Hare & Crow Barbershop, 118 S. Main. Submitted photo.
Matt Park has received his barbershop license this week for Hare & Crow at 118 S. Main.
“We’re planning to host an open house this weekend as a way to ring in the New Year,” Park said. “We will be open on Friday and Saturday from 9 a.m.-6 p.m.”
Included in the open house for the business, there will be door prizes, light snacks, and beverages.
Visitors will also be entered to win a gift bag of items stocked on his mercantile shelf in the shop.
“We still have a few more finishing touches to wrap up, but we wanted to get the doors open and invite our neighbors to come see the progress,” Park said.
Hare & Crow is a modern barbershop with a traditional aesthetic and atmosphere.
Hare & Crow Barbershop, an interior view. Submitted photo.
Park offers haircuts, straight razor shaves-complete with hot lather and steam towels, beard and mustache trims, facials and shampoos.
The shop will be a comfortable space with a lounge feel for those waiting for their turn in the chair, Park said in a prior interview.
He envisions it to be a place to hang out, have a cup of coffee or a soft drink, chew the fat with friends and neighbors-whether you need a haircut or not—and loafers are more than welcome, he said.
Judy Cassidy, owner of AnchorBay Travel Service. Submitted photo.
Judy Cassidy is the owner of AnchorBay Travel Shoppe.
She describes the business as a family-owned, faith-based full-service travel agency specializing in cruises, groups, and all-inclusive vacations.
“I operate out of my home office so I mostly do free consultations over the phone if anyone is interested in making travel arrangements,” Cassidy said. “Or (we can) meet in a public place for coffee/tea.”
Cassidy attended Fort Scott High School, got married and moved away, then moved back to Fort Scott in October 2021.
She pursued a hospitality career and lived in Nashville, Denver, and Kansas City in those years away.
The idea of the business started years ago in a church she was attending.
“My original passion for this agency started when I was very involved in my church in Denver,” according to a press release. “I already had the travel bug and wanderlust appetite for travel but I wanted to do something fun and eventful for church groups.”
She then began planning cruise groups for churches: for their singles groups, women’s/men’s retreats, and for trips to the Holy Land.
She began her diverse career in travel and hospitality after having gained an unexpected jumpstart into the industry when she found herself managing a hotel at the age of 18, she said.
She then worked as a human resources generalist for one of the largest travel agencies at the time in Kansas City.
“Completely passionately in love with traveling, (I) continued expanding my career in upper-management and consultative roles in information technology, hotel/resort operations, sales, marketing and revenue management along with managing (my) travel agency,” according to the press release. “The travel agency was kept at a manageable part-time level while (I) continued with my hospitality career.”
Cassidy is now full-time in Fort Scott, since October 2021, with her agency AnchorBay Travel Shoppe.
The logo for AnchorBay Travel Shoppe. Taken from Facebook.
She has been partnering with a travel agency to get re-certified and help with re-branding, Cassidy said.
“We haven’t officially launched, we are getting ready to do that at the end of January 2022,” she said. “But I am available to do some travel arrangements now.”
“I am the main person in the business, I have a couple of travel advisors that work by commission,” she said.
Her mission is to “passionately inspire, educate, and fulfill dreams – one client, one destination, one travel experience at a time,” according to the press release.
She believes traveling is the gateway to a broader understanding of vast cultures and destinations yet to be explored.
“We are a full-service agency with a special niche for groups,” according to the press release. “Whether it be faith-based cruises, business/incentive seminars at sea, or annual affinity groups. We look forward to crafting the vacation experience of your dreams.”
“And because Covid also changed the dynamics of traveling, and continues to change daily, we have the tools to stay on top of the latest news, rules and protocols,” she said.
“If something goes wrong on your trip, we work on your behalf and will go to bat for you– no matter who is at fault — and try to get your vacation back on track.”
“We have access to a variety of tools that the average consumer is not able to use or doesn’t know about,” she said. “We can sometimes get you a better seat on an airplane, add amenities at hotels, room upgrades, event tickets, and plan activities for you.”
Though the temperatures have been extremely mild for Kansas winters, it is probable in the next few months that ice and snow will be covering our roadways.
The Kansas Department of Transportation agency has dealt with reduced staffing in the past, but the shortages are greater this year.
KDOT is about 30-percent off of snowplow operators needed to be fully staffed in offices across the state.
