Tri-Valley Developmental Services (TVDS) is proud to announce the receipt of a $297 grant from the Rita J. Bicknell Women’s Health Fund Circle of Friends. The grant will be used to purchase a diabetic training kit, which will be used to enhance staff competency in diabetes care for individuals with intellectual/developmental disabilities in Allen, Bourbon, Chautauqua, Elk, Greenwood, Neosho, Wilson, and Woodson counties in Southeast Kansas.
“Tri-Valley is grateful to the Rita J. Bicknell Women’s Health Fund Circle of Friends and the Community Foundation of Southeast Kansas for enabling us to train our staff on proper diabetes care for the individuals we serve.” said Bill Fiscus, CEO. “Tri-Valley appreciates the support given to us by both the Community Foundation and the Rita J. Bicknell Circle of Friends Committee.”
The Community Foundation of Southeast Kansas hosts individual charitable funds created by donors who have a passion for giving back to their community. Grants from these funds assist people throughout Southeast Kansas and beyond. Call CFSEK at 620-231-8897 with questions about the Community foundation.
Gov. Kelly and Kansas City Chiefs
Announce Agreement On Plans for
State-of-the-Art Domed Stadium in Kansas
Gov. Kelly: “This is a game-changer for Kansas”
New stadium and mixed-use entertainment project is expected to create 20,000 jobs and generate more than $4 billion in economic impact for state
TOPEKA – Gov. Laura Kelly and the Kansas City Chiefs today announced that an agreement has been reached to build a domed stadium and a mixed-use entertainment district, as well as a new team headquarters, training facility and mixed-use development in Kansas. The project will be a massive economic win for the state, with the construction phase alone creating over 20,000 jobs and $4.4 billion in economic impact for Kansas. From there, the stadium will bring over $1 billion in annual impact.
The agreement includes two distinct parts: (1) a $3 billion stadium in Wyandotte County, which will open at the start of the 2031 NFL season; and (2) a new Chiefs headquarters and training facility in the City of Olathe in Johnson County. Both sites will have mixed-use developments that could include sports, entertainment, dining, shopping, office, hotel and residential properties.
“This agreement to bring the Chiefs to Kansas takes our state to the next level. With this new stadium, we’re creating thousands of jobs, bringing in tourists from around the world, attracting young people, and most importantly, we’re continuing to make Kansas the best place in America to raise a family,” Gov. Kelly said. “This is a game-changer for Kansas, and it’s a signal to America and the world that our state’s future is very bright.”
The agreement was approved today by the Legislative Coordinating Council (LCC) with strong bipartisan support. It will be a public-private partnership between the state and the Chiefs organization – and it will require no funds from the current state budget and no new taxes on Kansans. A fact sheet of the agreement and the independent Economic Impact Study can be found here.
“Today is an extraordinary day in the history of the Kansas City Chiefs,” Chiefs Chairman and CEO Clark Hunt said. “We are excited to partner with the State of Kansas to bring a world-class stadium to our fans. This project represents another step in our legacy of innovation and our fan-first mentality, which started with my father, Lamar Hunt. The stadium, practice facility, and surrounding development will benefit the entire region, and further elevate Kansas City in the eyes of the country and the world.”
“This is a great day for Kansas City Chiefs fans,” said NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell. “This public-private partnership, the result of a thoughtful and deliberate process, will build upon the Hunts’ generational legacy by boldly investing in one of America’s greatest fan bases. The Chiefs’ new enclosed stadium will be a stage for unforgettable moments, whether it’s playoff games, concerts or championship events. We congratulate the Chiefs and the Kansas City community on this important achievement.”
The Chiefs announcement adds to the Kelly-Toland administration’s unprecedented streak of winning business investment projects that create jobs and grow Kansas’ economy. Since 2019, Kansas has attracted more than $30 billion committed capital investment and created or retained almost 78,000 jobs.
“Kansas has had a streak of big economic wins, but nothing is bigger than this. This is truly once-in-a-generation,” said Lieutenant Governor and Secretary of Commerce David Toland, who led the state team that negotiated the deal with the Chiefs. “This happened because we brought Democrats and Republicans together to do what was best for Kansas – landing our state a huge economic win, without requiring a single dollar from the state budget or a tax increase on Kansans. This historic win is the latest in a series of major economic wins for Kansas, including the Panasonic headquarters, which all tell the same story: the future for Kansas, its workers and its economy is very exciting.”
