The Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce officially welcomed the Cricket Wireless store to town Friday afternoon with a ribbon-cutting event during the store’s Grand Opening activities at their location at 205 E. 3^rd Street.

“We’re happy to have you in Fort Scott,” chamber Executive Director Lindsay Madison said, adding she is pleased to see that strip mall full of stores once more after having empty storefronts for some time.

Sean Krahling, area manager of the Fort Scott location as well as eight other Kansas stores, said Cricket Wireless merged with AT&T five years ago, with both groups upgrading their signals and towers to be compatible with each other. As a result, about 98 percent of Americans can get a signal through Cricket.

“Our coverage is actually really good,” Krahling said, adding that customers using some of their plans are also able to get a signal when traveling in Canada and Mexico.

Cricket Wireless currently has more than 4600 stores across the country in states including Texas, Oklahoma, Missouri, Minnesota and Florida. The provider now includes options such as DirectTV Now and a music provider with more than 42 million songs. Krahling point out plans are purchased on a monthly basis instead of an annual contract and do not include hidden fees. Visit the store for information on their current deals and plans.

“We appreciate your being a part of the chamber and your investment in the community,” Madison said.

The 5 Corners complex celebrated their grand reopening Saturday morning after a March thunderstorm blew the roof off the building, leaving the businesses in need of repairs before they could return to their normal level of service.

Residents of the complex—which include the 5 Corners convenience store, Libation Station, State Farm offices, Car Help Mobile Mechanic, Nitro Promo and Haneline Products—told of their reactions to hearing the roof had blown off the building, most of it ending up in the parking lot. But despite the damage, 5 Corners and Libation Station owner Darcy Smith said the community turned out to help in the recovery process.

“The next day, we had all sorts of people here to help,” Smith said.

Since the complex never lost electricity entirely, 5 Corners was able to open the next day, but the Libation Station remained closed for two months while State Farm agent Kale Nelson was forced to change locations until the building was repaired.

Smith said some of those repairs included the new roof as well as ceilings, lighting, insulation and paint. But after more than five months of work, all the businesses are repaired and are fully open to the public once again.

“We are very excited for the complex to be reopened,” Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Lindsay Madison said.

The Saturday festivities included food and drawings provided by the businesses and demonstrations by the State Highway Patrol.

Since their opening in January, Country Place Living continues to provide an assisted living place for individuals or couples that need assistance in day-to-day life.

Located on Horton Street, right next to the Country Place Memory Care living facility, Country Place Living has 26, 1-bedroom studio apartments, and currently houses seven individuals as the facility continues to grow and publicize its services in the community.

“We can provide high levels of care,” Director Amanda Downing said during Thursday’s Chamber Coffee event, adding some people conclude that they are able to provide only limited attention.

Downing said they can provide temporary care as well as help continue rehabilitation for those who need that attention after a procedure. Meals are prepared on-site and staff provides close care for residents, who can enjoy being outside on the porch or visiting with others in a community room.

“Most of our people, once they have come and toured and really seen the difference…it really sells itself,” Downing said.

Submitted by Tina Rockhold, Mercy Hospital

Organizers of this Friday’s inaugural Hit the Bricks Wine Stroll, Art Walk and Blane Howard concert say tickets are still available. Add in a weather forecast that predict temperatures in the mid 80s and it’s a perfect combination for a night in downtown Fort Scott.

The Hit the Bricks event kicks off at 5 p.m. and has something for everyone to enjoy. Main Street will be blocked between 1st and 2nd streets for the event from early afternoon until about 8:30 p.m.

The regularly scheduled Friday night music at the pavilion will continue as usual.

The free art walk, coordinated by the Bourbon County Arts Council, is open to the public. Over 15 artists from near and far will fill the sidewalks of Main Street with their artwork and have items for sale. Food vendors will have items for sale as well.

The wine stroll check in begins at 5 p.m. at the Beaux Arts Centre located at 102 S. National.

