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Category Archives: Area News
Twice as Nice Variety Store, Arma
Arma, KS — If you are shopping on a budget, you are familiar with the thrift store. Everybody loves a good deal, right? In the middle of Arma, KS, Twice as Nice is going on two years at their current location, 301 N West Street, Arma.
Betty Dehn, (pronounced deen) travels often with her husband and frequents thrift stores and antique malls. Two years ago, she decided it was time to start her own store. Being familiar with a piece of property that once had been a restaurant, made arrangements to move in.
She started in the front two rooms and continues to expand as work get completed on the building. She has quite an inventory that is changing all the time.
Being a grandmother with over 15 grandchildren, she knows how expensive providing basic items and gifts can be for all the children. She really feels this is a ministry to provide very affordable home wares and clothing to those who may not be able to afford necessary home items.
Currently, she is only open 10-4pm on Friday and Saturdays. Donations are welcome during those times as well. The best way to keep up with what is going on is to join their Facebook group page. But if you want to take a peek inside hurry in before the end of the year because she will be closed January and February to catch up with all her grand kids!
Arcadia Sponsors Christmas for the Kids
Arcadia, KS — For many years, a devout few in the city of Arcadia decided that not one child in the city limits would experience a Christmas without gifts. “Six girls and a guy” seem to be the horse-power behind the event that provides the dinner and the gifts.
Of course, there are many who participate and donate to the cause through various ways. The event costs about $3,000 which is raised throughout the year with bake sales, community concerts, contributions from “Our Gang,” “Autumn Leaves” and anonymous donations.
December 13th, almost 200 people gathered at the community center to have dinner, meet Santa and every child that signed up at City Hall received as much was possible on their wish list. The organizers even made sure to have plenty of extra gifts for kids who came who weren’t on the sign-up list.
Fundraising efforts go on through the year, so if you are interesting in helping the kids out next year, contact Arcadia City Hall for more information: 620.639.4344.
Holiday Lights Tour!
FORT SCOTT – The Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce announces the Holiday Lights tours for the 2014 holiday season. The tours will run from December 12 to January 8 in the evenings (Monday – Saturday) by group reservation only; minimum of 6 riders. The cost is $7 for adults, $5 for children 12 and under. Tours are a great activity for groups, businesses, families, and other organizations; maximum of 12 adults per tour. Tours take place on the current trolley substitute, a festive and handicap accessible shuttle. Proceeds from tours will benefit the fund for a new trolley.
The trolley adventure is sure to be entertaining as “Elves” from the Fort Scott Community College theatre department will be leading passengers in Christmas carols and other entertainment, including local comedian Kevin Allen (Skitch) throughout each tour. Glow necklaces will be presented to each rider and complimentary hot chocolate and cookies will be served before each tour.
Homes, neighborhoods and businesses in the Fort Scott area are encouraged to get in the spirit by festively decorating with Christmas lights and other exterior decorations. This year the Chamber will have a selected committee that will take the tour prior to December 19th to award the 1st, 2nd and 3rd place light displays. Contestants do not need to officially enter with the Chamber. The committee will be judging all properties in the city limits. Those winners will be presented with a 1st, 2nd or 3rd place award as well as a Chamber Bucks certificate.
To make reservations for the 2014 Holiday Lights tour, contact the Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce at (620) 223-3566.
Construction Update LaRoche Ballfields
Fort Scott, KS — If you don’t travel to the south end of town very often, you most likely haven’t been watching the progress of The LaRoche Baseball Complex. Ground was broken in May 2014 and the complex is set to be completed by 2015 Spring baseball schedule. The first game is set for April 2nd. Here area few renderings:
Adam and Jennifer LaRoche had the vision to create a top-notch baseball complex for Fort Scott High School, so they would not have to work their practice schedules around a shared field with the Fort Scott Community College. In an open letter, (you can read here), the LaRoche family writes about how baseball and great coaches have impacted their lives and want to help build a complex that will continue to provide opportunities to others.