“This is an extraordinary economic win for our state thanks to the effort of Governor Kelly and Lieutenant Governor Toland,” said Christal Watson, Mayor & CEO Unified Government of Wyandotte KCK. “All of us in Wyandotte and Kansas City, Kansas are excited to work with the Chiefs and are committed to driving results that strengthen our region and uplift our community.”
“This deal is a once-in-a-generation type of opportunity for our community and region. Having the Chiefs headquarters and training facilities here in Johnson County will be huge for our local economy – and a lot of fun for our families,” said John Bacon, Mayor of Olathe. “We’re eager to get to work, and are committed to ensuring the process – and the result – are first class, something everyone in Olathe – and all across Chiefs Kingdom – can be proud of.”
“Today, Kansas won the Super Bowl,” said Senate President Ty Masterson. “This is a huge win for Kansas. Now, we get to watch our beloved Chiefs play right here at home, keeping jobs and tax dollars right here in Kansas. Best of all, this will not cost one more penny for Kansas taxpayers.”
“Here in Kansas, we love the Chiefs, and we also love a good deal for taxpayers. So this is a win-win,” House Speaker Dan Hawkins said.
The project will be financed through a public-private partnership (60% public – 40% private). The public portion is funded through Sales Tax and Revenue (STAR) bonds and the Attracting Professional Sports to Kansas Fund – both funding mechanisms established specifically for this purpose – to ensure that there will be no new state taxes and no impact on the state budget. The STAR bonds were authorized today by a bipartisan vote of the Legislative Coordinating Council. The STAR bonds have two components: (1) It allows the state to designate a portion of new state sales tax revenues generated by this project in neighboring communities to fund this project; (2) It allows Wyandotte County and the City of Olathe to designate a portion of their local sales tax revenue generated by this project to pay for it. For more on STAR bonds, click here.
The Attracting Professional Sports to Kansas Fund was established by the legislature to dedicate revenue generated from iLottery and sports betting to recruit professional sports teams.
The Hunt Family is also committing to $1 billion in additional development, a portion of which can also be incentivized by STAR bonds.
“We’re not working to win Kansas. We’re working for Kansas to win.”
I recently heard Destany Wheeler with Elevate Kansas share this sentiment, and it perfectly captures how I feel about our work in Southeast Kansas.
We believe in abundance. We are not chasing recognition or competing for credit or resources. We are working for this region to succeed on its own terms. That belief carried us through a year marked by both meaningful progress and significant hardship.
In 2025, we navigated funding uncertainty, shifting policies, and economic pressures affecting families, businesses, and organizations across the region. We experienced pauses, delays, and moments that required us to rethink timelines and approaches. Quite frankly, this was a hard year. Each time we took a hit, we pivoted, picked ourselves up, and moved forward, guided by community need and shared responsibility.
At the Healthy Bourbon County Action Team, we remained deeply committed to our mission: increasing access to physical activity and healthy food, promoting commercial tobacco cessation, enhancing quality of life, and encouraging economic growth. These priorities are not abstract goals. They are shaped by the lived experiences of residents across Southeast Kansas.
We are equally committed to responding to priorities identified by residents who live the reality of these decisions every day. Community trust, resident leadership, and equity remain central to how we design, implement, and sustain our work.
That commitment is visible through Rural Community Partners and our work to find, connect, and engage small business owners and entrepreneurs across Southeast Kansas. We meet entrepreneurs where they are, connect them to the right expertise, capital, and networks, and ensure they are not navigating fragmented systems alone. This approach reduces barriers, builds trust, and helps entrepreneurs move forward with clarity and confidence.
Despite the challenges, we expanded small business and entrepreneurship support, delivered hands-on technical assistance, helped unlock new capital, and strengthened workforce development partnerships. Together with Rural Community Partners, the Small Business & Entrepreneurship Council, and Balloon Media, we elevated regional storytelling. With support from Kansas University Medical Center, we convened partners across counties and continued building coalitions focused on practical, community-led solutions. Our role as a regional convener and backbone organization grew, not because it was easy, but because it was necessary.