“We WILL BE clearing the roads,” Priscilla Petersen, KDOT’s Public Affairs Manager said. “We are concentrating on pre-treating the roads and bridges with our salt brine.”
KDOT is needing ice and snow seasonal workers in 2021. Taken from its’ Facebook page.
“We will also be shifting crews to affected areas when possible,” she said.
“We are off about 29 percent in employees,” she said. “We need seasonal and full-time help. We have an ongoing staffing concern.”
Snow and ice seasonal equipment operators will earn $25 per hour and are eligible for overtime, Petersen said. A pre-employment physical is required, along with drug testing.
Snow and ice seasonal temporary operators start at $19.55 per hour and also are required to take a pre-employment physical and drug test.
There are many different criteria for wages, Peterson said, and one can view and submit an application online or at a KDOT office.
The closest offices are in Pittsburg and Chanute, she said.
A similar splash pad to this image is being planned for Gunn Park. Submitted photo.
A small group of Fort Scott residents, most of whom have young children, have a vision for a splash pad in Gunn Park.
A splash pad is a water recreational play area, which in other cities, is often in a public area.
“A splash pad will benefit all ages,” Josh Jones, one of the organizers said. “It’s a great way for people of all ages to stay active during hot summer days.”
columbiasc.momcollective.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/splash-pad-2.jpg Taken from Facebook.
“A small group of us started this right before COVID (the disease pandemic) hit and it’s been on hold till recently,” he said.
The group is comprised of Kristin Bishop, Will Bishop, Seth Needham, Bailey Lyons, and Jones.
“The planned location for the splash pad will be right down from the caretaker’s house, on the east side of the road, as you start to exit Gunn Park, across from shelter house #1 (the big rock shelter house),” he said.
Fundraising will begin January 2022 and the plan is for the splash pad to be operational by summer 2023, Jones said.
“We have a couple of fundraisers lined up that we will announce in the next month or so,” he said.
Donations are being accepted at Lyons Realty Group, Bourbon County Cars, or Venmo at Healthy Bourbon County Action Team.
The Healthy Bourbon County Action Team is sponsoring a Dare to Dream seminar on January 5, starting at 104 N. National Avenue for women entrepreneurs. It starts at 5 p.m.
“Our goal is to connect up-and-coming female entrepreneurs with local women who can mentor them,” HBCAT CEO Jody Hoener said. “We want to inspire these ladies to take on their dreams to become business owners themselves! The HBCAT wants to provide opportunities to help our community build wealth and income, to come out of poverty, and to take control of their destiny.”
Jody Hoener. Submitted photo.
“This has been a series of four events that have been incredibly well attended and successful,” she said. “Women are coming and asking questions of the panel and speakers. They are talking to each other at their tables, networking, and building each other up”.
A dinner, catered by Drywood Creek Cafe, and a networking time will begin the evening from 5-5:30 p.m.
The Keynote Speaker will be Kristi Banwart.
Kristi Banwart. Submitted photo.
Banwart will speak about how her hobby of making little girl hair bows for her daughter turned into a multi-million-dollar business in 15 years, Hoener said. “Not only did she build regional and national relationships–but international relationships to help her business grow.”
The agenda also includes a short panel speaker session which will include Rebecca Williams with The Butcher Block, Angela Simon with Bids and Dibs, and Katie Casper with Union State Bank.
“They will each discuss a component of business relationships with its supplier, customer, or professional relationships–they are all instrumental in helping build any business,” Hoener said.
Rebecca Williams. Submitted photo.
Angie Simon. Submitted photo.
Katie Casper. Submitted photo.
“We will then have open question and answer so the attendees can ask questions to the speakers, The Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce staff, HBCAT staff, or Pittsburg State University’s Small Business Development Center staff,” Hoener said.
There is free childcare available if registered prior to the event.
The support for the seminar is grant funds from the U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Business Development and the Blue Cross Blue Shield Pathways to Healthy Kansas.
A double homicide is still under investigation in Fort Scott.
All the press releases are coming from the KBI, according to Fort Scott Police Chief Travis Shelton.
The following is a press release from the Kansas Bureau of Investigation’s Facebook page.
On Tuesday, Dec. 21, at approximately 7:40 p.m., the Fort Scott Police Department received a 911 call from a subject who came home to find a female family member had been shot.
