Ruritan members facilitated a ribbon-cutting for Patty Olmstead’s business in Uniontown in May. From left, Mark Warren, Kevin Gleason, Joe George, Owner Patty Olmstead, Raymond George, Henry Homan, and Mike Mason.
A new business has opened in Uniontown on the square.
3rd Street Car Wash was slated to have its’ grand opening on June 30 from 4 to 8 p.m. but weather conditions and some parts availability have delayed the opening to July 14.
Owner Patty Olmstead has renovated the car wash that has been out of business for years, and in addition, purchased the storage units next to the car wash.
One can get their car washed and for those with pets, there will be a pet washing station, with a table and shampoo, on the horizon for the business, Olmstead said.
Patty Olmstead works on the money machine at the carwash she owns. With her is her pet, Thomas the goat.
The car wash starts at $2.25 with a car vacuum available for $1.
Olmstead said the east wall of the car wash, easily seen by the community, she is allowing the Uniontown High School Eagles to use for publicizing their accomplishments.
The east side of the carwash is available for Uniontown High School for publicizing student accomplishments.
Olmstead had been looking for a business to purchase, she said.
“I’ve been investigating some businesses for some time, looking for a second income,” Olmstead said. “I’ve found what I’ve been looking for, for years. The timing was just right.”
Contact Olmstead at 620.215.1371. or contact her at [email protected].
Together, through The Healthy Bourbon County Action Team’s Center for Economic Growth, PSU Small Business Development Center, Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce and Perry’s Pork Rinds are offering a series of seminars to support women entrepreneurs!
Women supporting women!
We weren’t all born into families with businesses to teach us the ropes on business! We are here to help connect you with women leaders to learn from their successes and failures–and to develop relationships into mentoring!!
Get to know local business women who want to help you succeed!
In this series about starting your start up…
Dacia Clark with PSU Small Business Development Center will
provide you some inside tips!
Learn about what steps you need to take in order to start your business and important issue to thank about along the way, including setting up your LLC and how to get your EIN and Retail Sales Tax Certificate.
Panel speakers include Kelly Perry with Perry’s Pork and Bailey Lyons with Lyons Realty.
Childcare available!
Dinner (catered by Sharky’s) and networking from 5-5:30pm
Barbara McCord, 68, retired on May 14 from Tri-Valley Developmental Services as its’ horticulture therapist after 17 years.
Tri-Valley staff work with an adult population that has intellectual disabilities.
McCord developed the horticulture therapy program for Tri-Valley.
She received her bachelor of science degree in horticultural therapy at K-State in 1975.
After graduating, she worked at Melwood Farm, Maryland, for several years, she said. They worked with people with intellectual disabilities to improve their social, work, physical, and mental skills by being involved in the daily activities in a greenhouse setting.
She then worked in her family’s business, the Fort Scott Greenhouse for 40 years. When the family sold the business she knew she wanted to return to horticulture therapy.
Her dream job would become a reality in 2004 when Tri-Valley wanted to develop a horticulture therapy program, she said.
“We didn’t have a pot, a bag of soil, or any plant materials to start the program – really nothing at all that was related to the plant world,” she said. “Funds were raised through grants and the generosity of our community to provide a state-of-the-art experience for our clients.”
Her biggest challenge was to design and fund a greenhouse in 2007, she said.
“With the support of the community and the 24/7 backing of my husband, David, we were able to establish the greenhouse and plant the seed for the current horticultural therapy program,” she said.
A 2,100 sq. ft. greenhouse and a patio area with raised bed gardens were created and made accessible to the clients. and also an in-ground flower and vegetable garden.
Cooking, art, and educational classes were developed through the years.
“This opened up many new opportunities for our clients,” she said.
McCord said people often misunderstand people with disabilities.
“It became my mission to establish a program that would move us towards a more inclusive environment,” she said.
“Horticulture became the perfect bridge between our agency and Fort Scott,” she said. “People opened up their arms when we first started.”
