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What’s Happening in Fort Scott! February 2nd Weekly Newsletter

What’s Happening in Fort Scott!

February 2nd Weekly Newsletter

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UPCOMING CALENDAR OF EVENTS

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Fort Scott National Historic Site

Daily Tours: 10am & 1pm

Click this link: The Artificers

Upcoming pottery class/workshop

schedule, something for all ages!

February Special at Hedgehog.INK! Buy 2 Get 1 Free Romance Books!

2/2 ~ Community Involvement Fair by Fort Scott Forward, Ellis Fine Arts Center, 5-6:30pm, 15 local nonprofits will have booths for anyone interested to come learn about ways you can volunteer in our community. Click here for FB event.

2/2 ~ BINGO hosted by American Legion, Memorial Hall, doors open 6pm, BINGO starts at 7pm, American Legion will have concessions and be serving nachos.

2/3 ~ FSHS Basketball at Home vs. Parsons, V/JV/F games start at 4:30pm

2/4 ~ First Saturday Story Time @ Hedgehog.INK! Book Store, 10:30am.

2/4-5 ~ FS Youth Basketball Tourn, 3rd-6th grade boys and girls. Contact 620-423-6656 to sign up.

2/4 ~ 4th Annual All You Can Eat Pancake Fundraiser by First Southern Baptist Church (across from Briggs), 8am-2pm, click here for more info!

2/6-7 ~ SEK Day on the Hill-Breakfast with Legislators, click here for more info.

2/8 ~ Better in Bourbon Boutique, 1-year Anniversary Customer Appreciation Event, 12pm to 6pm, giveaways, deals & Crooner’s Cakery treats. Click here for FB event.

2/8 ~ Dare to Dream Women’s Entrepreneurship event, Unique Challenges of a Small Business, 5-7pm, HBCAT office, FREE but click here to RSVP.

2/8 ~ The Artificers Pottery Crash Course, age 17+, 6-9pm, click here to register.

2/9 ~ Chamber Coffee hosted by Lyons Realty Group, 8 E. Wall St., 8am

2/9 ~ Gorilla Gathering Bourbon County, 6pm, registration is required, click here for more info.

2/10 ~ The Pigeon and the Dreamer, Lowell Milken Center of Unsung Heroes, 2-3pm,

click here for more info.

2/10-11 ~ Love Local Chocolate Crawl, Downtown & Around, Shopping & Tasting Event.

2/10 ~ Common Ground Live Music Event featuring Stephan Moses,7-8pm,

click here for more info.

2/11 ~ The Artificers classes: Coffee & Clay 9am-12pm, Cocktail & Clay 6-9pm, click here to register.

2/11 ~ The Beauty Lounge Paint & Sip Galentine’s Event, 2:30pm, click here for FB event.

2/11 ~ Cupid’s Corner at Buck Run Community Center, pre-school thru 5th grade, $1.00 for each participant. Click here for more info.

2/11 ~ February Makers Market, Bourbon County Fairgrounds, 10am-3pm, click here for more info.

2/11 ~ Corporate Pinewood Derby by Boy Scouts Pack 114, Memorial Hall, 6pm, click here for info.

2/15 ~ The Artificers Pottery Class: Valentine’s Day “Ghost” Class, age 21+, 6-9pm, click here to register.

2/16 ~ Chamber Coffee hosted by Kiwanis, 8am, will be held at the First Presbyterian Church.

2/17-18 ~ Prairie Troubadour Symposium, most events held at The River Room, click here.

2/17 ~ Daddy Daughter Dance Battle at Buck Run Community Center, $5/pre-registration for couple, $2.50 per additional child, $8/at the door for couple, $4 per additional child.

Click here for more info.

2/17 ~ REZA- World Class Touring Illusionist, FSCC in the Ellis Building, 7-9pm,

click here for more info and to order tickets!

2/18 ~ VFW Post 1165 – 8 Ball Pool Tournament, 12-3pm, click here for more info.

2/18 ~ The Artificers Pottery Class: Valentine’s Day “Ghost” Class, age 21+, 6-9pm, click here to register.

Save the Date!

