The newly formed Bourbon County Community Theatre is holding auditions for the first show of the season.
Auditions for Holy Mother of Bingo! by Patrick Walsh are from 7-8:30 p.m., June 17 or 18 in the Ellis Performing Arts Center at Fort Scott Community College. Auditions for the interactive comedy murder mystery show are open to adults and teens and no preparation is necessary.
Pioneer Drama describes the show this way, “An innocent bingo fundraiser at the Our Mother of Mercy church goes awry when parishioners mysteriously drop dead! The evidence suggests well-calculated murders, but who is to blame? Tensions rise as everyone begins identifying suspects. Past feuds rear their heads as the members of the parish try to state their innocence one by one. Who could be behind the elaborate spree? The disgruntled choir director? The magician turned youth minister? The ex-convict that has recently turned to the power of prayer? It couldn’t be one of the Cookie Cadets selling their beloved cookies! Everyone’s a suspect… even the audience in the zany comedy that takes interactive theatre to a whole new level!”
Performances of the show are Aug. 2 and 3 and rehearsals are approximately Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays from 6:30-9 p.m.
More information can be found on the Bourbon County Community Theatre Facebook page or by contacting the Director, Angie Bin, at 620-719-9622 or at [email protected].
BBCO Community Theatre, LLC is a non-profit community organization formed last year whose mission is to bring education, community, and culture to southeast KS through threatre.
The mural on the east side of Bandera Stone Inc. in Uniontown.
A mural on the side of a Uniontown business makes the downtown area more attractive and pays homage to local history.
Don and Mary Pemberton own Bandera Stone Inc., a rock quarry business in the county.
“Bandera flagstone has been quarried near Redfield off and on since the mid-1800’s and the company name Bandera Stone carries on that history,” she said.
“Bandera Stone Inc. had outgrown its office space, and needed to expand and add a showroom,” Mary Pemberton said. She and her husband Don own the business.
“We liked this brick building on the Uniontown square and wanted to save it,” she said. ” I always planned on having a mural painted on one side as part of the remodel.”
“In March of 2023, my office assistant, Ashley, encouraged me to apply for the Rural Mural Grant awarded by the Kansas Office of Rural Prosperity to promote tourism to small communities,” she said. “The City of Uniontown agreed to sponsor my application and we were awarded a grant that covered about 1/3 of the cost of the mural. Bandera Stone, Inc. funded the other 2/3 of the total cost.”
She selected Danyell Miles, Fort Scott, after talking with a few artists.
“She has painted several murals around Fort Scott and Pittsburg, so I knew the quality of her work. I wanted the mural to have some local and state significance, yet be fun and a nice backdrop for selfies. The design Danyell put together is all of that! With her mother, Flo Tanner, helping her, Danyell began painting in June 2023 and finished in August 2023, working two or three evenings each week to avoid the daytime heat.”
The artist is Danyell Miles, assisted by her mother, Flo Tanner as depicted by this sign on the mural.
“Everything on the mural has a meaning and was designed so visitors who know a little about Bourbon County, and take a few minutes to really look, will find ‘hidden’ relevance in the various elements,” she said.
“The Eagle represents the local Uniontown High School mascot; a nod to local and state aviation history is the hot air balloon and banner which is being pulled by Amelia Earhart’s airplane; Wizard of Oz characters are one of the first things most people think of about Kansas – as are tornados. Danyell had the brilliant idea of using ‘tornado debris’ to incorporate a number of local and Kansas items: the books are all authored by Bourbon County residents, a Missouri-Pacific railroad engine reminds that Bourbon County used to be a rail hub, a box turtle, fishing, farming, and even a windmill to signify the future. Also prominently displayed in the debris is ‘Life in a Jar’, the UHS History Day project that inspired a book and movie and brought the Lowell Milken Center for Unsung Heroes to Fort Scott!”
Pemberton added a 3D element by making a basket that ” people can stand in when taking a picture with the hot air balloon. The colorful balloon with the Uniontown banner makes for a very nice and memorable ‘hometown’ or ‘travels’ photo.”
” Next time you are near Uniontown, stop by 103 Third Street on the north side of the park square and see the mural, take a picture, view the fossil collection in the Bandera Stone Inc. window displays and if you’d like, step inside the showroom to see the transformation of a piece of Uniontown history which most people remember as a former cafe,” she said.
Bandera Stone is on the square in Uniontown. The basket at the bottom of the balloon is for people to stand in for a photo opportunity.