During the stroll, pre-registered participants or those 21 years and older (valid ID required) who purchase a $25 wrist band at the Beaux Arts Centre that evening may have a maximum of 15 samples of wines from the six featured Kansas vineyards including Fort Scott’s very own Vinedo del Alamo. Other wineries and vineyards participating in the stroll include Aubrey Vineyards, Overland Park; Flustered Blonde Vineyard and Winery, Parsons; Fuga Winery, Waverly; Smoky Hill Vineyard and Winery, Topeka; and Vogel Family Vineyards, Galena.

Wineries will also have unopened bottles of wine available for purchase.

Cost for the wine stroll is $25 and includes a commemorative wine glass and tote bag for bottled wine purchases.

The Fort Scott trolley will be available in 30-minute intervals to transport participants from the check–in location to Main Street between 5 p.m. and 8 p.m.

Beginning at 8:30, music lovers can dance the night away with a concert by Nashville-based country music sensation Blane Howard at Liberty Theatre. Concert tickets are $35 each. Tickets will also be available at the door that evening. Seating for the concert is general admission.

Advance tickets for the stroll and concert are strongly recommended. Patrons can save $10 if they purchase both the wine stroll and concert tickets for $50.

Tickets are available online at www.bit.ly/HitTheBricksTix.

Proceeds from the Hit the Bricks event will benefit the Mercy Health Foundation Fort Scott, a nonprofit 501(c)3 corporation which supports programming and equipment at Mercy Hospital Fort Scott. For more details about the Hit the Bricks Wine Stroll, Art Walk and Blane Howard Concert, call the Mercy Health Foundation office at 620-223- 8094.

Previously named CrossFit Fort Scott, the local fitness gym celebrated remodeling, new management and a name change with a ribbon-cutting ceremony Thursday morning as Smallville CrossFit.

Aaron and Lindsey Watts took over the gym at 13 S. National Avenue, in June after the previous owners moved out of town. Since that time, the couple has led sports and strength conditioning courses for children and high school and college through the summer, even while the gym went through a series of renovations to improve its services.

“It’s a dream come true for us,” Lindsey said, adding they appreciated the help of their family and friends who assisted them. “Thank you from the bottom of our hearts.”

The changes made to the gym improved not just the appearance of the gym, but also the equipment, such as by adding ropes, rings and additional ceiling- and wall-mounted rigs. There is also more space for larger classes.

Aaron, who grew up in Southeast Kansas, said he was always involved in sports and athletics as a student and later during his time in the military, which led to his involvement in CrossFit and eventually owning the Fort Scott gym.

Aaron added their inspiration for the new name of the gym came from the nickname of Clark Kent that he picked up while in the military.

City Manager Dave Martin, a member at the gym, encourages others to try out Smallville CrossFit or one of the other fitness centers in Fort Scott as they continue to partner with the county in the Healthy Bourbon County program. Martin added people should not be intimidated by the CrossFit program.

“They will make it fit what you can do,” Martin said, saying they will modify exercises for individual people and their abilities. “Come and give it a try and you might find something you like.”

The gym will host a Grand Reopening event Saturday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., allowing visitors to come for information on classes as well as to watch a variety of classes to see what they look like.

A deteriorating, downtown Fort Scott building may soon get a new look as the city of Fort Scott and local business owners invest in the former Spoiled Brat building at 124 E. Wall Street with the help of a state grant.

Earlier this year, the Hoener family had approached the city with their plans to buy the building and repair the leaning wall of the structure. They planned to move forward with paying for the repair of the wall but asked if the city would be willing to set aside the amount of money the city planned spending to make the structure safe if nothing were done. This money would be used only in the event that something was discovered under the ground that made the cost significantly more than the quote and would help guarantee that the repairs could be finished in order to get the building back to a safe state.

Believing in the Hoener’s plan to repair the building and relocate their Hole in the Wall Liquor store on Oak Street to that structure, the city decided to assist by seeking the help of a state grant. In June, the Fort Scott City Commission received word they had been awarded up to $95,000 from the 2017 Small Cities Community Development Block Grant under the Downtown Commercial Rehabilitation funding category.

“Another great improvement to our downtown,” Codes Manager Rhonda Dunn said of the project, which is expected to also include second floor apartments.

