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Category Archives: Entertainment
Getting More Kids On Bikes
A state league mountain bike race will be in Fort Scott on April 23.
Kansas NICA is coming to Gunn Park Trails!
The primary goal of the National Interscholastic Cycling Association (NICA) is to get more kids on bikes, according to information from NICA. NICA provides opportunity for student athletes, 6th through the 12th grade, to compete in the growing sport of mountain biking, and develop the life-long skill of cycling.
Gunn Park will be closed April 23-24 to the Public
On April 24, Fort Scott’s wooded and hilly Gunn Park Trails will be one of the venues this year for the Kansas League of NICA. Setup will begin on Saturday, April 23, and Gunn Park will be closed for the weekend except to spectators, volunteers, and obviously participants.
Mountain Biking
Mountain biking IS for flatlanders too.
Mountain biking is synonymous with off-road biking/trail-riding, as opposed to paved or gravel trails. As long as you have elevation, rocks and dirt, you can have a trail, according to information provided by Frank Halsey, who is the liaison between the race organizers and The City of Fort Scott.
Halsey is an avid mountain bike rider and hosts other local mountain bike races in Gunn Park during the year. He initiated the trails in the park and started the Gunn Park Trails organization several years ago.
He was contacted by Tina Kahn, Director for Kansas NICA, about eight weeks ago, for permission to host a mountain bike race on Gunn Park Trails. He approached the city commission about “this great opportunity to showcase our local trails as well as the awesome hospitality of Fort Scott,” Halsey said, and the city commission approved.
“To host this type of event is an honor for our team of volunteers and tremendous opportunity for Fort Scott”, said Halsey. “The whole thing is very, very organized, and follows a 200-page rules and regulations book produced by the NICA. It’s kids, so they are ultra-careful about doing things safely and professionally”.
“It is quite the production,” he said. “Their infield/staging area is awesome with vendor and sponsor tents set up, everything fenced off, creating a pro-sport atmosphere. It’s all about the experience for the athletes.”
New Fort Scott Team Next Year?
“The nearest team is currently from the Pleasanton-Louisburg area, but I hope we can field a team next year,” Halsey said. “There are currently about 140 (Kansas) student athletes, making up eleven different teams from across the state.”
To learn more about the Kansas league: https://www.kansasmtb.org/
NICA’s Kansas League is asking for 40-50 volunteers to help with the event and one can sign up here: https://signup.com/go/oFWBuyG
To learn more:
Homeward to the Prairie and Find Your Voice Day Trip to K-State Deadline Today
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Photography Meet & Greet Seminar April 27
The Gordon Parks Museum will host a Photography Meet & Greet Seminar on Wednesday, April 27
at 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Come meet and greet Veretta Cobler, professional photographer, who will give a
presentation on working with film and digital photography.
Veretta has moved back home to Fort Scott after over four decades of living in New York City where she
maintained her fully–equipped commercial photography studio. Throughout her career she transitioned from
the classic photographic film and darkroom expertise to the complexity of today’s digital photography
technology. Her experience expands to studio lighting and graphics computer skills. She is looking forward to
sharing her knowledge in her home community.
This in–depth seminar is designed for all levels of photographers from the beginner to the more
experienced. She is looking to help improve and enhance their shots.
While in New York City as a professional photographer, she worked in fine arts, fashion, portraiture, still life
and journalistic cultural study. Her fashion images were published in various U.S. magazines including Bride,
Modern Bride, Bridal Guide, Elegant Bride, Martha Stewart Living, The Knot, Seventeen, Prom, and New York
Magazine. Her New York clients now use her images for their social media accounts.
Veretta’s fine art photography has resulted in exhibitions and publications of her work throughout her career.
Published works include New York Underground (2004), a coffee table photography book depicting the
nightlife in New York City in the late 1970’s. She has recently completed a book about the life and teachings of
a Lakota spiritual man, and is in the process of seeking a publisher.
Her work can be viewed at her website at www.veretta.com.
Free registration is available at the Gordon Parks Museum, online or over the phone, at 620–223–2700 ext.
5850.
Watch Fun in the Mud April 23-24 at Bo Co Fairgrounds
Submitted photo.
A Fort Scott 4×4 Mud Run to benefit a local recreation center is coming to town on April 23-24 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. each day.
Spectator’s cost is $5 person, or $10 for carload (6 and under free).
Participating Mud Run entries are $20.
All proceeds are being donated to the Fort Scott Recreation Center, according to the event organizer Michael Hayden.
