Teaching the History and Significance of the Bible
Come see the exhibit at First Southern Baptist Church 1818 S. Main St. on Hwy 69 in Fort Scott, Ks. In the Family Life Center.
Friday, Saturday, & Sunday October 25-27 9:00am- 6:30pm Friday and Saturday or 1:00- 6:30pm on Sunday.
View the authentic historical artifacts dating back 5000 years from the Holy land, Middle East, and Asia Minor. (Ancient Torahs, Bibles, manuscripts, and pottery, plus a working replica of the Gutenberg press.)
Teaching classes Friday and Saturday at 10:00am and 5:30pm, also at 1:00pm on Sunday. Exhibit presentation with curator John Sliffe daily at 1:30pm.
Concluding Sunday night with a concert by the Missourians at 6:00pm.
The Fort Scott Community College Board of Trustees will hold a special board meeting Thursday, October 10, 2024 at 11:30 am in the Cleaver-Burris-Boileau Agriculture Building to conduct business needing to be addressed prior to the regular board meeting.
The empty emergency department at the former Mercy Hospital.
At a special Bourbon County Commission this morning the Commissioners decided that Commission Chairman Jim Harris will form an action team to expedite Freeman Health System’s intentions to open an Emergency Department and 10 bed-hospital at the former Mercy Hospital building at 401 Woodland Hills Blvd.
“It’s time to get this accomplished,” Harris said in an interview. “I want to thank Commissioner Clifton Beth for his help on this the last few years.”
Jim Harris, 2nd District Bourbon County Commissioner, and current chair.
Beth had been the commissioner who had been working on the healthcare issues as a leadman, “but he is stepping out for some personal reasons,” Harris said. “I am retired and with an action team to assist, we will take this to the finish line.”
On this newly formed healthcare action team are Harris, Dr. Randy Nichols, T.J. Denning (K.R.I. Chief Operating Officer), Fort Scott Mayor Terry Dancer, Fort Scott City Manager Brad Matkin, Fort Scott City Attorney Bob Farmer, and Bourbon County Counselor Justin Meeks.
“On Monday at 2 p.m. all the team members are going to meet at Freeman (Health Care System) in Joplin (MO),” he said.
“On Tuesday we will meet with the people who have the Fort Scott Emergency Room equipment, either Mercy or Via Christi. It was removed and stored in Pittsburg and Mercy has agreed to give it back. Our job is to bring it back.”
“We will then get technicians to see what is working and what is not,” he said. “Once we know it’s working we will probably have a Memorandum of Understanding to give to Freeman.”
“Kansas Renewal Institute can then move forward with their planning, final inspection and then we will have a green light to open the ER and small hospital, which is vital to K.R.I. and the people of Bourbon County,” he said.
“I want to thank Commissioner Beth for his work on this and thank Freeman Health System, this is a God-send and a blessing to Bourbon County,” Harris said. “And I want to thank Mercy for their help and assistance with the equipment.”
The Lion of Judah is depicted in the years Rinehart Christian Church corn maize, taken from the church’s Facebook page.
Rinehart Christian Church Annual Corn Maze is part of a FREE fall festival event for the public.
The surrounding community is invited to come out for an afternoon of fall fun and fellowship on three Saturdays: October 5, October 12 and October 19 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. to the church located at 9443 S. 900 Rd. Richards, MO 64778, about 14 miles from Fort Scott.
Family activities include a petting zoo on October 5, horse rides on October 12, and hatchet throwing on October 19.
Besides the corn maze, activities include hay rides, corn pits, pumpkin painting, fire pits, lawn games, duck races, concessions, photo booths, cow train, grain wagon basketball hoops, and inflatables.
“The reason for the corn maze is to give area people a fun day for the family and to let them know Rinehart is a church that cares about them,” said Pastor Kevin Moyer.
“This is the 5th year for us to have the maze,” he said. ” It grows each year in numbers, and people come and stay for hours. It really is a family event, and people can’t get over the fact that it’s free. Even the lunch is free! It’s our gift to the community. Our people volunteer their time for three Saturdays in October.”
‘If you look at the maze from high above you’ll see the full design, the Lion of Judah,” he said.
