Fort Scott and Bourbon County welcomed the Vinedo del Alamo Winery Friday afternoon with a ribbon-cutting ceremony provided by the Chamber of Commerce, inviting other business owners and community leaders to see the new business.

Located east on Poplar Road north of Fort Scott, the name of the winery is Spanish for poplar vineyard, a tribute to the business and vineyard’s location as well as the owners’ Texas heritage.

Bobby and Denise Duncan have been residents and active members of Fort Scott for several years, but also hold roots in Texas, where Denise grew up and Bobby also lived for a time. But, admitting that vineyards do not grow well in Texas, the Duncans said they looked into starting one in Fort Scott after they purchased land off Poplar.

“I like wine,” Bobby said of his reason for first considering this venture.

Initially, the couple planned to sell the fruit from their vineyard to other wineries and businesses, but none showed interest right away as their product volume is not high at the moment, though Bobby said they look forward to an increase as they move forward.

But instead, the couple looked into opening their own winery, the first official one to open in the area.

“This is the first winery ever in Bourbon County,” chamber of commerce director Lindsay Madison said.

The business’ doors will be open Friday through Sunday from noon to 6 p.m. each week, although it is also open for Labor Day this week. The winery also has an outdoor, covered area with tables and opportunity for live music.

The Duncans requested that visitors sign a guestbook, hoping to get enough signatures to receive highway signage for the business.

The fort again welcomes visitors Monday for its annual Highlights in History event after scores of Fort Scott residents and visitors from out of town visited the national historic site Saturday and Sunday.

Visitors could take part in guided tours, witness musket and artillery demonstrations and visit with participants dressed up as figures from history such as soldiers, officers, laundresses, cooks and physicians.

Those activities and others will be featured again on Monday, including special presentations from the viewpoint of a surviving soldier from the Marais des Cygnes Massacre and how the Bleeding Kansas events affected other areas of the community and its government.

Activities at the fort begin again at 10 a.m. Monday and will continue until 4 p.m.

For just over a month, New Wave Broadband of La Harpe has provided wireless internet services to the Fort Scott area.

“We had a lot of folks who had requested it,” said David Lee, a member of the company that has been run by his family for about 65 years.

First run by his grandfather, Lee’s father now runs the company that expanded from a telephone company with a switchboard in the early 1950s to an internet, cable and cell phone service provider as technology continued to develop. Their business was also one of the first to reach into rural areas of Kansas.

Since receiving an invitation from the city of Fort Scott to come to the area more than six months ago, Lee said they have placed broadband equipment on each of the three water towers in Fort Scott, located near the hospital, middle school and water treatment plant.

Currently, New Wave Broadband can only provide services to those within line of sight of those three water towers. Lee said they plan to increase that reach by constructing a tower near the southwest side of the lake.

“We’re going to be building on what we have now,” Lee said.

So far, Lee said they have received very positive feedback from those in the Fort Scott area they are providing services for.

“The city of Fort Scott has been extremely pleasant to work with and very accommodating,” Lee said, saying the hospital has also worked with them. “Both organizations have really bent over backwards. They’ve been awesome.”

The Bourbon County Conservation District hosted the weekly Chamber Coffee Thursday morning, sharing about their own organization while other entities gave updates on upcoming programs and events.

Board chairperson Kathy Valentine first asked if anyone in attendance knew what the conservation district does, and few did, although just this year the district celebrated its 70^th year of existence.

“A lot of people think it’s just about farmers,” Valentine said. “It’s not about farmers, it’s about landowners…We care about water. We care about soil.”

The district sells grass and other seed as well as has different equipment on hand for rent. They also focus on training young members of the community through educational events such as a conservation day at Gunn Park, speech contests and other programs.

