Vendors will once again line Main Street, there will be entertainment for young and old, a few contests, and a variety of vehicles to view at Fort Scott’s annual festival, The Good Ol Days.
“This year, we have extended our vendors on Skubitz Plaza and will have even more vendors than last year. Come out Friday from 5-11 P.M. and Saturday 9 A.M.-6 P.M. to get some great food from a variety of food trucks or get some woodworking, leather work, or maybe some crochet blanket, or even some boutique designer wear for men and women,” said Good Ol Days Chairman Shawn O’Brien. “We are always excited to see new vendors and our returning ones.”
The theme this year is 44 Years of Crafting Memories.
“Thinking back over the last 44 years, we have had some great crafters who show up year after year,” he said. “I’ve made lifelong friendships with these vendors. We are thankful for each of them and what they offer to our street fair. We look forward to 44 more years of crafting memories.”
Something new this year is a mechanical bull ride for $5. “This will be on Skubitz Plaza, and we are looking forward to some great laughter.”
Also this year, there is a new kids’ bicycle race on Saturday. Registration will be at the Farmers Market Pavilion at 6 P.M.
“We are going to have bounce houses at 3rd and Main Street again this year. They will be free of charge to all children to jump and bounce around from 10 A.M. to 5 P.M. ” We are thankful for so many generous sponsors who donate each year to help us have so many free events,” he said. There will also be caricature drawing and a balloon artist on Skubitz Plaza.
“Trey Sharp has worked hard to secure some great entertainment this year. The Care to Share stage will be on Skubitz Plaza, and Cohn’s Cafe will host a beer tent also located on Skubitz Plaza.
There will be a limited edition Fort Scott Good Ol’ Days mug that you can purchase at their beer garden. They will also offer spiked lemonade.”
The entertainment this year on Friday night will be KC All Stars. Saturday, from 11 A.M. to 11 P.M.
“Saturday will feature some great artists and groups. Ty Ellis and the Flat Liners, Left of Center, Holly Crays, and finish off the evening with Clarksdale Caravan, which is Mississippi blues,” O’Brien said.
All entertainment is free to the public; no glass containers allowed.
The Good Ol’ Days Parade Grand Marshall this year is Kenny Clary, who has been doing the Red Garter show since it began 44 years ago. The parade is on Friday, June 6, at 6 p.m.
” We are so thankful to Kenny and his wonderful crew for the great show they put on each year. It is such an honor to recognize Kenny for all his hard work that he puts into the show each year.”
The Red Garter Saloon in 2016.
The Red Garter show will be at the Liberty Theatre, with one show on Friday at 7 P.M. and on Saturday, starting at 10 A.M., featuring a show every hour on the hour.
“Be sure to check out this great show with dancing, singing, and great comedy. Thank you, Kenny, for your years of service and dedication to the Fort Scott Good Ol’ Days and The Red Garter Show,” O’Brien said.
The baby contest in 2016.
The annual baby contest is on Saturday at Memorial Hall. Registration is 9 AM -9:45 AM. The competition starts at 10 AM. There is a $5 entry fee per child.
There will be local police, sheriff, Emergency Medical Service, Fire, and Kansas Highway Patrol vehicles at Wall and Main Street.
“We will also have a helicopter flying in and landing around 11:30 a.m. on Saturday at Wall and Scott Avenue. Come by and check out the vehicles they drive or fly. “
The Fort Scott National Historic Site will have Native American dancers at 1 P.M. on Saturday.
“Be sure to stop by and check out our wonderful Fort and all the great activities it will be offering,” O’Brien said.
The car and motorcycle show will be on Scott Avenue from Wall to 3rd Street. “They are still taking entries and are expecting some great muscle cars and bikes. To register, contact James Malveaux at 620-224-4875 or [email protected].”
The Good Ol Days Committee members are Shawn O’Brien, Charlotte Thompson, Cheryl VanHoecke, Shay Clements, Angel Wilson, Trey Sharp, Leslie Godden, Danielle Hull, Steven Tyler Cruz, and Fort Scott National Historic Site Representative Carl Brenner.
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.
Anna’s dream of London’s elegance collides with harsh realities until the glamorous Wilders sweep her into their world of wealth, temptation and self-discovery, where she’s torn between her ambition, her identity and the allure of belonging.