The price tag for the complex is around $2 million, which the LaRoche family has provided up front to get the project started. Dave Martin, City Manager, (along with other agencies) are looking for sponsors to come alongside and sponsor the building project.
Any community members are welcome to contribute to the building fund. If you are looking for a major place to contribute, there are many ways. You can click here to see amounts need to sponsor different components. If you are looking for smaller way to contribute you can click here for a complete list, including seat sponsorship. All of these can be paid over a three year period.
LaRoche vision is eventually to host concerts, tournaments and other revenue producing events to boost local economy and help with upkeep costs for the field. A joint agreement between the school and the city, will be responsible for the maintenance and upkeep of the ball field.
If you would like to make a tax-deductible contribution, please contact Cathy or Marlene at the Fort Scott Area Community Foundation.
Fort Scott Area Community Foundation
PO Box 901
Fort Scott, KS 66701
620-231-8897
General inquiries can also be sent to Lindsay Madison:
Executive Director
Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce & Tourism Center
231 E. Wall Street
Fort Scott, KS 66701
Phone: (620) 223-3566 Fax: (620) 223-3574
Email: [email protected]
Historic Preservation Association of Bourbon County Host Events
Fort Scott, KS — Last weekend the Historic Preservation Association of Bourbon County (HPA) was very busy and most likely recuperating this week. You can visit their full web page here.
Friday night, Moonlight and Mistletoe, an event hosted by Bob and Denise Duncan at their renovated corporate building into a beautiful 8,000 square foot living quarters. Saturday and Sunday, the holiday homes tour were going on – allowing visitors to tours some of Fort Scott’s older homes.
Also, HPA hosted the annual Stocking Stuffer craft fair at Fort Scott Middle School. Rhonda Dunn, coordinator, reported 36 vendors were on site to offer a wide variety of crafts and stocking stuffers.
These events are the main fund-raisers they do once a year. The HPA is responsible for maintaining many of the historical sites in the county and often match grants from the city to assist in restoration projects of down town Fort Scott.
For more information or questions of how you can be involved, contact:
Rhonda Dunn
620.223.3800 ext 192
[email protected]
Candlelight Tour of Fort Scott
Fort Scott, KS — On December 5th and 6th, Fort Scott National Historic site hosted their 33rd Annual Candlelight Tour. Actors and tour guides take you back through a re-creation of what was going on many, many years ago. Following the tour, there were light refreshments and social with actors who continued to carry the theme of the evening in costume, music and games.
Each year, the Fort selects a different time period in which to re-enact. This year’s focus was 1864 and Fort Scott’s weary eye upon General Price’s advancement in Missouri and procurement of the Fort’s vast supplies.
At the Fort, over 700 candles were lit and over 100 actors including community members and students from Fort Scott High School. Fort Scott is a National Historic site with over 20 historic structures, a parade ground and five acres of restored tallgrass prairie. The Fort is open for self-guided tours and is a wealth of historical information. Many thanks to volunteers who have put in countless hours to help preserve the rich history in our community.
For more information:
Fort Scott NHS
Old Fort Blvd.
Fort Scott, KS 66701
Visitor Information
620-223-0310
Construction update on Tedsco Skate Park
Fort Scott, KS — Construction has begin on the James B. Tedesco Memorial Skate park expansion. The construction crew arrived in Fort Scott on November 25th and have been doing the preliminary dirt work and set up a few forms for the expansion areas. The park is located at 4th and Scott street and you can view their Facebook page here.
The park was originally constructed in April 2012 and now with a generous gift from Steve Tedesco, a businessman from Colorado, has made the expansion possible. Construction is hoped to be completed by the end of the year.
Construction pictures:
Current park pictures:
Homes for the Holidays Tour
Fort Scott, KS – This weekend is packed full of great events going on. Already, this short article space will not be enough to cover all that is going on. Hopefully, you will have a chance to get out this weekend and participate in some of the activities.
This will be the 35th year the homes have been available for touring. The event is sponsored by the Historic Preservation Association of Bourbon County (HPA). The tour dates are December 6th and 7th, Saturday, 11am-5pm and Sunday, noon-4pm. Admission is a $12 donation and you can pick up a ticket and map at any of the homes.