Other announcements given for the price of $1 towards Dolly the Trolley included:

• Bumps and Bruises clinic will start Saturday, hosted by the Mercy orthopedic department and sports medicine. A sports massage clinic will also be provided for area athletes for $20 for a 15 minute session.
• Next Thursday, the Fort Scott National Historic Site will start putting in the almost 7,000 flags for the Symbols of Sacrifice event starting on Sept. 11. Volunteers are welcomed to help with the flags as well as to read names of those killed in the line of duty during the event on Saturday.
• This year, the Pioneer Harvest Fiesta will include an auction for machinery or other items on Friday, Sept. 25, at 1 p.m. Those wanting to sell items can participate as well as buyers.
• The Lowell Milken Center for Unsung Heroes is participating in a seminar workshop for teachers concerning the Civil War and civil rights, in collaboration with the fort on Sept. 19. Two spots remain available.
• The Meals on Wheels program for area senior citizens is in need of volunteers who can deliver meals. A route would take about 45 minutes in the mid-morning hours.
• The Circles program continues to offer classes each Wednesday evening against poverty in Fort Scott. The program is also looking for volunteers who could serve as mentors with Circles leaders, donating one to four hours a month.
• The Fort Scott Police Department and Bourbon County Sheriff’s Office will sponsor a drug take-back event Sept. 26, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., allowing members of the community to get rid of old prescription drugs and other medications.
• In the spring, the Kansas State extension office will participate in a statewide barbecue university program, providing training sessions with meat specialists and others.
• City Manager Dave Martin said the city is continuing to look for ways to provide better transportation system in Fort Scott. One area gentleman is interested in starting such a program but is looking for partners.
• The Fort Scott Farmers’ Market continues on Saturday, featuring fresh peaches while pumpkin season approaches.
• Mercy will be offering a flu vaccine drive-through on Sept. 19, from 8 a.m. until noon, for $25.
• The Townwide Garage Sale will occur Sept. 11-12, with registrants welcome through Wednesday if they want their home to be featured on the map that will be distributed.
• A naturalization ceremony will be held Sept. 25, at 10:30 a.m.

Fort Scott’s National Historic Site will provide opportunities for members of the community and visitors to learn about the fort’s history through guided tours, but also experience it as volunteers play the roles of soldiers and civilians from the 1840s and ‘50s.

“What better way to learn the history of Fort Scott than to actually see people in period clothing?” park ranger Galen Ewing said. “It allows them to step back in time and use their imagination a little bit.”

The Highlights in History event held Saturday through Monday will display what life during that time period was like, through demonstrations concerning areas of life including medicine, laundry, baking, discipline and politics.

Flintlock musket and artillery demonstrations will also be given all three days. Ewing said that has been especially popular during the annual event and is a favorite of his as well.

“Everybody likes to hear the boom,” Ewing said.

The fort hosts similar events for Fourth of July and Memorial Day as well, using those holidays to share about the military function of the fort and its role in American history.

“It’s tied in to interpreting a little bit of the different military periods that the fort was occupied here,” Ewing said of those events held throughout the year, with the Labor Day event focusing on Bleeding Kansas and the Civil War.

Ewing said they have had a conservative estimate of 500-600 visitors participate over the weekend in the past, though weather plays a key role how many attend. This year, Ewing said he would like to see 1,000 come.

While each event has some similarities, Ewing said they are bringing back some special presentation that had not been offered in years, such as the Blood on the Prairie and Democracy Run Wild presentations on Monday.

Volunteers from the Holmes Brigade, a non-profit, living history organization which includes reenactors from Missouri, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas, and other states, will participate in the weekend as well.

See the schedule below for details on the weekend events.

