The American Red Cross is having a Fort Scott Community Blood Drive at Buck Run Community Center, 735 Scott, following the holidays.
Wednesday, Dec. 26 from 1 to 7 p.m. and Thursday, Dec. 27 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. donors are encouraged to donate.
Please call 620-223-5946 to schedule an appointment.
Fort Scott KS – During the shutdown of the federal government due to the lapse of appropriations, national parks will remain as accessible as possible while still following all applicable laws and procedures. Park grounds at Fort Scott National Historic Site will remain accessible to visitors, but emergency and rescue services will be limited.
There will be no NPS-provided visitor services at Fort Scott National Historic Site, including public information, restrooms, trash collection, and facilities and roads maintenance (including plowing and snow removal if applicable).
Because of the federal government shutdown, NPS social media and websites are not being monitored or updated and may not reflect current conditions. All park programs have been canceled, including: Fort Guided Tours.
Please visit www.nps.gov/fosc for park information and www.nps.gov and select “Find a Park” for additional information about access to other parks and sites.
For updates on the shutdown, please visit www.doi.gov/shutdown.
Fort Scott KS – The Fort Scott National Historic Site’s Visitor Center and fort buildings will be closed and no programs will be offered on Christmas day and New Year’s day (December 25, 2018 and January 1, 2019) to allow staff to celebrate the holidays with their families. Regular winter hours are 8:30 am to 4:30 pm daily.
Please visit our website for pictures and information about the fort, as well as its role in U.S. history and the shaping of the west. Information on visiting can be found on the Plan Your Visit page of our website (www.nps.gov/fosc), by calling 620-223-0310, or by emailing us.
The Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT) requests comments on an amendment to the FFY 2019-2022 Statewide Transportation Improvement Program (STIP) document.
The STIP is a project specific publication that lists all KDOT administered projects, regardless of funding source, and includes projects for counties and cities as well as projects on the State Highway System. The list of projects being amended to the STIP can be viewed at http://www.ksdot.org/bureaus/burProgProjMgmt/stip/stip.asp
The approval of the STIP amendment requires a public comment period, which concludes Jan. 2, 2019. To make comments on the amendment, contact KDOT’s Bureau of Program and Project Management at (785) 296-2252.
This information is available in alternative accessible formats. To obtain an alternative format, contact the KDOT Office of Public Affairs, (785) 296-3585 (Voice/Hearing Impaired-711).
WICHITA, Kan. — Fort Scott Presbyterian Village was recognized with an Emerald Award from Presbyterian Manors of Mid-America for reaching goals in fiscal year 2018, July 1, 2017, through June 30, 2018.
The recognition came through PMMA’s Emerald Awards Program, designed to encourage its 17 locations and two hospices to achieve high levels of resident and employee satisfaction, meet financial goals, build philanthropic support for the organization’s mission and meet marketing goals. There are 11 areas measured for the Emerald Awards.
To receive an emerald, a community has to meet its goals in all 11 areas. Team members from the community attended PMMA’s annual Emerald Award Banquet Dec. 6 at the Broadview Hotel in Wichita to accept the award.
“We are pleased to present Fort Scott Presbyterian Village with its first Emerald Award. This recognition is a visible sign of the Fort Scott team’s commitment to the mission of PMMA of providing quality senior services guided by Christian values,” said Bruce Shogren, chief executive officer for PMMA.
Presbyterian Manors of Mid-America has been providing quality senior services guided by Christian values in Kansas and Missouri for nearly 70 years.
For more information about Fort Scott Presbyterian Village, contact Marketing Director Becky Kellum at 620-223-5550 or [email protected].
Fort Scott Presbyterian Village has been offering independent and assisted living apartments for seniors from southeast Kansas and southwest Missouri since 1994. Learn more at FortScottPresbyterianVillage.org. It is a member of the nonprofit Presbyterian Manors of Mid-America network of 17 communities and 2 hospices in Kansas and Missouri. Learn more about PMMA at PresbyterianManors.org.
KCP&L and Westar Energy warn customers of imposters
Callers use threat of disconnection to get immediate payment.
KANSAS CITY, Mo., and TOPEKA, Kan. – Dec. 17, 2018 – KCP&L and Westar Energy are alerting customers that imposters claiming to work for the companies are threatening to disconnect service and asking for prepaid cards as payment. In some cases, the caller is using a prerecorded voice. Several customers have called to report receiving suspicious phone calls.
