Fort Scott residents spoke for and against further development south of town during a Fort Scott Planning Commission meeting Tuesday evening, expressing concern that their quality of life could be negatively affected.

Greg Fess gave presentations concerning two potential developments in areas near the Industrial Park. One for a vet clinic required a zoning change from agricultural to industrial while the second, a dirt bike track, needed a change from agricultural to commercial with a conditional us permit.

A number of residents spoke favorably of the Great West Vet Clinic that would like to open its doors by the beginning of the summer, offering care for both small and large animals. Not only would the clinic bring care such as surgeries, examinations and vaccines for animals, but it will also be only the second Cogent Breeding, Ltd., lab in the United States, bringing the study of bovine in vitro fertilization to the area from its United Kingdom base.

Concerns raised by the audience included the risk of disease, the elimination of waste and removal of deceased animals. Fess said the clinic would hold high standards of cleanliness and will have its own underground septic tank.

Residents spoke in favor of having such a clinic that would provide a local option for veterinary care for larger animals such as horses and cattle, instead of traveling outside of the city and even the state for such services.

“I currently travel hours to get to a specialized vet for our horses,” resident Nicki Traul said. “To keep that money local would be extremely important to our family…To have this in our own backyard would be a huge benefit to our community.”

But while the audience leaned in favor of the vet clinic to potentially be located south of the Kansas Department of Transportation building, residents were divided in their opinion of a dirt track being built on a piece of land near the Jayhawk and Liberty Bell Road intersection.

Fess said their plans are to put in a tiller track for dirt bike races, which would be hosted approximately three Saturdays a month except for a winter break. Fess said they hope the events would draw in as many as 200-300 racers, which would benefit the city of Fort Scott as those visitors stay in hotels and eat at local restaurants.

“We want to make it fun for kids as well as adults,” Fess said, saying they would build the track into the terrain, making corners and using rolling hills without building steep jumps that would be too difficult for younger riders.

Fess said they are aware of a number of concerns raised by the public and said they have taken strides to address those. Woodchips and specific products would be used to prevent as much dust as possible, since Fess said even the riders do not want to race on a track that raises a lot of dust. Mufflers will be required on the bikes and, though Fess said they realize that will not cut down all the noise, he said he believes the terrain itself, including the hills and the trees, will help block some of the noise.

Fess pointed out the noise of a dirt bike is comparable to that of the train which travels through Fort Scott regularly, and some traffic sounds are also just as loud. While they plan to have races regularly, Fess said they do not intend for them to continue into the evening hours, but only race during the day and limit any practice racing during the week.

Some residents attending the meeting said they believe the noise will diminish the quality of life in that area and could even prevent other businesses from wanting to come to town. Individuals who live close to the area in question especially said the noise would likely be difficult to live with because of the noise of numerous bikes as well as the crowd echoing through the valley.

“I think there’s a good reason why tracks are in the country,” Paul Brock spoke up, saying he does not believe it should be that close to the city because of the sound and bad air quality it might bring.

Other residents said features like the dirt track will help bring entertainment and visitors to Fort Scott, which is needed to help grow the community. Steve Buerge pointed out the community once complained about the sale barn being too loud as well, but said it brings large numbers of visitors from out of town and out of state as well as large amounts of dollars through the county.

“Industry is give and take,” Buerge said, saying both parties in such a business agreement have to make sacrifices in order to gain the benefits.

The advisory board approved recommending the zoning changes south of town for the Fort Scott City Commission, but said that approval is not based on their own personal opinion, but on the legality of rezoning the area. The commission will discuss the decision during their meeting Tuesday evening, January 17.

Submitted by David Sorrick

Award

Fort Scott Presbyterian Village received a certificate of recognition from Presbyterian Manors of Mid-America for reaching goals in fiscal year 2016—July 1, 2015, through June 30, 2016.

The recognition came through PMMA’s new Emerald Awards Program, designed to encourage its 17 locations 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. Certificates of recognition were given out to communities that reached their goals in one or more category.

Fort Scott was recognized for building philanthropic support of Presbyterian Manors of Mid-America’s mission.

“This recognition is a visible sign of Fort Scott Presbyterian Village’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 more than 65 years.

For more information about Fort Scott Presbyterian Village, contact Marketing Director David Sorrick at 620-223- 5550 or [email protected].