The Lion of Judah is mentioned in the scripture Revelation 5:5.
Rinehart Christian Church’s mission is to love God, live like Jesus, and lift others up, he said.
Tri-Valley Developmental Services Horticultural Program is having a fundraiser this Saturday, Oct. 5 from 9 a.m. to noon at the greenhouse in the back of the TVDS Service building at 4305 Campbell Dr., Fort Scott.
” We use funds raised to improve and upgrade our Horticultural Program,” said Austin Bolinger the program’s horticulture specialist.
“We add to and upgrade our American Disability Act garden, buy new equipment, install new plants and trees, and take groups of individuals on outings to places such as botanical gardens.”
All photos are submitted by Bolinger.
The program will be selling mums, winter pansies, ornamental cabbage, pumpkins, and houseplants, he said.
The work on the plants in the program is a group effort, Bolinger said. “I lead most of the work for fundraising sales. Individuals who are interested in working in the horticultural program will help fill pots, and water, and assist at our sales, as well as growing plants for their homes.”
“We grow our plants from small plugs to full-grown plants over a few months. The gourds and pumpkins in the garden have been grown by individuals receiving services from Tri-Valley. Our amazing ADA garden is a therapy garden that we plant in the spring and enjoy through autumn and is fully taken care of by individuals we serve here at Tri-Valley with guidance from myself.”
Tri-Valley Developmental Services is located at 4305 Campbell Dr.
Several of these Harris/Walz signs have been stolen in the county.
Political signs are a form of freedom of speech and going on someone’s property to take them is against the law.
“Carol MacArthur, the Chairwoman of the Democratic Party, informed us that a few signs have gone missing,” said Fort Scott Police Chief Jason Pickert. “The fact that it’s a political sign isn’t relevant. If they steal a bicycle, a garden gnome, or a political sign it’s a theft. Since the value of the property is under $1,500 it’s misdemeanor theft. This would be a misdemeanor theft and a municipal citation would be issued if the subjects were identified.”
MacArthur said there have been some Kamala Harris signs and some Nancy Boyda signs stolen and some vandalized. The signs are paid for by private citizens.
MacArthur said there are 25 missing Democratic Party signs missing in Fort Scott and three 4-foot by 8-foot signs in the rural part of Bourbon County. “Those three stolen in the county were 4 x 8s. Two other 4 x 8s in the county were vandalized,” she said.
MacArthur said it is disheartening, “but people in town are replacing their signs.”
“The city police are doing a good job of cruising around, and this has slowed down the thefts,” she said.
Fort Scott Police Department is located at 1604 South National and can be reached at 620-223-1700.
According to Kansas Renewal Institute Chief Operating Officer T.J. Denning, information is not flowing between the Bourbon County Commission and K.R.I.
Denning spoke to the commission on September 30 at their regular meeting.
K.R.I. is in negotiations with Legacy Health Foundation to take ownership of the former Mercy Hospital building at 401 Woodland Hills Blvd.
He told the commission that he “needs to be in the loop” in talks with Legacy Health Foundation and the commission.
Apparently, the negotiations are at a standstill between Legacy and K.R.I.
Denning told the commission that they are trying to get the Emergency Department opened at the facility.
“I have a concern that we still don’t have an update on the equipment donated to you, as the county. There is a list of things that aren’t there, there is a list of things that have to be fixed in order for Freeman (Health System) to come here. We don’t have answers,” Denning said.
Bourbon County Commission Chairman Jim Harris said “We think we have a lot of things resolved as of this morning. We just can’t talk publically yet. That’s what the County Counselor told me.”
“I’m pulling the license and also managing everything that is going on for that to happen,” he told them. “I have already signed contracts for service agreements to make this happen, basically at the will of everybody else.”
“Also, I don’t know where we are with the building purchase,” he said. “K.R.I. is in the process of negotiating and is ready to take ownership of the building through Legacy but I haven’t heard anything back. You said the tax deal was all worked out…I need some answers to carry on our business and make things happen. We’ve invested a ton of money into that facility and constantly going through CMS inspections…along with the fire marshall inspection on a building that isn’t in our name yet.”
CMS means Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, according to usa.gov.
Harris said that they could possibly have discussions with Legacy and “go forward.”
