Some lucky person will be the new owner of a brand new 2025 Ford F150 Platinum Edition SuperCrew 4 x 4 Truck—and the Friends of Tri-Valley Foundation is hopeful the individual will be from Kansas. This is the agency’s twenty-fifth year for a raffle give-away. The event is a fund-raiser for the Friends of Tri-Valley Foundation, a charitable organization that raises money to build homes for individuals with intellectual/developmental disabilities (I/DD) served by Tri-Valley Developmental Services in Allen, Bourbon, Chautauqua, Elk, Greenwood, Neosho, Wilson, and Woodson counties.
“Everyone likes the idea that for a $50 donation they may win a brand-new truck.” Comments Tricia Campbell, Special Projects Coordinator. Entries in the drawing are limited to 3,000. “Those are pretty good odds; better than the lottery,” Campbell said.
The Friends of Tri-Valley purchased the truck from Steve Faulkner Ford in Chanute, KS.
“The truck is really luxurious, with lots of unique features,” Campbell said. “We are excited to be able to giveaway a truck that will last for years and bring so much enjoyment to its new owner.”
The lucky winner’s name will be drawn at 1:30 p.m. on Friday, June 20th, at the Foundation’s offices at 521 W. 35 Ch Pkwy, Chanute.
“Even though it only takes a second to pull the winner’s name, it’s always exciting,” Campbell said. “And it’s really fun when we call the winner to let them know!”
Proceeds from the annual drawing have helped the Friends of Tri-Valley build five houses and acquire ten homes and one duplex for individuals with developmental disabilities. The houses are located in Buffalo, Chanute, Fort Scott, Humboldt, Iola, Neodesha, and Moline and are “home” for 82 individuals served by Tri-Valley Developmental Services. The Foundation is licensed through the state for the annual raffle, license number RAF000005.
About two years ago, McKay moved to Fort Scott from Hutchinson and found he needed something to do with his time.
His son-in-law, Kale Nelson, had some chainsaw blades that needed sharpening, so McKay worked on them.
Nelson then told some of his friends about the service, and this turned into a new business, called Sharpen It.
He can sharpen “about anything with a blade”, McKay said. “Knives, chainsaws, lawnmowers, Dado… about anything, I have a sharpener for it.”
Before he retired in 2001, he was a refrigeration and air conditioning serviceman in Hutchinson. “Then I worked as a bus driver for Nickerson School District for 14 years before I moved here.”
Most people bring the items that need to be sharpened to his workshop at 738 Osbun, on Fort Scott’s northwest side of town.
“If I have to pick it up, I charge about $1, depending on how far I have to go,” he said.
His sharpening prices: $4-12 for knives, $6-12 for chainsaws, and $5 a piece for lawnmower blades.
“I always make sure that I charge a little cheaper than what’s normal,” he said.
“It might be a day or two out before I get to it,” he said.
However, he said he provides the added service of cleaning the blades before sharpening.
This week is McKay’s vacation, but you can text him at 620.960.6059 and leave a message with your phone number for him to call back.
McKay’s sharpening business, Sharpen It, is at his residence. Submitted photo.
The Queen’s Muse is being built adjacent to the Artificers, at 10 N. National Avenue. Construction items can be seen in front of the building project. The green space will be used for an outdoor event space in the future.
Trent and Kate Freeman finally have great weather to make progress on their newest project, called The Queen’s Muse.
A muse is a source of inspiration, according to the dictionary.
“The Artificers is in a ‘Queen Anne’ (style architecture) and we are building her muse. Hence, ‘The Queen’s Muse,'” Kate Freeman said.
“It’s to house our out-of-town artists,” she said. “Our artist’s respite, while here teaching a workshop and doing art shows. It will help our artists have a space close to stay (near their business) and hopefully attract more artists to Fort Scott with a place to stay as well as show their work.”
The building is an addition to the Artificers art gallery and teaching studio, at 8 N. National Avenue.
Currently, there is no designated completion date, she said.
“It will be two suites on the upper level, Airbnb, each with a bathroom. The lower level will be to cater out of and a bathroom, an event space.”
In front of that building will be an outdoor event space and a sculpture garden.
“We’ll have large, mixed-media pieces on concrete pads. The space will also be available for events such as a bridal shower or wine-tasting event.”
“We started to plan this after we acquired the land. It’s something awesome for the community and our business,” she said.