We also invested in the long view by advancing the Southeast Kansas Small Business and Entrepreneurship Endowment. This commitment to sustainability allows us to lead with integrity rather than urgency, remain accountable to communities rather than funding cycles, and speak honestly when systems fall short. It is a promise to Southeast Kansas that this work will endure.
We are change agents, and with that comes a responsibility to speak up when systems no longer serve the communities they were designed to support.
What makes our work different, and why does it endure locally and regionally where many well-intended efforts have struggled? Three things have mattered most:
We remain financially independent and are not reliant on local or regional gatekeepers.
Our work is guided by community need rather than access, favors, or external approval.
We are willing to say what others won’t, even when it risks relationships, status, or funding.
Looking ahead to 2026, our vision is clear.
We will continue scaling entrepreneurship and mentorship efforts, strengthened by our partnership with the KU School of Business, Kansas Food Action Network, and BCBS Pathways to Healthy Kansas, while expanding access to capital and expertise. Working alongside partners such as WorkforceONE, we will deepen workforce pathways by listening directly to local employers. By supporting locally driven solutions, we will build resilience across counties while protecting the trust and relationships that make progress possible.
This role requires resilience, clarity, and courage. As Virginia Barnes, BCBS Pathways Director, reminded me earlier this year, it means acknowledging setbacks without being defined by them. It means staying focused on long-term impact and believing in the capacity of Southeast Kansas, even when circumstances test that belief.
Thank you to our partners, funders, donors, and residents who continue to stand with us.
Together, we are not working to win Southeast Kansas. We are working for Southeast Kansas to win.
The Bourbon County Fair Association is having a Christmas Fair tomorrow December 13th from 10 am to 3 pm at the Bourbon County Fairgrounds, across from Fort Scott Community College on South Horton.
Fifth Annual Jingle Bell Mart featuring local vendors:
Kos Kreations
Tracy Smith – handmade jewelry
Carell Collective
Locust Hill Lamanchas Goat Milk Products
Sally Kraft – hand-sewn items
Flying P Ranch
WriteOn!
Happy Little Candle Factory
Donna Jo Beerbower – homemade fudge
Kitty’s Kreations
Gran’s Denim Recyclables
Mmm Flavor Shop
Blessed B Creations
Uppa Creek Ranch – local, raw, honey
Christmas Display Competition – Come vote for your favorite Christmas Display. Votes are $1 each, with a portion of the sales going to the winners and the Cloverleaf Event Center.
A Hot Beverage Bar will also be available for a Free Will Donation with all donations going to the Cloverleaf Event Center.
This Sunday, OhhSnap Photography has teamed up once again with Be The Light Boutique along with Clark Street Lights to bring you a magical opportunity:
Meet & Photos with Santa
in a setting filled with holiday charm! 🎅📸
Guests can look forward to a cozy, festive
atmosphere. Think seasonal décor, warm boutique charm, and all the cheerful vibes of the holidays.
Sunday, December 14th
12-4pm
(with scheduled 15 min session slots for meeting Santa — possibly accompanied by one of his elves!)
📍 Be The Light Boutique
12 N. Main St., Downtown Fort Scott
Sign up and you’ll automatically be entered into a drawing for a special gift. 🎁
$45/ session
$20 non-refundable deposit due at sign-up.
Deposits do not transfer to future sessions.
Payment may be made via:
Venmo (@Leslie-Godden)
CashApp ($LeslieGodden)
Cash/Check.
Spots are limited, so early sign-up is encouraged.
Al and Luanna Niece purchased the vacant building at the corner of 6th and Main Street in July 2023 and will open one of the new businesses housed in it this week.
Eventually, they will have several businesses in the circa 1889 building.
Lu’s Ice Cream shop will open on December 5 with flexible hours.
Ice cream, sundaes, malts, coffee, hot chocolate and eventually, when the kitchen is totally completed, sandwiches and soups will be served.
Lu’s Ice Cream Shop has vintage-type furniture and one true vintage Coke machine. A customer on their birthday can get one free bottle of Coke, with a special token provided by the shop.
