There is nothing that says summer more than ice cream. Start your summer off right with a free sweet treat being offered at Fort Scott National Historic Site from 10:00 am – 12:00 pm, Saturday, June 28. This ice cream social is being sponsored by the Friends of Fort Scott National Historic Site in conjunction with other fort activities.
The Friends will also be selling chances to win an authentic reproduction of an 1833 Dragoon saber. A drawing to select the winner will be held September 8, 2025, at the Friends of FSNHS annual meeting. Chances are $10 each and $25 for three. All proceeds will benefit activities and operations at Fort Scott National Historic Site.
The 2025 Fort Scott All-Classes Reunion committee has planned an extraordinary number of events to help former students reconnect this weekend.
“This reunion has been going on since 1961,” said board member Craig Campbell. “It’s a chance to get together and reconnect with not only your class, but the ones before and after.”
There was a hiatus in 2020 because of the COVID-19 Pandemic, and the event was changed to 2022.
“We decided to continue every five years on the 5 and O years,” he said.
New this year is a golf scramble, a fun event that will help raise money for FSHS scholarships.
“The Woodland Hills Golf Course is a gem, a great course,” Campbell said. “Please register as soon as possible for a lunch count for the event at www.fshsalumni.org
Registration
Registration for the alumni weekend will be at the FSHS Gym through the east side entrance of the building from 9 am to 4 p.m., according to the group’s Facebook page.
Golf cart transportation will be available for those who need assistance getting from their parking spot to the building.
FSHS t-shirts will be available for purchase, as well as other vendor information, at registration.
Parade
The parade kicks off the weekend at 6 p.m. on Friday, June 27. The parade emcee will be David Brown, a former Fort Scott Middle School Principal. There is still time to register to be in the parade. Please go to the website http://www.fshsalumni.org to do so.
Parade line-up starts at 5 p.m. this Friday near the Fisher Park Concession Stand. Registrants will be given a lineup number. Everyone else is behind the horses in the parade.
The parade will start from 6th & Main, north to Wall Street, then west to National Avenue, and south to 6th & National. Each class is encouraged to participate in the parade; the parade organizer is Craig Campbell, and he can be reached at [email protected] or via phone at 620-224-0167.
Food
Food trucks will be available at 3rd & Main both Friday
night and Saturday. There will be several options available, including local restaurants. There will not be a traditional chicken dinner this year because it has declined in popularity in recent years, so there is
something different for 2025.
Music
The All-Star Reunion Band will be performing at the Liberty Theater from 8 p.m. to midnight, with a cash bar available. This is a reunion tradition!
Additionally, Bourbon County Revival will be live music at 3rd & Main. A cash bar will also be available in this area.
Saturday night’s activities will be focused on 3rd & Main with music by the Teresa Deaton Band and food trucks.
Main Street will be closed to traffic to allow alumni to move between the food trucks and outdoor music.
Entertainment will begin at 8 p.m., and all entertainment is free of charge.
The City of Fort Scott is allowing you to bring in your own beverages (no glass containers, please) during these events; however, a cash bar will be available as well.
Luncheon and Reception
There will be a luncheon for the classes of 1963 and earlier at the FSHS commons area starting at 11:30 a.m. on Saturday, June 28. The Tigers Honors Luncheon is hosted by the Reunion.
The Fort Scott KNEA will be hosting the Retired Teachers’ Reception on Saturday, June 28, from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. in the FSHS Commons area. Come back and visit with a favorite teacher.
A commemorative reunion photo will be taken under the new City entrance arch on Wall Street near 69 Highway.
The reunion board will have a roving photographer taking candid shots of the reunion weekend.
2025 Fort Scott High School All-Classes Reunion Schedule of Events
Friday, June 27
9 am – 4 pm Registration FSHS Gym
6 pm Parade Downtown
8 pm – midnight 80s Classes Party Memorial Hall
8 pm – midnight All Star Reunion Band Liberty Theatre
8 pm – midnight Bourbon County Revival 3rd Street Stage (3rd & Main) Saturday, June 28
7 am 1st Annual Alumni Golf Tournament Woodland Hills Golf Course
9 – 11 am Registration FSHS Gym
11:30 am Honors Tiger Luncheon FSHS Commons Area
1 – 3 pm Theater/Debate Improv Show FSHS Auditorium
3 – 5 pm Teacher/Employee Reception FSHS/FSMS TBD
8 pm – midnight Teresa Deaton Band 3rd Street Stage (3rd & Main)
The planning board is comprised of:
President (2025): Rhonda Dunn, graduate of 1984 Vice-President /President-Elect: Sydney Cullison, 2015 Past President (in 2022): Lori Potter Farmer, 1983 Recording Secretary: Haley Jones, 2013 Corresponding Secretary: Ronette Center, 1984 Treasurer: Gina Findley Shelton, 1997 Parade Chair: Craig Campbell, 1977 Registration Chair: Debbie West, 1976
Burke Street Parade. Margaret & Merl Humphrey and granddaughter Meg Norman. Submitted photo.