The following local authors/books are depicted on the mural: The Greatest Test of Courage by Ronda Hassig; Historic Reflections of Bourbon County by Fred Campbell Jr. and Don Miller; Murder and Mayhem by Brian Allen; Life in a Jar; Why Did Grandpa Cry? by Cathy Werling; A Little Faith Lift by Patty LaRoche; A Kansas Sunset by Joyce Love, Our Duty by Gerri Hilgar; The Moffet Street Gang by Kay Large; Legends of Bourbon County by Judy Marshall; Fort Scott Now and Then by D. Miller, A Schofield, F. Campbell, and D. Banwart and The Learning Tree by Gordon Parks.
This year’s annual Fort Scott High School Tiger Drama Camp performs Sleeping Beauty by Kathryn Schultz Miller on June 10 and 11 at 7 p.m. at the Fort Scott High School Auditorium.
Thirty three students in 1st through 9th grade spent two weeks at camp preparing for the production.
The character of Aurora is played by 8th grader Celia Hamilton and Morgana (the Bad Fairy) is played by freshman Isis Patton. Other notable characters include King Alfred, played by freshman Beowulf Carpenter; Lilac (the Head Good Fairy), portrayed by fifth grader Audrey McNutt; and Prince Ferdinand, played by seventh grader Adam Perry.
The camp and show are directed entirely by FSHS Thespians. Recent graduate Regen Wells and senior Cooper George are the Directors.
George said, “I have been enjoying the technical aspect and working one on one with the designers. I have loved working on set dressing and learning how to use materials for what they weren’t designed for. But overall, I have loved seeing the different personalities and energies from the kids. I truly hope the kids will see what theatre is and all the different possibilities they can find in it, and the possibility of them returning for more shows or being involved with theatre during their high school and college years.”
Technical staff include: senior Mykael Lewis – Stage Manager, senior Kiara Thompson and junior Garrett Arvidson – Assistant Stage Managers, graduate Casey Gomez – Choreographer, sophomore Allie Wards – Costume Designer, graduate Natalie Woods – Sound Designer, graduate Lizzy Moore and junior Junie Fisher – Music Directors, junior Charlie Chaplin and sophomore Abby Szczepanski – Lighting Designers, junior Tobi Larrabee and senior Molly Hoyt – Arts Directors and senior Milo Donnelly – Props Master. Many other Thespians serve as acting coaches and leaders and Thespian Director Angie Bin serves as show producer.
During the two week camp, students learn about most technical theatre areas such as lighting, sound, costuming, stagecraft, and make-up. They also help to create the artistic set decor.
“We are very lucky to have an amazing group of recently graduated seniors working on this staff in the areas that they are going to be majoring in in college. They are really experiencing on the job training right now in the careers they plan to pursue in the future,” Bin said.
“This is my fourth time working on directing the children’s summer play through the FSHS Tiger Drama camp. I find that this program is one of the most valuable things the high school runs. This year alone, I have received so many kind words from parents about how much their children love and enjoy these shows. Because of Tiger Drama Camp, I discovered my passion for directing and Stage Management. I’m pursuing theatre as a career in college. I hope you’ll all come out to support these amazing kids and see the work they’ve put into making this show spectacular!” Wells said.
Tickets for the show are $5 for reserved seats and are available at fortscotthighschool.ludus.com or at the doors. Doors open 30 minutes prior to showtime.
The Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce is excited to announce the 2024 Good Ol’ Days Parade winners. The Chamber would like to thank everyone who entered and participated in the parade. The Chamber would also like to thank the many volunteers who judged, marked the line-up, or otherwise assisted with the event.
Category Winner Float Tie between Fort Scott Nazarene Church and Community Christian Church
Foot Unit Clark Street Lights
Tractor N/A
Horses Fort Scott Livestock Market
Classic Car Grand Marshall – Lavetta Simmons, car owned by Cory Bryars
Golf Cart Mill Creek Veterinary Clinic
Antique Car Niece Products
The Chamber organizes the Good Ol’ Days Parade, Halloween Parade and the Christmas Parade; If you have feedback or suggestions for future parades, you may contact the Chamber at (620) 223-3566 or email [email protected].
The Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce is excited to announce the 2024 Good Ol’ Days Parade winners. The Chamber would like to thank everyone who entered and participated in the parade. The Chamber would also like to thank the many volunteers who judged, marked the line-up, or otherwise assisted with the event.