“We really appreciate him doing this, the additional funds really help out,” Tom Robertson, director of Fort Scott Recreation Center, said. “This assistance will help with scholarships for kids and families that can’t afford to sign up for a program such as baseball, swim lessons or cooking class, anything with a fee attached.”
Bourbon County was chosen to have the event because leadership was welcoming, Hayden said.
“We wanted to have a mud run somewhere in the southeastern Kansas area to give our members a larger event to attend in a part of the state that is often overlooked for bigger cities,” said Hayden. “After contacting a few different counties, the leaders in Bourbon County and the City of Fort Scott seemed most open and welcoming to the idea.”
The event will be at the Bourbon County Fairgrounds, located on South Horton in Fort Scott, just across from the community college.
“Mud Runs involve a mud pit dug to a specific depth and length in which a vehicle attempts to power through and reach the other side in the shortest time possible,” Hayden said. “Heavy equipment is standing by to pull out those that get stuck before reaching the end.”
There are typically several different classes of vehicles to keep competition fair, he said.
“We will have two different mud pit depths and three different classes, based on tire size,” Hayden said. “The vehicles need to be registered and street legal, with the exceptions of a few minor modifications. The intent is to allow the average person to be able to come out and have fun! We we have trophies and door prizes in all classes.”
The mud run is organized by the Kansas Ram Club.
“Our major sponsors are Ron’s Tire and Service in Fort Scott, Simon’s Dirt Work in Fort Scott and Buddy’s Home Furnishings in Pittsburg,” he said.
“Also, we have added an additional exhibition night for Friday night at 6 P.M. in which the Kansas Gambler 500 vehicles are going to be coming through the mud pit as part of their annual cruise,” Hayden said. “They plan to have somewhere around 100 eccentric vehicles and should be an exciting time!”
Easter Egg Hunt This Saturday April 9 at 11 a.m.
The Kiwanis Club Easter Egg Hunt has been going on for about 50 years, John Crain, president, said.
The tradition continues when the Kiwanians will be in Gunn Park this Saturday, April 9 distributing the eggs and getting the hunt areas set up before the hunters are released to search for their eggs.
The hunt starts at 11 a.m. sharp, on that day, and at11:05 a.m., “It’s all over,” chuckled Bob Eckles, who is the chairman of the annual hunt.
“We hope everybody brings their kids and enjoys the morning,” Crain said.
Each child needs to bring their own basket to collect the eggs, which will have coupons from area businesses or candy in them.
Preschool children should go to the area below #2 Shelter House, kindergarten through second grade children will meet south of the #2 Shelter House and third, fourth and fifth grade children will meet on the north side of the entrance road to the park, Crain said.
Parking is by #1, #2 and #3 Shelter houses.
The Easter Bunny will be there and photos can be taken with the bunny by parents, Eckles said.
Fort Scott High School Key Club and the Mud Turtle Softball Team helped stuff the eggs with coupons and candy, Eckles said.
Some Key Club students will help the morning of the hunt as well, he said.
The annual event is funded by donations from the community that includes cash from Diehl, Banwart and Bolton CPA, R & R Equipment, Heidrick’s Hardware, Big Sugar Lumber, Don’s Spirits, Iron Star Antiques and Such, Merle Humphrey Insurance and Photography, Max’s Way Station.
Coupons for the eggs are provided by the following businesses:
Fort Cinema, Marsha’s Deli, Leanna’s Flowers, Nu Grille, McDonald’s Restaurant, Dairy Queen, Papa Don’s Restaurant, Bids and Dibs Resale Shop, and HedgehogInk Bookstore.
FSCC Women’s Luncheon April 27
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Museum of Creativity Spring Happenings
The Bowman family purchased the building at 102 S. National Avenue in March 2020.
They have been slowly building it into The Museum of Creativity, which is a children’s play place, a gift shop, a snack bar, a party rental space and a place to display many exhibits.
They provide a family safe environment to have fun, learn new skills, discover talents and develop hobbies for all ages, according to Lorina Bowman.
“It is the perfect mix of interactive and display exhibits for all generations to enjoy,” according to Bowman. “We hope to grow our support and continue to provide workshops, clubs and events to enrich our community.”
They have a fund raiser planned for next month to provide funds to make the building handicapped accessible.
The museum has updated spring hours of
Friday 9 a.m. – 10 p.m. and Saturday from 10 .am. to 4 p.m.
The following are some upcoming events offered:
The LEGO CLUB is every Thursday and costs $2/person.
13+ years of age meets from 4 pm-6 pm
7-12 years of age meets from 4:30-5:30 p.m.
