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Local business owner, Marsha Lancaster, has been in the hospital for over a month, according to her sister Debbie Baxley.
“She went into the hospital at Pittsburg for two to three days, then they took her to Arkansas,” Baxley said.
“Her kidneys were shutting down and they couldn’t find a hospital to take her with COVID (the pandemic virus plaguing the nation and the world),” she said. “They found one in Arkansas and we said just take her to wherever she can get help.”
They have tested Lancaster three times for COVID-19 and each was negative, her sister said.
Lancaster is currently on dialysis every other day and oxygen.
“Her kidneys’ aren’t functioning yet, the doctor said they could kick in any day,” she said. “They have been trying to get her off of oxygen. That’s been going well.”
“We can see her on our cellphone and she looks good when we talk to her,” Baxley said.
Cards can be sent to Marsha at
Regional Springdale NW Medical Center,
609 W. Maple Avenue, 6th floor, attn: Marsha Lancaster
Springdale, Arkansas 72764
Her business is running with the help of others.

Her well-known restaurant, Marsha’s Deli, is continuing with the help of staff and family. The restaurant is located at 6 W. 18th in Fort Scott.
Baxley and her daughter, Shelly Rowe, along with Carla Hemrick, and Lisa Bradley “are taking care of the business for her,” Baxley said.
Monday and Tuesday the restaurant was closed due to the ice roads and arctic weather conditions.
A fundraiser has been started for Lancaster.
Meanwhile, a fundraiser has been started for Lancaster.
“We thought being self-employed, there was no way she wouldn’t need help,” Linda Findley who is spearheading the fundraiser said.
The fundraiser is Friday, Feb. 19 from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Elk’s Building at 111 W. 19th. People are asked to drive to the east door of the building and orders will be taken by helpers. Then the meals will be brought out to the buyer.
It’s a chicken and noodles dinner with mashed potatoes, green beans, and bread for $10 cash or check only.
Pre-ordering is encouraged. Call 620-215-2036 or 816-797-4884.
Findley said she is anticipating serving 500 meals, with over 200 already ordered.
“Numerous people have sent big donations,” Findley said. “Marrone’s of Pittsburg and G & W Foods of Fort Scott has helped with food.”
Helping the day of the fundraiser will be Nancy Maze, Brenda Collinge, Debbie Myers, JoLynne Mitchell, and Adina Findley, Findley said.
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The City of Fort Scott announces another significant downtown rehabilitation has been completed. Fort Scott received back-to-back multi-million-dollar investments from Flint Hills Holdings which speaks to the character of our community and those who have represented us.
Elected officials, business owners, and community enthusiasts who supported the renovation are invited to tour the Union Lofts.
Tours will be on Friday, February 5th offered from 12pm to 2pm.