In brief, there are four homes on the tour this year. You can click here to see the homes and the addresses ahead of time, but you will have to show up in person to really appreciate the beauty and the hard work these home-owners have done to showcase these remarkable homes.
We were able to catch up with two home owners to get a sneak peek inside the homes. Erica Schuber-Chikly, 816 S. Crawford, has just recently completed remodeling of her home, established in 1888. Here are a few pictures:
Also, Joyce Gobl was kind enough to allow us a few early pictures. Joyce and her sister, June Seaver were both working hard to put the finishing touches on over 19 trees located within the home Joyce doesn’t take credit, but said June is really the master designer of the presentation of the trees. Here are just a few pictures:
The two other homes include an 8,000 square foot home, re-purposed from a business built in 1922 and a three story Victorian brick home built in 1884.
Not only are you able to enjoy the beauty and the history of these homes and hear the stories, your ticket fee will continue to support the efforts and programs of the HPA. When you are finished with the tour, you can stop by the Middle School (1105 E 12th St) , where HPA is sponsoring, “The Stocking Stuffer.” FREE ADMISSION. If you still have some shopping left to do, gift items and crafts are available for purchase along with baked goods and a brisket lunch. Hours: Saturday 9am-5pm; Sunday 11am-4pm
If you have an event or something you think we might be interested in writing about, please send us an email: [email protected]
Fort Scott Area Chamber Holiday Parade
Fort Scott, KS — Tuesday night hundreds of people gathered to the Historic Downtown Fort Scott to watch the annual Holiday parade hosted by the the Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce. The parade started at 6pm on Main Street from 3rd Street to Skubits Plaza.
Following the parade, the Mayor’s Tree Lighting ceremony commenced. A few remarks were made by Cindy Bartelsmeyer in Skubits Plaza before several prizes were given away. Local businesses, Walgreens, Radio Shack and Walmart, were kind enough to donate prizes for the drawings. The lighting of the tree wrapped up the outdoor activities.
During the parade, everyone was able to enjoy a cup of hot chocolate provided by the Fort Scott Recreation Commission and after the Tree Ceremony, kids were welcomed by Santa at Papa Don’s. The first 200 children were given a free book donated by Greenbush. If you weren’t able to make it, here are a few pictures to tide you over until the next Fort Scott Parade!
Fort Scott Christmas Parade
Fort Scott, KS – The holidays are nearly upon us and many are gearing up for all the festivities. One event you need to make sure and have on your calendar is the city Christmas parade happening December 2nd, downtown. The parade starts at 6pm on Main Street and ends at the Skubitz Plaza. At the plaza will be Santa and drawings for prizes.
If you are the creative type and interested in putting a float in the parade, there is still time to get your entry submitted!! There are cash prizes for the top three entries and you can submit your entry to the Chamber.
If you have questions, contact the Fort Scott Area Chamber and Tourism Center
231 E. Wall
620.223.3566
[email protected]
Chili Feed Today – United Methodist Church
Fort Scott, KS — If you are wondering what to do for lunch today, the United Methodist Women will sponsor the “Friendship Soup Lunch” in the church’s fellowship hall from 11:30a – 1:30p. The menu will include Chili, Potato Soup, Hamburger Soup, a variety of pies and a drink! There’s no charge, but you are welcome to make a donation! They will also be having a bake sale starting at 11am.
Also, next weekend (November 22), First UMC is sponsoring a concert at FSCC in the Ellis Fine Arts Center at 7pm. No charge for the concert, but there will be a offering to help cover expenses. Two bands will be playing, Among the Lost and Greater than Fables will be performing.
Check out their Facebook page here.
Check out their Facebook page here.
You can keep up with all that’s happening at First UMC at their website here or you can ‘like’ their Facebook page here
Contact:
Address: 301 S National Ave, Fort Scott, KS 66701
Phone:(620) 223-1950
If you have an event coming up or think you know of something we maybe interested in covering, please email us: [email protected]