2/21 ~ Kiwanis Drive-thru Pancake Feed, tickets are $5, 11am-1:30pm and 4-6:30pm at the First United Methodist Church.

2/22 ~ The Artificers Pottery Crash Course, age 17+, 6-9pm, click here to register.

2/24 ~ Knights of Columbus Annual Fish Fry, Kennedy Gym 5-7pm, 6 Fridays in a row.

2/25 ~ Kansas Rocks Recreation Park Annual Frostbite Event, ksrockspark.com

3/4 ~ 2nd Annual Marsha Fest at the Liberty Theater, 8-10pm, click here for more info.

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SHOPPING ~ SUPPORT LOCAL!

Boutiques-Antiques-Flea Markets & more!

Click here for Chamber member

specialty shopping & other retail in

Downtown & other areas of the community.

Fort Scott Area
Chamber of Commerce
620-223-3566
In This Issue

Calendar of Events

Special Event Features

THANK YOU Chamber Champion members!!

Chamber Highlights
Click here for our
Membership Directory.
We THANK our members for their support! Interested in joining the Chamber?
Click here for info.
Thinking of doing business in or relocating to Fort Scott?
Contact us for a relocation packet, information on grants & incentives, and more!
Seeking a job/career?
We post a Job of the Day daily on our Facebook page, distribute a monthly job openings flyer, and post jobs on our website.
Many opportunities available!
Housing needs?
Click here for a listing of our Chamber member realtors.
Click here for our rental listing.

Hedgehog.INK! February Special!

Pancake Feed, Silent Auction & Bake Sale this Saturday by Chamber member First Southern Baptist Church

The Chamber is now taking registrations for the 2023 class of LEAD Bourbon County! Click here for the registration form.

Dare to Dream Women’s Entrepreneurship event!

Wed., Feb. 8th, free but register here.

Downtown Event: Love Local Chocolate Crawl!

REZA World Class Touring Illusionist!

Link to buy tickets here.

Obituary of Sandra Woods

Sandra Kay (Laws) Woods, age 75, a resident of Bronson, KS passed on to her heavenly home on Wednesday, February 1, 2023, at St. Luke’s Hospice House in Kansas City, MO.

Sandy was born in Kansas City, KS on August 26th, 1947. She was the first child and only daughter of Lyman Allen Laws and Evelyn Ivon (Crowder) Laws.  After moving to California at the age of 18 she met her future husband, Charles Austin Woods.  The two love birds quickly started their adventurous life together.  They married on October 27th,1968 in Fort Scott, KS and went on to have three sons, Randell, Christopher, and Brian. Nevada, Iowa, Arkansas, and Texas were all states they called home until 1989, when they planted roots in Sandy’s beloved childhood hometown of Bronson, Kansas.

 

Sandy lived life to the fullest. She loved traveling, reading, listening to music, playing pinochle, crafting, collecting chicken decor, picking up a great find at a garage sale or antique store, occasionally pulling the handle on a slot machine and cheering for her favorite Chief’s player, Travis Kelce.

Family was by far the most important thing in her life. When her health took a turn in later years, it never held her back from any event she wanted to attend.

She enjoyed talking, laughing, telling stories of the past and spending time with family and friends.

Sandy was always the biggest fan of her kids, grandkids and great grandkids at sporting events and everything else they participated in.

She was extremely proud of every family member, always celebrating each accomplishment in their lives and supporting them during hard times.

Sandy had a deeply loving passionate, opinionated, and devoted personality that drew others to her.  She was a “people person” who never met a stranger. She was always in the loop about the latest happenings and eager to share her thoughts on any topic. As the Woods family grew throughout the years, Sandy continued to be the glue that brought everyone together for holidays and other events.

Through example, Sandy taught the importance of shopping local, having traditions, honoring family and loving the Lord.

 

Sandy is survived by her husband, Charles “Chuck” Woods of Bronson, KS; three sons, Randell and wife Sayda of Chanute, KS, Chris and wife Lael of Bronson, KS, Brian and wife Megan of Bronson, KS; two brothers, Ron Laws and wife Karen of Palacios, TX, Allen Laws and wife Karen of Magnolia, TX; nine grandchildren, Jordan, Logan, Alena, Kaydra, Makiah, Mackenzie, Daulton, Cayden and Nataliah; three great-grandchildren, Olivia, Copelan and Bryson; and many nieces and nephews.