“In this debut that’s perfect for fans of Tana French and Gillian Flynn, a true crime writer risks becoming the next chapter of a crumbling orphanage’s dark legacy as she unravels the mystery of two deaths, decades apart”
“In the heart of the Maine woods, an experienced Appalachian Trail hiker goes missing. She is forty-two-year-old Valerie Gillis, who has vanished 200 miles from her final destination. Alone in the wilderness, Valerie pours her thoughts into fractured, poetic letters to her mother as she battles the elements and struggles to keep hoping. At the heart of the investigation is Beverly, the determined Maine State Game Warden tasked with finding Valerie, who leads the search on the ground. Meanwhile, Lena, a seventy-six-year-old birdwatcher in a Connecticut retirement community, becomes an unexpected armchair detective. Roving between these compelling narratives, a puzzle emerges, intensifying the frantic search, as Valerie’s disappearance may not be accidental”
Four formerly close but now estranged siblings reunite at their famous sister’s house and are forced to confront their shared past and hidden truths, in the new novel from the best-selling author of The Unsinkable Greta James.
When Nikki visits her estranged grandmother in North Carolina, she uncovers a hidden legacy tied to a forgotten kingdom of freed people, unraveling her family’s secrets and her own identity while fighting to protect their endangered heritage.
After being left at the altar, Camille Ashwood rents her dream house in Meadowlark, Wyoming, only to find herself neighbors with Dusty Tucker, her first love, forcing them to confront old wounds and rekindle a connection that might lead to forever. Original.
“From her cell in a mysterious convent, a woman writes the story of her life in whatever she can find–discarded ink, dirt, and even her own blood. A lower member of the Sacred Sisterhood, deemed an unworthy, she dreams of ascending to the ranks of the Enlightened at the center of the convent and of pleasing the foreboding Superior Sister. Outside, the world is plagued by catastrophe–cities are submerged underwater, electricity and the internet are nonexistent, and bands of survivors fight and forage in a cruel, barren landscape. Inside, the narrator is controlled, punished, but safe. But when a stranger makes her way past the convent walls, joining the ranks of the unworthy, she forces the narrator to consider her long-buried past–and what she may be overlooking about the Enlightened. As the two women grow closer, the narrator is increasingly haunted by questions about her own past, the environmental future, and her present life inside the convent. How did she get to the Sacred Sisterhood? Why can’t she remember her life before? And what really happens when a woman is chosen as one of the Enlightened? “
Radiance, the mysterious power of life and creation, is theirs to command. Death cannot claim them. For hundreds of years, the ever-living ruled with ease. Yet when the world is nearly broken beneath their reign, the humbled six swear a vow: They will sit upon no thrones, wear no crowns, and no longer teach humanity the gifts of radiance. But after centuries of peace, Eder rejects their vow, anoints himself Voice of Father, and spreads a new, cruel faith across the land. Faron cannot allow such indiscretion. Returning from a self-imposed exile, he swears to crush Eder’s kingdom, and he will not do so alone-Sariel, their cold and calculating brother, knows all too well that an ever-living’s dominion is bound for brutality and destruction. But to overthrow a nation, they will need more than each other. They will need an army and a ruler who can take the throne their own vow forbids. And so, they pledge themselves to the fanatical Bastard Princess, a woman with incredible powers she insists were given to her by the goddess Leliel. But Eder’s conquest is not what it seems, and it will take more than a holy war to stop an immortal who has heard the desperate plea of a god.
Three telepathic and electrokinetically gifted children of a recently-deceased tech mogul: a biotech fraud, a struggling congressman and a former ballerina, each vie for control of his groundbreaking business empire in a ruthless inheritance war. 350,000 first printing.
The search for a 16th-century Vatican debt known as the Pledge of Christ leads Cotton Malone into a high-stakes quest involving the lost Medici lineage, while the future of Italy’s prime minister and the papacy hang in the balance, all depending on the Medici’s possible return.
In 1849, Lieutenant Frederick Robinson and Assistant Surgeon Edward Adams lead a perilous expedition to find Sir John Franklin’s lost Arctic crew, but as they battle the unforgiving elements their personal ambitions and tensions threaten their mission’s success. Original.
“Luke Ransom and Jug Sartain, trappers for the American Fur Company, made a formidable team when they partnered up in the grueling winter wilderness of Blackfoot Country. No hostile raids by man, no brutal obstacles of nature could stop them from snaringwhat they came for. The nicest surprise was that Luke came home with a wife–Willow, a lovely young Crow woman. Now, one year later, in this new trapping season of 1834, it’s Luke, Jug, and Willow who become the hunted… They’re heading farther to the northwest in the mountain valleys of the Beaverhead and Pioneer Range. It’s a known risk. The fearsome, kill-crazy Blackfoot claim exclusive rights to the territory–even the hardcase Hudson Bay trappers think twice about crossing that line. But it’s an unknown risk that’s putting the lives of Luke, Jug, and Willow in danger. A kill-crazy, vengeance-seeking hound named Jake Purcell is following their every move. He aims to make a big killing in the High Country–and take Willow alive for his feral own needs. A cold and bloody day in hell is storming on the horizon”
Elphaba, the Wicked Witch of the West, will grow to have a feisty and somewhat uncompromising character in adult life. This book is the coming-of-age story of a peculiar and relatable young girl.
