Tanya Glessner is the owner and stylist of Upper Cut Salon, Fort Scott, which opened for business on November 12, 2021.
Glessner has been a stylist for 16 years.
“I chose this career because I grew up in a salon watching and helping my mom, Laura Brown, in her salon,” Glessner said. “I always loved how her clients became family and no matter what was going on in their lives they always walked away looking and feeling good because of her talent and company. Now I get to share this experience with my clients. I can’t imagine doing anything else.”
Glessner operates her business in her home.
Upper Cut Salon interior. Submitted photo.
“Having the salon in my home also has the benefit of privacy and comfort for all my clients without the hustle and bustle of a typical salon,” she said. “It’s one-on-one and personal. I also have the benefit of flexible hours. So there’s no set work schedule. I schedule appointments based on my client’s needs every day of the week. I also make house calls for the elderly and those who aren’t able to leave their home.”
“Every Tuesday I offer $10 haircuts for everyone,” she said. “And every day I offer $10 haircuts for EMS, firefighters, veterans, law enforcement officers, and anyone currently in the military with proof. It’s my way of giving back to those in the frontline of our community.”
Upper Cut Salon services and prices. Submitted photo.Submitted photo.
“And for those who follow the salon on Facebook I always have something new going on each month,” she said.
Fort Scott Mayor Josh Jones said many positive events happened in the community this past year, and the city is poised for some promising events in the new year.
“A lot of things done in 2021 laid the groundwork for 2022 and we expect a lot of 2021 things to be executed in 2022,” Jones said.
The following is what Jones provided fortscott.biz as accomplishments.
In 2021, the Fort Scott City Commission:
1. Refinanced city bonds saving $15,500 per year over the next five years.
2. Passed a half-cent sales tax with 90% of revenue going towards streets and 10% going towards parks. This money will start coming in, in 2022.
3. Started an in-house safety training program saving the city $15,000 per year.
4. Utilized the Firstsource Building for Southeast Kansas Multi-County Health Department’s giving mass vaccines during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.
5. Put out Requests for Qualifications for a new city attorney leading to the city commission hiring a city attorney saving the city approximately $200,000 a year.
6. Approved to enter into a cost-sharing venture with the Bourbon County Commission for joint purchase of materials and equipment.
7. Approved a conditional use permit for an area south of town to allow a micro-meat processing plant to build a facility, which will create about 30 jobs.
8. Implemented the SeeClickFix app, which allows citizens to report road problems and code nuisances.
9. Started semi-monthly roller skating sessions at Buck Run Community Center for an added amenity for the community.
10. Moved city-county emergency dispatch to the Bourbon County Courthouse.
11. Improved the beach area at Lake Fort Scott.
12. Sold the Firstsource Building for $315,000.
13. Sold four Lake Fort Scott lots for approximately $500,000.
14. Entered into a shared services agreement with Bourbon County for information technology services, saving approximately $30,000 per year.
15. Used $200,000 of American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds for a feasibility study for re-use of the former Mercy Hospital Building as a hospital.
16. Reworked and finalized setting up the Fort Scott Land Bank which focuses on the conversion of vacant, abandoned, tax-delinquent, or otherwise underused properties into productive use.
17. Approved $2,000 bonuses for all emergency services workers that work for the city.
18. Entered into an agreement with Bourbon County REDI (Regional Economic Development, Inc.) to provide economic development services for the City of Fort Scott, saving approximately $100,000 a year.
19. Repaired over one mile of city sewer lines.
20. Entered into an agreement with the Kansas Department of Transportation for traffic signal upgrades in 2022 on Highway 69.
21. Was awarded a $50,000 grant from T-Mobile Internet for upgrades to the Skubitz Plaza area on the north end of historic downtown Fort Scott.
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Hare & Crow Barbershop, 118 S. Main. Submitted photo.
Matt Park has received his barbershop license this week for Hare & Crow at 118 S. Main.
“We’re planning to host an open house this weekend as a way to ring in the New Year,” Park said. “We will be open on Friday and Saturday from 9 a.m.-6 p.m.”
Included in the open house for the business, there will be door prizes, light snacks, and beverages.
Visitors will also be entered to win a gift bag of items stocked on his mercantile shelf in the shop.
“We still have a few more finishing touches to wrap up, but we wanted to get the doors open and invite our neighbors to come see the progress,” Park said.
Hare & Crow is a modern barbershop with a traditional aesthetic and atmosphere.
Hare & Crow Barbershop, an interior view. Submitted photo.
Park offers haircuts, straight razor shaves-complete with hot lather and steam towels, beard and mustache trims, facials and shampoos.
