Rachel Pruitt has opened a new Christmas pop-up shop in the lobby of the Liberty Theatre, 113 S. Main in downtown Fort Scott. She has named the pop-up Better in Bourbon.
“We will be open the remainder of the year, with new product arriving weekly,” she said.
Her products are women’s and tween girl clothing, gift items, and accessories. For those who don’t know: a tween is no longer a little child, but not quite a teenager.
Pruitt is following a lifelong ambition, after many years spent in the apparel business.
“During college, I was the first Kansas State student to intern at the Atlanta Apparel Mart,” she said. “Upon graduation, I worked for fifteen years in wholesale apparel based in Kansas City which involved traveling to several cities supporting NCAA Division I sports and later relocated to Nashville.”
“My next chapter lasted over 20 years in corporate marketing which included another relocation to Chicago,” she said. “After having the opportunity to live in several other cities, I found a sense of ease returning to Fort Scott. Life is simpler in a rural community, and I consider myself fortunate to have the perspective to realize life is ‘better in Bourbon’.”
“It seems there is so much focus on what is wrong today, a rapid spread of negativity,” she said. “Over the last year, I’ve attempted to refocus my energy on what is right, on things which are positive. With unwavering support from friends and family, I am returning to a lifelong passion.”
“This pop-up boutique is in the lobby of the beautiful Liberty Theatre due to the generosity of the owner, Jared Leek,” she said. “It will be open through the end of the year, Wednesday through Saturday from noon until 7 p.m., adjusting hours to coincide with special events. I am optimistic the pop-up will justify the need to look for a permanent space.”
The Bandera Stone showroom storefront is located at 103 Third Street, on the north side of the square in Uniontown. Workers are currently working on the interior of the building, with a completion date in early 2022.
Don and Mary Pemberton, owners of Bandera Stone, Inc. are in the process of restoring and remodeling the storefront on the north side of Uniontown’s square.
The building is located at 103 Third Street.
Their business offers stone products for both interior and exterior, commercial and residential projects, all from local quarries.
Bandera Stone Inc. truck driver, “Bugs” George, left, with Don and Mary Pemberton, owners, with a stone that was recently delivered to the Cato School site, commemorating the National Register of Historic Places designation. Mary described George as “driver extraordinaire.” Submitted photo.
“Bandera Stone quarries and fabricates natural limestone and sandstone: full depth veneer, thin-cut veneer, landscaping, pool coping, sills, caps, hearths, mantels, countertops, and other dimension stone products,” Mary Pemberton said. “At our Bronson Quarry, we also have a crusher plant and provide a wide range of crushed stone products including road rock, ¾”, 1-1/8” and 2” clean, crusher run, ditch liner, and agriculture lime with a CCE in the mid to high 90’s.”
They offer a range of stone colors, with the product drawn from the several quarries in Kansas and Missouri that the Pemberton’s operate.
“We specialize in custom cutting each order using these unique stones,” she said. “Our stone is shipped all across the country but primarily west of the Mississippi River. Our biggest markets are in Montana, Idaho, Colorado, California, Tennessee, and more locally in the Kansas City area.”
“You can find our stone on projects throughout Bourbon County including the LaRoche Stadium and the Fort Scott Community College baseball fields, (Fort Scott’s)Heritage Park, the Fort Scott National Cemetery, Uniontown City Park, as well as numerous private residences,” she said.
One of Bandera Stone’s projects is Fort Scott’s City National Bank at Second and Scott Avenue. Taken from its website.
The business needed to relocate its office and wanted to combine it with a showroom to better display their stone products and enable customers to visualize options for their project, she said.
“We considered several options, including building new, but always liked the idea of restoring an older masonry building,” she said. “We decided on Uniontown for the location and just began asking building owners if they would be interested in selling. We were able to purchase the former café building, one of the few older structures left on the Uniontown square.”
They discovered their newly purchased building was in very poor structural condition.
“In October, we started a total gut-job remodel which included changing the flat roof to a gable roof as well as refacing two of the exterior walls which were extremely deteriorated,” she said. “Inside, absolutely everything will be new. The front half of the interior is the showroom which will display a variety of our veneer and cut stone products installed as it would be on a residential project. The back half of the interior contains restrooms, a conference room, file room, etc. ”
“We expect to have the remodeling completed in late January, barring delays with materials or contractors,” she said. “In the spring, I hope to begin painting murals which will cover the brick exterior east wall. Once the remodeling is finished and stone installed in the showroom we will have an open house so everyone can come and see.”