They offered plant materials and supplies, supported the bi-annual Gardener’s Christmas Auction, civic groups purchased plants to use for fundraisers, provided plants for the city hanging baskets and gardens, the Fort Scott High School construction class helped build the greenhouse as well as wholesale to local retailers.
“This gave our clients a chance to become an integral part of the town,” she said. “Our community has been such a vital part in establishing our program; I cannot say thank you enough.”
“I will miss the conversations, smiles, and friendships that I have had with the clients and staff at Tri-Valley,” she said. “Many strong relationships were formed while working with the clients and I will always have a deep respect for their accomplishments and positive attitudes.”
Austin Bolinger Replaces McCord
Since last fall, McCord has mentored Austin Bolinger to take her position at Tri-Valley.
“I feel extremely fortunate to be able to hand over such a successful program and to watch Austin make it into a bigger and better program,” she said.
Community Involvement Will Keep Her Busy
McCord is involved with a local PEO chapter, co-president of the Bourbon County Garden Club, plays in the Iola Symphony, and volunteers with Special Olympics.
“My garden will now come first, along with music, as well as creative outlets like needlepoint, watercolor, building garden sculptures, etc., these will be a few items that I will enjoy filling my time with.”
Having worked her entire life, retirement is going to be an adjustment, she said, but she and her husband David are planning to travel.
“Spending time with nieces/nephews and their families will also become a priority,” she said. “I would like to continue to add color and beauty to our community through the world of plants.”
“Don’t be surprised if you see me kneeling in a flower bed somewhere around town,” she said.
Varia Quality Resale Clothing Shop opened June 8 at 110 E. 23rd, across the street from Walgreens.
Co-owners Robin Kendrick and daughter Darci West opened the shop because “my daughter and I like clothes and there are not many clothing stores in Fort Scott,” she said. “And we like to get quality clothes at affordable prices.”
“We sell women’s and children’s clothing from size newborn to women’s plus size,” Kendrick said.
Kendrick said they source the clothes from online sales and also buy clothing outright from local customers.
They take no consignments.
Kendrick can be reached at 620.238.1703.
One can see the latest the shop has to offer on its’ Facebook page.
Hours of operation are Wednesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce is hosting a grand opening for the store on Thursday, June 24 at 8 a.m. with remarks starting at 8:15 a.m., followed by the ribbon-cutting.
Coffee, juice, and light refreshments will be served, in addition to a door prize drawing.
Contact the Chamber office at 620.223.3566 for more information on the weekly Chamber coffees, held at various businesses and organizations.
Varia is a French word meaning variety or miscellaneous.
Chamber Grand Opening & Ribbon Cutting Announced for Varia, Quality Resale Clothing Store.
The Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce invites members and guests to a Grand Opening and Ribbon Cutting to celebrate the opening of Varia Quality Resale Clothing Store at 110 E. 23rd St. The event will take place Thursday, June 24thth at 8 a.m. with remarks starting at 8:15 a.m. followed by the cutting of the ribbon. Coffee, juice, and light refreshments will be served in addition to a door prize drawing.
Co-Owner, Robin Kendrick comments that Varia is French word meaning variety or miscellaneous. They offer quality resale clothing, non-consignment at affordable prices. They also have accessories and other miscellaneous items for sale. Varia offer woman and children clothing priced at $11.50 and under.
Contact the Chamber of Commerce at (620) 223-3566 for more information.
Craig Campbell at his desk. His office has been housed in a wing at the Community Health Center since the closing of the former Mercy Hospital.
Craig Campbell is retiring from his 39-year career as a pharmacist on June 30.
A chance conversation with a relative changed the course of his life when deciding on a career.
“By chance, I was visiting with my great uncle who was a pharmacist,” he said. ” Willard Higbee, he was the brother of my grandma, Bernice Campbell.”
“I confided in him that I was working on a chemical engineering degree but did not think I could get through the math requirements,” Campbell said. “He said I would love pharmacy, so I visited with Ken Asher and Bob Tuchscherer, local pharmacists at the time, and they agreed that pharmacy was a wonderful profession.”
