Category Archives: Entertainment

Bourbon County, Business, Entertainment, Fort Scott, Fort Scott Community College

Bo Co Economic Development Community Goals

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Submitted by Jody Hoener, Bourbon County Economic Development Director

Bourbon County Economic Development is actively working on countywide goals to enhance our economic growth, lower property tax, and address population decline. We are addressing the current business climate with strategies to increase revenue through adding value, and therefore lowering the individual tax burden.

By providing opportunity for a privately developed multi-use facility with a focus on participatory sports, such as rodeo, we will inject added value into the community which will increase opportunities for recreation and assist retail business with increased sales revenue and foot traffic.

Bourbon County community has identified business, housing, and quality of life as their top three priorities.

Data collected from County surveys and face to face interviews on current business needs indicate that property tax burden is one of the top issues business face, second only to workforce needs.

Currently, the countywide average mill levy is $180.77 per $1000 assessed valuation, ranking Bourbon County 11th highest in the State of Kansas (Kansas Department of Revenue, 2018).

We are preparing for a marathon, not a sprint, to address our current tax climate, with long term goals of becoming more regionally competitive at $158.61 per $1000 assessed valuation by the year 2030.

We are leveraging community strengths and assets to create a more business-friendly environment in a place people want to live, work and play.

Fort Scott Community College is renowned nationwide for its rodeo team and Fort Scott is located on an intersection of two major highways. A grassroots committee of former rodeo team athletes, business owners, and public sector, with support from the community college president and rodeo team coach, has formed to see a privately developed multi-use facility constructed.

Bourbon County Commission, as part of its ongoing efforts to enhance livability and quality of life for its residents and to grow our economic base and resulting job opportunities, has commissioned a feasibility study for a multi-use event facility to be located in the Fort Scott area.

Markin Consulting, a national consulting firm specializing in these types of facilities, is conducting this two-phase study.

The first phase is an intense look at the market viability of this type of facility.

We are thankful for Bourbon County stakeholder’s Jim Keller, of Keller Ranch, and Steve Buerge, of Buerge Farms and Buerge Enterprises, Inc. who have made substantial contributions toward the market demand study. By completing rigorous cost benefit analysis, we are not only showing to be good stewards of tax payor resources but we are also planning for the future.

The decisions we make on investments today will determine the productivity, wages, and quality of life for generations to come. To grow a sustainable, thriving, prosperous community, we are developing creative and dynamic strategies, fostering public/private partnerships, and encourage civic participation.

We believe the feasibility study for the multi-use event facility is very important to our business community and are asking business and residents for your help by taking time to complete a very short, on-line survey for this study process.

Here’s the link for the resident survey: http://sgiz.mobi/s3/Bourbon-County-Event-Center-Survey

And here’s the link for the business survey: http://sgiz.mobi/s3/Bourbon-County-Business-Needs-Survey

 

For more information please contact:

Jody Hoener, Economic Development Director

620-215-5725

[email protected]

Area News, Entertainment, Schools

Join Pittsburg Youth Chorale

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Pittsburg Youth Chorale to perform at parade

Pittsburg Youth Chorale, under the direction of MJ Harper, will perform a Pre-Parade Prelude at 8:30AM on Saturday, October 19th at Root Coffeehouse, 402 N. Broadway.

Sing along to holiday hits before Halloween, patriotic tunes in preparation for Veterans Day, and folk tunes perfect for Autumn.

Performers meet Tuesdays 5-6PM at First United Methodist Church, 415 N. Pine.

If you are interested in booking this ensemble, contact MJ Harper at 620-719-6633 or email [email protected] . Area singers in 4th, 5th, and 6th grade are invited to join Pittsburg Youth Chorale. Participants do not need to be enrolled in USD 250 to belong to this ensemble.To enroll, contact MJ Harper.

Art, Bourbon County, Business, Entertainment, Fort Scott, Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce

Pioneer Harvest Fiesta: Looking At Our Rural Roots

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It is almost time for 63rd Annual Pioneer Harvest Fiesta which is held on the Bourbon County Fairgrounds, across the street from Fort Scott Community College on South Horton Street, each year.

October 18, 19 and 20 are the show dates with a parade downtown on Thursday, the 17th at 6 pm.

“We are using equipment 50 to 100-years-old to demonstrate how our forefathers annually harvested their farm crops,” Allen Warren, president of the Pioneer Harvest Fiesta board said.   “We also demonstrate how our forefathers crushed rock for the early gravel roads.”

Vendors with some of everything, including old tools will be positioned around the fairgrounds.

Tractors will be on display and also gas engines.

The featured tractor this year is the Ford and the featured engine is a Hercules.

Also included in the harvest fiesta are quilt shows along with arts and crafts vendors. They will be housed in the buildings on the fairgrounds.

Quilts to be exhibited should be brought to the Myers Building from 10 a.m. to noon on Oct. 17.

“If these times do not work for you, please let me know or if you have any questions,” Jackie Warren, quilt event coordinator said. She can be reached at 620-224-8161.