Come One, Come All, Let Freedom Ring! It is once again time to celebrate U.S.A.’s 249th Independence Day with a neighborhood parade on Fort Scott’s “Tower Hill,” better known as Burke Street on the Fourth of July. Following patriotic songs by “Kids on Burke” led by two of the parade founders: Susan Foster and Jill Gorman; the parade will depart at 10:00 AM from Tenth and Burke going south around the Marblecrest Triangle and returning north to the point of origin. Cheering spectators, who are encouraged to bring lawn chairs and dress in red, white, and blue, will line the parade route with family and friends.
Post-parade refreshments will be available and ALL ARE WELCOME to the Halsey front yard, 1222 Burke. Neighbors and friends-of-the-parade donate the cookies and drinks are provided by this year’s hosts Deb & Frank Halsey.
A severe storm or lightning cancels the parade and there are no large vehicles allowed due to the many children participating in the festivities.
Parade questions can be answered by Margaret Humphrey 620-224-7388 or Barbar Albright 620-224-7762.
Only Class C fireworks, common ones, are allowed to be discharged within the city limits of Fort Scott.
The sale of fireworks started on June 20 and will stop on July 7.
They can be discharged from June 27 to July 2 from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.
From July 3 to 4, from 10 a.m. to 11:59 p.m. and on
July 5 from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.
The city manager, fire chief, or designated authority may change the dates due to severe weather conditions, etc.
It’s illegal to discharge fireworks within 1,000 feet of a hospital, 50 feet from where they are sold, 100 feet from a gas pump, filling station, or bulk fuel storage facility, Fort Scott Community College campus/grounds, Bourbon County Fairgrounds, or city-owned parks.
No fireworks are allowed from 18th to 23rd Streets on Horton Street on the day of the city’s fireworks display.
It’s unlawful to throw any kind of fireworks at a person, group or vehicle.
Editor’s note: Fort Scott National Historic Site and Gordon Parks Museum are on the list!
TOPEKA – Kansas Tourism today announced that more than 230 tourism attractions across the state are participating in the 2025 Sunflower Summer program. The lineup includes something for every interest and region of the state — museums and historic sites, zoos, arboretums, art centers and more.
“With such a wide variety of exceptional attractions participating this year, Sunflower Summer continues to open doors for Kansas families to explore and connect with every corner of our state,” Lieutenant Governor and Secretary of Commerce David Toland said. “This program not only creates unforgettable memories for students and parents — it also fuels local economies by drawing visitors to main streets, museums and hidden gems across Kansas.”
The 2025 Sunflower Summer program will run from July 12 to August 3. During this period, eligible students and one accompanying adult are granted free one-time access to each participating attraction, once per season. Passes can be claimed through the free Sunflower Summer app and redeemed at the attraction upon arrival. Kansas students from pre-K through 12th grade — including those in public, private and homeschool settings — are eligible to participate. The program is exclusively available to Kansas residents.
“We’re thrilled to bring back Sunflower Summer for another year,” Kansas Tourism Director Bridgette Jobe said. “This program is a wonderful celebration of the incredible experiences Kansas has to offer. The variety and quality of attractions participating this year truly are outstanding — and we can’t wait for the season to begin.”
For the complete list of participating attractions and full program details, go to SunflowerSummer.org.
Families are encouraged to share their Sunflower Summer journeys on social media using #ToTheStarsKS and #SunflowerSummer. For more Kansas travel ideas and inspiration, click here.
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, 2023 and 2024, and was awarded the 2021 and 2022 Governor’s Cup by Site Selection Magazine.
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.
Parents and grandparents watching their loved ones at the Fort Scott Splash Pad now have the benefit of sitting in the shade.
The Fort Scott Splash Pad and Sensory Park was a grassroots project that opened in 2023, according to its Facebook page. This year a new handicapped-accessible restroom and two shading devices were installed on the north side of the park.
Fort Scott’s new baseball franchise will reveal the teams name and the inning submitter of that game on July 11.
The wait is almost over.
