All posts by Loretta George
Boer Goats: Good For 4-H and FFA Kids
The Boer Goats are coming! The Boer Goats are coming!
And due to a happenstance, they have been coming annually to Fort Scott for three years.
“This will be the third year ( the Heartland Showcase Boer Goat Sale) will be held in Fort Scott as we are in the middle of the area of people raising Boer Goats,” Allen Warren, with the Bourbon County Fairgrounds Board, said.
What is a Boer Goat?
“The development of the Boer goat in the early 1900’s can be traced to the Dutch farmers of South Africa. Boer is a Dutch word meaning farmer. With meat production setting the selection criteria, the Dutch farmers developed the Boer goat as a unique breed of livestock. The Boer goat has a rapid growth rate, excellent carcass qualities and is highly adapted to different environments,” according to http://abga.org/about-abga/history/“
“They (the Heartland Showcase Boer Goat Sale organizers) originally held their first sale in Columbus,” Warren said.
There was a lack of hotels and restaurants in Columbus, according to Warren.
“As some of the officers were on their way home to Nebraska, they drove through Fort Scott and decided to see what kind of a Fairground and facility we had to offer,” Warren said. “The next day they called the K-State Extension Office and got my telephone number. This developed into the relationship we have today. They feel our facilities and our community has a lot of what they were looking for.”
“We heard that they were a good location, centrally located. Fort Scott seemed to be the perfect fit,” Lisa Stripe, co-owner of the sale, said. “We generally have 12 different farms bringing their goats into the sale. Usually the crowd draws 100-150 people.”
The Stripes are from Humeston, Iowa.
“We personally got started because as a kid Ithought it would be fun to have some. Later, I bought some behind my husband’s back.”
“They are good animals for kids in 4-H or FFA because they are gentle, the kids are less likely to get hurt versus a cow or calf.”
“I would like to thank the businesses , the motels the fairgrounds,” Stripe said. “We couldn’t ask for a better place to have the sale.”
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Briana Blandamer: Intern For FortScott.Biz
Briana Blandamer is the new intern for FortScott.Biz. Her focus is Fort Scott Community College.
Blandamer is an FSCC sophomore business major, who is a 2017 graduate of Fredonia High School.
Blandamer wanted to intern to get writing experience, and she will use that experience when she applies to law school in the future, she said.
Ideas for features for Blandamer can be sent to [email protected].
Alicia Hansen: New MS Social Studies Teacher
Sherry Lindsay: New Title 1 Teacher At Eugene Ware
Arby’s Is Coming Mid-September
For those of you waiting for Arby’s Restaurant completion, it is coming.
“Although I can’t provide you with an exact date for our Grand Opening in Fort Scott, I’m told that we are indeed on track for a mid-September opening,” said Fred Fleischner, Vice President, Corporate Communications, United States Beef Corporation.
“We have hired a General Manager,” Fleischner said. “Her name is Cassandra Bosley from Fort Scott.”
“We still have openings we’re looking to fill,” he said.
The restaurant is located on South Main in what was the former Kentucky Fried Chicken Restaurant.
Arby’s is holding interviews every Tuesday afternoon, from 2:00 pm – 5:00 pm at the Sleep Inn & Suites conference room at 302 E. Wall Street in Fort Scott.
“We’ll be there for at least the next 2-4 weeks until our restaurant is closer to completion,” Fleischner said. “Those wishing to apply for work at this new Arby’s restaurant can also do so online at www.work4arbys.com.”
The contractor for the project is Coast to Coast Builders, Wichita.
New FSCC Biology Teacher: Heather Davis

This is part of a series of profiles of new teachers in our community.
Dr. Heather Davis is the new biology instructor at Fort Scott Community College.
Name: Dr. Heather Davis
Title of position: Biology Instructor, Fort Scott Community College
Education: Fort Scott High School 2006, Associate of Science- Cowley College 2008, Bachelor of Science in Biology- Pittsburg State University 2010, Master of Science & Doctor of Chiropractic- Logan College 2014
Experience: No prior formal teaching experience, but extensive education and background in the sciences.