Some imposters are very convincing. They may use websites that allow them to manipulate caller ID, making the call appear to come from KCP&L or Westar. They may use a prerecorded message. They speak with authority. When the targeted customer calls the phone numbers provided, the person who answers sounds like they work for KCP&L or Westar. In some cases, callers may even provide information like amount due that makes them sound credible.
“Scammers create a sense of urgency to get customers to act quickly rather than allowing them time to check their account,” Gina Penzig, manager, media communications, said. “We will never require a pre-paid card for payment. Also, we notify customers multiple times in advance if service may be interrupted for non-payment.”
Before acting on one of these calls, check your records to see if a recent payment has been made. If you are still unsure, check your account online or call the Westar Energy Customer Relations Center, 1-800-383-1183, or the KCP&L Customer Contact Center, 1-888-471-5275, and check your account status. More about identifying scams: https://www.westarenergy.com/scams or https://www.kcpl.com/involvement/safety/fraud-alerts.
If a customer receives a suspicious visit from an individual, he or she should also report it to their local law enforcement agency.
About KCP&L and Westar Energy:
Serving approximately 1.5 million customers in Kansas and Missouri, Kansas City Power & Light Company (KCP&L), KCP&L Greater Missouri Operations Company and Westar Energy are the electric utilities of Evergy, Inc. (NYSE: EVRG). Together we generate nearly half the power we provide to homes and businesses with emission-free sources. We support our local communities where we live and work, and strive to meet the needs of customers through energy savings and innovative solutions.
Contacts – Media:
Gina Penzig
Manager, media communications
785-575-8089
Media line: 888-613-0003
Cricket Wireless, a cell phone company/service, moved to Nevada, MO late last week.
“The Cricket store is independently owned by Donald Vance, Optimal Wireless LLC, Boerne, TX,” Cricket Store Manager Melissa Goff said.
The store was moved Dec. 13 Goff said, adding she found out about the move a few days before.
“The market wasn’t moving in Fort Scott,” Goff said. “It seems that Nevada has more of a growing market, a bigger market.”
The new store is located at 111 E. Austin and can be reached at 417-448-6293.
Hours: Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Saturday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Sunday Noon to 5 p.m.
They have four employees: Goff, Danny Roberts and Corbin Davis all from Fort Scott, a new employee is being hired in Nevada, Goff said.
“We will meet at CFI, 4701 E. 32nd, Joplin, MO, Saturday 15 December at 8:00 am,” Kevin Wagner, organizer, said.
“We’ll go KSU from CFI at 8:15 am en route to Pittsburg Walmart, 2710 N. Broadway.”
“We should arrive at Walmart at approximately 9:00 am and plan to go KSU from there at 9:15 am to Ft. Scott National Cemetery.”
“A group from Fort Scott will be leaving 5 Corners Mini Mart, 1122 S Clark St, at 8:30 am en route to Pittsburg Wal Mart.”
Pittsburg Youth Chorale
FINALE CONCERT
Tuesday, December 11th
6PM
Pittsburg Memorial Auditorium & Convention Center
Pittsburg Youth Chorale is under the direction of MJ Harper, composed of 4th-6th grade musicians from Southeast Kansas. The purpose of this vocal ensemble is to further grow vocal abilities, musical knowledge, and choral repertoire. Participants perform at community events. If you would like us to perform for your event, please contact:
MJ Harper at [email protected] or 620-719-6633.
Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas CFO Douglas Stuckey sits on the knee of Fort Scott’s Carl “Santa” Jowers at the Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce Chamber Coffee Thursday morning, wishing for improved transportation services for Fort Scott veterans.
CHC/SEK will be the new primary care entity, following the closing of Mercy Hospital Fort Scott.
The Fort Scott VA Clinic is in the process of acquiring a passenger van to transport local Veterans to their medical appointments at the Topeka VA Medical Center.
Jowers was approached by Fort Scott VA Clinic staff to locate volunteer drivers to drive the shuttle.
Volunteer drivers are needed to drive the shuttle.
One need not be a Veteran to be a shuttle driver. Volunteers must be willing to commit to driving the shuttle at least one day a month to and from Fort Scott.
This is a volunteer position with the VA.
“You will not receive pay, but drivers will receive a meal voucher for use in the VA cafeteria,” Jowers said. “Volunteers must pass a VA physical and background check including their driving history”
“We will initially set up one a week for the shuttle service to operate. However, if enough people volunteer their time, we could expand the service to two or three days a week and even set up a shuttle service to and from the Kansas City VA Medical Center as well.”