When police officers arrived at 402 Main St. in Fort Scott, they located 48-year-old Melissa L. Mitchell who had died from a gunshot wound. They also discovered inside the home, 53-year-old Leonard D. Zimmerman, who had also been shot and was deceased. Both victims were pronounced dead at the scene.
At approximately 8:30 p.m. the Fort Scott Police Department requested KBI assistance. KBI agents and the Crime Scene Response Team responded to Fort Scott.
The victims’ son, Dawson J. Mitchell, 23, of Fort Scott, was a person of interest and was wanted for questioning connected to this case.
Mitchell was arrested at approximately 1 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 22, near the intersection of 5th St. and Judson St. in Fort Scott.
He was arrested for theft of a firearm, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, and unlawful possession of controlled substances.
He was then booked into the Bourbon County Jail.
Currently, Mitchell has not been charged related to the murders.
“Mitchell has not yet been arrested for the murders.” Melissa Underwood, KBI Communications Director, said. “Since he can be held on the other charges, I don’t think that is likely to happen quickly. Additionally, the decision on charges will likely come from the (Bourbon)County Attorney’s Office after we submit our case findings to them.”
The investigation is ongoing.
The jail is known as the Bourbon County Law Enforcement Center, Fort Scott.
Judy Earp lived 40 years in California and moved to Fort Scott in December 2019 because she fell in love with a Victorian home here.
She originally was from Lamar, MO, and looked there and in Nevada for just the right home to accommodate all of her Victorian furniture in her decision to return to the Mid-West.
When Earp found the house at 702 S. National Avenue, she found a space for an art studio.
“My art studio is in the basement,” she said.
During her California years, in her free time (she was a computer programmer and also sold real estate), she took art classes of all sorts, at Monterrey Peninsula Community College.
“The labs and all the equipment were fantastic (for all the art classes she took),” she said.
She started offering painting classes in Fort Scott in 2020 and found that the play area just outside her studio was perfect for the kid’s art classes she wanted to instruct.
The children need breaks sometimes, she said, and the space is perfect for that.
Next week she is offering a Winter Art Party for children ages five and up.
“Our next camp is from December 27 through December 31,” she said. “It has a winter theme. The cost is $125 for the entire week. I also offer two art parties for the kids on No School Days, one for USD 234 and one for St. Mary’s. These take place at my studio at 702 S. National. The cost is $25.”
No School Days are when students are not in class for one day, for teacher in-service, etc.
“My main goal is to share the joy of creating art with people of all ages and that we should all have fun while doing so,” Earp said.
“I offer different art events geared for different age groups,” she said. “During the summer and winter and spring breaks, I offer an art camp that is a week-long and we create five different paintings, all with a common theme.”
She also provides private art parties.
“Paint and Sip Parties are adult, also private parties,” she said. “I do women’s church groups.”
This past summer Earp offered a beach week, a red, white, and blue week and a farm week.
Judy Earp’s students during beach week in 2021. Submitted photo.
“I offer family-friendly art parties also, with paintings that are suitable for all ages,” she said. “We just had one at Papa Don’s this past Saturday. The cost is also $25.”
Students of the Family Paint and Pizza Art Party on Dec. 18, at Papa Don’s Pizza. Submitted photo.
“I also offer Paint & Sip Parties,” she said. “I will have two in January at Dry Wood Creek Cafe. We will be painting a Highland Cow. Both parties sold out within a few hours.”
Submitted photo.
“All parties include everything you need to complete and take home a painting,” she said. “I draw the picture on the canvas for you, supply the paint, brushes, easels and aprons. I also guide the artists every step of the way.”
Judy Howser and a friend show their art from a Fall Pathway Art Party in September. Submitted photo.
The best way for people to know immediately when a new class, camp or party is offered is to Like and follow Happy Snappy Art on Facebook, she said.
Brady and Emily Fink started a new business, Fink’s Pool Company, last month to provide swimming pool service, cleaning, and maintenance for Fort Scott and the surrounding communities.
The business also provides new construction of swimming pools.
“We realized there is a large demand for this business in our area and even further,” Emily said.
“We are currently the only two (employees) as we don’t have employees yet,” she said. “Brady and I will be tag-teaming most stuff in the field (service and new construction) while I also do most of the communication with customers and anything on the phone or social media.”
“Brady was a helicopter mechanic for four years when he served in the U.S. Navy at North Island Naval Base (California),” Emily said. “He then was a plumber for three years and for the past year he has been working and learning under The Pool Guy out of Nevada (MO).”