The commission voted unanimously during their meeting Tuesday evening to accept the grant. Dunn said it is common for the city to accept the grant and then immediately administer it to another party such as the Hoeners for economic development.

Commissioner Randy Nichols said he wishes the family well as they take on the task and strive to repair the downtown building.

(This article has been edited to better reflect that the city did not front any money for the repair of the building.)

Submitted by Tina Rockhold

Fort Scott’s downtown and Main Street will be bustling during the inaugural Hit the Bricks Wine Stroll and Art Walk on Friday, July 28.

The event kicks off at 5 p.m. with activities for everyone’s pleasure. Main Street will be blocked between 1st and 2nd streets for the event until about 8:30 p.m.

The free art walk, coordinated by the Bourbon County Arts Council, is open to the public. Spectators can admire and shop for beautiful artwork by area artists and enjoy sounds of local musicians.

The wine stroll will feature a sampling of wines from six Kansas vineyards including Fort Scott’s very own Vinedo del Alamo. Other wineries and vineyards participating in the stroll include Aubrey Vineyards, Overland Park; Flustered Blonde Vineyard and Winery, Parsons; Fuga Winery, Waverly; Smoky Hill Vineyard and Winery, Topeka; and Vogel Family Vineyards, Galena.

Wineries will also have unopened bottles of wine available for purchase.

Cost for the wine stroll is $25 and includes a commemorative wine glass and tote bag for bottled wine purchases. The event is open to those age 21 years and older with a valid ID required at check in. Check in for the wine stroll begins at 5 p.m. at the Beaux Arts Centre located at 102 S. National. The trolley will be available to transport participants from the check–in location to Main Street between 5 p.m. and 8 p.m.

Beginning at 8:30, music lovers can dance the night away with a concert by Nashville-based country music sensation Blane Howard at Liberty Theatre. Concert tickets are $35 each. With a generous donation by the Modern Woodmen of America, the company has been recognized as the corporate sponsor for the concert.

Advance tickets for the stroll and concert are strongly recommended. Patrons can save $10 if they purchase both the wine stroll and concert tickets for $50. Tickets are available online at www.bit.ly/HitTheBricksTix.

Proceeds from the Hit the Bricks event will benefit the Mercy Health Foundation Fort Scott, a nonprofit 501(c)3 corporation which supports programming and equipment at Mercy Hospital Fort Scott.

“The Mercy Health Foundation Board appreciates the collaboration between the City of Fort Scott, the Bourbon County Arts Council (BCAC), our volunteers and the generous support from other local businesses to make this inaugural event possible,” said Tina Rockhold, Mercy Health Foundation executive director and community relations manager. “We hope the event will create an appreciation for the history, art and culture of Fort Scott and Southeast Kansas.”

For more details about the Hit the Bricks Wine Stroll and Art Walk, call the Mercy Health Foundation office at 620-223- 8094.

Having provided in-home care for Bourbon and neighboring counties for almost six years, the owners of Care 4 U are now adding another business, Your Hometown Medical Equipment, which will sell medical items needed in the county, after other similar stores have closed.

Glen Pearson, Jr., and sister-in-law Rachel Pearson run Care 4 U and now the medical equipment store, after recently receiving the necessary licenses for the store.

Glen has been involved in aspects of the medical care field since serving at a nursing home when he was a teenager. Since then he has sold medical equipment in a prior business and then opened Care 4 U as a hobby, which has grown to include 50 employees who care for 45 clients, some for only a few hours a day while others require 24-hour care.

Most of those employees are from Fort Scott and must go through five background checks and screenings before they can help take care of Care 4 U’s clients. While the business hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., they are also on call at any time. Care can be paid for through Medicaid or private pay.

“Here at Care 4 U, we do everything we can to keep you or your loved one at home,” Rachel said during a recent Chamber of Commerce event Thursday, saying they take care of their clients through medical care as well as house-cleaning and running errands.

Glen said through his time working with nursing homes, he often felt sorry for those who were taken there and then forgotten about or visited only rarely. In keeping them at home, Glen said the clients can be somewhere where they are more comfortable and where it is also more economical.

As Care 4 U continued to grow, Glen said he decided he wanted to get back into the medical equipment business as well, which led to Your Hometown Medical Equipment.