History Of Bandera Stone
“Don was a second-generation stone and brick mason so he had 15 plus years of masonry experience before founding Bandera Stone in 1988,” she said. “We purchased the Bandera Quarry near Redfield and initially only supplied veneer stone.”
Within a few years, the Pemberton’s started a Bronson quarry that supplies Winterset Limestone, which has become the most popular and versatile stone they sell, she said.
Winterset Limestone from Bandera’s Bronson Quarry. Taken from their website.
They also bought the former school building in Redfield to expand into cut stone.
“Over the years we have continued to expand, adding quarries and buildings, and equipment at the cut stone mill, as we could afford it. In Bourbon County, we now have our stone mill in Redfield, our primary quarry just east of Bronson, and soon to be our office and showroom in Uniontown.”
For more information call or text 620-223-3920 or email [email protected].
The KCC weighs in on Evergy’s Sustainability Transformation Plan emphasizing the need for regionally competitive rates, reliable service
TOPEKA – In an order issued this morning, the Kansas Corporation Commission noted concerns with Evergy’s Sustainability Transformation Plan (STP) and added reporting requirements to evaluate whether the STP is making progress toward regionally competitive rates and reliable electric service.
Today’s order does not attempt to decide the merits of the program or associated investments, those issues will be decided in Evergy’s future rate cases. However, the Commission did outline the following questions and concerns:
How will the costs associated with the STP impact rates? It is important to achieve and maintain regionally competitive retail rates, and it is unclear at this time whether the STP improves or worsens the trajectory of rates.
More transparency is needed on Evergy’s projections of future spending increases. The original STP envisioned $8.9 billion in capital expenditure spending from 2020 through 2024. However, in its September 21, 2021 Investor Presentation, Evergy extended its projections through 2025, increasing its proposed 5-year spending to $10.4 billion.
The Commission remains concerned over Elliott Management’s role in encouraging and developing the STP, noting that as a regulated utility, Evergy should not prioritize shareholder interests to the detriment of ratepayer interests.
Evergy developed the plan after entering into an agreement with Elliott Management to increase shareholder values through a standalone plan to cut expenses and increase capital expenditures, or a merger transaction. In response, the Commission opened a general investigation to protect the interests of ratepayers and provide KCC staff, stakeholders and Evergy an opportunity to collaborate and evaluate the STP. Four informational workshops were held and 1,472 members of the public submitted comments.
Today’s order directs Evergy to explain the increased spending in its 5-year projections and the impact it will have on rates in a Capital Plan filing due on February 28, 2022. In addition, Evergy is required to file reports on its key performance indicators so the Commission can determine if the company is executing the STP successfully and making progress toward regionally competitive rates and reliable electric service.
The Artificers 5th Annual Christmas Show, a new artshow to Fort Scott this year, is Friday, Dec. 3, and Saturday, Dec. 4 from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. at 119 S. Main.
“Once a year Trent and I create Christmas and holiday-themed (art) work,” Kate Freeman said. “We invite some artists’ friends to share their offerings as well.”
The Freeman’s, from the Kansas City area, purchased the building north of the radio station 8 North National Avenue in Fort Scott and were renovating it, but had a few setbacks, Kate said.
“Jared Leek, the owner of Front Door Realty, was kind enough to give our show a home when we weren’t able to open our studio in time for our annual show,” Kate said. “We were hoping to be open for business, but due to some setbacks our space isn’t finished.”
This year seven artists are participating in this event.
“I hand-picked them for their craftsmanship and diverse mediums,” she said. “There is sure to be something special for everyone on your Christmas list!”
The artists include Trent and Kate Freeman, in the medium of sculpture: Andrea Latham, Kansas City, Kansas, ceramic pottery; Erin Shevling, Edwardsville, Kansas, functional pottery;
Tim Kienzle, Bonner Springs, Kansas, copper jewelry;
Darrell Williams, Kirksville, Missouri, airbrush art; and
Julie Snitker, Kansas City, Missouri, mixed media collage.
Some of the artists work:
The Artificers studio is progressing on National Avenue.
