Category Archives: Business

Bourbon County, Business

Gordmans Reduces Hours

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HOUSTON (March 18, 2020) – The safety and health of our guests, associates and store communities are our top priority.

 

To better support our associates, serve our customers and slow the spread of COVID-19, Stage Stores and our family of brands (Gordmans, Bealls, Goodys, Palais Royal, Peebles, and Stage) have adjusted our store operating hours.  Until further notice, our reduced store hours are as follows:

  • Monday-Saturday 10am-6pm
  • Sunday 12pm-6pm

 

Additionally, in compliance with local government orders to shut down all non-essential businesses, as well as other location-based factors, select stores are temporarily closed and will not re-open until circumstances improve.

 

Our new store openings continued as planned yesterday, March 17, however new store openings planned for March 31 have been postponed. Events planned in conjunction with store openings, such as ribbon-cutting ceremonies, have been canceled.

 

In addition to our new store hours, we are taking the following actions to help keep our guests and associates healthy:

  • Increasing the frequency of store cleanings, paying special attention to frequently touched objects and surfaces such as register counters, shopping carts, door handles, restrooms, etc.;
  • Reminding our associates of their training on illness prevention;
  • Advising all employees to stay home if they are not feeling well, or if circumstances might advise them to do so, to seek medical attention if they have symptoms.

 

We also encourage our guests everywhere to take the extra precautions necessary to safeguard their health and the health of others. We will continue to monitor the situation closely, and work with public health authorities as required. We will keep you informed if our approach changes and will continue to post updates on stage.com and gordmans.com. We look forward to serving guests in our stores.

 

Business, Government

Serving Beginning Farmers and Ranchers

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USDA Stands Up New Team to Better Serve Beginning Farmers and Ranchers

WASHINGTON, March 16, 2020 ─The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is standing up a new team of U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) staff that will lead a department-wide effort focused on serving beginning farmers and ranchers. 

 

“More than a quarter of producers are beginning farmers,” said USDA Deputy Secretary Stephen Censky. “We need to support the next generation of agricultural producers who we will soon rely upon to grow our nation’s food and fiber.”

 

To institutionalize support for beginning farmers and ranchers and to build upon prior agency work, the 2018 Farm Bill directed USDA to create a national coordinator position in the agency and state-level coordinators for four of its agencies – Farm Service Agency (FSA), Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), Risk Management Agency (RMA), and Rural Development (RD).

 

Sarah Campbell was selected as the national coordinator to lead USDA’s efforts. A beginning farmer herself, Campbell held previous positions with USDA and has a wealth of experience working on issues impacting beginning farmers and ranchers. She recently served as acting director of customer experience for the Farm Production and Conservation Business Center, where she led the piloting of innovative, customer-centric initiatives. 

 

In her new role, she will work closely with the state coordinators to develop goals and create plans to increase beginning farmer participation and access to programs while coordinating nationwide efforts on beginning farmers and ranchers.

 

“We know starting a new farm business is extremely challenging, and we know our customers value and benefit from being able to work directly with our field employees, especially beginning farmers,” Campbell said. “These new coordinators will be a key resource at the local level and will help beginning farmers get the support they need. I look forward to working with them.”

 

Each state coordinator will receive training and develop tailored beginning farmer outreach plans for their state. Coordinators will help field employees better reach and serve beginning farmers and ranchers and will also be available to assist beginning farmers who need help navigating the variety of resources USDA has to offer. 

 

More on Beginning Farmers

 

Twenty seven percent of farmers were categorized as new and beginning producers, with 10 years or less of experience in agriculture, according to the 2017 Census of Agriculture.

 

USDA offers a variety of farm loan, risk management, disaster assistance, and conservation programs to support farmers, including beginning farmers and ranchers. Additionally, a number of these programs have provisions specifically for beginning farmers, including targeted funding for loans and conservation programs as well as waivers and exemptions.

 

More Information 

Learn more about USDA’s resources for beginning farmers as well as more information on the national and state-level coordinators at newfarmers.usda.gov and farmers.gov. For more information on available programs in your area, contact your local USDA service center.

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USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.

Bourbon County, Business

Dollar General Dedicates First Shopping Hour to Senior Citizens Starting March 17

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The freezer and cooler section were expanded in the recent Dollar General remodel.

Dollar General Corporation announced plans to dedicate the first hour of each shopping day to senior shoppers, as well as amend store operating hours beginning March 17, 2020.

Senior Hour Encouragement
“Dollar General is strongly encouraging that the first hour of operations each day be dedicated solely for the shopping needs of senior customers, who are one of the groups most vulnerable to the COVID-19 coronavirus. In keeping with the Company’s mission of Serving Others,”  according to its’ website. “Dollar General wants to provide these at-risk customers with the ability to purchase the items they need and want at the beginning of each day to avoid busier and more crowded shopping periods.”

