Old Fort Transportation, LLC, owned by Jacqueline and James Sellers, took over public transportation from Pitt-Taxi on  Jan. 1, 2019.

Sellers is no stranger to public transportation in Fort Scott.

“In 2003, I started working as the coordinator for Bourbon County Senior Citizen,” Sellers said.  “One of my responsibilities was to work with transportation, so I did some of the dispatching and the driving.”

Through the years, Sellers got to know those that used the service.

“Little did I know how much happiness and sorrow was to come,” she said.” I got to meet many of my fellow citizens, and as I grew to know them, I celebrated with them and I have mourned with them. I have taken some to job interviews and then taken them to work. Then had to say ‘see you later’ as they bought their car and were able to drive themselves to work.”

During that period of time public transportation was providing over a thousand rides a month, she said.

“Then in 2014, SEK-CAP  (South East Kansas-Community Action Program) took over transportation,” Sellers said. “It was with a heavy heart I watched as many of my transportation family were suffering from the 24-hour notice (SEK-CAP requirement) for transportation and the ridership dwindled. Bourbon County Senior Citizens, then took an active look at better transportation for the city. Pitt-Taxi took over in 2016, and I was asked once again to manage transportation. I have been able to watch transportation grow again.”

In late 2018, the owners of Pitt-Taxi made a decision to retire.

“When the owners of Pitt-Taxi decided to retire, I had to make a decision, and with the support of my husband, James, we decided to take over the transportation here in Fort Scott,” Sellers said.  “Thanks to the help of Bourbon County Senior Citizens and the support of the City (of Fort Scott), Old Fort Transportation will continue to provide the needed transportation for our hometown families.”

The business primarily provides transportation in Fort Scott, and when possible, the surrounding areas, she said.

Old Fort Transportation LLC is located at 26 N. Main, in the Bourbon County Senior Citizens Center.

“You can’t miss the vehicles (two vans) parked on Old Fort Blvd., she said.

The phone number is still the same (620)249-1440.

Regular hours of operation are Mon. through Sat. 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.

The full cost of a ride is $6.

“There is a discounted rate of $4 for senior citizens and those who have a commodity card or a Beacon card,” she said.

The public transportation business provides an average of 900 rides a month.

Sellers compiled a list of where she takes passengers:

Shopping – G &W Grocery Store, Walmart, Dollar General, Tractor Supply, Price Chopper Grocery Store, and downtown shops.

Medical appointments – Mercy, Urgent Care, Dr. Kellenburger, Baker Clinic, eye doctors, dentists, WIC, Mental Health clinic, and I Am Rehab.

Work – restaurants and fast food places, Walmart, G and W, Price Chopper, Extrusions, Peerless, Timken, First Source, Valu Merchandise, Nursing homes,  and individual homes.

Other- banks, post office, library, Fort Scott Community College, Bourbon County Court House, jail, Fort Scott City Hall, cable office, bill pay centers, automotive repair, nursing home to visit, restaurants and fast food places to eat.

Inspired by other area magazines, businessman Gary Palmer is launching a magazine called Discover Local.

The target audience will be primarily tourists, he said. “With an emphasis on local services and retailers.”

“The idea came from other magazines like 417 Magazine, which covers all those in the (telephone) area code 417 (in southwest Missouri),” he said. “It talks about the goings-on in the region with a strong emphasis on entertainment and food and what people can enjoy.”

“It ties those who would be visiting to those locally that are providing services and opportunities to enjoy. It seems there is a void for something like this.”

“The whole idea behind this,” Palmer said. “I want this magazine to be beneficial to all parties involved. I personally feel that our community has an enormous amount of resources and a willingness to help others. This is just a visual way to pair our resources with those seeking to enjoy our community.”

There will be several local authors contributing to the magazine: Larry Gazzaway, Martha Scott, Jody Hoener and others he said.

And why not publish a magazine? Palmer is the owner of Captured Images, a photography business, and owns his own printer that will be publishing the magazine.

“We will be publishing this right here on Main Street,” Palmer said.

The magazine will have no subscription costs for readers but would be paid for by the advertisements that local businesses purchase.

“There may be a small postage charge if people would like us to mail it to them,” he said.

“The subscriptions for advertisers would be billed quarterly and range from $150 up,” Palmer said. “What is very unique about the magazine is we will be asking our advertisers to subscribe annually.

“An annual subscription will include a feature about the advertiser,” Palmer said. “If Capture Images buys one-half page for the year, for example, it would get a full page article at some point, featuring the business.”

There will be four publications annually.

The magazine would be placed in local hotels and the Tourism/Chamber of Commerce Office.

Captured Images Press is located at 118 S. Main and can be contacted at 223-5375.

“Our community needs something positive,” he said. “I hope this builds momentum.”

Jared Leek began Front Door Real Estate in 2008 working out of his home, he told the Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce Coffee attendees Thursday morning.

In October 2018 he opened an office business at 14 S. Main.

The real estate business hosted the Chamber Coffee at a new listing, a house located at 500 Sunset Drive.

Lisa Ward and Crystal Mason are agents for Front Door Real Estate, while Leek is the broker.

“A ton of real estate is moving in Fort Scott,” Leek said. “A lot of out- of-town people are moving in. We had a fantastic year, last year.”

The featured house at  500 Sunset Drive,  is a four bedroom, three bath home with 2, 252 square feet, built in 1950, listed at $149,900.

“It’s a great, solid house, well taken care of,” Mason said.

The agency sells residential, commercial, lots,  land and lake property.

For more information call 620-224-9787.

Bids and Dibs consignment store has outgrown its current space and has moved to 108 Scott Avenue.

Last week the staff shut down the store at 19 S. National Avenue, and put excess merchandise out on the sidewalk to give away.

Bids and Dibs consignment store has been in its present location for six years and has outgrown the facility.

The store will have a larger area at the new address, 108  Scott Avenue, Suite C.

Store owner Angie Simon said the employees have been working to get the shop reopened at its new site.

“We will make the main shop entrance face Second Street across from City State Bank”, Simon said. “Wise Tax and Accounting will remain in Suite A on Scott Ave. Suite B (previously The Bunker) will be available for rent or turned into something fabulous soon. We will gain a wonderful amount of square footage that will allow us to serve you better. We are incredibly excited about 2019!”

“Our hope is that the additional square footage will allow our customers a more satisfying shopping experience by offering a greater variety of merchandise,” she said. “Along with increasing the categories in which we carry resale items we are excited to announce we will be adding to our new boutique lines”.

“Construction started on the facility last week. We are hoping to re-open sometime this month,” Simon said.

“We will be prepared to start accepting consignments within the next two weeks. We will post details about our new consignment drop off procedures and opening dates on our Facebook page as soon as they are available”.

“The new store will have a much bigger sales floor allowing us to accept larger furniture pieces and household appliances, there will be a sizable room solely dedicated to online sales and our private consignor intake area will allow consignors to drop off items quickly and easily. The larger building will also give us the freedom to host more after-hours events like private parties and fundraisers.”