Fort Scott’s new Mid-America League baseball franchise is ready to take the next big step — and the fans are about to find out what it will be called.
Following a month’s-long “Name the Team” contest that brought in hundreds of creative and passionate submissions from the Fort Scott community, the franchise will officially unveil its
name, logo, and identity at the opening night of the “Summer Series” on Friday, July 11th.
One lucky fan — whose submission was selected as the winning entry — will be publicly honored during a pre-game ceremony and awarded two (2) season tickets for life.
“This team is built for and by the Fort Scott community, and it was only fitting that our fans had a hand in shaping its identity,” said Mike Marek, Vice President of the Fort Scott franchise.
“The name we’ve chosen tells a powerful story about the city and the spirit we aim to bring to the ballpark.”
The “Summer Series” a three-game series from July 11-13 between the Texarkana Rhinos and the Joplin Outlaws will feature a family-friendly experience and a sneak peek into the franchise’s future.
Official team merchandise will be available following the announcement
Friday evening game times will be 7:05 pm on Friday and 6:05 pm on Saturday and Sunday.
The Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce invites members and guests to a Chamber Coffee hosted by the Good Ol’ Days Committee this Thursday, June 5th at 8am, on Skubitz Plaza, Downtown Fort Scott. In case of inclement weather, the coffee will take place at the Chamber of Commerce, 231 E. Wall St. Coffee, juice, and refreshments will be served, and attendees may register to win a special drawing.
Shawn O’Brien, Good Ol’ Days Chairman, and the committee are excited to celebrate the 44th Annual Good Ol’ Days festival with the theme of 44 Years of Crafting Memories.
The 44th Annual Fort Scott Good Ol’ Days will take place June 6th and 7th in Downtown Fort Scott. 44 years of crafting memories is such a fitting theme for this year, reminiscing over the years and celebrating all the great vendors there have been and continue to be each year. There are over 125 booths this year offering a variety of food, fun, crafts, and much more. Plan to attend the parade to kick off Good Ol’ Days, at 6 pm on Friday June 6th. Stroll through Main Street, north of Wall Street, and throughout Skubitz Plaza to see the wide variety of vendors who will open at 5pm. There will be live entertainment on Friday evening at 7pm featuring The KC All Stars on Skubitz Plaza. On Saturday, vendor booths will open at 9 am, including a full schedule of activities and live music planned throughout the day. Visit the website www.fortscottgoodoldays.com or Fort Scott Good Ol’ Days Facebook for more details.
The Good Ol’ Days committee would like to extend a special thank you to the amazing donors for the continuous support year after year. Everyone is encouraged to fill the streets and join the fun this weekend for 44 years of crafting memories.
Contact the Chamber of Commerce at (620) 223-3566 for more information. Visit the Events Calendar and category of Chamber Coffees on fortscott.com for upcoming locations.
Thank you to our Chamber Champion members shown below…
Fort Scott, Kan. – Learn Native American stories and experience dance performances by the Oklahoma Fancy Dancers. Then learn how to work with Feathers that adorn the dancers in traditional Native Plains fashion. All activities are free and open to the public.
SATURDAY, JUNE 7
10 a.m. – Ranger Guided Tour of the Fort, meet in the Visitor Center
1 p.m. – Oklahoma Fancy Dancers (Native American Cultural Dance Presentation), Parade Ground
2:30 p.m.– Make & Take Traditional Native Feather Workshop for youth and some space for adults, meet inside of the Grand Hall
Fort Scott National Historic Site, a unit of the National Park Service, exhibit areas and visitor center are 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 find out more or become involved in activities at the Fort, please contact the park at 620-223-0310 or visit our website at www.nps.gov/fosc.
“For readers of J. Ryan Stradal and The Music of Bees (with a dash of FX’s The Bear) comes a quirky and refreshing epistolary novel about family of culture-shocked Brooklynites transplanted to Goodnight, Kansas and their fight for their unexpected lifeline: the legendary May Day Diner. Welcome to Goodnight, Kansas. Population: Many Kansans, three New Yorkers, and one chance to save the place they love most.”
Ten strangers awaken in a locked, eerie house with no memory of their arrival, tasked with solving a young woman’s disappearance while evading a relentless killer and uncovering the truth about their connection to the deadly game.
Madeline Hill and her mom have lived alone on their farm in Coalfield, Tennessee, since her dad left; one day Reuben Hill pulls up in a PT Cruiser and announces she’s his half-sister, and he wants Mad to join him for a crazy road trip to find their father and half siblings.