The shop will be a comfortable space with a lounge feel for those waiting for their turn in the chair, Park said in a prior interview.
He envisions it to be a place to hang out, have a cup of coffee or a soft drink, chew the fat with friends and neighbors-whether you need a haircut or not—and loafers are more than welcome, he said.
Judy Cassidy, owner of AnchorBay Travel Service. Submitted photo.
Judy Cassidy is the owner of AnchorBay Travel Shoppe.
She describes the business as a family-owned, faith-based full-service travel agency specializing in cruises, groups, and all-inclusive vacations.
“I operate out of my home office so I mostly do free consultations over the phone if anyone is interested in making travel arrangements,” Cassidy said. “Or (we can) meet in a public place for coffee/tea.”
Cassidy attended Fort Scott High School, got married and moved away, then moved back to Fort Scott in October 2021.
She pursued a hospitality career and lived in Nashville, Denver, and Kansas City in those years away.
The idea of the business started years ago in a church she was attending.
“My original passion for this agency started when I was very involved in my church in Denver,” according to a press release. “I already had the travel bug and wanderlust appetite for travel but I wanted to do something fun and eventful for church groups.”
She then began planning cruise groups for churches: for their singles groups, women’s/men’s retreats, and for trips to the Holy Land.
She began her diverse career in travel and hospitality after having gained an unexpected jumpstart into the industry when she found herself managing a hotel at the age of 18, she said.
She then worked as a human resources generalist for one of the largest travel agencies at the time in Kansas City.
“Completely passionately in love with traveling, (I) continued expanding my career in upper-management and consultative roles in information technology, hotel/resort operations, sales, marketing and revenue management along with managing (my) travel agency,” according to the press release. “The travel agency was kept at a manageable part-time level while (I) continued with my hospitality career.”
Cassidy is now full-time in Fort Scott, since October 2021, with her agency AnchorBay Travel Shoppe.
The logo for AnchorBay Travel Shoppe. Taken from Facebook.
She has been partnering with a travel agency to get re-certified and help with re-branding, Cassidy said.
“We haven’t officially launched, we are getting ready to do that at the end of January 2022,” she said. “But I am available to do some travel arrangements now.”
“I am the main person in the business, I have a couple of travel advisors that work by commission,” she said.
Her mission is to “passionately inspire, educate, and fulfill dreams – one client, one destination, one travel experience at a time,” according to the press release.
She believes traveling is the gateway to a broader understanding of vast cultures and destinations yet to be explored.
“We are a full-service agency with a special niche for groups,” according to the press release. “Whether it be faith-based cruises, business/incentive seminars at sea, or annual affinity groups. We look forward to crafting the vacation experience of your dreams.”
“And because Covid also changed the dynamics of traveling, and continues to change daily, we have the tools to stay on top of the latest news, rules and protocols,” she said.
“If something goes wrong on your trip, we work on your behalf and will go to bat for you– no matter who is at fault — and try to get your vacation back on track.”
“We have access to a variety of tools that the average consumer is not able to use or doesn’t know about,” she said. “We can sometimes get you a better seat on an airplane, add amenities at hotels, room upgrades, event tickets, and plan activities for you.”
The Healthy Bourbon County Action Team is sponsoring a Dare to Dream seminar on January 5, starting at 104 N. National Avenue for women entrepreneurs. It starts at 5 p.m.
“Our goal is to connect up-and-coming female entrepreneurs with local women who can mentor them,” HBCAT CEO Jody Hoener said. “We want to inspire these ladies to take on their dreams to become business owners themselves! The HBCAT wants to provide opportunities to help our community build wealth and income, to come out of poverty, and to take control of their destiny.”
Jody Hoener. Submitted photo.
“This has been a series of four events that have been incredibly well attended and successful,” she said. “Women are coming and asking questions of the panel and speakers. They are talking to each other at their tables, networking, and building each other up”.
A dinner, catered by Drywood Creek Cafe, and a networking time will begin the evening from 5-5:30 p.m.
The Keynote Speaker will be Kristi Banwart.
Kristi Banwart. Submitted photo.
Banwart will speak about how her hobby of making little girl hair bows for her daughter turned into a multi-million-dollar business in 15 years, Hoener said. “Not only did she build regional and national relationships–but international relationships to help her business grow.”
The agenda also includes a short panel speaker session which will include Rebecca Williams with The Butcher Block, Angela Simon with Bids and Dibs, and Katie Casper with Union State Bank.
“They will each discuss a component of business relationships with its supplier, customer, or professional relationships–they are all instrumental in helping build any business,” Hoener said.
Rebecca Williams. Submitted photo.