Category Winner Float Tie between Fort Scott Nazarene Church and Community Christian Church
Foot Unit Clark Street Lights
Tractor N/A
Horses Madison Cattle Co.
Classic Car Grand Marshall – Lavetta Simmons
Golf Cart Mill Creek Veterinary Clinic
Antique Car Niece Products
The Chamber organizes the Good Ol’ Days Parade, Halloween Parade and the Christmas Parade; If you have feedback or suggestions for future parades, you may contact the Chamber at (620) 223-3566 or email [email protected].
Carl Brenner, Fort Scott National Historic Site, introduces the Oklahoma Fancy Dancers to the audience on the fort’s grounds on June 1. To the right is the singer/drummer for the troupe.
As part of the Good Ol’ Days event, Native American dancers entertained the audience on the grounds of the Fort Scott National Historic Site.
The Oklahoma Fancy Dancers, a professional Native American dance troupe from Norman, displayed song, dance, and storytelling on June 1 at the site.
A young audience member converses during the dance troupe performance.
The Oklahoma Fancy Dancers are a group of powwow champions that formed a professional Native American dance troupe. All the dancers are enrolled tribal members, most full-blood, representing various tribes. The dance regalia worn by each dancer is brilliantly colorful, traditional, and representative of the dancer’s tribe and dance performed, according to: https://www.arts.ok.gov/Oklahoma_Performing_Artists/Oklahoma_Fancy_Dancers.html?
The audience is asked to join the dance troupe in a social dance.
The dance show was educational, informational, and entertaining, showcasing various traditional American Indian tribal dances and storytelling.
The Oklahoma Fancy Dancers in their dance regalia.
The day also included an artillery demonstration/discussion, some ranger-guided site tours, the Windy Hollow Folk Music group, and the dancers.
Fort Scott National Historic Site, of the National Park Service, has exhibit areas and a visitor center currently open Friday through Tuesday from 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Park grounds are open daily from a half hour before sunrise until a half hour after sunset. To learn more or become involved in activities at the Fort, please get in touch with the park at 620-223-0310 or visit our website at www.nps.gov/fosc.
Follow the Good Ol’ Days Facebook or the Chamber Facebook for updates!
The PARADE IS ON for Friday night, 6pm as planned!
If you are in the parade, the numbers that were marked on the street for the line-up have washed off from the rain, but check in at the Fisher Park concession stand at 7th & Main St. if you need assistance lining up.
HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND IN HISTORIC FORT SCOTT!
Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce | 231 E. Wall Street | Fort Scott, KS 66701 US
A best-selling author with writer’s block heads to L.A. for the film adaptation of her book where she must collaborate with a screenwriter who was involved in the tragic accident that bound them together 13 years prior. Original.
A decorated sheriff’s lieutenant serving a rural county, Anna Koray, who is secretly the daughter of a notorious serial killer, finds her suppressed memories returning when a new serial killer emerges, copying her father, and must use her father’s tricks to stop him before everything she’s built for herself is destroyed.
On an isolated island where 122 villagers and three scientists live in peaceful harmony, one of the scientists is found brutally murdered, which triggers a security system, giving the islanders only 107 hours to solve the murder or be smothered by the fog that destroyed the planet.
Four estranged siblings meet up at a family wedding and are shocked to discover the presence of their father, who went missing while serving overseas, leaving the family members to each confront their complicated pasts. 40,000 first printing.
Forced to work together for her sister’s wedding, writer Emily Hung and sweater-vest-wearing engineer Mark Chan fake a relationship to put an end to her marriage-minded mom’s meddling, but soon their fake dates become all too real, making her realize an argyle sweater isn’t so ugly after all. Original.
When a boy is found with all the blood drained from his body, Detective Barbara Atkins must determine if a member of the Colony, an ostracized community of vampyrs, is responsible, or if she’s dealing with a twisted psychopath as she uncovers secrets darker than she ever could’ve imagined.
On the tiny isle of Innisfree, 21-year-old Honey Witch Marigold Claude, who is cursed never to find true love, is determined to prove to Lottie, a notorious skeptic, that magic is real but soon begins to care for her in unexpected ways, placing her home, her magic and her heart in danger.
Dramatizing the 1920 to 1921 events of the West Virginia Mine Wars, this powerful story of rebellion against oppression follows a Black WWI veteran and coal miner as he leads a miners’ revolt and a Lebanese American doctor who risks his life and career to treat the sick and wounded miners.