Saturday, September 5

10 a.m. – Sick Call: 1840s Medicine

11 a.m. – Flintlock Musket Demonstration

1 p.m. – Guided Tour

2 p.m. – Artillery Demonstration

3 p.m. – Crime and Punishment: Guardhouse Talk

4 p.m. – Flag Retreat

 

Sunday, September 6

11 a.m. – Flintlock Musket Demonstration

1 p.m. – Guided Tour

2 p.m. – Artillery Demonstration

3 p.m. – Post Sutler Talk

4 p.m. – Flag Retreat

 

Monday, September 7

10 a.m. – Blood on the Prairie

11 a.m. – Artillery Demonstration

1 p.m. – Guided Tour

2 p.m. – Artillery Demonstration

3 p.m. – Democracy Run Wild

4 p.m. – Flag Retreat

Daniel Meara spent his early years in Fort Scott, though he attended high school and college elsewhere. But upon finishing law school, he and his family came right back to Fort Scott where he started his practice, which continued for the next 45 years.

But while Meara settled into a lengthy career of practicing law, which included time spent as city attorneys for different towns as well as the Bourbon County Attorney for a decade, law was not Meara’s goal when he entered college.

“There were no lawyers in my family that I was aware of,” Meara admitted. “When I was in college, I really didn’t know what to do.”

Eventually, Meara settled with graduating in 1965 with a degree in English and a minor in biology. But when a good friend of his went to take the Law School Admission Test, Meara decided to try it as well and scored well enough to enter law school.

With no fear of being drafted, since he had failed to pass the physical exam when he volunteered because of the effects of a childhood illness, Meara decided to continue his schooling.

While in law school, Meara married his wife JoAnn, and when he completed and then passed the bar exam, they decided to move to a smaller town to start his practice and raise their family.

“It seemed like a nice place to live,” Meara said of returning to his hometown of Fort Scott.

That decision became history as Meara opened his practice Sept. 1, 1970, and carried it on until Sept. 1, 2015. But now Meara looks forward to retirement, though it will not start immediately, despite the retirement party held in his honor Tuesday evening, as he closes out his practice.

“You can’t just walk away,” Meara said, saying he has stopped taking new business and is now wrapping up other responsibilities before he can officially retire.

While Meara said he is looking forward to retirement and working on house projects, reading more books for his book club and organizing photos, he still considers the idea of retirement a little unsettling after so many years of practicing.

“It’s an adjustment,” Meara said. “I spent 45 years building up my practice.”

Meara said with his retirement, he and his wife are looking forward to visiting their seven children scattered around the states and the United States, one of whom is now practicing law herself, as well as spending time with their grandchildren.

“That’s something we want to be able to get more of,” Meara said, saying previous visits were often brief because of his duties in Fort Scott.

While Meara says he “stumbled into” his law practice after changing his mind during his college education, he considers that career a blessing and encouraged his children to not be afraid of switching majors in college if they find something else they enjoy more. Meara said the worst thing that could happen is ending up in a job one does not enjoy.

“I was fortunate enough to find a job I enjoy doing,” Meara said, saying his favorite part of the job has been meeting people. “Everybody has a story and you can run into some of the most interesting stories.”

The Fort Scott City Commissioners recognized certain city leaders and employees for their years of service during their meeting Tuesday evening.

“I think it’s really nice to be able to recognize our employees,” Mayor Cindy Bartelsmeyer said to those they honored. “We appreciate the service of all of you.”

Ten employees were awarded a certificate and a gift for their years with the city in their respective departments, ranging from five to 40 years.

Cpl. Caleb Bell and Det. Jason Eastwood of the Fort Scott Police Department, City Manager Dave Martin and codes technician Alpha Money have served the city for five years. Tom Embry of water distribution was recognized for 10 years of service and Rick Hurd of water collections for 20 years. Fire Chief Paul Ballou and Capt. Dale Bollinger of the Fort Scott Fire Department have each been with the city for 25 years while Lynn Plain of the wastewater treatment plant has served for 30 years.

Finally, City Attorney Bob Farmer was honored for 40 years of service with the city.

“It’s been my pleasure, it really has,” Farmer said. “I’ve enjoyed every, almost every, minute of it. It’s a pleasure to serve people like you.”

“He’s one of the top five city attorneys in the state of Kansas,” city commissioner Sam Mason said.