“I came here and tried to build partnerships with everybody else and be an open book,” Denning said. “I am local to Nevada (MO) and am passionate about rural communities. I’ve also got a ton of employees and I am passionate about their success. I need this information so I can make sure that we are established and here for a long time.”
“We will work hard to get you the info you need and I want to thank you personally as a citizen and the commission of what you’ve done for us here in Bourbon County,” Harris said.
Jim Harris, 2nd District Bourbon County Commissioner, and current chair.
Commissioner Brandon Whisenhunt asked how soon the commission could get the info to Denning.
Bourbon County 1st District Commissioner Brandon Whisenhunt, Submitted photo.
Harris said he would appoint Commissioner Clifton Beth, who has been working with Legacy, to talk to them right away.
Denning said he needed answers before the end of this week.
“By the end of this week, I have to have drawings between Freeman (Health System) and myself, stamped and signed and sent into CMS,” Denning said.
Bourbon County 3rd District Commissioner Clifton Beth. Submitted photo.
“I don’t have a problem reaching out,” Beth said. “But they are a private company.”
In the referenced November 17, 2022 donation agreement above the county donated the Mercy property to Legacy Health Foundation along with $2 million dollars.
Jerry Witt near a marker for the new Riverfront Trail.
A new walk/bike trail should be completed by early 2025 in Riverfront Park.
The Overlook Trail will be 1,722 feet long, and eight feet wide, and follow the curves of the Marmaton River on the south side of the park, said Jerry Witt, Fort Scott Bourbon County Riverfront Authority Chairman.
It is being funded by a $92,000 grant from Kansas Wildlife and Parks and the Riverfront Authority adding $75,000.
The survey stakes are in place for the proposed trail,and the land was surveyed by Agricultural Engineering Associates, Uniontown.
The entrance to the Riverfront Park’s south side, south of the orange bridge that crosses the Marmaton River. The stakes are in place to mark the new trail from this starting point.
The concrete path contractor will be Marbery Concrete Inc., Fort Scott.
Following the curve of the Marmaton River around to the Hwy. 69 bridge, it will include a concrete ramp for the wooden observation deck, for handicap accessibility, he said. The deck, called an overlook, gives an unobstructed view of the river.
The river overlook deck will have a concrete ramp added to make it more handicap-accessible.
The grant proposal process started in 2021 and a grant was 11submitted in 2022. The grant was awarded in 2023 and will be completed in 2025, he said.
History of the Riverfront Park
Riverfront Park is covered with tall deciduous trees that provide shade to walkers along the Belltown Trail.
The Riverfront Park came out of a 2005 town-wide visioning meeting that gave ideas for the future of the city.
One of the visions that came out of this meeting was the formation of a committee to clean up the unused area around the Marmaton River on the north edge of Fort Scott.
In 2007, then Kansas Governor Kathleen Sebelius, authorized a board, called the Fort Scott Bourbon County Riverfront Authority to secure the needed land for a new park.
From 2007 to 2010 the board secured all the properties needed.
“Most donated the land,” Witt said. “Once the land was secured, we were able to develop the land.”
The development since then: lighted trails, a pavilion with lights, the river overlook deck, benches, and bike repair stations, all with the help of the community and local organizations.
The bicycle repair station is one of several around the park, donated by the Rotary Club.
The overlook had to be moved to higher ground on the south side of the Marmaton River, following a flood that partially destroyed it.
The Riverfront Park has daily walkers, businesses and schools use it, Boy Scouts have camped there, and weddings and other events, including last weekend’s FortFest have large gatherings there.
FortFest 2024 is a blues music festival that benefits Care to Share, a local helping organization.
Paul Ballou, the retired Fort Scott Fire Department Chief, is the park caretaker, and Witt said he does a good job.
The flower garden and in the back, the underpass with mural art.
The Bourbon County Garden Club maintains the flowers in the circle in the south part of the park and local artist Stephan Toal has created mural art in the 69 Hwy. underpass area.
The Fort Scott Bourbon County Riverfront Authority is comprised of Witt, Bob Love, Arnold Schofield, Penny Barnes, Dean Mann, Danny Magee, Jeff and Kate Sweetser.