A Denied Access Area spy for the CIA, Kane journeys to the borders of Pakistan, Iran and Afghanistan, where violence is the only way to survive, to exfiltrate a man with vital information, but instead meets an adversary who will take the world to the brink of extinction.
Delving into the darker part of life—both metaphorical and literal, the legendary storyteller and expert in short fiction presents this exhilarating collection of 12 tales, many never-before-published, about fate, mortality, luck and the folds in reality where anything can happen.
“The millions of readers of Amor Towles are in for a treat as he shares some of his shorter fiction: six stories set in New York City and a novella in Los Angeles. The New York stories, most of which are set around the turn of the millennium, take up everything from the death-defying acrobatics of the male ego, to the fateful consequences of brief encounters, and the delicate mechanics of comprise which operate at the heart of modern marriages. In Towles’s novel, Rules of Civility, the indomitable Evelyn Ross leaves New York City in September, 1938, with the intention of returning home to Indiana. But as her train pulls into Chicago, where her parents are waiting, she instead extends her ticket to Los Angeles. Told from seven points of view, “Eve in Hollywood” describes how Eve crafts a new future for herself-and others-in the midst of Hollywood’s golden age. Throughout the stories, two characters often find themselves sitting across a table for two where the direction of their futures may hinge upon what they say to each other next. Written with his signature wit, humor, and sophistication, Table for Two is another glittering addition to Towles’s canon of stylish and transporting historical fiction”
“On November 6, 1860, Abraham Lincoln became the fluky victor in a tight race for president. The country was bitterly at odds; Southern extremists were moving ever closer to destroying the Union, with one state after another seceding and Lincoln powerless to stop them. Slavery fueled the conflict, but somehow the passions of North and South came to focus on a lonely federal fortress in Charleston Harbor: Fort Sumter. Master storyteller Erik Larson offers a gripping account of the chaotic months between Lincoln’s election and the Confederacy’s shelling of Sumter-a period marked by tragic errors and miscommunications, enflamed egos and craven ambitions, personal tragedies and betrayals.”
“From Wharton professor and author of the popular One Useful Thing Substack newsletter Ethan Mollick comes the definitive playbook for working, learning, and living in the new age of AI The release of generative AI-from LLMs like ChatGPT to image generators like DALL-E-marks a new era. We have invented technologies that boost our physical capabilities and others that automate complex tasks, but never, until now, have we created a technology that can boost our intelligence-with an impact on work and life that researchers project will be greater than that of steam power or the internet. Mollick urges us not to turn away from AI, and instead to invite AI tools to the table.”
Combining scientific and cultural research, a burnout management coach and TikTok influencer shares the tried-and-true strategies she successfully implemented with clients around the globe to demystify burnout for our post-pandemic world—and set us on a path toward a life of personal and professional balance. Illustrations.
The team behind The Financial Diet website presents a guide for women who want to transition to a life where money is a tool for achieving what they want and not just a reflection of their worth. Illustrations.
One of the world’s leading natural history filmmakers shows how we can reinvigorate our lives by developing a deep connection to the Earth, nurture our individual wildness and deepen our love for all living things. 200,000 first printing.
The couple behind the massively popular Holderness family videos share their story of living with ADHD by rejecting traditional views and embracing creative and life-affirming solutions that focus on how ADHD can often be beneficial.
“Hello Tiny World will inspire a wide readership to discover the tiny wonder of a different kind of container gardening in their own homes–no outdoor space needed. How can terrariums teach us about the environment? Can working with plants improve our mental health and well-being? How do we learn to express ourselves and our creativity through these wondrous mini ecosystems? Hello Tiny World is Ben Newell’s exploration of these questions as he weaves in his own personal experiences, alongside practical projects with photographed step-by-steps allowing readers to delve into the detail of how to make various terrariums–from beginner terrariums and terrariums on a budget, to more creative and ambitious projects. Those curious to learn about ecology and living sustainably as well as those interested in how plants can help our well-being, mindfulness, and creativity will all be served by this book, alongside horticulturalists who have yet to discover terrariums”
The pop music super-producer, artist and actor who’s obsessed with food and cooking for friends teaches you everything you need to know, from kitchen basics to throwing the greatest dinner party of all time, through a crazy collection of recipes that will make cooking your new addiction. Illustrations.
TOPEKA – Kansas Tourism has announced the 2024 Sunflower Summer program will be open for Kansas families on Saturday, May 25. Designed for Kansas students and their families, the Sunflower Summer program provides complimentary access to over 220 tourism attractions across the state. The 2024 Sunflower Summer season will run through August 11.