Public Utilities Director Richard Cook also took the meeting as an opportunity to announce his retirement after 34 years with the city, effective on Sept. 25. The city will hold a reception in Cook’s honor that same afternoon.

“I have thoroughly enjoyed my 34 years here,” Cook said. “But now’s the time for me to move on.”

City Manager Dave Martin said when he first took on his own position with the city, he recognized that Cook had the skill and experience to be director of his department.

“It’s been a real pleasure working with Richard,” Martin said.

The commissioners unanimously approved lowering the speed limit on National Street from 30 mph to 20 mph during the period of construction south of 6^th Street, upon the recommendation of Police Chief Travis Shelton.

Fort Scott and area residents are encouraged to get involved with their public library as it and other libraries around the nation participate in Library Card Sign-Up Month through the month of September.

“As is every month, September is a great month to get a library card,” library director Lisa Walther said, saying the library provides numerous services to the community. “There’s a lot of stuff they can come get.”

The Fort Scott Public Library is part of a consortium that includes 41 libraries, allowing someone with a Fort Scott library card, for example, to check out books from any one of those other libraries or place a hold on books from them.

The area library also provides eBooks for those who would like to read books on their kindle or other device. Those can even be checked out from home instead of coming to the library itself.

“We’re always adding new items,” Walther said.

Those without a library card can get one just by bringing their driver’s license and proof of address, at no cost for Kansas residents or owners of Kansas property. In just the last month, the age limit was changed so library card holders can be as young as five years old.

Events such as a weekly book reading every Tuesday at 10 a.m. will also be provided to those youngest community members. An event for school-aged children will be hosted at the library during an upcoming weekend, with more details to come.

The local library also encourages members of the community to take part in the National Read a Book Day, Sept. 6.

Fort Scott and the Chamber of Commerce celebrated its local Dairy Queen with a ribbon-cutting ceremony Monday morning at its new location on Highway 69 north of Wal-Mart.

Though the Dairy Queen franchise has been part of Fort Scott for many years, it now has a new appearance as a Dairy Queen Grill & Chill, offering not just treats, as it had at its previous location on National Street, but full meals as well.

Owners Dr. Rick and Karen Kellenberger became a part of the Dairy Queen franchise while their family lived in Iowa, although they did not plan to remain in that business even after coming to Fort Scott.

“I had not thoughts at all of another Dairy Queen,” Dr. Rick Kellenberger said of when they heard the Dairy Queen was for sale and risked closing. “But I didn’t want to see Fort Scott lose the franchise.”

Kellenberger with his brother and their wives invested in the business, remodeling the building and making sure it continued to provide treats to Fort Scott. But about three years ago, Kellenberger said the city of Fort Scott came to them concerning the location and plans to work on that intersection.

“There are a lot of issues with that location,” Kellenberger said.

The couple then looked for a new area they could build and in recent weeks opened the new location to the public. Kellenberger said he hopes the new, more convenient location will bring more business to Fort Scott.

“This has been a long journey,” Karen said. “There have been a lot of bumps on the road to get here.”

But the ribbon-cutting and gathering of local business leaders signaled an end to that journey and a new beginning with its opening as the Dairy Queen continues to provide services to Fort Scott.

“Thank you for your investment in the community,” chamber of commerce director Lindsay Madison said.

For a third year, bikers from around the area, state and even the nation participated in a ride Saturday that raised funds for wreaths to be placed at the National Cemetery later this year.

Kevin Wagner and a coworker started the wreath ride when they realized not enough finances for the wreaths were being raised from the community. While the first ride had just 13 riders, that number grew to more than 50 the following year and this year again grew to almost 170 riders participating.

“This is way bigger than we thought it would be,” Wagner said. “After our ride last year, we had so much momentum they were talking about it a month later.”

Because of that success, a committee for the ride was formed to plan the event. This year’s ride had participants not just from Kansas, but from Missouri, Oklahoma, Iowa and even Florida, with enough riders to form a line about three to four miles long.

