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Category Archives: Entertainment
Bourbon County Community Theatre Brings Melodrama Tradition Back to Fort Scott

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.

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44th Annual Fort Scott Good Ol’ Days is June 6-7





Bourbon County Arts Council Presents The Rough Romance Tour 0n June 5

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CHAMBER NOW TAKING ENTRIES FOR GOOD OL’ DAYS PARADE
The Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce announces they are now accepting entries for the 2025 Good Ol’ Days Parade, which will kick off the 44th Annual Good Ol’ Days Festival in Fort Scott on Friday, June 6th at 6 p.m. The theme of this year’s parade is “44 years of crafting memories”.
Entering the parade is free, with Wednesday, June 4th at 1pm being the deadline for entries. We are so excited to announce that Ken Clary has been selected as this year’s Grand Marshal. Registration forms can be filled out online at fortscott.com under the “Events” tab, or a registration form may be picked up at the Chamber at 231 East Wall Street. The Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce encourages everyone to get co-workers, family, or friends together and enter a float, foot unit, golf cart, tractor, antique or classic car or truck or horse entry to make this the biggest Good Ol’ Days parade ever! Cash prizes will be handed out to 1st place winners in each category.
Contact the Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce for more information at 620-223-3566 or visit fortscott.com.
Bourbon County Arts Council Presents The Rough Romance Tour

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Veteran’s Pool Tournament May 17

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Southeast Kansas Library System Newsletter April 2025
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The SEKnFind Newsletter
April 2025
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Bourbon County Arts Council Presents Barnaby Bright Saturday, May 17th

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Free Fishing and State Park Entrance Days for 2025
Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks Announces Free Fishing and State Park Entrance Days for 2025
TOPEKA – Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks (KDWP) Secretary Christopher Kennedy has issued orders designating several Free Fishing and Free State Park Entrance days. The announcement was made at the April 24, 2025, Kansas Wildlife and Parks Commission meeting.
The Free Fishing Days are June 7 and 8, 2025. On those days, anyone can fish by legal means without a Kansas fishing license. All length and creel limits still apply.
All Kansas State Parks will also offer free entrance on Saturday, May 3. Camping fees still apply.
“I encourage everyone to take advantage of these opportunities to enjoy Kansas’ incredible natural resources,” said Kennedy. “Whether you’re casting a line, hiking a trail, picnicking on a beach, or simply taking in the beauty of nature, these days are meant to inspire connection with your family, friends, and the great outdoors.”
Along with these statewide events, Secretary Kennedy has also designated several park-specific Free Entrance Days that align with local events and programs designed to engage families, outdoor enthusiasts, and newcomers to Kansas state parks. These dates are as follows:
- May 11 – Wilson State Park
- May 17 – Milford State Park
- June 7 – Cheney State Park
- June 7 – El Dorado State Park
- June 7 – Prairie Dog State Park
- June 7 – Elk City State Park
- June 7 – Glen Elder State Park
- June 14 – Cedar Bluff State Park
- June 14 – Historic Lake Scott State Park
- June 14 – Little Jerusalem Badlands State Park
- July 4 – Cross Timbers State Park
- August 16 – Hillsdale State Park
- August 23 – Tuttle Creek State Park
- September 7 – Lovewell State Park
- September 21 – Webster State Park
- September 27 – Clinton State Park
- September 27 – Crawford State Park
- September 27 – Fall River State Park
- October 11 – Eisenhower State Park
- October 11 – Meade State Park
- October 25 – Kanopolis State Park
- October 25 – Perry State Park
- October 25 – Pomona State Park
- October 25 – Sand Hills State Park
For more information about Kansas state parks, fishing opportunities, and upcoming events, visit ksoutdoors.com.
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The Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks (KDWP) is dedicated to the conservation and enhancement of Kansas’s natural resources for the benefit of both current and future generations. KDWP manages 29 state parks, 177 lakes and wildlife areas, more than 300 public waterbodies, and 5 nature centers. Other services include management of threatened, endangered, and at-risk species, law enforcement, and wildlife habitat programs. For more information about KDWP, visit ksoutdoors.com.
Annual Dinner & Awards Celebration RSVP Deadline is Today

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Fort Scott Public Library Awarded $20,000 For Children’s Section

The Fort Scott Public Library was honored to be one of the 50 libraries in the United States to receive a prestigious $20,000 grant from the American Library Association and the Association of Small and Rural Libraries for their Libraries Transforming Communities: Accessible Small and Rural Communities Grant.
According to https://www.ala.org/tools/librariestransform/libraries-transforming-communities/access
“Libraries Transforming Communities: Accessible Small and Rural Communities offered more than $14 million in grants to small and rural libraries to increase the accessibility of facilities, services, and programs to better serve people with disabilities.
To be eligible, a library must have a legal area population of 25,000 or less and be located at least five miles from an urbanized area, in keeping with the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) definitions of small and rural libraries.
ALA awarded four rounds of grants to be distributed over the next four years ranging from $10,000 to $20,000.
Participating libraries will first conduct community input-gathering sessions to assure that their work aligns with local needs. Libraries will be required to identify the primary audience they are hoping to reach (e.g., homebound seniors, children with autism, Deaf community members) and facilitate a community conversation with the impacted populations in order to guide the improvement of the library’s services. Grantees would then use the funds to create services or improve their facilities based on the needs identified by their audience.”
“This grant, in the amount we received, was a testament to our commitment to serving our community,” said Library Director Jennifer Gum-Fowler. “Another 250 libraries were granted $10,000 for the same grant.”
“We were informed in late March that we had won, but we were asked to wait until all the other libraries had been notified and accepted the grant. To make a bigger splash, we announced it at the Chamber Coffee last week. We will begin working on the grant in just a few weeks.”

“This grant is a game-changer for us. It will create a dedicated quiet space in the library for children with non-neurotypical disabilities, a much-needed addition to our services.”
“We will purchase a Shushbooth to do this in our limited space,” she said.
“A Shushbooth is a soundproof room with a small table, chairs, and an area for the kids to sit on the floor,” she said. “Depending on the child, it will give them a place where they can be both quiet and loud. It makes the library more accessible for the children. When not used for the kids, the rest of the community can use it for Zoom meetings and telehealth.”
“Some of the grant will also help us add therapeutic toys and items that the parents and children can check out and use. The rest of the grant will train staff to work better with these children and parents, ensuring a more inclusive and supportive environment. We will be hosting a community conversation soon about the grant, so stay tuned for that,” she said.
Changes on the horizon
“The library is undergoing a makeover to align with the grant we just received. The children’s area is being moved downstairs to make it more accessible for parents and children. We are also creating a Teen Zone and a Makerspace upstairs for the community. ”
“In addition, the library has received a Tech Grant from Southeast Kansas Library System, which we used to purchase a projector and screen for the events room. This makes the event room a conference room and a programming room for the community. We hope these changes will transform the library into a vibrant hub for the community to use and enjoy.”

The employees of the Fort Scott Public Library are
Jennifer Gum-Fowler- Library Director
Mackenzie Kaemmer- Youth Services Specialist
Samantha Miller- Youth Services Assistant
Pam Johnson – Inter Library Loan-Resource Clerk
Jennifer Carnes – Collections-Cataloging Clerk
The library is open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. and is closed Sunday.
Contact info: Jennifer Gum-Fowler- 620-223-2882, [email protected], 201 S Nation