Technology advancement has changed his job as a pharmacist.
“Technology has advanced so much with the electronic medical record,” Campbell said. “It brings into view so much more information that lets you know more about the patient, not just in the present moment but what has gone on before.”
“Prescriptions are so much safer now that we do not have to figure out the doctor’s handwriting,” he said. “Sorry doctor friends. Pharmacists are an integral part of the patient care team now, since when I started in the fall of 1982.”
He has most recently been Mercy Health System’s Director of Pharmacy Performance, St. Louis, since November 2014. But his office is located in a wing of the former Mercy Hospital, although during the COVID-19 pandemic, he has worked mostly from home, he said.
From 1999-2018 Campbell served as Mercy Hospital Fort Scott’s Pharmacy Director, before that from ’92-’99, was a staff pharmacist at Mt. Carmel Hospital (now Ascension Via Christi) in Pittsburg.
Campbell worked from1983-1992 for four pharmacy’s starting with his first job in Texas.
Campbell completed a Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy at Southwestern Oklahoma State University in Weatherford, OK, and an associate of arts degree in pre-pharmacy from Fort Scott Community College.
For Campbell, the best part of his career was being a part of patient care teams, which come up with the best plan to improve patient health, he said.
“That has been rewarding,” Campbell said. “While at Mercy Fort Scott…my hometown, I was able to care for a lot of friends and family.”
“I once went into the room of an elderly teacher I had in the seventh or eighth grade,” he said. “The patient taught math. The patient said I must have been a student, but could not recall my name. I told who I was. The patient asked what I did for a living and I said I was a pharmacist. The patient smiled and said, ‘I must have been a pretty good teacher.’ Yes, the patient was a good teacher.”
The COVID-19 Pandemic has been the biggest challenge of his career.
“In the six years I have worked for Mercy at the system level, the main responsibility is to make sure each hospital has the medications they need when they need them,” Campbell said. “COVID was the most difficult time as we were competing with every hospital in the country to have enough meds to treat patients, especially those on ventilators. There were many 20 hour days in April and May 2020.”
What is on the horizon for you?
My wife (Jane) says I am trading one OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder) for another,” he said. “I would really like to help the city and county improve the overall quality of life through organizing volunteer groups to help our neighbors with whatever they need.”
Campbell is chairman of the Good Neighbor Action Team, which helps people with work on yards, house painting, etc.
“The community has three big events coming up next year with Big Kansas Road Trip in May, Good Ole Days, and the Fort Scott High School all-class reunion next June. We really have an opportunity to show off our great town and county.”
“We will also travel some and see more of the grandkids’ activities,” he said.
Campbel has four children: Ryan (who is deceased); Brett and wife, Kayla, Pittsburg; Trevor and wife, Jami, Overland Park; and Jenna Campbell and her fiance Devin, Fort Scott. His grandkids are Mackenize Campbell, Spokane, WA; Brecken and Landry Campbell, Pittsburg and Kennadie, Rush, Austyn, and Larkin Campbell, Overland Park.
of Historic Fort Scott. Every hour on the hour. Depart from The Fort Scott
Chamber at 231 E. Wall St.
Friday hours: 11 am until 3 pm
Saturday hours: 10 am until 2 pm.
$6 Adults & $4 for 12 yrs & under.
6/18 & 6/20 LaRoche Baseball Complex! Saturday I am running 3 tournaments in town an 8u with 8 teams, an 11 u with 4 teams, and a 16u with 12 teams. Click here for more info.
6/18 & 6/19- Care to Share Benefit Yard Sale at 1123 Burke St. Friday (7:30 to 6 pm) and Sat. (7:30 to 2 pm)
6/18 – Jazz and R & B Violinist, Dominique Hammons Music Performance Fundraising. Performing at Liberty Theater at 8 pm. $35
6/18 – Friday Night Karaoke at The Boiler Room Bewhaus! 7 pm until 10 pm! 2 S. National St.