He is a 2012 graduate of Fort Scott High School.
Even though winter is not usually the season when people think about their swimming pools, the Fink’s wanted to get the word out for people to start planning.
They will be offering service, repair, and new construction in the southeast Kansas and southwest Missouri areas starting in 2022.
For more information call or text 620.215.0306.
A new pool cover that the Fink’s placed on a property this fall., which requires drilling concrete and placement. Submitted photo.
Rachel Pruitt started her business venture, a women and girls clothing shop, last month as a pop-up shop in the lobby of the Liberty Theatre at 113 S. Main.
The name of her business is Better in Bourbon.
On December 15 she moved the store to a permanent space at 13 N. Main.
“I want to give a heartfelt thank you to Jared Leek for the temporary use of the Liberty Theatre which was critical to a successful start,” Pruitt said
Better in Bourbon is now located at 13 N. Main. Submitted photo.
The store’s hours of operation are from 10 am until 6 pm weekdays, 9 am until 4 pm on Saturday, and on Sunday, from 1 pm until 5 pm, through Christmas.
In addition to women and tween-sized girl clothing, she sells accessories and gift items, with a price range of accessories under $15 and clothing under $50.
Krista Harding District Extension Agent, Horticulture Southwind Extension District 111 S. Butler Erie, KS 66733 Office: 620-244-3826 Cell: 620-496-8786
I always find that my home seems a little bare after the holidays when the tree is taken down and all of the holiday knick-knacks are put away. To be quite honest, it can be depressing! The winter months can be extremely long for many people.
One way to brighten your home up a bit is to add a new houseplant. Right after the holidays, you will find new shipments of houseplants arriving in stores.
The plants in the stores will look great, but they may not stay that way for long once taken home. One reason for this is because these plants are grown in a climate and light controlled greenhouse. Our homes are definitely not even close to greenhouse conditions. But a few simple things can help you grow your houseplants with more success.
Plants grow during high light times, such as summer, and that is the time to provide ample water and fertilizer. Winter is a low light time and plants should be allowed to go dormant. During dormancy, do not apply fertilizer and supply only small amounts of water. Remember, plants grow in the summer and sleep in the winter. Don’t force a plant to grow during the winter.
Light is probably the most essential factor for indoor plant growth. A plant needs light from five directions. Obviously this is not possible in most homes. But you can increase light availability. To acclimate a new plant that was grown in high light conditions, place it in a high-light (southern exposure) area of your home and gradually move it to it’s permanent, darker location over a period of four to eight weeks.
Most foliage plants prefer day temperatures between 65 and 75 degrees with night temperatures usually 5 to 10 degrees lower. Avoid extreme temperature changes, such as cold and hot air blasts from windows, radiators, heating and air conditioning vents.
Ninety-five percent of plant problems are caused from incorrect watering. How much water a plant needs is influenced by several factors. Not only is the individual plant size and species important, but also the growing conditions. Light, temperature, humidity, container type, container size and finally soil type all influence the speed of growth and therefore the amount of water needed. It is best to look up individual plant types for their watering needs.
Frequency of fertilizer application varies somewhat depending on the individual plant. Some need it every two weeks, while others will flower well for several months without any supplementation. As a general rule, fertilize every two weeks from March to September.
Here are some common plant symptoms and possible causes:
General defoliation
Sudden change in temperature
Transplanting shock
Sudden change in light intensity
Over-watering
Lack of light
Browning of leaf tips
Improper watering
Exposure to cold drafts
Insect attack
Excess fertilizer
Krista Harding is a K-State Research and Extension Horticulture agent assigned to Southwind District. She may be reached at [email protected] or 620-244-3826.
K-State Research and Extension is an equal opportunity provider and employer.
A former Girard medical doctor and his wife shared some of their experiences as medical missionaries to Haiti on Dec. 18 at Girard’s Public Library.
Dr. Jim and Sandy Wilkins have served in Haiti since 1999 and currently have approximately 35,000 patients in the area they serve west of the capital city, Port Au Prince. They are home visiting family for two weeks.
Haiti Health Ministries is located in Gressier.
Haiti is the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere and conditions have deteriorated even further since the assassination of the country’s president this year, Sandy said.
Haiti, taken from BIng.
The COVID Pandemic has curtailed the normal amount of volunteers that the ministry has seen in the past.
The current need is a maintenance person and other Christian mission-minded volunteers, Jim said.