Chamber Announces Love Local & Chocolate Crawl Shopping Event
The Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce announces a Love Local & Chocolate Crawl shopping event will take place on Saturday, February 13th. Most stores in the Downtown Historic District and several additional locations will be participating in the fun.
Customers are invited to shop local retailers while sampling a variety of chocolate treats along the way, and many will also be offering drawings and promotions. Locations included in the event will have a Chocolate Crawl poster and red and white balloons displayed at their entrance.
The Chamber encourages the community to shop local, love local and join the Chocolate Crawl on February 13th to celebrate Valentine’s Day. A list of retailers will be posted on the Fort Scott Chamber website fortscott.com.
Contact the Chamber for more information at 620-223-3566.
A donation of $5500 toward a downtown program working to address urgent business and community needs.
A program that originated to address the urgent needs of business, childcare centers, food insecurity, and employment will continue through 2021 as a result of an anonymous donation to the Bourbon County Workforce and Entrepreneur Resource Center (BWERC).
Because of the generous donation, these critical services will continue to be provided to Bourbon County and City of Fort Scott residents and business free of charge.
The center is located in the Historic Downtown Fort Scott in the upstairs of 17 South Main Fort Scott KS.
It is a “one-stop shop” for business, employment, food, telework and distance learning needs.
Current businesses, and those looking to start a business, have a physical location to meet with a person.
Additionally, services are available for those seeking employment, developing soft skills (i.e. interviewing), or other job seeking help.
Businesses are encouraged and welcome to contact Southeast KANSASWORKS to see how they can connect with those looking for employment.
An overview of services BWERC provides Bourbon County:
• WORKERS & FAMILIES:
o Distance Learning and Telework Space
o Training & Job Seeking Assistance
o Increasing Access to Healthy Food
o Building Capacity for Local Food Assistance
• ADDRESSING CHILDCARE:
o Relief in Fulfilling Educational Requirements for Centers
o Incentives for Becoming a Legal Childcare Provider
• BUSINESS TOOLS & TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE:
o Get Businesses Online via new Websites & Social Media
o Loans & Grants
o Special COVID Programs & Resources
Background of BWERC:
Originally funded by a county SPARKS grant, the BWERC was created through a multi-partner collaboration of Bourbon County Economic Development, Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce, PSU Small Business Development Center (PSU SBDC), Southeast KANSASWORKS, and BAJA Investments. The Healthy Bourbon County Action Team has since joined the partnership in an effort to address the social determinants of health. The BWERC provides a location, with high speed internet, and all the needed technology for our partners to meet face-to-face or virtually with community residents and business owners.
Through the collaboration childcare centers receive relief in fulfilling educational requirements and illegal childcare is incentivized to become legal. PSU SBDC is available to
business to provide the technical assistance needed to obtain capital, develop marketing strategy, and more.
Southeast KANSASWORKS provides assistance to those seeking employment and to businesses looking for employees. The partnerships with CHC/SEK and BAJA Investments are
actively working to address health inequities and food insecurity throughout the county.
Contact information:
Jody Hoener, Economic Development Director, Bourbon County
President, Healthy Bourbon County Action Team
620-215-5725
[email protected]
Amy Kauffman, Career Advisor, Southeast KANSASWORKS
[email protected]
620-231-4250
Dacia Clark, Assistant Director, PSU SBDC
[email protected]
785-445-2537
Lindsay Madison, President and CEO, The Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce
[email protected]
(620) 223-3566
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Dillon Duffy was working as a para-educator at Fort Scott Middle School when he was approached by Danny Brown, the school principal, and Barb Albright, the owner of H & H Agency, to join their team as an agency manager for H & H Agency. Brown was also working at H & H Agency.
“I wanted to get an engagement ring for Abi (now his wife) and needed more money,” he said.
He began selling insurance for H & H in 2016.
In 2018, Shelter Insurance personnel approached him about the opportunity to have his own insurance business.
“Working for myself was an opportunity I couldn’t pass up,” Duffy said.
In 2020, Duffy completed the Shelter Insurance program to become a full-time agent.
Also in August 2020, Duffy moved his office from downtown to 1711 S. National, Suite C., just behind Dominos Pizza.

He provides all insurance services: auto, home, health, life, and business.
“We take care of it, here at Shelter,” he said. “In addition, we do have Progressive, Bristol-West, and Dairyland Insurance. I sell for these companies.”
He likes the business because he is “people-oriented and I like to serve the community,” he said.
Duffy is an assistant basketball coach at Fort Scott Middle School.
He and his wife, Abigail, now have an almost two years old daughter, Emalynn.

In addition, his family is a part of congregants at St. Mary’s Catholic Church.
Hours of the business are 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. during basketball season he said. Outside of basketball season, the business hours are 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Duffy can be reached at 620-223-4110 or his cell at 417-214-4282.
After the COVID-19 Pandemic frees meetings up a bit, he will have a Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce Open House at the new site, he said.
Also, when the pandemic ends, the conference room in his office will be available for public use, he said.