Some clubs represented included Legacy Veterans, Itus Virtus and the patriot guard along with other veteran and biker clubs.

The number of partners involved also grew, this year providing breakfast, lunch, patches and other services, with all proceeds going directly to the wreaths.

The route made its way to Mound City and back, covering about 100 miles worth of road in total.

USD 234 board members and leadership held a kick-off celebration Friday evening to celebrate the recent completion of the renovated Frary Field, part of the bond package approved in November of 2014.

With the start of the school year and the Fort Scott football teams playing red and white games before their season starts in the next week, the field was finished just in time as members of the community came to the ceremony, where the new artificial turf, lighting, fence and other additions were displayed.

Superintendent Bob Beckham admitted there were different opinions on the bond package and how that funding would be spent, but said they are happy with the results so far.

“Those mixed emotions have been replaced with excitement,” Beckham said as he pointed out the new surface of the field. “Isn’t that beautiful?”

Board of education president Jordan Witt said it is because of the support of the Fort Scott community that the field improvements were made possible. But while celebrating the football field that evening, Witt said there will be more to come in the years ahead.

“It’s an extremely exciting night,” Witt said. “And I can promise you that this is just the beginning.”

USD 234 senior Garrett Tatro and Trenton Toth, fourth grade, were also able to address those attending the ceremony and expressed their appreciation for the investments made in their schools as well as current and future students.

“It was a vote not just for us but for the future,” Tatro said, saying he is grateful for it on behalf of his younger brother.

Representatives from partnering businesses involved in the project, including Ed Carlson, senior architect of Hollis + Miller Architects, and Jon Pahl, executive president of Nabholz Construction, also spoke, expressing their pleasure in participating in the work completed.

The ceremony was followed by red and white scrimmage games for the freshmen, junior varsity and varsity football teams as well as demonstrations from the cheer and dance teams.

After passing through the hands of different owners over the years, Fort Scott’s old middle school building was purchased by Paul Feeney of Southern California in 2011, with the plan of opening an entertainment center in the almost century-old building.

While that plan started with a five-year completion process in mind, personal issues have delayed that opening of The REAL School of Hard Knocks, possibly by a couple years. But Feeney said Fort Scott residents have no reason to believe the building will again be neglected.

“It’s a huge project,” Feeney said of the idea for the school, which he thought of during a time of “temporary insanity,” according to him.

After years of working in Southern California, Feeney said he wanted to branch out from the normal 9-5 job and instead hold one that he enjoys and benefits society, whether he makes money off it or not.

“It’s not about making money,” Feeney said. “It’s really about giving back to the community.”

Feeney said he first looked at purchasing a school building in other states, but when he heard about the one available in Fort Scott and visited the town, he decided to invest in that city instead.

“I fell in love with the town,” Feeney said of Fort Scott, saying he looks forward to moving away from the congested area he lives in currently, where he is waiting for his house to sell. “One of the things I love about the town is the people.”

Since buying the building, Feeney has traveled between California and Fort Scott to help oversee the renovations with his onsite team whenever he can, living in the upper floor of the middle school building. While the work slowly progresses, Feeney said the city and its leaders have been very supportive of the project.

Though the opening day of the entertainment center may not come until 2018, the centennial year of the building, Feeney said in the meantime they have hosted different concerts and events there such as air-soft gun battles for youth in the area.

Though his plans for the building continue to adjust as he keeps tabs on what is popular among youth, Feeney said the entertainment center will likely provide options such as a trampoline park, laser tag, arcade and possibly go-carts, while they will leave the auditorium as it is for concerts. Individuals could come to play or it could be rented out for larger parties.

“We’ve had a setback, but not a derailment,” Feeney said. “We will catch up. I’m determined.”

Feeney said they continue to hold on to the goal of keeping the history of the building alive and improving its physical appearance while also providing a new means of entertainment for local families.