The Queen’s Muse will be an addition to the Artificers Gallery. Pictured are materials and the start of the build, May 29, 2025.
“We are proud to be supporting local and regional businesses every step of the way. Keeping our investment close to home is a priority, and we’re grateful to work with such talented peeps in our community,” she said. “Such as Redbud Nursery, Fort Scott-the plants and trees; Henry Witt Fabrications, Fort Scott- the sculpture garden gate; Red Logic, Mound City, the website; Ron Hurd Construction, Fort Scott, concrete work; Cedar Valley Metal, Garnett, materials; Gibson Construction, Paola is the builder/contractor.”
“And the Bourbon County Garden Club has helped design the garden area. They got together and plotted it all, for us.”
The Freemans received a $25,000 Kansas Tourism Attraction Development Grant in December 2024 that is helping to fund this newest project.
Kate and Trent Freeman, from the Artificer Facebook page.
About the Artificers
T.E. Freeman Studio, Trent and Kate’s art business, moved to Fort Scott during the COVID-19 Pandemic, from the Kansas City area.
“We bought the building in October 2022 and opened the art gallery in January 2023.”
In addition to the Artificers Gallery, in 2024, another business, Bourbon County Clay, was launched, utilizing clay extracted from the county for creations sold in the gallery.
Currently, they have a gallery assistant who helps with all three LLC businesses they own and an apprentice who helps with Kate’s Bourbon County Clay business.
Earlier this year, they were awarded the 2025 Kansas Governor’s Arts Award for Art in Business.
They initiated a First Friday event each month, where their gallery is open until 9 p.m. when they first opened. The First Friday event includes some artists’ openings.
“The City of Fort Scott is trying to get all the businesses on board to have more events on the first Friday of each month,” she said.
Photos from the Artificers Facebook page.
This First Friday, June 6, will feature Trent’s first show since opening in Fort Scott. He will be featuring outside mixed-media art sculptures, called luminaries.
Artist Roxi Hardegree, Texas, will be showing, selling, and teaching about her art medium, botanical arts, on June 6, as well.
The CEO Award winner is Grace Kramer, pictured with husband Larry. Submitted photo.
50th Anniversary Celebration Held
Tri-Valley Developmental Services celebrated its 50th anniversary on May 1st with a party and awards ceremony. The event was held during the afternoon at Central Park Pavilion in Chanute. 175 Attendees were treated to celebration cupcakes and punch as well as a travel mug celebrating Tri-Valley’s 50 years. The afternoon’s entertainment was Robbie Bell, who performed hits from the year 1975. Right before the awards ceremony, Bill Fiscus raised a glass to toast Tri-Valley’s past, present, and future.
Robbie Bell. Submitted photo.
Following the toast, the annual awards ceremony was held. Awards were given to individuals and organizations who actively support Tri-Valley in its mission to support our neighbors with intellectual/developmental disabilities in Allen, Bourbon, Chautauqua, Elk, Greenwood, Neosho, Wilson, and Woodson counties.
Awards were presented to the following:
Business of the Year – Ruddick’s Furniture and Flooring, Fort Scott and C & H Lanes, Chanute
Ruddick’s Furniture, Business of the Year Award (pictured left to right: Anna Musselman, Josh Davenport, Terry Davenport, Cindy Davenport, Sheila Kelly, and TVDS Board Member Lindsay Madison). Submitted photo.
Achievement Awards – Koby Erie, Michael Mitchell, and Matthew Patch
Ed Bideau Advocacy Award – Jim Godinez
Masterson Family Award – Beth Ringwald
Friends of Tri-Valley Foundation Visionary Award – Mike Reid
Tri-Valley Developmental Services Holds Friendship and Dating Class for Persons Served; Program Grant from the Fort Scott Area Community Foundation
Persons Served at Tri-Valley Developmental Services (TVDS) Fort Scott Service Center are participating in a Friendship and Dating Program that was made possible by funds from the Fort Scott Area Community Foundation. Grant money from the Foundation was used to purchase Friendships and Dating program developed by the University of Alaska – Anchorage.
The program teaches individuals with Intellectual/Developmental Disabilities (I/DD) how to build healthy, meaningful relationships and prevent interpersonal violence. “This program has made a huge impact on the individuals we serve,” said Bill Fiscus, CEO. “Persons served are having fun and are learning a lot through the program. We discuss communication skills (non-verbal and verbal) as well as emotions and feelings. This program is a success, thanks in part to our friends at the Fort Scott Area Community Foundation.”