“The Kenner siblings are at odds. Jenn is a harried mom struggling under the weight of family obligations. Fred is a novelist who can’t write, maybe because she’s lost faith in storytelling itself. Jude is a recovering corporate lawyer with her own story to tell, and a grudge against her former favorite sister, Fred. George, the baby, is estranged from his wife and harboring both a secret about his former employer and an ill-advised crush on one of his sisters’ friends. Gathered after a major loss, each sibling needs the others more than ever–if only they could trust each other”
When 27-year-old screenwriter Elle returns to New York City and runs into polar opposite Parker Warren, a hookup from two years ago, she realizes he’s her twisted muse, so when he needs a fake relationship during his company’s acquisition, they agree to spend the summer together
In their secluded forest cottage, Margot and her mother welcome“strays,” lost travelers whom Mama feeds and ultimately consumes, but when a striking stranger named Eden arrives during a snowstorm, Margot must confront her family’s dark practices and assert her own desires.
Discovering a conspiracy surrounding the death of the ruler’s son in vampire city First Light, palace maid Sam blackmails her way into a better class and better blood, joining with rebel maids, a sorcerer lacking in magic but skilled in deduction, a werewolf assassin and a countess who knows the city’s secrets.
As a mysterious plague spreads and war looms, Ambassador Renata Rainer must seek answers from practitioners of the arcane arts to prevent an ancient prophecy, the Great Silence, from bringing the Empire to ruin. Original. 20,000 first printing.
A dim-witted Proud Boys reject becomes entangled in a bizarre web of corruption and intrigue involving a hitchhiker, a con artist, an eccentric millionaire and a power-hungry politician in the new novel by the best-selling author of Bad Monkey.
“Set in the 1880s, the story follows Ovid Vesper, a former Union soldier who has been having enigmatic visions after surviving one of the Civil War’s most gruesome battles, the Battle of Antietam. As he travels across the country following those visions,he finds himself in stranger and increasingly more dangerous encounters with other worlds hidden in the spaces of his own mind, not to mention the dangers of the Wild West. Ovid brings his steady calm and compassion as he helps the people of a broken country, rapidly changing but, like himself, still reeling and wounded from the war. He assists with matters of all sorts, from odd jobs around the house, to guiding children back to their own universe, to hunting down unnatural creatures that stalk the night–all the while seeking his own personal resolution and peace from his visions. Ovid’s epic journey across the American West with a surprising cast of characters blends elements of the classic Western with historical fantasy in a way like no other”
“Most people don’t even notice them-three tiny figures sitting at the end of a long pier in the corner of one of the most famous paintings in the world. Most people think it’s just a depiction of the sea. But Louisa, an artist herself, knows otherwise and she is determined to find out the story of these three enigmatic figures.”
Long ago, the gods unleashed monsters upon the five kingdoms of Calandra to remind us that humans are insignificant. I didn’t need a deity to remind me I was powerless. Being a princess had never been more than a performance. Until the day a prince walked into my father’s throne room and ruined my life. The day I married a stranger, signed a magical treaty in blood, and set off across the continent to the most treacherous kingdom in all the realm.
“Natural Resources police officer, Sloan Cooper, and her partner had just taken down three men preying on hikers in the Western Maryland mountains. Driving back, she pulled in at a convenience store and walked right into a robbery in progress. One gunshot from a jittery thief was about to change her world. After being shocked back to life on the operating table, she has a long recovery ahead, so she moves back to her parents’ peaceful house in Heron’s Rest. As for the boyfriend who dumped her via text while she was in the hospital, good riddance. She may be down, but she’s not out. So, when a woman vanishes, leaving her car behind in a supermarket parking lot, Sloan searches online for similar cases. She finds them, spread across three states. And the abductions keep happening. Luckily, the new man in her life shares her passion for solving this mystery. But it will take every ounce of endurance to get to the dark heart of this bizarre case and she’s willing to risk her life again if that’s what it takes to stop the horror.”
“Today’s children face intense pressure to meet rising academic standards and prepare for future careers, but most fall dangerously short. Early struggles with language and literacy often snowball into lasting disadvantages. Millions of U.S. kids don’t learn to read well in elementary school, driving low adult literacy rates and threatening the nation’s economic productivity, public health, and social equity. In Reading for Our Lives, journalist Maya Payne Smart shows that the literacy crisis starts at home. Reading for Our Lives delivers a clear call to action and a path forward for families, schools, and communities to beat the literacy crisis together.”