“Rhino” follows Nick Baker, a survivor in a post-apocalyptic world. Born in darkness, Nick rises from boy slave to fearsome warrior, fighting to free his people from the Cazador empire. This riveting adventure explores themes of survival, resilience, and defiance in a brutal wasteland.
Eleven years after defending her husband Adam against murder charges, attorney Sarah Morgan has rebuilt her life with new husband Bob Miller. However, when Sarah discovers Bob’s infidelity and files for divorce, new DNA evidence emerges in Adam’s case, reopening old wounds and thrusting Sarah back into the spotlight. As tensions rise and the woman Bob cheated with goes missing, Sarah and Bob engage in a dangerous game of cat and mouse. Filled with suspense and twists, this sequel questions whether they can achieve a clean break or if their past will haunt them forever.
A reflective journey exploring nature, belonging and spirituality, weaving lessons from farm life, relationships and personal heritage into a meditation on growth, connection and the transformative power of listening to the earth and each other.
“Drawing from her twenty years of teaching experience and her bestselling Substack newsletter, For Dear Life, Maggie Smith breaks down creativity into ten essential elements: attention, wonder, vision, play, surprise, vulnerability, restlessness, tenacity, connection, and hope. Each element is explored through short, inspiring, and craft-focused essays, followed by generative writing prompts”
“A revelatory and unexpected history of the rise of American capitalism-and an argument that entrepreneurial leaders in government, not the mythical “free market,” created the most dynamic economy the world has ever known”
Recounts the race among 19th-century scholars and adventurers to decipher cuneiform script, unraveling the history of ancient Mesopotamian civilizations while exploring the ruins of Persepolis and Ottoman territories during archaeology’s golden age. Illustrations. Maps.
Efficient gardening strategies designed for busy individuals, providing quick tasks organized by time and season that allow readers to cultivate a productive vegetable garden without extensive time commitments, featuring practical tips for maintaining a thriving garden in just minutes a day. Original.
A chef and author offers accessible, bakery-quality recipes for pies, cookies, cakes and more, alongside a foolproof Cold Butter Method for effortlessly achieving perfect, tender baked goods like Stone Fruit Party Pie, Boozy Banana Snickerdoodles and six kinds of brownies. Illustrations.
“Fair Trade CEO Paul Rice has spent his life and career exploring the issue of how to benefit from our planet’s resources without destroying them or each other and pushing businesses to take responsibility for the way their products are sourced and encouraging consumers to buy them. In a world of labor strife, climate disasters, and unpredictable markets, this book is a reminder of how far we’ve come already, and makes the case that we don’t have to despair. This is a story not merely about sourcing and business, but about the power of ideas and what it takes to make them real”
Stow away with the author for a glimpse into the unforgettable moments, misadventures, and memories of his 1978 journey on the legendary Hippie Trail from Istanbul to Kathmandu, which ignited his love of travel and forever broadened his perspective on the world. Illustrations.
This sweeping history of the Western Hemisphere from a Pulitzer Prize-winning historian re-examines the intertwined destinies of North and South America, challenging traditional narratives and revealing a complex and dynamic relationship shaped by conflict, cooperation and mutual influence. Illustrations. Maps.
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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.
The Fort Scott Public Library is located at the corner of 2nd Street and National Avenue.
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.
“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.”
Some new play areas for the children’s section.
“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.”
Pictured is Jennifer Gun-Fowler, standing, and front row from left are Jennifer Carnes, Machenzie Kaemmer, and Samantha Miller. Not pictured is Pam Johnson.
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
The north side of the library is ground level. The City of Fort Scott was working on the stripes for the parking spaces on April 15.
A scene from the Bourbon County Community Theatre “Holy Mother of Bingo” in July 2024 from its’ Facebook page.
A long-standing theatre tradition in Fort Scott, the Melodrama, is returning to Good Ol’ Days this year.
BCCT is holding auditions for the world premiere of “Beauty and the Bull OR Chaos in Fort Scott’’ written by BCCT Vice President Mark Bergmann. Auditions are from 6:30-9 p.m. on Apr. 28 or 29 at 123 S. National (enter through the SE double doors). Auditioners need only attend one night. Those interested in a singing part should bring a prepared 8-16 bar cut of a song to audition with.
Rehearsals are in the evenings during May. 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. Tickets for the show are $5 at bcct.ludus.com or at the door, but seating is limited.
The show is directed by Bergmann with Regen Wells serving as Assistant Director. Please contact Bergmann at 620-238-0746 with any questions or call 620-724-6269 and leave a message.