Angie Simon. Submitted photo.
Katie Casper. Submitted photo.
“We will then have open question and answer so the attendees can ask questions to the speakers, The Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce staff, HBCAT staff, or Pittsburg State University’s Small Business Development Center staff,” Hoener said.
There is free childcare available if registered prior to the event.
The support for the seminar is grant funds from the U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Business Development and the Blue Cross Blue Shield Pathways to Healthy Kansas.
Judy Earp lived 40 years in California and moved to Fort Scott in December 2019 because she fell in love with a Victorian home here.
She originally was from Lamar, MO, and looked there and in Nevada for just the right home to accommodate all of her Victorian furniture in her decision to return to the Mid-West.
When Earp found the house at 702 S. National Avenue, she found a space for an art studio.
“My art studio is in the basement,” she said.
During her California years, in her free time (she was a computer programmer and also sold real estate), she took art classes of all sorts, at Monterrey Peninsula Community College.
“The labs and all the equipment were fantastic (for all the art classes she took),” she said.
She started offering painting classes in Fort Scott in 2020 and found that the play area just outside her studio was perfect for the kid’s art classes she wanted to instruct.
The children need breaks sometimes, she said, and the space is perfect for that.
Next week she is offering a Winter Art Party for children ages five and up.
“Our next camp is from December 27 through December 31,” she said. “It has a winter theme. The cost is $125 for the entire week. I also offer two art parties for the kids on No School Days, one for USD 234 and one for St. Mary’s. These take place at my studio at 702 S. National. The cost is $25.”
No School Days are when students are not in class for one day, for teacher in-service, etc.
“My main goal is to share the joy of creating art with people of all ages and that we should all have fun while doing so,” Earp said.
“I offer different art events geared for different age groups,” she said. “During the summer and winter and spring breaks, I offer an art camp that is a week-long and we create five different paintings, all with a common theme.”
She also provides private art parties.
“Paint and Sip Parties are adult, also private parties,” she said. “I do women’s church groups.”
This past summer Earp offered a beach week, a red, white, and blue week and a farm week.
Judy Earp’s students during beach week in 2021. Submitted photo.
“I offer family-friendly art parties also, with paintings that are suitable for all ages,” she said. “We just had one at Papa Don’s this past Saturday. The cost is also $25.”
Students of the Family Paint and Pizza Art Party on Dec. 18, at Papa Don’s Pizza. Submitted photo.
“I also offer Paint & Sip Parties,” she said. “I will have two in January at Dry Wood Creek Cafe. We will be painting a Highland Cow. Both parties sold out within a few hours.”
Submitted photo.
“All parties include everything you need to complete and take home a painting,” she said. “I draw the picture on the canvas for you, supply the paint, brushes, easels and aprons. I also guide the artists every step of the way.”
Judy Howser and a friend show their art from a Fall Pathway Art Party in September. Submitted photo.
The best way for people to know immediately when a new class, camp or party is offered is to Like and follow Happy Snappy Art on Facebook, she said.
Brady and Emily Fink started a new business, Fink’s Pool Company, last month to provide swimming pool service, cleaning, and maintenance for Fort Scott and the surrounding communities.
The business also provides new construction of swimming pools.
“We realized there is a large demand for this business in our area and even further,” Emily said.
“We are currently the only two (employees) as we don’t have employees yet,” she said. “Brady and I will be tag-teaming most stuff in the field (service and new construction) while I also do most of the communication with customers and anything on the phone or social media.”
“Brady was a helicopter mechanic for four years when he served in the U.S. Navy at North Island Naval Base (California),” Emily said. “He then was a plumber for three years and for the past year he has been working and learning under The Pool Guy out of Nevada (MO).”
He is a 2012 graduate of Fort Scott High School.
Even though winter is not usually the season when people think about their swimming pools, the Fink’s wanted to get the word out for people to start planning.
They will be offering service, repair, and new construction in the southeast Kansas and southwest Missouri areas starting in 2022.
For more information call or text 620.215.0306.
A new pool cover that the Fink’s placed on a property this fall., which requires drilling concrete and placement. Submitted photo.
Rachel Pruitt started her business venture, a women and girls clothing shop, last month as a pop-up shop in the lobby of the Liberty Theatre at 113 S. Main.
The name of her business is Better in Bourbon.
On December 15 she moved the store to a permanent space at 13 N. Main.
“I want to give a heartfelt thank you to Jared Leek for the temporary use of the Liberty Theatre which was critical to a successful start,” Pruitt said
Better in Bourbon is now located at 13 N. Main. Submitted photo.
