Category Archives: Bourbon County
Looking for Your Roots?
Want to learn more about ancestors that have lived or died in our community?
For those who would like to learn more about their roots in Bourbon County, there is a place to start: the Old Fort Genealogy Society, located in the basement of Memorial Hall, Third and National Avenue.
Recently, the staff has started a Facebook page.
“We started at the end of February, the Old Fort Genealogy and History at Fort Scott, Kansas Facebook page,” Ann Rawlins, librarian at the society said.
“We wanted to post stories and and pictures and answer questions,” she said. “We wanted a site for genealogy questions. and have an internet presence.”
People are invited to post pictures, stories, or ask questions on the Facebook page.
The Old Fort Genealogical Society researches people’s ancestors who have lived in Bourbon County.
They can be reached at 620.223.3300 or the website is ksgenweb/society/ft.scott.
Hours of operation are Monday through Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
The following is a recent humorous post on the Facebook page.
Advance Bourbon County: New Non-Profit
Local businessman, Josh Jones, has started a non-profit foundation that will provide funding for projects in the community.
“This community has meant a lot to me and my family and we wanted to find a way to give back,” Jones said. “We felt like this was a good way to make a long term impact.”
“The purpose of Advance Bourbon County is to find ways to make our community better through charitable contributions and work,” Jones said.
“I have asked Bailey Lyons and Katie Hueston to come on board and help me with this adventure, as they have been just amazing and have put so much time, effort, and passion into the splash pad and sensory park project,” he said.
“We are a 100% volunteer foundation with 100% of all proceeds going back to the community,” according to the Advance Bourbon County Facebook page. “Our fundraising tactics will be through events, grants, and grass root donations from citizens with a vested interest in seeing our community thrive.”
The splash pad and sensory park will be put in place in 2023, following the fundraising efforts of Jones, Lyons and Hueston and others.
“My goal is a core of us handle the majority of day to day things and we work with other groups/people on different projects as a team, as the need arises,” he said. “We really want this to be a grass roots foundation that involves all.”
In the past few months, this group has bought a comedy show and an illusionist to town to help fund the splash pad/sensory park that will be located in the downtown area of Fort Scott.
They have many events they are collaborating with others in town to make happen for 2023.
The following are those projects:
On April 1, the group is helping to organize the Blue Collar Awards, that will be honoring the manual workers in the community.
“We are working together with Aaron Judy on this,” Jones said.
On April 15, they are organizing the Greg Morton Comedy Show for the community, comedian Andrew Rose will be opening for Morton.
On June 9, they are working together with Cory Bryars and Brad Matkin to make a Live Band Karaoke happen.
On July 1, in collaboration with Bill Michaud, they are bringing the Game Show Road Show to the community.
On August 26, another comedian, Todd Royce, will be coming to town.
On November 18 in collaboration with Cory Bryars and Brad Matkin the Almost Kiss Tribute Band will be in town.
On December 1-2 there will be Christmas on the Bricks
There are working with another group, Elevate Fort Scott, which includes Diane Striler, Kirk Sharp, Cory Bryars, Lindsey Madison, and Brad Matkin.
- Fundraising to help purchase AED units for the Fort Scott Fire Department.
An automated external defibrillator (AED) is a medical device designed to analyze the heart rhythm and deliver an electric shock to victims of sudden cardiac arrest, to restore the heart rhythm to normal, according to https://www.osha.gov/aed
- Fund raising that will go towards updating Memorial Hall.
- Rehabbing and refurbishing the caboose at Fisher Park and possibly moving it to a focal point at the entrance of Fort Scott.
- Continuing to bring in more events for the community to enjoy, according to the ABC Facebook page.
For those interested in donating:
“Getting a foothold as a new non profit is challenging,” according to the ABC Facebook page. “In just a few short months we have already raised over $20,000 through events and fundraisers. However raising awareness for our cause is crucial if we are truly going to make any long term impact.
We would love if you would consider making a donation to our cause of making Bourbon County an even better place for us to live and helping us with our charitable projects.”
“They can follow and message us on Facebook at Advance Bourbon County 501C3,” he said. “They can bring donations by Bourbon County Cars (where Jones is the general sales manager), send donations through Venmo, or take donations to Citizens Bank in Fort Scott and deposit into our charity account”
West Bourbon Elementary School: Kindergarten Roundup Coming March 20
West Bourbon Elementary School – Uniontown
Kindergarten Roundup Coming in March
A screening clinic for 2023-2024 kindergarten students has been scheduled for Monday, March 20 at West Bourbon Elementary. To be eligible for kindergarten, your child must be 5 years old on or before August 31, 2023.
Students who will be new to WBE will sign up for a 30 minute slot to be assessed on March 20. Please bring in your child’s birth certificate and immunization record. The agenda for the child will include kindergarten skills assessment, vision, hearing, speech, and checking health records.
Kindergarten children are required to have a physical exam within 12 months of beginning school and have all current immunizations. The Bourbon County Health Department will be onsite providing immunizations and physicals.
Due to the screenings, there will be no Kindergarten class on March 20th.
For the best testing environment for your child, we ask that you not bring brothers or sisters.
To set up a time for screening and assessment, please call the school at 620-756-4335 or visit https://tinyurl.com/WBEKindergartenRoundup.
Bourbon County Job Fair April 13
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K-State Healthy Lifestyle Challenge Begins
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The Bourbon County Commission Agenda for March 2
Learn How to Can
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Bourbon County Arts Council Exhibit Features Many Local Artists
An annual art exhibit will include several local artists this weekend.
