Stephen Toal in front of the mural he created at Gunn Park for the public to enjoy. Submitted photo.
Stephen Toal saw some graffiti on the wall of the lower level under the No. 1 Shelter House at Gunn Park and decided to use his artistic abilities and do something about it.
“Someone had written some hate graffiti on the wall and I felt the need to cover it with something positive,” Toal said.
“I had spoken with Josh Jones (Mayor of Fort Scott) about doing the project,” Toal said.
One can have a picnic and feed the ducks while enjoying the new mural under the largest rock shelter house in the park, Shelter House #1.
He used his own art materials and spent about 10 hours on the project, he said.
Stephen Toal described himself as ” a long time resident of Fort Scott, a husband, father of three and three step-children.”
Steven Toal and his wife, Stacy, Submitted photos.
Toal also said he is a “recovering addict/alcoholic, who has been clean and sober three years”
“Art is a way to express myself and helps me stay clean,” he said.
The colorful mural is a depiction of springtime, Toal said.
Ralph Carlson introduces the Friday Night Concert musicians May 2019.
This Friday Night Free Concert at 7 p.m. will feature the St. Martin Academy Singers, according to event coordinator Ralph Carlson. “There will be a short open-mike time as well for walk-ons.”
“The St. Martin Academy group will have a mix of folk music, classic country, pop and gospel,” Carlson said. “The school year ending, the St. Martin youth will be returning to their homes in various states so we got them before they leave for the summer. In addition, there may be bagpipe music. They have been a really popular group and it is a pleasure to get these young men back.”
The venue, Heritage Pavilion, is located at Main and First Street in downtown Fort Scott.
“We expect good weather and a good turnout so bring your lawn chairs as seating is limited,” he said.
Butch Hall was a 2000 Uniontown High School graduate, who was killed in Afganistan in 2004.
His family and friends are hosting a pond hopping bass tournament in his honor that not only supports our small community, but will also raise money for a newly founded charity called the Bourbon County Angels.
In 2020, the Angels helped over 75 Bourbon County families put gifts under the Christmas tree.
Sponsors are listed on the flyer and the t-shirts.
T-shirts are available to purchase online until and including the day of the event.
The event will be located at Union Station, Uniontown’s convenience store, where they will be hosting a beer garden.
They have also purchased pork from Bronson Locker that will be smoked by Chuck Weyant and served on the day of the event.
All proceeds from the pulled pork sandwiches will go to the Bourbon County Angels along with 50% of the tournament registration fees.
Tournament participants must check-in at 6:00 am at Union Station and return for the weigh-in at 3:00 pm.
Limit of 3 people per team.
$20 per person to enter. All ages welcome.
Biggest bass and heaviest stringer per team. There will also be a $5 big bass pot.
Fish must be alive at weigh-in.
Butch’s family has donated individual trophies for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place teams and one for the biggest bass.
Donated prize drawings will be held after the weigh-in. Find the latest information on the Facebook event page Butch Hall Memorial Fishing Tournament.
The City of Fort Scott is partnering with shared electric scooter company, Bird Rides. to bring e-scooters to the city. The scooters are available through a mobile phone application and riders pay to use the scooter per minute, at no cost to the city.
City of Fort Scott Community Development and Tourism manager, Allyson Turvey, stated: “We are happy to welcome Bird to the City of Fort Scott and look forward to having the scooters available to connect visitors to our attractions. I think they will make a great addition to our community.”
The electric scooters can only be used on roads and in bike lanes and have a maximum speed of 15mph. Scooters must be parked out of the way of pedestrians. Riders are required to be 18 years-old and above to access the scooters. They are also encouraged to wear a helmet on every ride and required to obey all standard rules of the road.
“The City has been working with Bird, a LA based company for the last few months. We are excited to see the economic benefit of these scooters in our rural community.” according to Rachel Pruitt, City of Fort Scott Economic Development Director.
‘Community Mode’ allows anyone with a Bird account to report or provide feedback on vehicle-related issues such as poorly parked or damaged vehicles in their area. When a report is submitted, a member of the Bird team is assigned to correct the issue. Anyone can access Community Mode by tapping the yield sign on the bottom left of the Bird map.