6/18 – Friday Night concert at Common Ground Presents, The Wood Family from 7 pm to 8:30 pm. Click here for more info.
6/18 & 6/24 – Fort Scott Cinema. Now showing: Petter Rabbit 2, In the Heights, Fast & Furious 9, The Hitman’s Wife’s Bodyguard. Click here for more info.
6/19- Farmers’ Market, 8 am to noon, Skubitz Plaza in front of the Fort.
6/19 ~ The Lavender Patch Farm 4th Annual Fest from 9 am until 3:30 pm. The Trolley will be transporting passengers to the event all day. Jump on at The FS Chamber, 231 E. Wall. To learn more about the festivities,click here.
June & July Hours open daily. Thurs. thru Mon.
6/19 – Main Street Gallery & Gifts – 2nd Annual Junk & Disorderly Event!. Join us for shopping over 10,000 Sq. Feet of Space and 50 + Vendors! Click hereto view more information.
6/19 – Fort Scott Paint in the Park by Creative Signs “USA Flag” Click hereto view more information.
6/22 – Lego Club hosted by Museum of Creativity, Tuesdays through August, 4:30-5:30 click here for more info.
MORE COMING NEXT WEEK
6/21 & 6/23 – RAMM Bicycle riding across USA, will be thru Fort Scott, June 21st thru June 23rd. LOOKING FOR VOLUNTEER’S FOR STATIONS Click hereto view more information.
6/22- Security 1st Title Customer Appreciation Luncheon Click here to view more information.
6/24- KANSAS ROCKS…Summer Off Road 101 Course. 9 am until 5 pm.Click hereto view more information.
6/24- EVERGY FREE Community Safety Workshop 9:30 am 11:30 am.Click hereto view more information.
The Lavender Patch Farm, 2376 Locust, Fort Scott, was started in 2010 by Betsy and Davin Reichard, and this year marks the fourth time they have invited the community to a festival in summer.
Lavender Festival IV, which celebrates all things lavender, will be happening Saturday, June 19 from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
“The Lavender Festival celebrates the beginning of the lavender harvest and invites guests to enjoy the beauty of the lavender fields, surrounding wildflowers and prairie grasses, and other special activities of the day,” Betsy said. “Admission is $5 for 13 and up and includes great music, games, and children’s activities around the Lavender Patch. ”
“Festival activities include you-pick lavender and wildflower bundles ($5), enjoying time with family and friends while listening to music, playing some games, watching demonstrations, going on a lavender tour, a hands-on children’s fairy garden, partaking of lavender foods that will be for sale – ice cream, lavenderade, or a pulled pork sandwich with lavender seasoning for lunch,” she said.
The Lavender Patch Festival 2019. Submitted photos.
“There will be lavender distilling (for essential oil) demonstrations throughout the day,” Betsy said. “The lavender gift shop will be open to take home memories and lavender creations.”
“Remember to bring your camera and take as many photos as you like,” she said.
The couple’s loyal staff and many volunteers make the festival a fun event, Betsy said. They also staff other days the farm is open, most weekends in June and July.
“As a Kansas agritourism farm, guests can visit our working lavender farm when we are open,” Betsy said. “Come pick a bundle and smell the lavender; relax and reconnect with friends and the outdoors. Enjoy our lavender fields, surrounded by wildflowers and prairie grasses, then take home some lavender memories from our gift shop.”
Clumps of lavender plants on the Lavender Patch Farm, 2019. Submitted photos.
Bourbon County Economic Development Council, Inc. Gets New Name
BEDCO is now Bourbon County REDI. The Board of Trustees voted to change the name at their June 17th meeting, recognizing a new direction for the organization. The “REDI” acronym stands for “Regional Economic Development Inc.” The organization is also in process of transitioning from a 501(c)(6) entity to a 501(c)(3).