The Fort Scott Area Community Foundation hosts individual charitable funds created by donors who have a passion for giving back to their community. Grants from these funds assist people throughout Fort Scott and Bourbon County. Call the Foundation at 620-244-6500 with questions about the Community Foundation.
Check out the calendar below for all events happening at your favorite
Art Gallery & Teaching Studio!
Join us for an Artist Opening Reception!
June 6th, at 6:00pm!
Who is Roxi Hardegree?
Roxi Hardegree is a full-time artist based in Lubbock, Texas. She grew up on a farm in North Dakota, where a childhood spent outdoors sparked a lifelong sense of exploration and creativity. Her days were filled with fishing in the river, crafting, and tending to flowers in the garden.
Roxi draws deep inspiration from the women in her family—her mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother—whose flower beds overflowed with peonies, roses, delphiniums, and seas of irises and lilies. Their creativity left a lasting impression that continues to shape her artistic path.
Over the years, Roxi has created both traditional and art quilts, authored books, and taught quilting classes. She also nurtured a lifelong passion for photography, earning numerous sales and awards along the way. Today, she has come full circle, returning to hands-on creation through botanical prints using cyanotype and collage techniques, including eco prints and metalwork. You will be able to view her work on June 6th, 2025!
In her downtime, Roxi enjoys traveling the country in an RV with her husband Blake and their labradoodle, Sofi.
Moody Blues: Wet Cyanotype Workshop by Roxi Hardegree
Saturday, June 7th 11:00am-3:00pm
Discover the magic of botanical printmaking in this hands-on cyanotype workshop—no experience necessary! In this 4-hour class, we’ll explore the wet cyanotype process using natural materials to create beautiful, one-of-a-kind prints.
You’ll learn the basics and some intermediate techniques of this alternative photographic method, including how to work with various liquids, texture-enhancing additives, and UV light. Each student will receive a materials kit and have access to a wide selection of botanicals, both fresh and pressed, to experiment with.
We will take a lunch break while our art processes, so bring a sack lunch or visit a local restaurant.
By the end of class, you’ll leave with at least one finished 5×7 cyanotype print—and plenty of inspiration and extra papers to keep creating. All supplies provided—just bring your curiosity and love of botanicals!
Provided supplies include a variety of botanicals (pressed and fresh) and texturing materials.
Your Kit includes:
9×12 Backing board, Felt, Plexiglass and Clips, 6 assorted pre-coated papers, 3 Spray bottles of different liquids.
Trent Freeman is a mixed media sculptor and ceramic artist, as well as the gallery owner and ceramic instructor at The Artificers in Fort Scott, Kansas. Originally from DeSoto, KS, Trent earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Emporia State University, where he also pursued graduate work in sculpture.
Trent has been working professionally since 1997. For over two decades, he operated a teaching studio in Kansas City, KS before relocating to Fort Scott. His work is deeply influenced by Japanese ceramics, though his primary inspiration comes from the tactile and expressive qualities of materials such as wood, metal, and natural clay.
His notable bodies of work include the Luminaries: Guardians, Sentinels, and Guides series that you will be able to view on June 6th, 2025!
A crowd of 158 attended the 2025 Friends of Tri-Valley Foundation annual spring fundraiser on a new night, Friday, April 4th. For a second year, the event was held at the SEK Impact Center with doors opening at 5:30 pm. Décor was provided by Lisa Wolverton of Hitch and Hoedown Rentals. Approximately $13,568 was raised during the evening from stretch, silent, and live auctions. For the first time, Robbie Bell provided entertainment throughout the evening. Her performance was enjoyed by all. Those in attendance received gift certificates to Wellness Journey, a new spa located in Chanute, KS.
Attendees were treated to a delicious meal of bacon-wrapped chicken, coleslaw, baked beans, lettuce salad, and roll furnished by C & S Traveling Kitchen. Dessert was mini-bundt cakes in three flavors, provided by Brenda Harrison, TVDS Director of Programming. Neosho County Community College students helped serve the meal. Door prizes were courtesy of the TVDS greenhouse in Fort Scott.