To participate, Kansas families with school-age children can download the Sunflower Summer app at the Apple App Store, Google Play Store, or at SunflowerSummer.org to claim tickets to attraction venues. These digital tickets are redeemed upon arrival at the participating venue. Each user can only use tickets once per venue during the 2024 season.
“We’re excited to make this year’s growing Sunflower Summer program available to Kansas families,” Kansas Tourism Director Bridgette Jobe said. “Our aim is to encourage Kansans’ to embark on unforgettable journeys and create lasting memories in their home state.”
Exclusive to Kansas families, the Sunflower Summer program is open to all Kansas families with school-aged students, pre-K through 12th grade, including public, private, and homeschooled.
Out-of-state students and families are not eligible to participate in Sunflower Summer.
Participating attractions include museums, discovery centers, historic sites, arboretums, water parks, amusement parks, zoos, guided trolley tours, live theater events and professional sports events. A comprehensive list of attractions participating in the 2024 Sunflower Summer program can be found on SunflowerSummer.org and on the mobile app.
To share your Sunflower Summer experiences on social media, use the hashtags #ToTheStarsKS and #SunflowerSummer as you post your travels. For more travel inspiration and tips about exploring Kansas, go to TravelKS.com.
About Kansas Tourism:
The mission of Kansas Tourism is to inspire travel to and throughout Kansas to maximize the positive impacts that tourism has on our state and local communities. Kansas Tourism works hand in hand with other Commerce community programs to elevate and promote Kansas as a tourist destination. Kansas Tourism oversees all tourism marketing and PR for the state, produces travel publications and advertising, manages state Travel Information Centers, manages both the Kansas By-ways program and the Kansas Agritourism program, approves tourist signage applications, produces the KANSAS! Magazine, and provides financial and educational support to the tourism industry in Kansas through grants, education, and support.
About the Kansas Department of Commerce:
As the state’s lead economic development agency, the Kansas Department of Commerce strives to empower individuals, businesses and communities to achieve prosperity in Kansas. Commerce accomplishes its mission by developing relationships with corporations, site location consultants and stakeholders in Kansas, the nation and world. Our strong partnerships allow us to help create an environment for existing Kansas businesses to grow and foster an innovative, competitive landscape for new businesses. Through Commerce’s project successes, Kansas was awarded Area Development Magazine’s prestigious Gold Shovel award in 2021, 2022 and 2023, and was awarded the 2021 and 2022 Governor’s Cup by Site Selection Magazine.
Clete Hall, Pete Allen, and Larry Ballou practice their created vehicles on Crawford Street for the race on June 1. Submitted photo.
Pete Allen, Larry Ballou, Clete Hall and Jerry Witt were all Boy Scouts in a Fort Scott Soapbox Derby in 1951.
1951 Fort Scott Tribune photo, which was submitted.
Now in their retirement years, the four will compete in a similar race called the Marmaton Challenge on June 1 at 9 a.m. at the hill on National Avenue at Oak Street.
The Marmaton Challenge is an event organized by Scoutmaster Seth Needham, of Pack 114. Funds raised will help scouts attend a summer camp.
“These are four survivors of the original soapbox racers from 1951, going at it again for a good cause,” Pete Allen said. “We all encourage the people to come down and support the scouts.”
BSA Pack 114 is hosting a downhill Derby on June 1st.
All area cub scout packs and BSA troops are invited to attend. Additionally, there will be an Open Class so your company or organization can join the fun.
Get your team together for a fun day of racing, or just come to watch and cheer on your favorite team.
There will be three divisions: Cub Scouts, Troop, and Open Class
Registration and Check-in will be at 8 a.m., and racing will start at 9 a.m.
There will be many activities to attend throughout the day since the race is being held on the same day as Fort Scott’s yearly festival, The Good Ol’ Days. So get a team together, show your car off in the parade on Friday night, and come to Fort Scott for some downhill racing.
For additional information or to register, please email Seth Needham @ [email protected]
The Williamsons are coming to town! First Southern Baptist Church Fort Scott Kansas invites you to be a part an incredible night of music and inspiration featuring one of the top groups in Gospel Music-The Williamsons!
Mark your calendars for Thursday May 16th at 7:00 p.m. (doors open at 6:30) at 1818 South Main, Fort Scott, KS (across from Briggs Auto.
Free Will Offering!
Come join us for an incredible night of music and inspiration.