Fort Scott Dollar General  Manager LaDonna Sandstoe said today that the “plan came through from headquarters,” and “there was a “conference call this morning.”
“It didn’t work too well this morning,” Sandstoe said. “We had teenagers coming through here with the seniors.”
“But 8 to 9 a.m. is designated for the elderly,” she said.
Hours of operation are from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., Sandstoe said.
The following is from the Dollar General website;

“Other customers are encouraged to plan their shopping trips around this window of time to allow the most susceptible customers in our communities the ability to shop during the first hour that stores are open.

Store Hour Adjustments
Additionally, all stores plan to close one hour earlier than current close times to allow employees to clean and re-stock store shelves, as well as for their health and wellbeing.  Stores will continue to maintain current opening hours. Normal operating hours by individual store locations are available here.

Dollar General remains committed to providing customers and employees with a safe, clean and pleasant shopping environment at all stores and seeks for customers to feel confident when shopping its stores.

Quote from Todd Vasos, CEO
“In keeping with our mission and our ongoing commitment to serve our communities, we are dedicating the first hour of each day to seniors.  We appreciate our customers’ understanding of our decision and request they visit our stores later in the morning to allow at-risk populations the ability to purchase the items they need at affordable prices,” said Todd Vasos, Dollar General’s CEO. “During these unprecedented times, Dollar General is diligently working to meet the ongoing needs of our customers and communities. We are proud to live our mission and provide customers with everyday low prices on the household essentials that are used and replenished most often.”

About Dollar General Corporation
Dollar General Corporation has been delivering value to shoppers for more than 80 years. Dollar General helps shoppers Save time. Save money. Every day!® by offering products that are frequently used and replenished, such as food, snacks, health and beauty aids, cleaning supplies, basic apparel, housewares and seasonal items at everyday low prices in convenient neighborhood locations. Dollar General operated 16,278 stores in 44 states as of January 31, 2020. In addition to high-quality private brands, Dollar General sells products from America’s most-trusted manufacturers such as Clorox, Energizer, Procter & Gamble, Hanes, Coca-Cola, Mars, Unilever, Nestle, Kimberly-Clark, Kellogg’s, General Mills, and PepsiCo. Learn more about Dollar General at www.dollargeneral.com.”
Business, Fort Scott

Hedgehog.INK Closes March 17 Until End of March

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In the face of the worsening Coronavirus pandemic, Hedgehog.INK! bookstore is making the difficult decision to close our doors to the public beginning, tomorrow Tuesday, March 17, until further notice. We will not be accepting books during this time. All March events at the store are being cancelled.

Please do your part to help “flatten the curve,” socially isolate, keep physical distance, wash your hands, and stay safe.

With love and gratitude, Dick and Jan Hedges

Bourbon County, Business, Fort Scott

Fiber Optic Coming to Uniontown, Continuing In Fort Scott

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Conduit for the Craw-Kan Fiber Optic project sits on Uniontown City property on March 7.

Hi-speed internet is coming to Uniontown.

Craw-Kan Telephone Cooperative, Girard, received a broadband internet loan from the U.S. Department of Agriculture and has been stockpiling conduit and cable in Uniontown since late February 2020.

 

The new high-speed internet service will be provided to the 350 customers in Uniontown, Craig Wilbert, general manager of Craw-Kan said.

Craig Wilbert, general manager of Craw-Kan Telephone Cooperative.

“There will be no rate change,” Wilbert said.

 

Craw-Kan crews will be replacing copper lines, then connect to computers, phone, and cable TV, giving access to up to  1,000 gigabits per second.

 

A landline may be required as a prerequisite for internet service based on geographic location, call the cooperative at  620-724-8235 to check.

 

The benefits of the new project: getting the fastest available internet in the county, at an affordable rate, Wilbert said.

 

” Great for students and also makes working from home a reality,” Wilbert said.

 

The internet service will only be for Craw-Kan Cooperative members.

 

The Uniontown project will start late spring 2020. “when the weather dries out a bit” and won’t be complete until mid to late 2021, Wilbert said.

 

 

The cooperative received a Rural Utilities Services loan which requires contractors to be certified by an engineering company that has demonstrated the ability to complete a project this large.  Any contractor meeting this condition can bid on the job, Wilbert said.

To learn about Craw-Kan prices:

https://ckt.net/service/internet/

 

Materials are ready for the Uniontown Fiber Optic project.

 

Fort Scott Fiber Optic Project

Craw-Kan has also been replacing internet copper lines in Fort Scott, in preparation for service there.

Uniontown will all be done at the same time as the Fort Scott project and will be cut over to be in service at the same time, Wilbert said.