“The hours are…going to be flexible because of the weather, and it’s December, a cold time of the year, so probably from 4 to 8 p.m.,” Lu said.
The menu of Lu’s Ice Cream Shop. Eight flavors of Blue Bell Ice Cream will be rotated out seasonally based on public opinion.
No strangers to the community, Al owns Niece Products of Kansas, located in the Fort Scott Industrial Park on Hwy. 69, south of the city.
“Al has an existing business here, Niece Products of Kansas, that has been running for over ten years, so we have quite a bit invested in this town,” she said. “When we are here, we have become accustomed to Fort Scott in the way of living. We love it here, and we want to be part of the community.” They have a primary home in Texas.
Their original plans were for an ice cream shop on the first floor, two loft apartments on the second floor, and a “man cave” on the ground level.
“We are going to continue with the original plan to have two loft apartments on the second floor. One is going to be for us when we are here in Kansas, the other is going to be a rental.”
Lu’s Ice Cream Shop will have the entrance on 6th Street, under the red-striped awning. Additional parking will also be available in the rear of the building upon completion.
Nikki Regan is the manager of the ice cream shop, which will have eight flavors of Blue Bell Ice Cream, made in Texas. The Nieces have a home and business in Austin, Texas.
The living room of the rental. This is a one-bedroom with one bath and a sleeper sofa.Lu Niece said she loves the large window exposure in the lofts.
Lu’s Ice Cream Shop and the apartments are all complete.
The “man cave” is still under construction, with the hope of being completed by the end of 2026.
Lu stands in the future Al’s Speak Easy, which will house an invitation-only club and Al’s office.
“We did a complete renovation (of the whole building). The only thing that was left was the four exterior walls, so basically, we had an open shell once we cleaned everything out. New roofs, new floors, new plumbing, new electric, new windows, and, really, just a whole new design to the building inside that’s more industrial modern.”
“It was a long haul, lots of very trying moments for all involved, but thanks to Koehn Construction, neighbors, workers, Niece employees, and Fort Scott, we can see the light at the end of the tunnel.”
The Shultz-Payne Building was originally a publishing business of A.B. Payne, a writer, who at one time printed the biography of Mark Twain, and they “ended up being buddies,” Lu said.
Lu took this photo during the complete renovation of the building. This is from the basement looking up to the second story.The before-picture of the Shultz-Payne Building, the original name of the property.This original sign on the west side of the building, which says Schultz-Payne Building, 1889, remains intact.
Janet and Tim Miller purchased the Hedgehog INK Bookstore at 16 S. Main on December 1.
Even though they both have full-time jobs, Janet works for Network Kansas as a Community Entrepreneurship Manager serving Southeast Kansas, and Tim works as a history professor at Labette Community College, they decided to start the venture of owning a bookstore.
” We both love to read and enjoy stopping in bookstores anywhere we go – whether in a neighboring town or around the world.
“Hedgehog.INK has been a favorite, so we’re thrilled to take over ownership. And, we’re very thankful to Randi Witt and her family for entrusting us with the store moving forward!,” Janet said.
“We love the store and won’t be making any significant changes. In fact, the only changes you’ll see immediately are the faces at the counter and the business name, which we are changing slightly to Hedgehog Books.”
They are seeking individuals interested in employment at the store.
“We will be in the store a good deal; we will need some help running it day-to-day. If you or someone you know would be interested, please stop by or message us.”
Hours will remain 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday, but will have extended hours several days this week for Christmas on the Bricks.
The store’s phone number is 620-670-2752, and the business email is [email protected].
Hours for this week, in conjunction with the Third Annual Christmas on the Bricks this weekend, are:
Tuesday, December 2nd – 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Wednesday, December 3rd – 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Thursday, December 4th – 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. (start of parade)
Friday, December 5th – 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. – Santa will be on hand from 5 to 7 p.m.
Saturday, December 6th – 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. – Santa will be on hand from 12 to 2 p.m. and 5 to 7 p.m., and the Grinch will do storytime from 2 to 2:30 p.m.
The Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce invites members and guests to a Chamber Coffee this Thursday, November 20th at 8am hosted by Key Apparel. The coffee will take place at 2400 S. Main, Suite 200, in the shopping center next to T-Mobile. Coffee, juice, and light refreshments will be served, and attendees will have the opportunity to win a door prize drawing.