The store’s hours of operation are from 10 am until 6 pm weekdays, 9 am until 4 pm on Saturday, and on Sunday, from 1 pm until 5 pm, through Christmas.
In addition to women and tween-sized girl clothing, she sells accessories and gift items, with a price range of accessories under $15 and clothing under $50.
Evergy Seeks to Offer Energy Efficiency Programs for Kansas Customers
Evergy also Prepares to Ask MPSC to Extend Missouri Energy Efficiency Offerings.
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Dec. 20, 2021 – On Friday, Dec. 17, Evergy proposed a suite of energy efficiency programs to the Kansas Corporation Commission. Evergy’s proposed programs would provide Kansas residential and business customers with $42 million in anticipated net bill savings, offer $13 million in enhanced assistance for low-income and rural customers, and would unlock community benefits through job creation, energy education and agency partnerships.
Evergy also is preparing to ask the Missouri Public Service Commission to extend the current package of energy efficiency programs being offered to Evergy’s Missouri customers.
“As energy efficiency products and technologies continue to evolve, Evergy wants to provide energy solutions to help Kansas customers with their energy efficiency needs,” said Chuck Caisley, Evergy senior vice president and chief customer officer. “We’ve been able to offer similar successful programs in Missouri and believe Kansas customers will embrace having choices that help them manage their energy costs.”
A 2021 Wichita State University study showed that Evergy’s Kansas customers want their utility to offer energy efficiency programs. Evergy has a long history of delivering successful cost-effective programs in Missouri, making it the ideal partner to help customers save energy and money. As the first utility in Missouri to make a strong commitment to energy efficiency, Evergy has helped more than 370,000 residents and 8,000 businesses save energy.
In Missouri, Evergy plans to ask to extend its 11 current programs with enhancements for one additional year through 2023. Through a set of programs that include measures like home energy audits, programmable thermostats, rebates for efficient lighting and other efficiency upgrades, Evergy has helped save customers more than 1 billion kilowatt hours of electricity since 2013. Missouri customers have seen more than $2 of benefit for each dollar spent toward energy efficiency programs. Extension of these programs is expected to bring another $23 million of net benefits to Evergy’s Missouri customers.
“The Evergy incentives that we are able to offer in Missouri help alleviate some of the cost concerns our customers have when wanting to purchase higher-end, more efficient equipment. These rebates provide even more value to the customer,” said Anthony Plumbing, Heating & Cooling, which participates as a trade-ally for residential energy efficiency programs. “Any additional rebates offered to customers will help them justify being able to spend more.”
“Customers want more ways to manage their energy and save money. The goal for our energy efficiency programs is to offer more innovative and personalized solutions that give customers more choices,” Caisley said. “We’re excited for the opportunity to provide our customers the latest in energy efficiency products and programs while continuing our role as a leader in customer programs within the utility industry.”
The programs proposed in Kansas are subject to review and approval by the Kansas Corporation Commission and an order would be anticipated in summer 2022. Programs are proposed to start in January 2023. The extension requested in Missouri is subject to approval by the Missouri Public Service Commission, and Evergy has requested a decision by spring 2022.
The programs are proposed under the Kansas Energy Efficiency Investment Act (KEEIA), which was passed by the Kansas Legislature and became effective on July 1, 2014. KEEIA was established to support the state’s goal of promoting the implementation of cost-effective demand-side programs in Kansas and the state policy to value demand -side program investments equal to traditional investments in supply and delivery infrastructure. A similar law in Missouri has helped customers save millions of dollars in energy costs since programs began in 2013.
of Historic Fort Scott. Every hour on the hour. Departs from the Fort Scott
Chamber at 231 E. Wall St.
Friday hours: 11 am until 3 pm
Saturday hours: 10 am until 3 pm
$6 adults & $4 for 12 yrs. & under
THE FORT SCOTT NATIONAL HISTORIC SITE OFFERS DAILY GUIDED TOURS AT 10 AM & 1 PM, 7 DAYS/WEEK – FREE!
12/17-23 ~ CHRISTMAS LIGHT TROLLEY TOURS, run nightly at 5:45 and 7pm through the 23rd, limited tickets remaining, $8 adults/$5 kids 12 and under.
12/17 ~ BLYTHE FAMILY BENEFIT AT LIBERTY THEATRE, chili feed tickets available at the Chamber for $5, evening will include a raffle, auction and DJ. Click here for info.
12/17 ~ HOLIDAY PARTY-IN-A-BAG PICKUP FOR KIDS, come meet Miss Val & Choose Your Holiday Party-in-a-Bag! 12-5pm, Fort Scott Public Library. Click here for more information.