As in year’s past, the live auction was the highlight of the evening. Dave Petersen served as auctioneer and did a fantastic job. For 2025, we added two new trips courtesy of Monarch Cement; a trip for two to Nashville and a trip for two to Las Vegas. Other items auctioned off include: a Breckenridge CO vacation package courtesy of Home Savings Bank; a Branson MO vacation package courtesy of Community National Bank; a full-size recliner courtesy of Ruddick’s Furniture in Fort Scott; and Dinner for 10 courtesy of Brenda Harrison. Thank you to the local merchants that provided gift baskets for both the silent and stretch auctions. Thank you to Larry Holman for serving as the evening’s photographer. The pictures are amazing.
All money raised from the evening will go towards the Friends of Tri-Valley Foundation projects. Since 2001, the Foundation has built six homes and acquired nine additional homes and a duplex. The houses are located in our communities of Buffalo, Chanute, Fort Scott, Humboldt, Iola, Moline, and Neodesha. These houses are home to 81 of our neighbors with intellectual and developmental disabilities served by Tri-Valley Developmental Services.
“The evening was fantastic”, said Bill Fiscus, CEO. “The food, drawings and conversation were phenomenal. Thank you to everyone who attended. We hope you had an enjoyable evening and look forward to seeing you all in 2026.”
A big thank you goes to the evening’s sponsors. Promenade Level: Monarch Cement Company and David & Beth Toland
Colonnade Level: Community National Bank – Chanute, Hofer & Hofer & Associates, Larry Holman, Home Savings Bank, IMA, Dave Peterson Auction Services, Steve Faulkner Ford, and SEK Impact Center.
Esplandae Level: Ash Grove, Cardinal Drug, Community National Bank – Eureka, Hitch & Hoedown, Jarred, Gilmore & Phillips, CPA, and Wellness Journey.
The Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce invites members and guests to a Chamber Coffee hosted by Varia Quality Resale Clothing, 114 E. 23rd St. this Thursday, May 29th at 8am. Coffee, juice, and refreshments will be served, and attendees may register to win a special drawing.
Varia offers affordable prices and a variety of high-quality used items, including women’s, teens’, and children’s clothing, as well as purses, shoes, jewelry, and more. Owner, Robin Kendrick, is celebrating her 4th year in business and is excited to host this event, welcoming everyone to join in the celebration.
Varia’s June Special will feature a $50 store credit drawing. Customers who spend a minimum of $20 when shopping in-store can register for the drawing.
Contact the Chamber of Commerce at
(620) 223-3566 for more information.
Visit the Events Calendar and category of Chamber Coffees on fortscott.com for
Check out the calendar below for all events happening the rest of the year!
Join us for an Artist Opening Reception!
June 6th, at 6:00pm!
Wet Cyanotype Workshop
by Roxi Hardegree
Available June 7th! 11:00am-3:00pm
Moody Blues: Wet Cyanotype Workshop by Roxi Hardegree
Saturday, June 7th 11:00am-3:00pm
Discover the magic of botanical printmaking in this hands-on cyanotype workshop—no experience necessary! In this 4-hour class, we’ll explore the wet cyanotype process using natural materials to create beautiful, one-of-a-kind prints.
You’ll learn the basics and some intermediate techniques of this alternative photographic method, including how to work with various liquids, texture-enhancing additives, and UV light. Each student will receive a materials kit and have access to a wide selection of botanicals, both fresh and pressed, to experiment with.
We will take a lunch break while our art processes, so bring a sack lunch or visit a local restaurant.
By the end of class, you’ll leave with at least one finished 5×7 cyanotype print—and plenty of inspiration and extra papers to keep creating. All supplies provided—just bring your curiosity and love of botanicals!
Provided supplies include a variety of botanicals (pressed and fresh) and texturing materials.
Your Kit includes:
9×12 Backing board, Felt, Plexiglass and Clips, 6 assorted pre-coated papers, 3 Spray bottles of different liquids.
Tanner Streeter in front of some of his work. Submitted photo.
Tanner Streeter, 25, is an artist whose specialty is animals.
“I’ve been an artist my whole life, with a primary focus on animals,” he said. “I grew up hunting and fishing, so I’ve always been surrounded by nature. I spent much of my time studying animals I saw in life, in books, or on TV so that I may understand their anatomy well enough to draw them accurately.”