The Bourbon County Arts Council will present its 31st Annual Fine Arts Exhibit, March 2 through 11, at the Danny and Willa Ellis Family Fine Arts Center, on the Campus of Fort Scott Community College at 2108 S. Horton.
Local artists entered include Kathryn Allen, Haley Beaton, Trista Brigg, Rylee Coulter, Stephanie Erie, Bareigh Farrell, Steve Floyd, Grace French, Alie Fuhrman, Chance Fuhrman, Barbara Gibson, Lucy Gladbach, Alexis Herring, Bobbi Kemna, Terry Koester, Connie Neil, Kadra Nevitt, Gayle Sackett, Jim Sackett, Caitlynn Tate, Cadence Tuck, amd Cayden Woods.
Other artists who are participating in the exhibit are from Missouri, Oklahoma and Texas.
The mission of the council is to foster, promote and increase the knowledge, appreciation and practice of the arts, according to its Facebook page.
The council will host the Fort Scott Chamber Coffee at 8 a.m. on Thursday March 2, at the Ellis Center, which kicks off the event.
A reception will be held on March 2 from 6 to 8 p.m. to honor this year’s juror and artists. The public is invited to attend and enjoy the opportunity to meet and visit with them about the art.
The exhibit will be open to the public beginning March 2 through Saturday March 11, weekdays from noon to 7 p.m., and on Saturday, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
There is no admission charge for this event, and the community is encouraged to come and enjoy a collection of original artwork.
Artists will have their work on display and for sale in this multi-media exhibit, with categories including ceramics, drawing and graphics, fiber arts, glasswork, jewelry, mixed media, painting, pastels, photography, printmaking, sculpture, and watercolor.
This year’s theme is “Doorways and Windows.”
Cash prizes awarded for category winners are given by the Bourbon County Arts Council in memory of E.C. Gordon, and by the generous sponsorship from these local businesses: Buerge Art Studio, Citizens Bank, City State Bank, Edward D. Jones, Fort Scott Broadcasting, H&H Realty, Landmark Bank, Lyons Realty, MidContinental Restoration, Osage Timber Mills, State Farm Insurance, Union State Bank, and Ward Kraft.
About the Juror
Trent Freeman is the juror for the exhibit. Freeman received his Bachelors in Fine Arts from Emporia State University, and also studied at Kansas University and abroad in Australia.
Freeman is a sculptor whose works have been featured in private collections, local galleries, and at fine-art festivals.
He has instructed privately from his studio for the past 25 years, and continues teaching workshops and private classes currently in Fort Scott where he and his wife, Kate Riddle Freeman, have recently opened a privately owned art gallery, The Artificers, at 8 North National Avenue. From here, they are resident artists in their teaching and working studio.
As an artist, he draws inspiration from Old World and Asian techniques, using native wood, and recycled glass and metals to create his eclectic designs.
He has spent much of his career in education and instruction, facilitating college workshops, providing continuing education for teachers, and instructing at the Carnegie Art Center in Leavenworth.
He was a member of the Board of the Bonner Springs Art Alliance from 2017 -2020.
The Arts Council Board
The Bourbon County Arts Council Board is made up of Deb Anderson, President; Bre Eden, Vice President; Steve Floyd, Secretary; Terri Floyd, Treasurer; Cindy Bartelsmeyer, Elaine Buerge, Deb Halsey, Justin Meeks, Kelly Nelson, Linda Noll, Robin Whitlock, and Chris Woods.
Bo Co Arts Council Art Exhibit March 2-11
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Bo Co Coalition Meets March 1 at Scottview Apartments
The monthly Bourbon County Coalition meeting will be Wednesday, March 1, 1:00 p.m. in the Conference Room at the Scottview Apartments, 315 S. Scott.
Bourbon County Inter-Agency Coalition
General Membership Meeting Agenda
March 1, 2023
- Welcome:
- Member Introductions and Announcements:
- Program: Bailey Lyons and possibly others of her committee will tell us about the project and progress of the Splash Pad.
- Open Forum:
- Adjournment: Next General Membership meeting will be April 5, at 1:00 p.m. Carson Felt and an ensemble from the FSHS orchestra will present our program.
Chamber Coffee hosted by Bourbon County Arts Council at FSCC On March 2
The Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce invites members and guests to a Chamber Coffee on Thursday, March 2nd at 8 a.m. hosted by Bourbon County Arts Council. The event will be held at the Ellis Fine Arts Center on the campus of Fort Scott Community College, 2108 Horton St. Coffee, juice, and light refreshments will be served.
The 31st Annual Bourbon County Arts Council exhibit will be open to the public Thursday, March 2nd through Saturday March 11th, weekdays 12 p.m. to 7 p.m. and the two included Saturdays 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. An artist reception will also be held March 2nd from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. where participating artists will have the opportunity to listen to the juror critique and visit with him about their pieces. The public is welcome to the artist reception where light refreshments will be served. Categories included in the exhibit will be Ceramics, Sculpture, Mixed Media, Jewelry, Pastel, Watercolor, Fiber Art, Painting (Oil & Acrylic), Drawing & Graphic (Pencil, Pen, Ink), Photography, Glasswork, Printmaking, and a Themed Category of “Doorways & Windows”.
Any member business or organization wanting to host Chamber Coffee in 2023 is encouraged to contact the Chamber to save a date by calling 620-223-3566 or emailing [email protected].