Sandy was preceded in death by her parents and several other family members, including her beloved Grandmother, Ethel Crowder.

 

Funeral services will be held at the Cheney Witt Chapel on Sunday, Feb. 5, 2023.

Visitation will begin at 1pm, with the service following at 2pm.

Burial will follow at Bronson Cemetery.

The family suggests contributions to the Sandra Woods Memorial Fund and may be left in care of Cheney Witt Chapel, 201 S. Main PO Box 347, Fort Scott, KS. Words of remembrance may be submitted to the online guestbook at cheneywitt.com.

 

 

Preventing Fatal Crashes

Every life saved is a success, but more can be done

to prevent fatality crashes

The good news – Kansas Department of Transportation preliminary crash notifications for 2022 show Kansas experienced a 3% decrease in fatalities compared to 2021. The bad news – vehicle crashes continue to be one of the state’s main causes of preventable deaths.

“We hardly can celebrate 413 lives lost in 2022 compared to a total of 424 lives in 2021, because even one death is one too many,” said Vanessa Spartan, KDOT Transportation Safety Bureau Chief. “That said, while many states in the nation are experiencing an increase in fatal crashes, Kansas experienced a decrease. Behind those numbers are the families and friends we must remember. But it is positive that 11 more families were able to continue with their daily lives and enjoy last year in comparison to 2021.”

No life lost is the goal, and 413 lives lost in vehicle crashes is 413 too many. Loss of life and serious injury not only leaves families and friends grieving emotionally, but results in economic stress for families, employers and communities.

“We are in this together,” Spartan said. “Everyone sets the tone by example by building a community intolerance toward dangerous driving behaviors that can lead to a vehicle crash. Far too often, loss of life and serious injury could be avoided by wearing a seat belt, slowing down and following traffic laws.”

The public will soon see more information about Drive to Zero Kansas, a new educational traffic safety campaign KDOT is promoting in conjunction with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The goal is to reduce crashes, death and serious injury through education, enforcement, emergency response and engineering.

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This information can be made available in alternative accessible formats upon request. For information about obtaining an alternative format, contact the KDOT Division of Communications, 700 SW Harrison St., 2nd Fl West, Topeka, KS 66603-3745 or phone 785-296-3585 (Voice)/Hearing Impaired – 711.

Obituary of Josephine McDaniel

Josephine G. McDaniel, age 94, a resident of Ft. Scott, Kansas, passed away early Tuesday, January 31, 2023, at the Girard Medical Center in Girard, Kansas.

She was born March 9, 1928, in Arcadia, Kansas, the daughter of Joseph William McDaniel and Gracie Melissa Ridgway
McDaniel. She was the oldest of the seven McDaniel children. Josephine never had any formal schooling, but she faithfully took care of her brothers and sisters and later her nieces and
nephews. She enjoyed cleaning house and cooking. She especially enjoyed making homemade bread with her mother. One of Josephine’s chores was to hang clothes on the clothesline, and
she didn’t like anyone doing her job. She enjoyed playing with her dolls, working in her coloring book and doing puzzles, but most of all she loved Jesus. Her mother often read the
Bible to her in the evenings.

Josephine seldom missed attending the Assembly of God/Life Point
Church in Ft. Scott. For the last several years of her life, Josephine lived with her sister, Frances, in Ft. Scott.

Survivors include two brothers, William Leroy “Bill” McDaniel of Ft. Scott and Darrell McDaniel of Bentonville, Arkansas and two sisters, Frances Pearson and Ellen Morrow all of Ft. Scott. Also surviving are numerous nieces and nephews, and great-nieces and great-nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents and two brothers, Joseph McDaniel, Jr and John McDaniel.