Piano Recital

This Friday, Jan. 6, at 2 p.m., the Fort Scott Presbyterian Village will host a piano performance by professional pianist Kathleen Bradley-Najarian of Anaheim, Calif. The recital will be held in the community room and is open to the public with no cost.

With the beginning of the New Year, city of Fort Scott staff took time in recent meetings to look back on all their accomplishments of 2016, while also considering what they hope to complete in 2017.

“We’ve just got so much going on,” City Manager Dave Martin summed up the progress made so far.

During the city commission meeting held Dec. 20, Martin shared a list of accomplishments including projects such as the Woodland Hills Golf Course clubhouse, the quiet zone at Wall Street, the National Avenue project, the almost completion of the new access road to the LaRoche Baseball Complex, the completion of the Western Senior Living downtown and the Country Place Memory Care center as well as a number of other new businesses or expansions of existing businesses.

The city has also benefited from a balanced budget, technology updates and renovations made in the water and wastewater infrastructure, which Martin pointed out is key when taking care of the city and attracting new residents and businesses.

The Fort Scott Fire Department celebrated 125 years of service, the police department investigated a murder case and got a conviction and officers completed their training as the city continues to strive to protect its citizens.

“For this year, we’ve completed a lot,” Martin said of 2016. “We can’t stop. Next year what we’re working on is development, development, development.”

Martin said in order to bring in that development, such as downtown and along the Highway 69 corridor, the city needs to take a look at taxes, since that is a common complaint for both residents and potential businesses.

“We can’t take a passive role on taxes anymore,” Martin said. “We really have to communicate, teach and get everybody to the table.”

Martin said the city hopes to cooperate with other tax entities in the county in order to understand the taxes and see if there is anything that can be done to lower them.

The city also plans to keep a line of communication open with organizations such as school districts and the county to make sure there are no duplicates in projects being done. Martin said listening to the needs and desires of Fort Scott residents is important, even when those desires may not always be met.

“With development comes change,” Martin said. “And with change comes being uncomfortable. Our role is to try to make change happen…but it is going to be at times controversial.”

Some projects for 2017 include the Highway 69 widening already underway, further renovations made to the water and wastewater systems and the completion of new facilities such as the Country Place Senior Living scheduled to open in upcoming weeks.

After a November soft opening, the Shiney Studios held their grand opening Wednesday evening at their location in the historic, downtown building that formerly housed St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church.

More than two years ago, Fort Scott resident and commercial quarter horse breeder Dandelyon Vredenburg had a massive stroke that resulted in her right side being paralyzed. But through a recovery process that included yoga and meditation, Vredenburg recovered completely and is now a co-owner and instructor at the new yoga studio.

“Not only did it help me recover, but it gives me a different quality of life,” Vredenburg said of how yoga impacted her. “What I found is that this community didn’t really have a place to offer that.”

That period of her life marked a change that led Vredenburg to begin writing in an online journal and through a Facebook page that eventually reached more than 600,000 followers. With that newfound passion, Vredenburg began to turn her attention away from horses and to her writing and the idea of a yoga studio.

Inspired by the name of a horse, Twice as Shiney, which she had recently sold to a new owner in Brazil, Vredenburg and co-owner Carl Repp opened the Shiney Studio in the old Episcopal Church, using the location for yoga classes as well as for retail, selling items such as lotions, jewelry, candles and clothing.

The studio offers a variety of yoga levels, from beginning to more advanced. The students can also request private or group sessions. Future renovations of the building include turning rooms into a wellness center and even living suites.

“It’s a healing art,” Vredenburg said, adding yoga is not just for young people, but students of all ages. “I encourage everyone to try yoga…There’s a grace and an elegance and a strength that comes with yoga.”

Vredenburg and Repp said they look forward to preserving the historic building, even providing printed information about the structure and the artifacts that remain inside it. Repp said they hope the building will become a destination for others interested in participating in classes held in the previous church.

“We’re just excited about all your plans,” said chamber of commerce executive director Lindsay Madison, while City Manager Dave Martin said he is glad the downtown building is again in use and being used to further the arts in Fort Scott.

For 40 years, Billy Webster and his Shirt Shack have provided shirts, jeans and other clothing options to the city of Fort Scott, with some of those options being the closest ones available apart from a drive to Kansas City.

“I’m just lucky, I guess,” Webster said of being able to stay open such a length of time.

Webster, a Fort Scott native, first began screen-printing t-shirts in a 10×12 square foot building when he was just 18 years old when the trade was still new and rare. Since that beginning in 1976, Webster has added on to the building a number of times while also adding to the business.

