Construction work is being done out of public sight  at the new Price Chopper Grocery Store at 2322 S. Main.

The store,  the former Woods Super Market,  is slated to open before the holidays, said Barry Queen, owner/ operator of the Price Chopper Fort Scott grocery store.

“The goal is to open November 10, 2017,” Queen said. “There’s a lot of work going on.  Don’t know whether we’ll make that goal or not.”

“We are excited to get there, but there is a big challenge ahead. There is a lot that has to happen. We’d love to get open before the holidays.”

A big plus for the community is the store will be hiring 100-120 employees Queen said, with the number  depending on the volume of customers the store will have.

“We’ll be setting up a trailer for interviews in the next few weeks,” he said.

Some features of the new store will be a major focus on fresh food, he said.

Produce , a salad bar, food service, a grill, a smoke house, a full service floral department, catering and online shopping, to name a few.

A drive-through Dunkin Donuts will be located on the southeast corner of the facility.

An overlay for the parking lot and adding more light poles will be coming.

The new owner, operator is no stranger to Bourbon County.

“My dad, Jim Queen, was born in Hammond,” he said. “My mom is from the Linn County/Bourbon County area. I have a lot of relations around here.”

Queen has had a vacation home at Lake Fort Scott for 16 years, which will become his part-time home he said. He lives in Paola.

Associated Wholesale Grocers own the real estate the store is on, Queen said.

Crossland Construction, Columbus, is the general contractor and is doing the demolition work; CDL,  Pittsburg is doing the electric work and AAA, Kansas City is the framer for the project, said Brad Vinardi, superintendent with Crossland.

Homelessness in Fort Scott is being addressed, at least for one person at a time, by a local business.

Western Senior Living apartments at 8 East First Street, opened in January 2017 and has 35 apartments for lease, with one designated for a homeless/ transitional individual in the community.

Funding for the $5.9 million project was from state low-income tax credits and federal historic tax credits, according to  https://www.flinthillsholdings.com/the-western-building/

When renovated and re-purposed, the old Western Insurance Building became apartments that were designated for individuals who have income at 60 percent or 50 percent or 40 percent of median income level, said Diane Kelsey, regional manager for Flint Hills Management.

“In addition, there is one homeless unit,” Kelsey said. “You have to be designated homeless by an agency.  At that point, rent is 30 percent of their income, or $100, whichever is greater.”

There is currently an individual living in the homeless designated unit.

“They sign a year lease when they move in,” she said. “Then at the end of the year, we re-evaluate their circumstances. The maximum they can stay is two years. This is to give them a more stable place to stay.”

The individual has to meet the same criteria as other residents: pass a background check and have credit, she said.

Kelsey said she has apartments available for lease currently that are not designated for the homeless. Prices range from $370 to $550 a month for a one bedroom apartment and $610 to $710 for a two bedroom.

Kelsey said 80 percent of the apartments have requirements of income.

“Twenty percent are market rate,” she said. “Which means no

income requirements.”

For more information call 620-223-1718 Monday, Wednesday, and Fridays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Physical Therapist Meredith Tucker opened No Limits Rehabilitation Clinic at 18 N. Main in downtown Fort Scott in June, 2017.

Her specialty is pediatric physical therapy.

“For 12 years I’ve been doing mostly pediatrics,” Tucker said.

For insurance to provide coverage for her services, a doctor must provide a script to her, she said.

Her clinic exists not just to serve the patient, but the caregivers as well, so they can provide the best care for their loved ones at home, according to her website.

Tucker was ready for a new challenge following 9.5 years of working for Mercy Hospital.

During those years she did pediatric physical therapy and physical therapy for inpatients at the hospital.

“They closed the acute inpatient rehab unit,” Tucker said. “They still offer outpatient service and acute bed services.”

“I was ready for a new change and challenge. It’s been a good change,” she said.

Meredith Sewell Tucker is a Fort Scott High School graduate, then graduated from Kansas University with a children’s with disability and autism degree, then a masters degree in physical therapy.

She is married to Brad Tucker.

The physical therapy clinic phone number is (913) 406.8040.

A mother-daughter business opened recently in downtown Fort Scott.

Vette’s Rerun Clothing, 15 N. Main, opened  July 24, 2017.

Tracy Isaac, the mother, has another job, while her daughter, Dakota works in the shop.

Dakota Isaac enjoys being able to spend time with her children while at the resale clothing business she is helping her mom to establish.

Tracy Isaac assumed ownership of the north Main shop in July from Connie Harper, but had previously owned a used clothing shop further south on Main Street, then moved to 605 National.

“I offer cheap clothing,” Tracy said. “And I’ve got lots of clothing, from sizes infants to 5 extra-large women. I’ve got prom dresses and wedding dresses.”

Many people can’t afford new clothes, Tracy said, and she sees that as her niche in the community.

They have lowered the prices of the clothing since assuming ownership, Dakota said.

“Currently, we are switching from summer to winter stuff,” Dakota said.

Sometimes the shop is closed because Dakota has to take her two-year-old son, Jacob, to a hospital in Kansas City.

“My grandson has spina bifida and has to go the Children’s Mercy,” for appointments, Tracy said.

The shop is open not open on Sundays and Tuesdays, but is open from 10:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday, with Saturday hours of 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. For more information contact Dakota at (620) 215-6958.