The Riverfront Park is one of several in the City of Fort Scott, as shown on this sign at the park.A historical marker in the south Riverfront Park is about the Fort Scott floods in this area.
Care to Share President Teresa Davenport and Vice President Cory Byers, speak about the community-helping organization on the first night of the event, September 27, 2024.
FortFest 2024 is a blues music festival that benefits Care to Share, a local helping organization.Bring lawn chairs to sit and listen to the blues music.
For anyone who loves learning history and acting, an opportunity is being offered.
You can be a part of the local theatre’s group production of historical vignettes in beautiful Riverside Park in October.
This Wednesday, October 2, there will be auditions from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. at Fort Scott High School auditorium for the upcoming
Bourbon County Community Theatre “Voices From The Grave”.
Voices From the Grave is a guided tour around Riverside Park on Fort Scott’s North National Avenue, across the orange bridge.
The tour consists of acted scenes and monologues based on real historical events from the Fort Scott area.
“The Bourbon County Community Theatre came up with the idea after seeing tours like it in Nevada and Eureka Springs,” said Regen Wells, who will be directing the vignettes. “Anyone over the age of 14 who is interested is more than welcome!”
Regen Wells. Submitted photo.
“I am the director for Voices From the Grave,” Regen said. “I directed four children’s plays at Fort Scott High School.”
“The BCCT was created a little over a year ago with the intent of bringing community theatre back to Fort Scott,” Wells said. “Not too long ago we had a community theatre program. Many communities near us have very successful programs with many members! The joy of performing should not be something that only those enrolled in Fort Scott High School or Fort Scott Community College can access! Prior to the creation of BCCT the only opportunities open to actors in our area would be to travel to places like Pittsburg or Nevada to join their community theatre groups.”
“Any endeavor from the BBCT is about furthering the reach of theatre in our community! We hope to provide the community of not just Fort Scott but also the greater Bourbon County area with opportunities to be active and involved participants in the arts! Activities like this also contribute to commerce and engagement. However, largely it is about fostering an outlet for creativity in our community. This particular project also provides a look into some interesting local history.”
The mission of BCCT is to bring education, community, and culture to Southeast Kansas through theater.
In addition to Regen Wells, the board consists of Angela Bin, Matthew Wells, Katie Wells, Mark Bergmann, Barbra Woodward, Sandra Abati, and Danette Popp. Regen is the daughter of Matthew and Katie Wells.
More information will be provided on the group’s Facebook page.
About the Production
“Voices From The Grave” will be presented to the public at Riverfront Park on October 26 from 6 to 9 p.m.
There will be 45-minute guided tours with ghostly stories from Fort Scott’s past.
Cost is Adults, $10, Youth, $7. Children under 14 must be accompanied by an adult.
Tickets can be purchased at bcct.ludus.com or the Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce.
Diane Striler and her husband Dean at last year’s Christmas on the Bricks. Submitted photo.
There will be an added event coming to the 2nd Annual Christmas on the Bricks event, ice skating!
The rink will be a daw to Fort Scott and help with local commerce, according to Diane Striler, who is spearheading the rink project.
The rink will be in the new Gathering Place Pavilion on North National Avenue of the Fort Scott Downtown Historic District.
Striler has been talking to people since the first of 2024 about the project, an ice skating rink with no ice (it is a synthetic surface) that is not dependent on cold weather since the surface does not need to be frozen.
An anonymous couple is donating approximately $18,000 of the $37,000 total for the rink which includes the skating surface, railing, 60 skates of various sizes, and a sharpener for the skates. Additional donors have totaled approximately $3,500, and she has applied for a Fort Scott Area Community Foundation Grant.
In addition to those for the rink, other funds will need to be raised to purchase materials to build a storage facility. Striler has talked to a group that is willing to build the facility. It will be used to house the skates and provide a place for skaters to check in, sign their waivers, make payments, and access the rink.
“The whole project will be funded by private donations and grants, there are no tax dollars involved,” she said.
To bring the rink to Fort Scott, Striler had to get approval from the City of Fort Scott Commission and have a Memorandum of Understanding signed between the City and the Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce Foundation, which is overseeing operations.