While the Shirt Shack still provides screen-printing for shirts, Webster said he no longer travels with them such as for concert tours like he once did, saying he prefers to spend more time in Fort Scott. The business also does embroidery and cleaning and sells other clothes items such as a variety of jeans styles.

Lindsay Madison, executive director of the Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce, pointed out that Webster and his business also invests in the city of Fort Scott by providing shirts for events and organizations such as Care to Share.

“He does contribute a lot to the community,” Madison said.

The Shirt Shack can be found near the intersection of 18^th Street and Highway 69.

The new Western Senior Living center located in the old Western Insurance building held a ribbon-cutting ceremony and gave tours Tuesday afternoon, but continues to complete finishing touches before welcoming residents after their true Grand Opening on December 30.

“Today is about the salvation of the Western Building,” said Tony Krsnich, president and CEO of the Flint Hills Holding Group.

Built in 1929, the old downtown building was in danger of being torn down after flooding damage and health hazards made it inhabitable. But when the Flint Hills Holding Group stepped in, their cooperation with the city of Fort Scott prevented the demolition of the Western building, which itself would have cost millions of dollars.

“It was really clear the potential this building had to impact the downtown,” said Fred Bentley, the director of rental housing allocation in Kansas, who said he was impressed with Fort Scott as a location as well as a partner in the endeavor.

Purchased in 2014 with demolition and construction occurring in the past year, the building is nearing the completion of its 35, one- and two-bedroom apartments available for lease by residents 55 years and older. With a focus on the community of the residents, Krsnich said they included amenities such as a large community room, indoor putting green, paintings and other options.

Patrick Michaelis, business development officer for the central region of the Midwest Housing Equity Group, said the goal of his company has always been to make lives better by providing affordable housing. Already, seven of the 35 units have been reserved for new residents, something Krsnich said he has never seen on a project before its completion.

“The community stepped up to the plate on this and it shows,” Krsnich said. “This is an iconic building that has now been restored.”

While touch-ups such as painting and caulking remain, two units that are completed were available for those interested in tours.

While hosting the weekly Chamber Coffee Thursday, U.S. Cellular representative and 103.9 FM radio personality Tim McKenney presented a gift of $450 to the Care to Share cancer support group from the cell phone store located on S. National Avenue.

“We couldn’t think of anything that was more worthwhile than that,” McKenney said of the organization and their decision to give to them.

Throughout the year, the business has also given a donation of $25 to the Care to Share Sharing Bucket in the name of each week’s Fort Scott High School football player of the week.

Lavetta Simmons of Care to Share accepted the financial donation Thursday and expressed her appreciation to U.S. Cellular and other businesses and individuals that have supported the program.

“Our community has been so generous to Care to Share, the Sharing Bucket,” Simmons said. “So generous in giving so we can give to those in need.”

Care to Share provides support to members of the community impacted by cancer with financial or emotional support and even driving individuals to and from doctor appointments out of town.

“This is just another way of caring and sharing and we thank you all for doing it,” Simmons said of the U.S. Cellular gift and the player of the week donations, which she considers the future of their organization.

Submitted by the Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce

The Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce announces that the annual Holiday Open House will be held this Thursday evening, November 10, from 5 to 8 p.m.

Retailers in the downtown historic district and other locations throughout town will be decked for the holidays and will offer drawings, festive treats and beverages for a fun evening of shopping for gifts and holiday décor.

“Holiday Open House is an evening both merchants and shoppers look forward to each year,” chamber executive director Lindsay Madison says. “Our local retailers depend highly on community support and purchases made do not have to be high dollar.”

More than 20 merchants are registered for the Holiday Open House and attendees can hop and shop as the trolley will be making a route from store to store for a free-will donation, thanks to sponsor Western Senior Living.

Participating retailers include: Bartelsmeyer Jewelry, Bids & Dibs, Books & Grannies, Captured Images, CJ’s Closet, Country Cupboard, Courtland Aveda Day Spa, Crooner’s Lounge, Electronics Store by Central Communications, Flowers by Leanna, Heidrick’s True Value & Gift Corner, Here We Go Again Upholstery & More, Iron Star Antiques & Such, J & W Sports shop, Lowell Milken Center for Unsung Heroes, Main Street Gallery & Gifts, Papa Don’s Vendors, Ruddick’s Furniture, Sekan’s Occasion Shop, Shirt Shack, Sunshine Boutique, The Bunker, Treasure Hunt Flea Market and Velocity Tactics. Western Senior Living will be set up in front of Iron Star with information on the brand new downtown apartments.