The store is to be open with the end of the long holiday weekend and can be found at the same location as the Care 4 U office, at 5 E. Wall Street.

Fort Scott welcomed a new business to town in the past month with the opening of East Side Liquor store at 1516 E. Wall Street.

After a soft opening about a month ago, the store had a grand opening and ribbon-cutting ceremony Saturday morning to celebrate the work of Lyle Brittain, Liz Monteil and their families to open the new store in the empty building.

“I think it’s incredible that a young couple would invest in an endeavor like this in Fort Scott,” Mayor JoLynne Mitchell said during the event. “I could not be more proud of this young couple and their dedication.”

City Manager Dave Martin said he admired the entrepreneurial spirit of the couple and is happy to see more young people decide to stay in Fort Scott.

“Congratulations,” chamber of commerce Executive Director Lindsay Madison said, adding she is glad to see another empty building put to use. “We’re excited to officially have you open.”

The store’s doors will be open Monday through Thursday, 9 a.m. to 10 p.m., and Friday and Saturday, 9 a.m. to 11 p.m.

“We are super excited,” Monteil said about their store opening.

In honor of the Fourth of July, the Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce is encouraging Fort Scott residents and businesses to participate in a patriotic contest.

“Get your home or business all decorated for Fourth of July and in honor of our veterans and troops,” said Lindsay Madison, chamber executive director, during a recent chamber event.

The contest includes both a residential and commercial contest, with the most patriotic home winner receiving a $50 Chamber Bucks gift certificate and the winner of the most patriotic business receiving $50 to Marsha’s Deli, a sponsor of the event.

Participants must register with the chamber by Wednesday, June 28, with the final judging done by a panel of chamber members Thursday afternoon, June 29. The winners will be announced July 4.

A variety of Independence Day events will be held in Fort Scott and Bourbon County over the weekend, including the Symbols of Sacrifice event at the fort Saturday and Tuesday, Fort Scott community fireworks at Fort Scott Community College, the annual Burke Street parade Tuesday morning, a concert and event at the LaRoche Baseball Complex Tuesday evening and other events hosted at area churches.

After months of research and planning, the redevelopment district at the former Woods location will undergo changes after the Fort Scott City Commission gave their approval during Tuesday night’s meeting.

“Tonight’s an extremely important night for the project,” said Joel Riggs of Super Market Developers, a subsidiary of Associated Wholesale Grocers, Inc., which helps build or renovate independent grocers such as Super Savers, Woods and other Price Choppers.

Barry Queen of Queen Enterprises, LLC, said his company looks forward to bringing a Price Chopper to Fort Scott, adding he has connections to the area through his parents and grandparents.

“We enjoy the community,” Queen said. “We miss the grocery store…We’re excited about the project.”

The project will cost a total of about $9.4 million, with $2.55 million of that reimbursed to them through the city’s Tax Increment Financing and Community Improvement District bond, and will include an extensive renovation that will change the look of the building entirely.

“You will not recognize this building when we’re done,” Riggs said.

One of the largest changes will be the addition of a Dunkin’ Donuts on the south side of the building, including a drive-thru window. The pharmacy will not be brought back, but there may be additional retail or restaurant on the property in the future as well.

The plats approved by the commission includes the building and parking lot at 2322 S. Main Street as well as the land behind and south of the building near Tractor Supply, adding up to five acres of redevelopment property and 39,500 square feet of building.

With the city’s approval of the plat, lot lines and the resolution to issue bonds to the project, the investors said they hope to close on the property in July and hire contractors immediately to start the construction. If all goes as planned, the store could be complete by November, though it may not be finished until the new year depending on other contingencies.

“There’s so many people who can’t wait for it to open,” said Todd Ferrel, while other citizens attending the meeting said they look forward to having another competitor for Walmart and source of fresh produce and a deli option.

Riggs said they project the new business could bring in an estimated $25 million in sales tax over 20 years, as well as $3.6 million in real and personal property tax, while adding about 100 new jobs.

“We are proud to have you guys believe in our community and invest as you are,” City Manager Dave Martin said.