12/18 ~ THE LAVENDER PATCH EXTENDED HOLIDAY HOURS, 9am to 12pm, 620-223-1364, 2376 Locust Rd. See flyer below for more info.
12/18 ~ JINGLE BELL HOLIDAY MART, Bourbon County Fairgrounds, 9am to 3:30pm, click here for info.
12/18 ~ WREATHS ACROSS AMERICA LAYING OF THE WREATHS, 11am, National Cemetery No. 1 in Fort Scott.
12/18 ~ PAINT & PIZZA ART PARTY, 11am, by Happy Snappy Art, to be held at Papa Don’s, click here for info.
12/18 ~ MURDER AND MAYHEM II book signing, 1-3pm, Hedghog.INK! 16 S. Main St. See flyer below for more information.
12/18 ~ CHRISTMAS IN THE PARK, Gunn Park, click here for more info, 5-9pm.
12/21 ~ VIRTUAL STORYTIME: STAR BRIGHT & WINTER LIGHTS, 10-11AM. click here for more information
12/21 ~ BEER & BROWSE GUY’S NIGHT AT ANGIE DAWN’S BOUTIQUE, 4-7pm, click here for more information.
12/22 ~ BREAKFAST WITH SANTA AT DRY WOOD CREEK CAFE, 9am-1pm, click here for details.
12/23 ~ 2ND ANNUAL LIGHTS, COCOA & COOKIES OF BARBEE ST. 5-8pm, 806 S. Barbee St. click here for more details.
12/27-31 ~ KID’S WINTER ART CAMP BY HAPPY SNAPPY ART, 1-4pm each day, $125 per person, click here for details.
HAPPY HOLIDAYS
FROM THE CHAMBER!
SAVE THE DATE:
1/5 ~ Dare to Dream Women’s Entrepreneurship Series Event, 5 to 7pm, dinner & childcare provided., click here for more info. & to RSVP.
1/9 ~ Bouquet making class at Sunshine Boutique, $10 per person – reserve your spot today! 620-223-6007
1/13-14-17 ~ Alvin Ailey’s Kansas City Dance Group Ballet Performance, and other Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration Events, click here.
Products of Desert Bloom’s booth. Submitted photo.
When Leanne Leatherman heard that the Bourbon County Historical Preservation Association was not having its annual Stocking Stuffer Christmas event, she asked a fellow Bourbon County Fair Association member, Sue Reineke, about hosting a craft show and sale.
“She thought it would be a good idea, so the Jingle Bell Holiday Mart came to be,” Leatherman said. “This is our first year, but I hope it is the first of many. We may try to schedule it a little earlier in the month for next year.”
The two are also having conversations about having a swap meet or show once a month to allow local merchants a place to meet and sell their wares.
Leatherman and Reinecke are both vendors. Leatherman sells hand-crafted items, Reinecke sells goat milk soap and lotions from her farm.
Products of the vendor, Auntie Em’s. Submitted photo.
The sale will be Saturday, Dec. 18 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Bourbon County Fairgrounds 4-H Building on South Horton Street.
“It is a heated facility, with plenty of parking,” she said.
The Bourbon County 4-H Building on South Horton, across from Fort Scott Community College. Submitted photo.
“We are full this year with vendors,” Leatherman said.
Some of Lori Craig’s products. Submitted photo.
The following are the vendors who will be selling their wares on Dec. 18:
Locust Hill Lamancha’s Goat milk products
Sue Reinecke’s goat milk skin products. Submitted photo.
Paula’s This and That: hand made quilts, Young Living products
Products from Paula’s This and That booth. Submitted photo.
Auntie Em’s Closet: key chains, car freshies, hand warmers
Quill Fire Farm: crochet, mouse repellent bags, homemade play dough
A rural Hiattville youth, Mayla Foster, will have her first show, featuring ‘sensory handmade playdough. Look for her at the Quill Fire Farm booth. Submitted photo.
Flying P Ranch: jewelry
Happy little Candle Factory
Hunter’s Fashion: Paparazzi Jewelry
Desert Bloom Boutique: apparel, candles, car freshies
Tessie Tucker: Color Street Nails
CBF Candles
Blue Dog Winery
Miki Kraft: lots of hand-sewn items
Bathhouse Trading: soaps, bath bombs, etc.
Maid in Marmaton: jams
AKA Crafts and Design: apparel
Some of AKA’s products. Submitted photo.Courtney Lanham: tumblers
Courtney Lanham: tumblers
Michelle Lisica: laser-cut ornaments and items
Elk Creek Outpost: soaps, air fresheners, bath bombs, etc.
Some of Elk Creek’s products. Submitted photo.
For more information contact Leatherman at 620.224.6423.