“For outdoor adventurers, national parks lovers, and fans of fascinating true stories, MYSTERIES OF THE NATIONAL PARKS is a collection of 40 fascinating tales from America’s national parks, including disappearances, mysterious happenings, and supernatural presences”
In this blistering exposé, an award-winning investigative journalist uncovers reams of evidence showing decades of Johnson & Johnson’s deceitful and dangerous corporate practices that have threatened the lives of millions.
“A curious history of plants that heal, ‘The apothecary’s garden’ explores the science and mythology of over 60 species–from soothing hops, chamomile and valerian to immunity-boosting turmeric, meadowsweet and turkey tail mushroom. Featuring botanical illustrations from the archives at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, and weird and wonderful remedies and images from medical archives, this is a fascinating exploration of nature’s pharmacy”
A practical hands-on plan for readers looking to create a healthy relationship with their cellphone provides information on identifying goals and priorities and being more mindful with phone use
“From the deserts of the Southwest to the shining Atlantic Coast, the USA is as sweet as it gets. In this tour de food, B. Dylan Hollis takes you on a delicious road trip to taste everything from the coffee-crazed creations of the Pacific Northwest to the larger-than-life sheet cakes of Texas. You’ll be hitting the pavement in vintage style as you journey with Dylan through the culture capitals of America to savor the very best bakes the nation has to offer. His retro recipes span the decades from the 1900s to the 2000s and feature famous (and forgotten) desserts from every state. With his signature wry humor, Dylan explores the US and uncovers the history of nostalgic local favorites, including Boston Cream Pie on the cobbled streets of Beantown, Beignets in the sultry heat of jazzy New Orleans, and Date Cream scooped up poolside in Palm Springs”
“Meditative Drawing shows step by step how to create mesmerizing mandalas and other nature-inspired designs while reducing stress and increasing creativity”
Explores the transformative power of journaling, blending the author’s insights with essays and prompts from 100 writers, artists, and thinkers, offering guidance to navigate life’s challenges, embrace creativity, and uncover deeper self-awareness through themes of beginnings, love, loss, and renewal. Illustrations.
A saga set in Paris during World War II uncovers how an unlikely heroine infiltrated the Nazi leadership to save the world’s most treasured masterpieces.
“History contains a plethora of insane screwups-otherwise known as SNAFUs. Coined during World War I, SNAFU is an acronym that stands for Situation Normal: All F*cked Up. In other words, “things are pretty screwed up, but aren’t they always?” Spanning from the 1950’s to the 2000’s, Ed Helms steps in as unofficial history teacher for a deep dive into each decade’s craziest SNAFUs. From planting nukes on the moon to training felines as CIA spies to weaponizing the weather, this book will unpack the incredibly ironic decision-making and hilariously terrifying aftermath of America’s biggest mishaps. Filled with sharp humor and lively illustrations, SNAFU is a wild ride through time that not only entertains but offers fresh insights that just might prevent history from repeating itself again and again”
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Carl, played by Matthew Wells, and Opal, played by Alissa Cook. Submitted photo
A long-standing theatre tradition in Fort Scott, the Melodrama, is returning to Good Ol’ Days this year.
Bourbon County Community Theatre presents the world premiere of “Beauty and the Bull OR Chaos in Fort Scott’’ written by BCCT Vice President Mark Bergmann.
Bergmann says, “It was a challenge offered by other members of the BCCT board to write an original show about Fort Scott. I hope people find it highly entertaining. The whole goal is for people to laugh and have fun with it.”
Jason Silvers returns to the stage as Barnard Cleaner, 18 years after the last Fort Scott melodrama that Silvers starred in, “It feels really good to be back on the stage after so many years. Melodramas are about fun, they’re interactive shows, and I hope the audience has a great experience cheering the hero and booing the villain.”
This is Silvers’ first show with the newly formed BCCT, “You feel camaraderie working together with everybody with different levels of ability and talent. I’ve enjoyed watching everything come together.”
The show is directed by Bergmann with Regen Wells serving as Assistant Director. Featured roles include Alissa Cook as the heroine Opal Openheart, Levi Fairchild as the hero Bull Driver, and Matthew Wells as the villain, Carl Connor.
Performances are at 8 p.m. on June 6 and at 10:30 a.m., and 12:30, 4:30, 6:30 and 8 p.m. on June 7 at 123 S. National (former St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church). Tickets for the show are $5 at bcct.ludus.com or at the door, but seating is limited. Concessions will be available. Doors open 30 minutes prior to showtime.
Carl, played by Matthew Wells, and Horse played by Theodore Bowman. Submitted photo.