If a resident has questions or concerns about the e-scooters the company can be reached directly at 1-866-205-2442 or [email protected]. More information about the company can be found on their website (www.bird.co) and on their blog (www.bird.co/blog).
Ralph Carlson introduces the Friday Night Concert musicians May 2019.
This Friday night, May 14th, the Chamber of Commerce Concert series at Heritage Park, will present The Hemphill Family and Friends Band. The group consists of Jack and Sandy Hemphill and their two adult children, Brad Hemphill and Kristen Weeks.
A granddaughter, Piper Weeks, will perform a song. In addition, Floyd Feezell (fee zel’), who is a crowd favorite, will join them for some songs.
The band plays old country songs, old-time rock, gospel, and country standards. Because of limited seating, please bring a lawn chair. The concert begins at 7 PM.
Fort Scott-The Gordon Parks Museum Fundraiser event, will feature Jazz & RB Violinist, Dominique Hammons in a music performance at 8:00 p.m. at the Liberty Theater in Fort Scott, KS on Friday, June 18, 2021. Doors open at 7:00 p.m.
This event is supported in part by Liberty Theater, Bourbon County Arts Council, and Briggs-Fort Scott.
“We are very excited and thrilled that we are able to bring the sensational multi-talented Dominique Hammons to Fort Scott. This is a performance you won’t want to miss” said Kirk Sharp, Gordon Parks Museum Director.
Dominique Hammons is a young, energetic, Contemporary/Jazz and R&B Violinist from Houston, TX and started playing classical violin at the age of eight.
Hammons attended the High School for the Performing and Visual Arts in Houston and was a member of the school orchestra program for four years. After high school, Dominique attended the University of Oklahoma in Norman, Oklahoma, and graduated in 2017 with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Music Performance with an emphasis in Jazz.
During the early part of middle and high school years, Hammons performed for four years with the Houston Youth Symphony Orchestra, receiving high accolades for excellence. Dominique also performed with other orchestra and chamber groups such as Virtuosi of Houston and TMEA All-State Orchestra. He was also chosen to study and perform with the Diaz Music Institute’s Youth Latin Jazz group, “Caliente”.
According from his biography, his ‘God given’ talent has been recognized with many awards and among them, the Houston Symphony’s “Young Artist Competition”, where he won the opportunity to play a solo on stage with the Houston Symphony. He also competed and won medals and recognitions while participating in NAACP “Actso” competitions.
Since graduation, Dominique has gravitated to teaching classical violin lessons to the youth who desire to follow in his footsteps; and continues to perform in Houston and surrounding cities as a solo artist. His popularity has risen in high demand to perform at many venues and performs various genres of music such as classical, pop, gospel, jazz, hip hop, and R&B. His unique blend of music and style has granted him to perform across the nation such as Alabama, Georgia, Florida, Illinois, and Washington State.*(2020)
Hammon’s Musical career has led him to perform at the following events:
Selected to play the National Anthem during the pre-game show at the Houston Rockets game in
November of 2018.
He was selected to audition for the ‘2019 America’s Got Talent’ competition.
Opening act for Johnathan Butler at the 2018 Martini Blue Jazz Festival. (Which Dominique received
a standing ovation of a crowd of 3,000.)
Headliner for City of College Park & 7Flavors of Smooth Jazz Festival, Atlanta, GA.
Tickets are $30 each or $35 at the door. Tickets will be available at the Gordon Parks Museum located on the
campus at Fort Scott Community College or over the phone (620)-223-2700 ext. 5850.
For more information about the Fundraiser Performance Event, contact us by phone (620) – 223-2700, ext.
5850 or by email [email protected].
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Free Friday Night Concerts are sponsored by the Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce and coordinated by Ralph Carlson. The event is usually at First and Main Streets, Fort Scott. In case of inclement weather, the event is moved to indoor venues.
Each Friday evening at the Heritage Pavilion in downtown Fort Scott live music performances are offered to the community from 7 to 8 p.m.
“This week’s featured artist will be David Prickett on guitar and vocal,” Ralph Carlson, event organizer, said. “David made his career in Alaska, moving back to Deerfield Missouri upon retiring. David has a wide range of music, from gospel, Hymns, classic country, and old standards. David has been a great supporter of our Chamber of Commerce music series and it is a real pleasure to get him back.”