“We wanted a name that reflected our passion for the whole county, and all segments therein,” explained Rob Harrington, the new Executive Director for the organization. “We have outlined strategies to deal with economic challenges experienced by all demographic and geographic interests in Bourbon County. We will also be working on a new look and feel that reflects who we are, and our vision for what we want to become,” said Harrington. “The 501(c)(3) status will give donors the opportunity to deduct contributions on their taxes, and create eligibility for more grants and programs,” explained Harrington.
Gregg Motley, President of the Board of Trustees, noted that the hiring of Harrington was deliberate and thoughtful, with the process spanning several months, and the consideration of 24 candidates from around the United States. “Our Human Resource Committee worked together closely to ensure the process had integrity, and identified the most qualified candidate,” Motley said. “During his first month, Rob has proven the process worked. We hired the right fit for Bourbon County.”
Additionally, The City of Bronson appointed a new representative. She is Kelly Perry, co-owner of Perry’s Pork Rinds, and one of the new owners of Hound Nutrition in Fort Scott. “We are pleased that Kelly has joined us,” Motley said. “She is young, energetic, and understands the economics of Bourbon County. She is a great addition to the Board.”
Bourbon County REDI, formerly known as Bourbon County Economic Development Council, was formed in 1992, and reconstituted in 2020 by a change in bylaws to accommodate the new economic realities of the 21st Century. The board is made up of 13 members, representing all cities, schools, and geographic segments of the county. There are two at-large Trustees. The Trustees are: Gregg Motley, President, Jim Fewins, Vice President, Mary Pemberton, Treasurer, Misty Adams, Mike Blevins, Heather Davis, Jess Ervin, Ted Hessong, Bret Howard, Lynne Oharah, Mark McCoy, and Kelly Perry. Rob Harrington, Executive Director, is Secretary of the Board.
Carol Oakleaf, left, and Lori Lovelace show the donation can for clothing to the Fort Scott Community Closet which is located in the Fort Scott Washateria.
The Washateria, 501 S. National, is having a clothes give-away this Saturday.
“We are having our June 2021 Community Day on Saturday, June 19, 2021,” Lori Lovelace, owner, said. “It will be open 11 a.m.-3 p.m. and we will have all of our sorted clothing out for anyone to come by and find something.”
“Fort Scott Community Closet is a clothing charity supported by all of Fort Scott,” she said. “We serve Fort Scott and surrounding communities providing clothing, bedding, coats etc. to people in need.”
“We have no qualifying criteria,” Lovelace said. ” if you need clothing you can come to the Community Day or call us at 620-644-9834 and we can sort out what you need.”
“We also have men’s suits and business attire as well as women’s business attire.”
Fort Scott Washateria is in the 500 block of South National Avenue. This photo was taken just before its’ opening in August 2019.
Penny’s Diner is located in the lobby of Travelodge Hotel, 2505 S. Main.
At the Travel Lodge Hotel in Fort Scott, meals are available to the public 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
“Even Christmas, Thanksgiving, the 4th of July,” said Rhonda Walker, general manager of the hotel.
“We have a full menu, all day, every day,” she said. “If you want a hamburger at 3 a.m. you can get it, if you want breakfast at 2 p.m. you can get it. We get some late-nighters.”
A malt made in Penny’s Diner. The diner has a 50s motif.
Penny’s Diner is located in the lobby of the hotel at 2505 S. Main and has been there for six years.
The whiteboard in the diner tells of the special meals of the day.
“People can order online and pay there, or can call in an order, or can come in,” Walker said. “Go to http://pennysdiner.com/ and it will bring up the menu.”
One can also use the barcode at Penny’s Diner to order.
“We’ve got some really good cooks,” she said.
Cindy Sue McDowell, cook and front desk agent at Penny’s Diner.There is a room for a small group at Penny’s Diner.
Penny’s Diner is located in the lobby of Travelodge Hotel, 2505 S. Main.
“Our hotel is a BNSF Railroad Hotel, and we also house regular guests,” Walker said. “We have 70 rooms, with nine of them extended stay.”
Varia Quality Resale Clothing Shop opened June 8 at 110 E. 23rd, across the street from Walgreens.