“The retailers appreciate customer loyalty throughout the year, but this night is a special night that they can also give back to the customers by providing a fun evening of shopping,” Madison says. “We are really excited to add the trolley making a loop between shopping locations and appreciate the sponsorship of Western Senior Living apartments to make that possible.”

Contact the Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce for more information on this event at (620) 223-3566 or visit fortscott.com.

Local manufacturers were encouraged to open their doors to the public in honor of Manufacturing Day, which Fort Scott recognized on Friday.

Visitors to such businesses could get a glimpse of how those facilities work as well as the benefits of learning such a trade. Local and out of town high school students got to participate, such as by visiting Fort Scott Community College.

Faculty of the college including Nacoma Oehme, the program industry coordinator in charge of the technical programs, gave demonstrations on welding, construction, heating and air, emphasizing how such trades are always in demand.

“They can bring a trade with them anywhere,” Oehme said, adding that Manufacturing Day opens their eyes to career options the students may not have ever considered. “I think it’s a great deal for them.”

More than 400 students from seven high schools visited the campus, which also hosted booths and demonstrations from Pittsburg State University students and faculty, who showed recent technology improvements that can also be used in areas of manufacturing. The Bourbon County Young Professionals League was also present to hand out free lunches to the students.

“For generations, manufacturing has played a critical role in Fort Scott’s economy,” Mayor JoLynne Mitchell said during last week’s city commission meeting, pointing out the local manufacturers employ about 1,400 people, adding 380 jobs to the area just since 2010.

Trader Dave’s Antiques & More store celebrated their fifth anniversary of business in Fort Scott by joining the Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce and holding a ribbon-cutting ceremony Saturday morning.

“We’re excited to have you,” chamber executive director Lindsay Madison said of the store located near the intersection of Wall Street and Scott Avenue.

The store is open each day from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. and is run by Dave Goff and Melinda Collins and their children, David Goff and Jamie Graham. They also sell items online through EBay.

The family often travels to other cities to find and purchase items to sell in their store. Collins said that search often brings them the most enjoyment.

“It’s fun,” Collins said of the family business. “The fun part is picking.”

Estate sales can also bring in items for their shelves. Goff said they encourage people to bring in any items they think could be sold in the store, adding that some of the most popular items right now are old signs, coins and gas and oil memorabilia.

Trader Dave’s also buys gold at a fair, negotiated price, with that price depending on the quality and condition of the item.

Collin’s said, despite their being in business for five years, many people in Fort Scott have never visited the store or even realized it is there. She added they hope being a member of the chamber of commerce will help bring them more publicity.

City Manager Dave Martin said he enjoys visiting their business and could spend hours just looking at the many items for sale.

“The way you take care of your building and do your business says a lot about your family,” Martin said.

During the weekly Chamber Coffee Thursday, staff of the Butcher Block gave members of the community information about their product and services while the Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce welcomed them with a ribbon-cutting ceremony.

Jeff Southwell, Rick Weber and their families and others began work in June on the building located where the Dairy Queen used to be on National Avenue, with the Butcher block opening its doors in August with the goal of providing quality and local meat to Fort Scott.

“We wanted to offer as much local product as we could,” Southwell said, saying they sell E3 meat, local elk meat and seasonings made locally.

They also make 15 kinds of brats and a variety of bacon and jerky that they have won numerous prizes for. Weber said some of the meats he makes he has been developing over more than a decade and has even given seminars on them around the state and in other states.

“I am proud of it,” Weber said of his work. “I consider us one of the five top producers in the state of Kansas.

The shop also provides other food products such as cheeses, pies, sauces and seasonings as well as chicken and pork. They sell both fresh and frozen meat. Bundle packages and gift certificates are also available.

Because of the amount of product they have, Southwell said they have begun to look for a self-contained storage unit that could store some of the meat as they are running out of room, preventing them from selling larger product such as Thanksgiving turkeys and lamb.

“We’ve outgrown our building already,” Weber said.

Southwell said they are still developing their image as well as their product after just a couple months in the business.

“We’re continually tweaking things…trying to see what people are wanting,” Southwell said.

“This is a blessing for Fort Scott,” Jake Gross of E3 Meat said of the Butcher Block. “You need to take advantage of this…Being able to get this kind of product in Fort Scott is a big deal.”