 

 

“The Fort Scott project is about one-half done,” Wilbert said. “There is a central office on National Avenue where our equipment is.

 

“The west side of Ft. Scott is nearly complete,” he said.” I anticipate about 12 more months for the rest of the city to be completed.  We do it in sections so services will be available in chunks of territories as they are completed.”

 

Why does a project like this take so long?

 

” Mainly it is a matter of cost,” Wilbert said.  “Ft. Scott will end up being a several million dollar project and the Cooperative simply does not have the financial means to complete a city the size of Ft. Scott in one year.  The second reason is the scope of the project.  It is similar to replacing every water or electric line in town.  We are passing every home and business within the city limits.  That’s a lot of fiber to bury!  Definitely worth the wait.”

 

The life expectancy of fiber optic lines is 40 years, Wilbert said.

 

Spools of optical cable.

 

Craw-Kan Expanding Business Customers

The projects are the result of declining populations in rural areas nationwide, he said. This was affecting the Craw-Kan business negatively.

 

“We needed to find new business,” Wilbert said. “We decided to find non-members of the coop, they are strictly customers.”

 

They received requests from Mound City, St.Paul, Pittsburg and Fort Scott and those projects are completed, he said.

 

 

Workers from Bob Hull, Inc., Frankfurt, KS unload fiber optic cable in Uniontown on Feb. 29.

 

Business

Jody Hoener attends fab lab maker space boot camp

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In an effort to explore innovative opportunities for business retention, growth and development, Jody Hoener, Economic Development, recently joined a group of her peers at a “fab lab boot camp” in Independence, Kansas.

Hosted by Fab Lab ICC on the campus of Independence Community College March 3-5, “Maker Space Boot Camp: How to Build A Fab Lab from Ground Zero,” offered insights into the challenges and successes experienced by the organization, as well as its impact on the local economy and community culture since opening in 2014. Named with the abbreviated term for “fabrication laboratory,” Fab Lab ICC is a creative maker-space facility offering tools, technology and education to budding entrepreneurs, students, hobbyists, small business owners and innovators of all ages. The Independence facility emphasizes the integration of entrepreneurial mindset education with the hands-on creative process.

The boot camp attracted economic development professionals and community leaders from across Kansas and Missouri and included presentations by local entrepreneurs and business leaders; facility tours; and interactive “making” sessions allowing participants to experiment with the lab’s production equipment. The group also toured the fab lab’s recently opened expansion building, a 6,400-square-foot-facility offering space for maker equipment, work stations and entrepreneur collaboration.

The maker space boot camp event was facilitated by Fab Lab ICC Director Jim Correll, a longtime entrepreneur coach, and Fab Lab Manager and ICC instructor Tim Haynes.

“The boot camp was an eye-opening experience that solidified the hypothesis that a fab lab can unlock unlimited potential for creativity and entrepreneurial development,” Hoener said. “Moreover, as the Independence community has realized, such a facility ultimately can achieve a positive, sustainable and significant impact on the local economy. The possibilities really are limitless.”

More information on the Fab Lab ICC community boot camp experience and future offerings is available by contacting Correll at 620-252-5349/[email protected].

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About Fab Lab ICC

Fab Lab ICC opened in October 2014 on the campus of Independence Community College in Independence, Kansas. It is a creative “maker” space where students and community members find tools and resources to bring their ideas to life through hands-on production and entrepreneurial education. Fab Lab ICC is a member of the International Fab Lab Network.

Business, Fort Scott

The Beacon Implements New Procedure For Food Boxes

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We are working together with Feeding America, our sister food banks and state and local health authorities to understand and manage our response to the Covid-19 virus.

PLEASE BE ADVISED EFFECTIVE MARCH 16 UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE…

There is a new procedure for obtaining  food box if one is eligible.

Please call the Beacon with name and when you would like to pick up your order. It will then be filled between normal business hours.

 

Orders will be picked up off the back deck of the agency.

To see the Beacon Director for any reason please feel free to call and visit with him at  620-223-6869.

Thank you for understanding we are just trying to protect our clients and staff. We feel social distancing is the best approach.

The Beacon Staff

Business, Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce

Old Fort Auto Grand Opening and Ribbon Cutting March 23

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Sending the email below on behalf of
New Chamber Member
Old Fort Auto
Thank you for your Chamber partnership!
You are invited!
Grand Opening &
Ribbon Cutting for
Old Fort Auto!
Monday, March 23, 2020
5:15 to 6:30pm
(Remarks & Ribbon Cutting 5:30pm)
213 Scott Ave. in the
Downtown Historic District
Business partners Rich Aydelotte &
Matt Harvey will be eager
to meet everyone, and share their
business & community goals!
Featuring used cars, trucks & SUV’s!
Click here to visit them on Facebook,
Click here to visit their website!
Business, Fort Scott, Schools

Tucker Music Studio: 25 Years

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Benjamin Banwart and Carolyn Tucker. Submitted photo. Ben is in his eighth year of piano study with Tucker.