Rev. Steve Bell will conduct funeral services at 10:30 A.M. Monday, February 6 th at the Cheney Witt Chapel. Burial will follow in the Evergreen Cemetery. Memorials are suggested to the
Josephine McDaniel Memorial Fund and may be left in care of the Cheney Witt Chapel, 201 S. Main, P.O. Box 347, Ft. Scott, KS 66701. Words of remembrance may be submitted to the
online guestbook at cheneywitt.com.

Ascension Via Christi Hospital’s Newborn Screening Program receives recognition

Ascension Via Christi Hospital in Pittsburg has been recognized for its Newborn Screening Program, a service done 24-48 hours after birth to identify and treat rare conditions.

The awards, given in partnership between the Kansas Hospital Association, Kansas Midwives Association and Kansas Department of Health and Environment, were assessed from 2021 qualifying criteria based on state screening goals. The hospital received recognition for its critical congenital heart defect, hearing, metabolic and genetic screenings.

 

“These screenings allow us to provide the best care for babies born in our hospital,” says Janelle Wade, director of inpatient services. “If needed, we are able to get the baby immediate care for conditions that may have gone unnoticed otherwise.”

 

The program, available to Kansas families at no cost since 1965, is a collaborative effort among public health, hospitals, providers and the parents of the babies screened. Newborn screening in Kansas consists of three types of tests: hearing screen to detect hearing loss, pulse oximetry screening to detect critical congenital heart defects and a heel stick to collect small blood samples which can detect 32 genetic or metabolic conditions.

 

“This achievement speaks to the high quality of care that every member of our team provides to our moms and babies,” says Drew Talbott, hospital president. “I am so proud of the collaborative effort of all involved in receiving this recognition.”

 

To learn more about Labor and Delivery at Ascension Via Christi, go to viachristibaby.com.

 

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About Ascension Via Christi

 

In Kansas, Ascension Via Christi operates seven hospitals and 75 other sites of care and employs nearly 6,400 associates. Across the state, Ascension Via Christi provided nearly $89 million in community benefit and care of persons living in poverty in fiscal year 2021. Serving Kansas for more than 135 years, Ascension is a faith-based healthcare organization committed to delivering compassionate, personalized care to all, with special attention to persons living in poverty and those most vulnerable. Ascension is the leading non-profit and Catholic health system in the U.S., operating more than 2,600 sites of care – including 145 hospitals and more than 40 senior living facilities – in 19 states and the District of Columbia. Visit www.ascension.org.

Initiative For Expanding Employment for People with Disabilities

Kansas 1 of 10 “Core” States Selected to Participate in Initiative to Expand Employment Opportunities for People with Disabilities

TOPEKA – Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services (KDADS) Secretary Laura Howard announced today that Kansas is 1 of only 10 states and the District of Columbia selected by the U.S Department of Labor’s Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP) to participate as a “core state” for its National Expansion of Employment Opportunities Network initiative (NEON).

NEON is a technical assistance initiative that advances collaboration with national provider organizations (NPOs) to develop strategic plans for increasing competitive integrated employment (CIE) opportunities for the individuals they serve, including those with significant disabilities and those who have faced barriers to employment. Until now, NEON has focused primarily on advancing CIE by offering national provider organizations technical assistance from recognized subject matter experts and support for local provider organizations. By expanding participation to core states, NEON seeks to focus on promoting positive changes in state-level policies and systems.

“KDADS is honored to be selected as a participant in this initiative designed to make employment a reality for more people with disabilities,” KDADS Secretary Howard said. “We are committed to making competitive, integrated employment a priority and implementing a strategic plan that supports effective practices and promotes healthier workplace equality.”

Competitive integrated employment (CIE) is defined by the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) as work that is performed on a full-time or part-time basis for which an individual is:

  • Compensated at or above minimum wage and comparable to the customary rate paid by the employer to employees without disabilities performing similar duties and with similar training and experience;
  • Receiving the same level of benefits provided to other employees without disabilities in similar positions;
  • At a location where the employee interacts with other individuals without disabilities; and
  • Presented opportunities for advancement similar to other employees without disabilities in similar positions.

Kansas’s participation in this initiative will help KDADS connect to consulting, capacity building support and ongoing mentoring as we seek to increase CIE for individuals with disabilities in the state.