Age: 30
Family: Husband-Dr. Grant Hartman, children-Zoey (age 2) and Zeke (age 3 months), late father-Tom Davis, mother-Cindy Davis, parents-in-law- Brad and Robin Hartman, Grandparents-in-law-the late Ron Billiard and Karen Billiard.
Affiliations:
“I have been in private practice with my husband at Hartman Spine & Joint for three years practicing functional medicine, which relies extensively on knowledge of human biology, anatomy, physiology, laboratory evaluation, nutrition and performance. While I will still be practicing part time, I am excited to start my teaching career.”
Why did you choose education as a career?
“I found that in private practice, I was teaching patients one-on-one every single day, something I did not realize would happen to this extent. I finally recognized my passion for teaching and, paired with my love of science, formal teaching just made sense. It is also a way for me to be more involved in the community, develop relationships, influence more people, and be involved in something bigger.
What is the first on your list of priorities for the position?
“Ensure each and every student in my classroom develops a basic understanding of the world around them, lead more students to the sciences, and foster relationships with local high schools to enable students to work ahead.”
New FSCC Harley-Davidson Teacher: Alex Mason
This is part of a series of new teachers in our community.
Alex Mason is a new Harley-Davidson Motorcycle Technician Training and Development Program instructor at Fort Scott Community College.
Name: Alex Mason
Title of position: Harley-Davidson Instructor
Education: AAS FSCC Harley-Davidson
Experience: Technician at Gail’s Harley-Davidson, Grandview MO
Age: 28
Family: Wife is Holli Mason, a daughter, Lucy. Parents are Steve and Kendell Mason.
Why did you choose education as a career?
“This is an opportunity for me to apply my skill set closer to home, so I may spend more time with my family.”
What is the first on your list of priorities for the position?
“Implementing my experience at an H-D dealership in order to help create better-prepared technicians for the field.”
New Eugene Ware Elementary School 5th-Grade Teacher: Abby Stepps
The is one of a series of profiles of new teachers in our community.
Abby Stepps is a new Fifth Grade Teacher at Eugene Ware Elementary School.
Name: Abby Stepps
Title: 5th Grade Elementary Teacher
Education: Fort Scott Community College and at Pittsburg State University, with a Bachelor’s of Science in Elementary Education.
Experience: She began teaching in 2009 in Nevada, MO. Taught in Fort Scott in 2012 one year, then Nevada in 2013 until the present.
Family: Husband, Trent Stepps, a Fort Scott Alumni and has two “beautiful daughters.”
Why did you become an educator?
“I once had a teacher make me feel as though I could conquer the world. She made me feel important and a part of something bigger than I was. Inside her classroom, I could be myself and at the same time anyone/anything I wanted to be, she IS the reason I chose education as my career, Mrs. Scott, 4th grade, in Neosho, Missouri.”
What is first on your list of priorities for the position?
“I hope to bring a feeling of newness and rigor to the 5th-grade crew at Eugene Ware. I am very excited to be working with such great teachers! This year will be wonderful!”
Free Grocery Pickup at Walmart: Not Yet

Personal grocery shopping is coming to Fort Scott Walmart, but not anytime soon. Although communications from Walmart indicate otherwise.
Perhaps you were one who received a flyer recently from Walmart or saw the advertisement on TV, or received an email like below that said: “Free Grocery Pickup save you time and money.”
The following is the response from Walmart headquarters:
“Fort Scott will be getting Grocery Pickup, but not for some time,” Molly Blakeman, Walmart Media Relations Corporate Communications said. “The store closest to Fort Scott that currently offers the service is store number 5791 in Pittsburg KS, 30 miles away.”
| Free Grocery Pickup save you time & money. |
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| Try Grocery Pickup today |
| $10 off your first order* |
| Use code WOWFRESH at checkout. |
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| Grill & chill |
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New FSHS Language Arts Teacher: Erica Clark
New FSHS Spanish Teacher: Jennifer Michaud
“My first priority is to get to know my students. Once I know more about who they are and what they like, then I’ll be able to design lessons that speak to their interests.”