“In addition, another regular contributor will be Floyd Feezell, a local native who made a career in California and Washington states,” Carlson said. “Floyd has been a regular at the pavilion since his retirement and return to the area. Floyd also does a mixture of music including hymns, classic country traditional and gospel”.
In the event of bad weather, the event will move to the Common Grounds Coffee Shop, 12 E. Wall Street.
Those attending are asked to bring lawn chairs as seating is limited.
Bourbon County Coalition Applications for the 2021 Family Pass to the Fort Scott Aquatic Center are due at Buck Run by the end of the day Friday, April 30.
Application forms are available at Buck Run and The Beacon.
Oliver Witt, FSHS Swim Team member, in the black dress, won the Miss(ter) Pageant on April 24
Submitted by Coach Angie Kemmerer
The Fort Scott High School Girls Swim Team competed in Coffeyville on Thursday, April 22 and Monday, April 27.
At both meets the team finished 2nd behind Independence.
FSHS Boys Swimmer and Girls Team Manager Oliver Witt Represented the team at the Miss(ter) FSHS pageant on Saturday, April 24th and brought home the grand prize.
From the pool to the runway, FSHS Tigers are making a splash!
The results from Thursday’s meet were:
200 Medley Relay
“A” 2nd
“B” 3rd
200 Free
5th Emily Davenport
6th Annalyse Gilmore
200 IM
5th Annelise Hall
6th Ashley Smith
50 Free
2nd Ava Steier
5th Dawna Hudiburg
100 Fly
4th Maia Martin
100 Free
2nd Ava Steier
500 Free
2nd Kourtney Flynn
200 Free Relay
“A” 3rd
“B” 6th
100 Back
6th Kourtney Flynn
100 Breast
1st Annelise Hall
4th Ashley Smith
6th Dawna Hudiburg
400 Freestyle Relay
“A” 4th
The results from Monday’s meet:
200 Medley Relay: Both teams got a best time
“A” 2nd (Ava Steier, Ashley Smith, Alyssa Smith and Dawna Hudiburg)
Good Ol’ Days, Bourbon County’s biggest festival, is a go for June 3-5, 2021.
Last year there was a celebration of the event’s 40 years planned, but the COVID-19 Pandemic shut it down.
“It’s always been an annual event, until last year,” Shawn O’Brien, chairman of the festival steering committee said.
“We got the news from the Southeast Kansas Multi-Health Department that we are approved to have the festival this year,” O’Brien said.
“Come out and walk Main Street,” O’Brien said. “We are looking forward to seeing everybody.”
Jared Leek in the Good Ol’ Days parade in 2016.
New this year is a zipline, with more details to follow, O’Brien said.
“There will be a talent show on June 3, and the other activities are June 4-5,” he said.
Vendors will once again line Main Street for people to enjoy, along with food trucks.
The Red Garter Saloon in 2016.
The Red Garter Saloon will perform, along with balloon artists and caricature drawings on Main Street, all for free.
There will be the Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce sponsored parade on Friday evening, June 4, as well as the Chicken Mary’s Meal on the Mall that evening.
The parade in 2019.
The baby contest will be Saturday morning, June 5.
The baby contest in 2016.
“We will have live entertainment on Friday from 7 to 10 p.m. at the Heritage Pavilion (First and Main Street), featuring the Wayward Betty’s,” O’Brien said. “This is free to the public.”
Saturday at the Heritage Pavilion, Public Display of Affection, will be the featured performers, from 7 to 10 p.m.
Fun Shows Carnival will be set up across from Luther’s BBQ at Oak Street and National Avenue.
The carnival in 2016.
The Steering Committee
The committee is comprised of O’Brien as chairman, Kayla Hull, Melissa Wise, Charlotte Thompson, Cheryl VanHoecke, Tim Van Hoecke, Shaylynn Clements, Kelsey Demott, and Carl Brenner.
“We are excited,” O’Brien said. “We have waited two years.”
Tickets for each event will be available soon at the Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce, 231 E. Wall Street.
A float in the 2016 parade.
Applications for different events are on their website.