Kansas has been designated to receive 100 hours of technical assistance from subject matter experts to be used by August 31, 2023, based on the state’s goals and needs with additional hours available as needed and approved by ODEP. This can include blending, braiding, and sequencing of funding, strategic planning, and data collection and analysis. KDADS will begin holding monthly stakeholder meetings to gather input.

Expectations for core states as set forth by NEON include a scope of work that includes the opportunity to work with a maximum of four subject matter experts (SMEs) who will provide virtual and onsite training, technical assistance and policy consulting to include:

  • One-on-One (1:1) Policy Consulting: Individualized support in accomplishing 1-3 policy-specific outcomes to assist the state in developing or implementing technical assistance objectives with the alignment of policies, practices, and funding to support the state’s initiative to enact Employment First principles, assist providers in transforming their business model, and advance NEON’s National Plan to Increase CIE.
  • Capacity Building Assistance/Training in Effective Practices: A combination of in-person and virtual capacity building assistance and training which will result in the accomplishment of 2-5 major outcomes that align with ODEP’s Criteria for Performance Excellence in Employment First State Systems Change and Provider Transformation.

In addition to the policy support described above, each NEON Core State will also have access to and be expected to engage in all ODEP’s National Employment First Community of Practice (CoP) activities, including but not limited to: monthly training webinars, a virtual policy platform, national inventory of resources to help providers achieve increased CIE, and timely updates from Federal officials on new policy developments and funding opportunities to support state NEON efforts.

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FS Parks Advisory Board Has Opening For a Member

Fort Scott Parks Board Committee has an opening for a member.
  • One opening for a three (3) year term.

 

The function of the Fort Scott Parks Board Committee is to provide suggestions to the City Manager and Governing Body regarding all the parks within the City of Fort Scott. All boards and commissions of Fort Scott serve on a volunteer basis and are not compensated.   If you have a desire to serve on this board, please submit a Letter of Interest to the City Clerk, Lisa Lewis, 123 S. Main, Fort Scott, Kansas 66701 or [email protected].  The names and letters will be submitted for consideration to the City Commission.   Please submit your letter of interest by 4:00 PM on March 3rd, 2023.

 

Obituary of Mary Ramsey

Mary Louise (Scarbrough) Ramsey, age 80, went to meet her Lord and Savior on January 30, 2023.  Mary was born in Willow Springs, Missouri on November 12, 1942.  She was the daughter of Bertha Antoinette (Cotton) Scarbrough and Pete Scarbrough.  She had an extraordinary loving relationship with her sister Martha Ann (Scarbrough) Gentry.

 

Mary was the proud Mom of Edward Ramsey, Dana Ramsey, Bob Padgett and even prouder Grandma of Garrett Ramsey, Rebecca Ramsey, Tanner Ramsey, Ross Nolan, Brenna Schroeder, Spencer Nolan, Grady Ramsey, Emery Ramsey, Remington Ramsey, Ryleigh Bowen, Waylon Ramsey, Lauren and Clayton Riisoe, Braden Gipe, Kara Riisoe, Hope Riisoe, Bradley and Morgan Little, Adeline Little, Hunter and Lex Padgett, and Waylon Padgett.

 

Mom loved her family like no other.  She provided for them and loved working as a CMA for many years.  Her passion was for her children, her grandchildren, her sister, and her sports.  She was an iconic “Grandma” to so many in the Rose Hill Community – she loved you all.

 

Her final wish was to return home to the loving Uniontown community where she raised her family.  We will miss her so much, but she will be with each and every one of us every single day.

 

Pastor Marty DeWitt will conduct funeral services at 1:00 pm. on Friday, February 3, 2023, at the First Missionary Baptist Church in Uniontown, under the direction of the Konantz-Cheney Funeral Home.

Burial will follow in the Uniontown Cemetery.

Visitation will be from 4:00-6:00 p.m. on Thursday, February 2, 2023, at the funeral home.

Memorial contributions may be made to the First Missionary Baptist Church and may be left in the care of the Konantz-Cheney Funeral Home, 15 W. Wall Street, P.O. Box 309, Fort Scott, Kansas, 66701. Condolences may be submitted to the online guestbook at konantz-cheney.com.