The kick-off for the opening of the rink will be the weekend of Christmas on the Bricks, Dec 6-8th. The plan is for the rink to be open that weekend and the following Thursday and Friday evenings, Saturdays, and part-day Sundays through January 5th. The cost to skate is $5 per person.
“We have talked to an individual who may help run the rink and oversee individuals involved,” she said. “We would like to allow different organizations to help staff the rink and receive part of the proceeds for their groups.”
In addition, Striler has been talking with Fort Scott Physical Therapist Meredith Tucker about creating some aids to use at the rink to make it more accessible for children with disabilities.
The rink can be reused for up to 15 years if cared for, she said.
First Fundraiser For the Project
To add to the needed ice skating rink funds, the first fundraiser is 6 p.m. on October 9 at the Liberty Theatre, 113 S. Main, Fort Scott.
It is called a Puzzle, Pizza & Pub Challenge!
The first team of 4 people to complete a 300-piece puzzle, a large pizza, AND a bucket of beverages (alcoholic or non-alcoholic) wins!
The cost is $100 per team ($25/person)
The event is Wednesday, October 9th, at 6 p.m.
at the Liberty Theatre in downtown Fort Scott.
Register a team by calling or stopping by the Chamber at 620-223-3566 or online here! Limited to 20 teams!
If you can’t attend and still want to donate to the rink: click here to make a payment to the Fort Scott Area Chamber Foundation, 501c3, via PayPal or Venmo @fschamberfoundation, please note the Rink in the notes! Checks may also be made payable to the FS Area Chamber Foundation and mailed or dropped off at the Chamber, 231 E. Wall St with Rink in the memo.
Submitted graphic of a similar skating rink being purchased from Kwik-Rink, Maple Grove, Minnesota.
Pioneer Harvest Fiesta began from an interest in rural American cultural history and some early members’ interest in steam power which they had experienced in railroad employment and farm use, according to Davin Reichard, Vice President of the PHF board.
“The PHF is an organization interested in equipment, machinery, and other technology characteristic of rural American culture particularly during the first half of the twentieth century, and in sharing this with others,” Reichard said. “Typical exhibits include steam engines, tractors and stationary engines, quilts, threshing machines and other farm equipment, hand tools, and other items used in rural life in the early to mid-1900s.”
The PHF organization began in 1956 and their first show was in 1957.
Visitors will experience educational and historic exhibits, refreshments, and live musical entertainment all weekend, according to https://pioneerharvestfiesta.com/
All three days are alive with Steam Engines, Blacksmiths, Food and Flea Market Vendors, Drag Saw Demonstrations, Tractors & Gas Engines on Display, Baker Fan Demonstrations, Tractor Pull, and a Garden Tractor Pull. Quilt Show, Straw Bailing, Wheat Thrashing, Corn Husking/Shelling, Sorghum Making Demonstration, Rock Crushing, Saw Mill Operation, Car Show, and many more exciting events! It’s one great weekend to kick off Fall in the 4-state’s region! It’s the 68th annual Pioneer Harvest Fiesta, at the Bourbon County Fairgrounds in Historic Fort Scott, Kansas.
New at the event this year is a demonstration of sorghum cane processing and cooking.
Sorghum is an ancient grain and pro-planet protein source packed with nutrients. Sorghum is a versatile crop that can be grown as a grain, forage, or sweet crop and is one of the top five cereal crops in the world, according to https://www.sorghumcheckoff.com/sorghum-101/
Photo from Sorghum Checkoff.
This will be the second year of the car show at PHF.
The Bourbon County Fairgrounds are located at 2102 S Huntington Blvd., Fort Scott, KS 66701
The annual Pioneer Harvest Fiesta Parade is Thursday, October 3 at 6 p.m. in downtown Fort Scott on Main Street.
The main fairground event is Friday through Sunday, Oct. 4 -6, 2024.
Admission
This year’s full weekend admission is only $5 per person and includes a collector button and the Friday Bean Feed at 5 PM. For children under age 12, admission is FREE, but admission does not include a button. Prior year collector buttons are available for $1.
Officers
Current officers of the Pioneer Harvest Fiesta Board are President Craig Shikles; Vice President Davin Reichard; Secretary Betsy Readinger; and Treasurer Delphine Parks.