The LADIES CRAFT NIGHT is also every Thursday from 6-8 p.m
On the 1st Thursday of the month, bring your own project to show off, work on or get help with, the cost is $2 per person.
On the 2nd Thursday of the month, there is a card making workshop, the cost is $5 per person.
On the 3rd Thursday of the month is needle craft night (knitting, crocheting, embroidery, etc) – $2/person
4th Thursday, there will be special workshops – $5/person
More information is on their Facebook page. (Click the “Events” tab and make sure to click “see more” to view them all.) Or message them on Facebook with any questions.
The museum is having Easter activities for children.
On April 9, the Easter activity from 10 am – 4 pm, with a cost of $3/person. There will be crafts, games and “fun”, she said.
Register for one of their Easter egg hunts held at 11 am – 1 pm – 3 pm for $5/dozen filled eggs.
On May 6-7, the museum will have an indoor yard sale/bake sale during the regular hours.
The museum is accepting donations of gently used items to add to the sale. Contact Angela Handly at 785-204-2881 or Lorina Bowman at209-204-9743 to arrange drop off or pick up.
“ALL proceeds from the yard sale and quilt auction will go toward getting our building handicapped accessible,” she said. “After a little research on pricing of the ramp and chair lift and the construction changes needed to install both, we have a goal of raising $15,000.”
“Any donation helps,” Bowman said. “Whether it is money, time, used items for the yard sale, or items for the auction, we appreciate your support so much! We want to continue improving our guest’s experience at the museum.”
On May 7, there will be a quilt auction at 1 p.m.
Quilts will be on display and open for silent bids during the museum’s open hours Friday and Saturday.
The silent auction will end at 2:30 p.m. when the live auction begins. “We will be on Facebook Live too, so you can bid that way as well,” Lorina said.
“We are accepting donations of prizes, finished quilts or finished quilt tops until April 30th but the sooner the better so we can post them to draw more attention to the event,” she said.
Day Trip to K-State for Gordon Parks Exhibit April 13
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What’s Happening in Fort Scott Newsletter April 1
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…
FSHS Hosts Annual Talent Show and Pageant
The annual FSHS Talent Show and Miss(ter) FSHS Pageant occurred March 25 at Fort Scott High School.
The event, hosted by Thespians and emceed by seniors Christina King and Ashlynn Bagnall, awarded cash prizes to the top three competitors. Senior Tina Ramirez won first place for singing “She Used to Be Mine” from the musical “Waitress.” Junior Ella McElroy won second for her original song accompanied by ukulele. Third place went to sophomore Jericho Jones for his original piano performance of a medley of Elton John songs.
Eleven senior males represented clubs and athletic teams in the Miss(ter) FSHS Pageant. The winner, by round of applause, was Shakira Shakira (Shekhar Gugnani) representing Future Business Leaders of America.
Proceeds from the event will assist Thespians in attending the International Thespian Festival on June 20-24 at Indiana University. Senior Christina King and sophomore Regen Wells will both compete in the monologue category at the Festival.
Shuttle Offered to KSU to View the Parks Exhibition
One-Day Shuttle Trip to view the Gordon Parks: “Homeward to the Prairie I Come” & Doug Barrett: Find Your Voice Exhibition
Fort Scott-The Gordon Parks Museum has scheduled a one-day shuttle trip, for April 13, 2022 to the Parks exhibition, in the Marion Pelton Gallery at the Marianna Kistler Beach Museum of Art featuring photographs donated by Parks to Kansas State University in Manhattan, Kansas, in 1973.
We will also view the Doug Barrett: Find Your Voice, in the Archie and Dorothy Hyle Family Gallery. Barrett exemplifies Parks’ influence on contemporary artists. Barrett is a Manhattan-based photographer who makes personal connections with his subjects, especially with the harm they have suffered because of race-based stereotypes
The Shuttle Coach leaves at 8:30 a.m. on April 13, 2022 from The Gordon Parks Museum parking lot. Lunch will be on your own at 12 p.m. at restaurants within walking distance of the museum. The shuttle will arrive back at Fort Scott at 6:00 p.m.
Cost is $10 per person for the shuttle trip.
The admission to the museum is free. Enjoy the ride on an Executive Coach Shuttle with comfortable leg room. The registration deadline is Tuesday, April 12, 2022.
Tickets are available at The Gordon Parks Museum, on-line at https://www.gordonparkscenter.org/ or over the phone, at 620-223-2700 ext. 5850.
For more information about the events contact the Gordon Parks Museum by phone (620) – 223-2700, ext. 5850 or by email [email protected].