KEY Apparel is pleased to announce its 17th Annual Warehouse Sale, taking place from November 22nd through November 29th. This event provides an exclusive opportunity for shoppers to take advantage of significant close-out discounts on apparel and accessories across men’s, women’s, and children’s lines. During the sale, customers can browse a diverse selection of workwear, office attire, and casual styles; all offered at deeply reduced prices. With the holiday season approaching, this warehouse sale presents an ideal moment to stock up on quality garments for family, friends, and professional wardrobes.
KEY Apparel has been a trusted name in quality clothing and accessories, providing versatile, durable, and stylish options for a wide range of customers. With a long tradition of community engagement and retail excellence, KEY Apparel continues to support local commerce while offering exceptional value.
For more information, contact the Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce at (620) 223-3566. Visit the Events Calendar on fortscott.com and click on the “Chamber Coffees” category for upcoming hosts and locations.
Kansas Corporation Commission to hold a public
hearing on Atmos Energy rate increase request
TOPEKA – The Kansas Corporation Commission (KCC) will hold a public hearing on December 2nd to give Atmos Energy gas customers the opportunity to learn more about the company’s rate increase request, ask questions and make comments before the Commission. Atmos is requesting approval to increase rates by $19.1 million to recover costs already incurred by the company to support safe and reliable service for its Kansas customers.
If approved, the average residential bill would increase by 11.2%. For a residential customer with average usage, that equates to an increase of approximately $9.12 per month. Atmos is also proposing a rate increase for commercial, public authority, school, large industrial, and transportation customers.
The public hearing will be held at Regnier Hall Auditorium on the KU Edwards Campus located at 12610 S. Quivira Rd in Overland Park beginning at 6 p.m. To make the hearing accessible for Atmos customers across the state, a virtual option through Zoom is available, giving remote participants a chance to comment and ask questions as well. Zoom participants must register in advance on the KCC’s website by noon on December 1. The hearings will also be broadcast live on the KCC’s YouTube channel and recorded for later viewing. Registration is not required to view on YouTube.
The Commission is accepting written comments through 5 p.m., January 20, 2026. Comments may be submitted on the KCC’s website, by mail to the Commission’s Office at 1500 SW Arrowhead Rd, Topeka, KS 66604-4027 or by calling the KCC’s Office of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection at 785-271-3140 or 800-662-0027.
The Commission will issue an order on the application on or before March 24, 2026.
Julie Thurston stands in front of the family’s new venture, Grits and Grace Mercantile.
Julie and Brian Thurston had a shirt-making home business, and were asked to come to rodeos to sell their wares.
This, along with living in a rural community and having a local college with a rodeo program, prompted their newest venture, Grits & Grace Mercantile at 323 E. Wall.
They thought that with the many local rural communities, and rodeos ( a big fashion/decor trend) they would step out in this venture. Julie previously had designed decor for weddings.
Julie Thurston showing the lines of jeans the mercantile carries
Their boutique sells Western clothing for men, women and children, along with decor and furniture.
Some of the women’s clothing sold at the boutique.
“A little something for everyone,” Julie said.
Julie said her husband’s brother has a funnel cake truck and they are hoping to have him at the business site during the upcoming Christmas on the Bricks festival, Dec. 4-7.
The Rest of the Building
They closed on the purchase of the two-story building, circa 1911, on October 24. Thurston said she heard that at one time there was a candy factory in the building and most recently, a rural real estate agent office.
Their storefront neighbor, Dr. Erin Crank, will continue her chiropractic business in the building.
Upstairs, they have been readying two living spaces for use as short-term vacation rentals.
One of the bedrooms of a short-term rental unti on the second floor at 323 E. Wall that the Thurstons now own.
There are two apartments: a two-bedroom, one-bathroom living space and a one-bedroom, one-bathroom living space.
One of the bathrooms of a rental on the second floor of the building the Thurston’s own.
She said they hope to have the rentals available by the holidays.
The Bourbon County Fair Association is having a Christmas Fair tomorrow December 13th from 10 am to 3 pm at the Bourbon County Fairgrounds, across from Fort Scott Community College on South Horton.