“Slowly but surely,” she said. “There is progress on all fronts, it just feels like a snail’s pace when we are so excited to share our space and art with our new community.”
Below is a link to sign up for updates and emails for classes and events.
will be participating. All of them were handpicked for their craftsmanship and diverse mediums.
There is sure to be something special
for everyone on your Christmas list!
Please RSVP and enter your email with this link and receive a token of our appreciation to be picked up at the show! Here’s the link. theartificers.com/chamber
Workers from Mid-Continental Restoration Company work on the front of the building at 20 N. Scott. New awnings, siding, and paint are improvements being added to the building.
The Fort Scott downtown area is seeing new life.
Already approximately one dozen buildings have been purchased by new buyers and are being or have been renovated in the last few years.
Judy and Jerry Witt, who sold their suburban home and moved downtown to an apartment at 9 Main Street, have also purchased a building in the back of their living space, located at 20 N. Scott Avenue.
The purchased building has 1,812 square feet on each floor and was built in 1880 as a harness shop, Jerry said.
“Harnesses were put on horses to pull wagons,” he said.
“It’s the small building north of the Courtland Hotel,” Judy Witt said. “It was formerly owned by Jim Shoemaker and before that, it was a coffee shop.”
“I wanted to preserve it,” Jerry Witt said. “I wanted to see renovations on Scott Avenue.”
“It was basically in good shape,” Jerry said. “We finished the downstairs area; redid the bathroom and put new cabinets in.”
“The upstairs has a commercial kitchen,” he said. “Three sinks, a double oven, and a range.”
“We hope to have an area for a small business on the lower level,” Judy said. “And an apartment upstairs.”
“The idea is someone could start a business downstairs and live upstairs,” he said.
“I’d like to see something like an ice cream shop or popcorn,” he said. “To serve the visitors to the fort (Fort Scott National Historic Site).”
The building will be for rent, when the reno is completed, which should be the end of the year, he said.
Jerry and Judy moved downtown last year.
“We have a front door on Main Street and a back one on Old Fort Boulevard,” he said. “I talk to a lot of visitors to the fort and find out where they are from.”
Old Fort Boulevard is directly in front of the national historic site.
Jerry said he is enjoying living downtown.
Jerry and Judy Witt hand out Halloween candy in front of their apartment on Main Street on October 30. Taken from the Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce Facebook page.
“We are part of everything going on,” he said. “And it’s close to restaurants. There is always something happening. It’s beautiful and peaceful at night.”
“I have my rental office in the front room of my condo,” he said. “It’s the only one-story building on Main Street.”
The Witts own three businesses on North Main Street that currently house Audette Davis’s beauty shop, Mary Eastwood’s upholstery shop, and Stacy Gooderl’s healthy living store, he said.
This week Mid-Continental Restoration Co. of Fort Scott was working on the front side of the building at 20 North Scott Avenue.
“They are doing siding, awnings, painting, and bringing the brick back to life,” Judy said.
Monday, November 22nd is the VIP Fall Extravaganza that will be held at the Fort Scott Middle School in the Gymnasium & Commons Area from 5-8 p.m.
This is a one-stop shopping and dining experience.
Pick up baked goods for your Thanksgiving dinner, purchase holiday gifts, and hear holiday music – all in one great evening.
Donated items from vendors will be available as raffle prizes.
Participating Vendors:
*2 Southern Ladies / Jessica Cullen
Baked Goods / Hunter Parker
*Bids & Dibs / Angela Simon
*Color Street / Heather Geiger
*Cowboy Christmas Store & Murphy Boys / Jaymie Murphy
*Crystal’s Jewelry / Carolyn Crystal
*Custom Jewelry / Laura Howard
*Desert Bloom / Jimmie Hughes
Dixie’s Lilla Rose / Dixie Jackson
*Down Home Country Crafter / Cindy Hall
*Flying P Ranch / Abbie Powell & Jolynne Mitchell
FSHS After Prom 2022 / Amy Harper
FSMS Technology Products / Adam Feagins
*Funky Junktiques / Jennifer Cox
*Happy Little Candle Factory / Lori Craig
*Home Sewn Items / Micki Kraft
*Laree + Co. / Rachel French
*Locust Hill Lamanchas / Sue Reinecke
Mixed Media Mosaics / Cindi Lipe
*Paul L. Milks Photography / Paul L. Milks
*Plain Jane’s Soap / Heather Mace & Pamela Walters
*Redbud Farms & Nurseries / Tara Allen
*Shirt Shack / Billy Webster
*Sugar Bakery / Jessie Combs
*Sunshine Boutique / Georgia Brown
*The Purse Lady / Nancy Crawford
*The Spurred Mule Creations and Décor / Jessica Norwood
*Tiger Threads / Morgan Sage
*Tupperware / Shawn O’Brien
*Uppacreek Ranch / Doug Simpson
*Well Spring Acres / Penny Moore
*Wood Crafts & Art / Wilbur Fleming
*These vendors will be donating items to be raffled that evening.