Please call Carl Jowers at 620-215-1688 or email him at [email protected] for more information or to volunteer as a driver.
Area singers in 4th, 5th, and 6th grade are invited to join Pittsburg Youth Chorale through Pittsburg Memorial Auditorium and Convention Center. Participants do not need to be enrolled in USD 250 to belong to this ensemble.
Pittsburg Youth Chorale is under the direction of MJ Harper, Music Teacher at Eugene Ware Elementary in Fort Scott, KS. The purpose of this vocal ensemble is to further grow vocal abilities, musical knowledge, and choral repertoire. Participants will have the opportunity to perform at community events as well as on the Memorial stage.
Rehearsals are Tuesdays from 5PM-6PM at Pittsburg Memorial Auditorium and Convention Center, 503 N. Pine, Pittsburg, KS. Rehearsals begin January 8th. There is a fee of $60 per session (Jan 8-May 7). To enroll, visit Pittsburg Memorial Auditorium and Convention Center between 8:30AM and 4:30PM, or call 620-231-7827, deadline January 8th.
# # #
Contact: MJ Harper, 620-719-6633, [email protected]
November 27. Tuesday. American Legion Service Officer Myra Jowers is at Memorial Hall from 9 – 11 am. Myra is available to assist you with questions about your VA claims or paperwork. This free service is for ANY Veteran or family member who may have questions about starting a VA claim or have questions about next steps. Please share this information with any Veteran you may know who might need assistance in dealing with their VA paperwork.
November 27. Tuesday. American Legion Post 25 Commander Carl Jowers has office hours at Memorial Hall from 9 – 11 am. Carl is available to discuss any suggestions or concerns you may have about Post 25, Veterans issues in general or just to help solve world problems. Carl will meet with you at other times by emailing him at [email protected] or calling him at 620-215-1688 to schedule an appointment.
November 29. Thursday. Post 25 Executive Committee meets at 6 pm in Memorial Hall.
November 30. Friday. 4 – 8 PM. Carl and Myra Jowers as Mr. and Mrs. Claus at the Fort Scott Wal-Mart. Children of all ages can stop by for a photo op with Santa and Mrs. Claus. Donations for American Legion Post 25 programs will be accepted.
December 1. Saturday. 10 am – 2 pm. Carl and Myra Jowers as Mr. and Mrs. Claus at the Fort Scott Wal-Mart. Children of all ages can stop by for a photo op with Santa and Mrs. Claus. Donations for American Legion Post 25 programs will be accepted.
December 2. Sunday. 1 – 5 pm. Carl and Myra Jowers as Mr. and Mrs. Claus at the Fort Scott Wal-Mart. Children of all ages can stop by for a photo op with Santa and Mrs. Claus. Donations for American Legion Post 25 programs will be accepted.
December 3. Monday. 6:30 pm. Post 25 meet and greet. Light refreshments will be available at the end of the meeting.
December 3. Monday. 7 pm. Post 25 general membership meeting. The meeting is held at the Memorial Hall at National and 3rd in downtown Fort Scott. All Post 25 members, eligible Veterans and guests are invited to attend the meeting.
December 4. Tuesday. American Legion Service Officer Myra Jowers is at Memorial Hall from 9 – 11 am. Myra is available to assist you with questions about your VA claims or paperwork. This free service is for ANY Veteran or family member who may have questions about starting a VA claim or have questions about next steps. Please share this information with any Veteran you may know who might need assistance in dealing with their VA paperwork.
December 4. Tuesday. American Legion Post 25 Commander Carl Jowers has office hours at Memorial Hall from 9 – 11 am. Carl is available to discuss any suggestions or concerns you may have about Post 25, Veterans issues in general or just to help solve world problems. Carl will meet with you at other times by emailing him at [email protected] or calling him at 620-215-1688 to schedule an appointment.
Other items:
Post 25 is collecting gently used jackets and coats for the Fort Scott High School Seniors. Bring coats and jackets to the membership meeting on Monday, November 5, to Memorial Hall on Tuesday, November 6 during Commander’s office hours or call the Commander at 620-215-1688 to arrange local pickup. Coats and jackets may also be taken to Fort Scott High School offices.
Program Chairs needed.
The only requirements to be a program chair are to be a Legionnaire and a desire to work with our young people. There are plenty of mentors at both District and Department to guide you in hosting a successful program.
Carl Jowers, Commander
Fort Scott American Legion Post 25
