and Kansas Mountain Bike Championship were completed in Gunn Park July 7-8.
Friday and Saturday evenings a night ride through the park was offered by organizers, Gunn Park Trails Volunteers, who work on maintaining the trails year- round.
Saturday morning two competitions took place: the Maramaton Massacre Mountain Bike Race and the Kansas Mountain Bike Championship. Racers won in their age divisions with the youngest race for children eight years old and younger, which took place in the evening.
Dinner was provided participants courtesy of Healthy Bourbon County Action Team through the Pathways To a Healthy Kansas Initiative and the food was provided by Sharkey’s Pub and Grub.
The trials riding demonstration Ryan Braxton and Ed Schilling entertained the attendees. Trials riding skills are bike handling skills developed over obstacles.
The skills demo was followed by a performance from Paul Fowler and Lezlee Herd of En Power and Light music group, with the background of Gunn Parks Second Lake.
Sunday morning following a church service, a ride for youth 15-18 years old was won by Fort Scottian Brian Griffin.
Winners of both the Marmaton Massacre Race and the Kansas Championship Race are shown in the gallery below:
Kid’s Race Winners – 8 and Under, from left: · 3rd Place – Easton Halsey – Fort Scott, KS, · 1st Place – Memphis Halsey – Frontenac, KS;· 2nd Place – Gavin Cramb – Wichita, KS.
Kid’s Race Winners – 9 – 10 Years Old, from left:· 3rd Place – Audrey Walker – Fort Scott, KS· 1st Place – Jacee Mattox – Moran, KS · 2nd Place – Lillian Jackson – Fort Scott, KS
Airport Receives Two Grants To Update
In June, the Fort Scott City Commission approved a Kansas Department of Transportation grant in the amount of $109,600 for the Automated Weather Observation Station upgrades at the airport with the city match of $12,118.
Fort Scott Economic Development Director Rachel Pruitt, along with Fort Scott Airport Director Kenny Howard informed the commission that the city received this and another grant from K.D.O.T.
Howard stated that the A.W.O.S. upgrade is badly needed at the Airport as the current system is about 19 years old, according to the meeting minutes.
“The A.W.O.S. is the on-field reporter of weather, visibility, etc.,” Howard said.
The other grant received from K.D.O.T. is for lighting the runway, Howard said.
The PAPI (Precision Approach Path Indicators) and REIL (Runway End Identifier Lights) Grant from KDOT is for runway lighting at the airport in the amount of $177,462. The city match for the grant is $19,718.
The commission discussed the airport 2,100-foot runway extension and how this lighting would be affected, according to the minutes.
Kenny stated that the grant can be delayed if the runway extension occurs within the next two years.
“We are waiting for more grant money for the extension,” Howard said.”The design for the runway extension is not completed yet.”
Pruitt stated that she is applying for another grant for the extension July.
Friday Night Concert
The weekly summer Friday Night Concert at Heritage Park, 1st and Main streets, downtown, was moved indoors July 6 because of the heat. Temperatures were in the 90s.
The Cherry Jammers, a singing group from Cherry Grove Baptist Church, performed in the basement of the First United Methodist Church, Third Street and National Avenue, instead.
Business/Government Collaborations Benefit Work-From-Home Residents
Collaborations between business and government create opportunities for workers to be able to computer work from home in rural areas.
New Wave Broadband, LaHarpe, is one of those businesses.
New Wave Broadband has collaborated with the City of Fort Scott and Consolidated Rural Water District #2 to put broadband antennas on top of water towers to transmit from.
That allows employees to work from home, on their computer.
There is a New Wave antenna on towers four miles west of Fort Scott and also eight miles west at Redfield; east of Fort Scott on 260th and Kansas roads; and there is one coming to a rural area knows as Porterville, southwest of Fort Scott.
In town, there are New Wave antennas on top of towers south of the hospital, at the water treatment plant at Ninth and Burke streets, and at the middle school.
Mercy Hospital gets internet provided from the same company that New Wave does and “We share a communications closet,” David Lee said. “We have separate equipment.”
New Wave Broadband has its beginnings in the La Harpe Telephone Company, according to its’ website http://newwavebb.com
Joyce and Harry Lee, the owners, raised their family in La Harpe, and the family still operates the company today.
La Harpe Telephone was one of the owners of Kansas Cellular, which was sold in 1999 to Alltel.
Today, they are one of the 29 owners of Kansas Fiber Network, a communication system that delivers broadband connectivity to rural Kansas.
“Some people can work from home now, that couldn’t,” David Lee, son of Harry and Joyce Lee, said.
David Lee negotiates contracts and does installations for the business and “everything in between,” he said.
Lucretia Simpson, Marie Guss, and Jillian McAdams are some New Wave customers who work from home on computers, 8-12 hours a day, from a rural location.
Simpson and McAdams live just south of the Fort Scott city limits, Guss lives east of Fort Scott.
Simpson had a satellite set-up prior to New Wave, two years ago.
“After you used it so much, the company slowed it down,” she said.
Now she can work all day and still have data available to enjoy movies with her family, Simpson said.
Simpson paid for a wireless router.
“Our phone, tv, tablets are wireless, except my computer for work. It’s plugged in,” she said.
Guss switched companies “because it was accessible and they have faster internet speeds than where we had.” she said. “We were looking for download speeds so I could produce more at my job.”
The prior company would lose their signal frequently and take one to four hours to get it corrected, she said.
“I would have to work later in the day when the internet came back up,” Guss said.
Since signing onto New Wave in October 2017, the internet has not been working twice “and two hours at the most.” she said.
“David Lee is very good to respond and give an estimated time when it will be back up.”
McAdams moved to her current location about a year ago and tried another company. Weather conditions caused the internet go down, she said.
She then purchased a router from New Wave.
“We hard wired it into my computer and the phones are connected wirelessly,” McAdams said.
“New Wave has the best customer service I’ve ever had,” she said.
One Extraordinary Neighborhood Party
The Burke Street residents know how to throw a good party.
Following their annual 4th of July Parade, the group offers cookies and drinks to the visitors, then later they pull together a potluck for their neighborhood and friends.