Tickets may be purchased for $0.25 each. Winners need not be
present to win.
Monday, November 22nd
Fort Scott Middle School
Gymnasium & Commons Area
5:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Parking is available on the east, west, and south sides of the school.
Wednesday Writers will happen at
Join Hedgehog.INK! on November 17 from
1:30 to 3 p.m.
The bookstore is located at 16 S. Main Street.
Jane M. Tucker, author of the Lottie Braun trilogy, will join the group to share insights into the writing and publishing of her books.
“This will be the third in a three-part series of workshops to give encouragement, motivation, and support to people who want to write,” said store owner Jan Hedges. “If there is enough interest, we may continue as a writers support group after the first of the year.”
NEW TABLETOPS AT LA HACIENDA ~ GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO PROMOTE YOUR BUSINESS!
La Hacienda is replacing our 21 table tops with a beautiful new design/finish and we are partnering with local businesses that will be featured on the tables with full color magazine quality ads.
The new tables will stay in place for 3 years.
There are 3 ad sizes to choose from.
A one time payment for all 3 years!
We handle all of the graphics or you can submit a PDF of a completed ad.
Most important is reserving your spot on the table as these ads are going fast.
Your involvement will show important community support in exchange for this unique exposure!
Contact Carol Carney if interested 1-316-641-7639 or let Mirna or Lupe know at La Hacienda.
_________
Thank you in advance to those who have already confirmed ad placement!
Ed and Susan Townley with their daughters from left Cheyanne Griffin, Dani Townley, and Ella Townley. They are pictured in the storefront before the task of decorating the space for the holidays.
Ed Townley, Olathe, has purchased the former Books and Grannies store at 11 N. Main, in Fort Scott’s Historic Downtown.
“I bought it with ideas in mind, but that is ever-changing,” Townley said. “At the current moment, I may finish remodeling and rent it out for a few years.”
Local realtor, Barb Albright with H and H Agency, handled the sale of the building to the family.
“I bought rental houses and recently sold those and I always wanted a business downtown,” he said.
“I have lifelong friends from Fort Scott,” he said. “Jerome Mitzner and Brian Love, along with Al Metcalf.”
He and his wife, Susan, own an independent insurance adjuster business, he said.
“We have a side business of antiques in Johnson County,” Townley said.
They are looking forward to moving to Fort Scott, although at this point it won’t be until his youngest daughter graduates, and she is currently in the eighth grade, he said.
The overwhelming amount of books in the former bookstore were consolidated and sold to a company.
“The fastest and easiest way to liquidate the books was to have a company do it,” he said.
Then he had a clean slate to see what he purchased.
What he purchased at 11 N. Main was 1700 square feet with doors to both Main Street and Skubitiz Plaza.
“The front and back doors are appealing,” he said.
Townley has repainted the original ceiling tiles, is working on new flooring and a restroom will be added.
The family worked on a Christmas display on November 6 to spruce up the storefront for the upcoming annual holiday shopping event on November 11-13, sponsored by the Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce and businesses.
The storefront at 11 N. Main has been decorated for Christmas by the Townley family.The storefront that the Townley family created includes a fireplace with Christmas stockings and a Christmas tree with presents.
“We did a vintage Christmas display, to give (the storefront) a little personality,” Townley said.
Following the completion of work on the first floor, the family has the upstairs to renovate.
There is an apartment on the second floor that is the whole length of the store and the family has a goal of making that into a living space, he said.
Townley shows off a working jukebox purchased from Fort Scottian Bill Michaud, which was at the former Kress Building down the street on Main.