A local piano teacher has encouraged many students to pursue music in her 25-year career.

And it started in her childhood with a passion for piano and encouragement from her parents.

When Carolyn Tucker was in third grade, she had a desire to play the piano but there was no piano in her home.

Like a broken record, she consistently told her parents that she wanted to play, she said.

“They soon realized this desire was not going to go away, so one Saturday the three of us went to Springfield, MO, to shop for a piano,” Tucker said. “A few days later a brand-new piano was delivered to our home, and I couldn‘t play a lick! That expensive purchase was a huge step of faith for my parents and I will always be grateful.”

Carolyn and Zachary Ballou at a piano recital in April 2013. Submitted photo. Ballou was a student of hers for nine years.

She began studying piano with Miss Rebecca Murray and found she loved it.

“I soon realized that God had given me the gift to play by ear, ” she said. “My mother never had to tell me to practice my lessons because every time I walked through the living room, I’d stop and play the piano. The ability to read music and play by ear was a great marriage, and by the time I was in eighth grade, I was the church pianist. I ‘cut my teeth’ on gospel music and it’s always been my first love.”

 

Taylor Cation and Carolyn at a piano recital in 2012. Cation was a 10-year student with Tucker. Submitted photo.

 

Since that purchase and the subsequent lessons, she’s been sharing her of love of music for 53 years in various church settings, weddings, funerals, civic functions, patriotic programs, nursing homes, retirement facilities, gospel concerts, family reunions, baby dedications, recitals, music parties, prayer breakfasts, etc.

“Music is a powerful language that everyone understands because it speaks from the heart,” she said.

In 1994, a friend asked her if she would teach her daughter to play the piano.

“I agreed to give it a try. Now, 25 years later, 97 students have come through the studio,” she said.

At a recital in  2016 – with  10-year student Kelcie Bailey.

Grateful

“Playing the piano has provided a lifetime of musical ministry and joy for me,” Tucker said. ” I can’t imagine what my life would be like had my parents not provided the ‘begged-for’ piano and lessons for me.”

“I believe every baby is born with God-given gifts, and it’s up to the parents to help the child discover his/her destiny using those gifts for God‘s glory,” she said. “My Dad always said, ‘Buying that piano was the best investment I ever made.'”

Encourage children to find musical gifts

Tucker wants to inspire parents to provide their children with opportunities to find their gifts.

“God doesn’t gift every individual to be musical, but if a child expresses a deep desire to play an instrument, there’s a good chance that he/she was created to do it,” she said. “You never know what treasure lies within a child’s heart until the door is opened.

To contact Tucker for lessons, call 620-223-1483.

Tucker Music Studio is located at 954 240th Street

Fort Scott.

Business, Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce

Chamber Coffee at Tri-Valley March 12

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The Chamber Coffee will be hosted by
Tri-Valley Developmental Services, Inc.
4305 Campbell Drive, Fort Scott
March 12, 2020
8 am
Chamber Members & Guests are welcome
to make any announcement for $1 paid to the Chamber about their business or organization including events,
new products, promotions!
Upcoming Chamber Coffee Schedule:
Briggs Auto, Fort Scott – 3/19
Smallville CrossFit – 3/26
Woodland Hills Golf Course – 4/2
Fort Scott Presbyterian Village – 4/9
Home Show KOMB 103.9 FM – 4/16
City State Bank – 4/23
Winfield Scott, 1st Grade Class – 4/30
Area News, Business

Sizzling Summer Craft Fair July 18, Vendors Sought

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Perry’s Pork Rinds invites vendors to join  a
🔥🔥1st Annual Sizzling Summer Craft Fair🔥🔥.

💰💰Admission to our air-conditioned event is FREE.

“We do ask you to donate any shampoo conditioner 🚿toothpaste toothbrushes 🦷 sanitary items for women razors and 🪒deodorants🧼,” Kelly Perry said.  ” Also feel free to donate a monetary donation for us to purchase the toiletries. Items will be given to local families in need in BB County via one of the many resource centers.”

“We will be accepting 60-100 craft, hand made, mass-produced, one of a kind or direct sales items as well as foods. No repeat of items will be allowed. Step away from the summer heat☀️☀️Drop the kids off at the aquatic center to swim 🏊‍♀️ and come enjoy some free time with indoor shopping 🛍 in the AC right here in Ft Scott KS🌻”

Vendor Applications available Friday, March 13, 2010.
www.PerrysPorkRinds.com Click on EVENTS tab & print form.
Mail to:
Perry’s Pork Rinds
PO Box 112
Bronson. KS66716