“My parents would take me on trips to zoos to satisfy my fascination with animals, as well as places like Cabela’s or Bass Pro Shops. In those places, the taxidermy on display captivated me at a very young age. I would think of taxidermy as almost magical, since I could not comprehend how it was accomplished.”
“When I was 18 and about to graduate my senior year of high school from Christian Learning Center, I began practicing taxidermy on small animals that I could acquire.”
He was inspired by a taxidermy how-to book that his parents, Bernard and Torrie Streeter, had given him for Christmas.
“Much to my surprise, after making a Facebook post about my endeavors in taxidermy, a mutual online friend, Dale Robertson of Wild Heritage Taxidermy in Young, Arizona, reached out to me and offered me an apprenticeship with him. He had followed me for my artwork that I would post, and I followed his taxidermy work, so that’s how we were connected. Dale is a renowned taxidermist with multiple prestigious awards.”
“I packed everything I owned into my little Chevy Blazer and drove to Arizona, where I lived for a year and a half in a trailer at the Robertson’s home and learned everything a beginner needed to know about taxidermy and then some. I competed at the last Arizona state show (their association is no longer active) in 2019 and won the title Best New Competitor and a 2nd and 3rd place with a coyote and a deer I had brought.”
Streeter learned much in that time.
“When I came back, I got a job at Outdoors Indoors in Pittsburg, KS. I got to do some taxidermy from all over the world…Africa, Greenland, and New Zealand, along with locals. My ultimate goal was to have my own business, and my first year on my own, I got an LLC (limited liability company business structure).”
He has competed at state, national, and the World Taxidermy Show, earning an assortment of first, second, and third-place ribbons.
He’s earned the titles of Best Professional Gamehead of Kansas 2023, Best Professional Small Lifesize Mammal of Kansas 2025, and Best Professional Open Mouth Whitetail of Kansas 2025.
Submitted photo.
“Competing is vital for me since it sharpens my craft and allows me to learn from the best of the best in seminars and from my judges during critiques.”
His business model prioritizes quality over quantity.
“I take a limited number of animals each year… I take extra effort to make each animal as accurate as possible, and I try to capture the unique qualities of each specimen. I’m recreating that particular animal down to the smallest anatomical detail. From muscles and hair patterns to glands and membranes in the corner of the eye. Nothing is too small to overlook.”
“Taxidermy is an art, and I treat it just as another medium. Just like if I choose to draw with a pencil or paint with a brush. I am trying to recreate God’s creation to the best of the ability He gave me.”
He started his business, Tanners Wildlife Artistry LLC, in 2022 and shares a business building with Whitetail Properties Real Estate at 306 E. 23rd, next to Riggs Chiropractic.
“I do roughly 70-80 animals annually. This keeps turnaround times and my workload reasonable.”
One of Streeter’s deer. Submitted photo.
“I am a mammal specialist, so I currently do not do taxidermy work on birds or fish. I have been blessed to work on a wide variety of animals from around the world, including baboons, warthogs, and antelopes from Africa; red stags, fallow deer, and wallabies from New Zealand; and black bears, elk, and deer from both the U.S. and Canada.”
A Philippine porcupine piece that won him a prize recently. Submitted photo.An African baboon piece. Submitted photo.
The Process
With large animals, the animal is skinned, then salted and dried.
“Once I get it, I rehydrate the skin, and then tan it in a chemical bath with a tanning formula. Then the leather must be thinned to put on a foam mannequin. I do a great deal of clay sculpting on the form. I then apply a glue to the form, put the hide on, and put everything into place and sew up any incisions.”
Streeter looks over a foam mannequin of a deer. Submitted photo.
“If an animal has antlers or horns, that part of the skull is cleaned, getting the meat broken down and cleaned off. This is to prevent Chronic Wasting Disease from spreading.”
He charges customers by the time factor plus materials.
“I go the extra mile on every piece,” he said.
Other Artwork Around Fort Scott
The bison mural on National Avenue, facing south. Streeter was one of the artists on this piece of art. From fortscott.com website.
One can view some of Streeter’s artistic work on the wall of Structure Hair Salon on National Avenue.
In 2023, he was part of a group of people creating wall murals in Fort Scott. “The Bison” was created by artists Cally Bailey, Emily Bailey, and Tanner Streeter.
Tanner is married to Johnnie, and they have a three-month-old daughter, Annabella.
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