“The quilt show is always fun, viewing the beautiful quilts and visiting with the vendors who are always ready to help you chose a new project,” she said. “This year’s vendors are Erica with Nine Patch Quilt Shop of Nevada, Carolyn with Heavenly Kneads & Threads of Humboldt, Cassino with Country Creek Peddlers, John Newland with Hot Fix products and Bobbi Schroeder with her quilting machine.”

“Bring some handwork with you and join the others who are hand quilting and embroidering and maybe, there will be someone crocheting and knitting. Lots of visiting and learning new procedures going on.”

Don’t forget the Arts and Crafts that will be in the 4-H Building.

Any questions about the Pioneer Harvest Fiesta, please call Allen Warren, 620-224-7761

The 2020 dates of the show will October 2, 3, and 4.

The Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce Coffee will be held in the 4-H Building at the Bourbon County Fairgrounds Oct. 17.

The Pioneer Harvest Fiesta officers are Allen Warren, president  Larry Richard, vice president; Delphine Parks, treasurer; and Betsy Readinger, Secretary.

The mission of the Pioneer Harvest Fiesta is:

“To create and maintain an organization of persons who are interested in all aspects of equipment, machinery, and other technology characteristic of rural American culture particularly during the period encompassing the first half of the twentieth century; to provide for the collection, preservation, display and management of artifacts and/or documents contemplated above; to provide and/or promote educational and charitable activities and programs which fulfill the above purposes, and thereby advance the cultural betterment of humankind; and to receive, administer, and distribute funds in connection with any activities related to the above purposes; provided, however, that the organization shall only engage in activities that are in the purview of Section 501 (c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 amended.”

 

Art, Entertainment, Fort Scott, Fort Scott Community College

FSCC theater department to stage classic tale of injustice

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To commemorate the 100th anniversary of the school’s founding, the Fort Scott Community College theater department is bringing a powerful modern classic to the stage as its first production of the season.

“To Kill a Mockingbird” opens at 7:30 p.m. Friday in the Danny and Willa Ellis Family Fine Arts Center on the FSCC campus. Additional performances are at 7:30 p.m. Saturday and at 2 p.m. Sunday. Admission is free.

Show times are Friday, October 18, at  7:30 p.m., Saturday, October 19,  7:30  p.m., and Sunday, October 20 at 2 p.m.

Based on Harper Lee’s all-time best-selling novel “To Kill a Mockingbird,” which is required reading in many middle- and high-school classrooms, the stage play (by Christopher Sergel) is an equally searing indictment of society in the 1930s as it pertained to race relations in this country.

“It is not a pretty story,” said Allen Twitchell, FSCC’s director of theater, “but it is a story that needs to be told and re-told until we, as a society, get it right. The entire play is a protest; a protest against racism, hatred, bigotry, intolerance and inequality.

“I wanted to offer something meaningful for our centennial year celebration, and they don’t come any more meaningful than this. In fact, it’s probably the most important play I’ve ever had a hand in staging.”

The story centers on Tom Robinson, a black man falsely accused of assaulting a white girl in a small Alabama town in 1935, and Atticus Finch, a white attorney and the only person willing to defend him.

Playing the role of Atticus is Anthony Oneri, a freshman from Gardner, while sophomore Marcus Robinson of Paola portrays Tom.

The cast also includes Cadence Tuck as Scout and Andrew Lyon as Jem, the children of the widowed Atticus, and Ben Davenport as Dill, a runaway who befriends them. All three attend Fort Scott Middle School.

Other cast members are: Jazmin Havens, freshman from Pittsburg, as Calpurnia, the Finch maid; Colton Hofer, sophomore from Fort Scott, as prosecuting attorney Mr. Gilmer and down-street neighbor Boo Radley; Grace Springer, senior at Jayhawk-Linn high school, as Mayella Ewell, the “victim”; Meaghan Hay, sophomore from Fort Scott, as nosey neighbor Miss Maudie; Annabelle Moore, freshman from Lyndon, as self-righteous neighbor Miss Stephanie; Abby Sweat, freshman from Pleasanton, as mean-spirited neighbor Mrs. Dubose; Mikiylah Gonzales, freshman from Fort Scott, as the kindly Rev. Sykes for the Friday performance and Connor Chiarelli, freshman from Belton, Mo., in that role Saturday and Sunday; and Isabella Loyd, freshman from Fort Scott, as the court clerk and the understudy for all female roles.

In addition, the cast includes guest artists Tony Wagner as Sheriff Heck Tate and Harold Hicks as Judge Taylor and townsperson Walter Cunningham. Twitchell is playing the role of Bob Ewell, the accuser’s venomous and vengeful father.

Phoenix Burk, freshman from Pittsburg, is stage manager for the production and fills the roles of several minor characters, and Michael Woodward, sophomore from Fulton, serves as sound designer and engineer for the production.

Designing and running the lights for the show is Jason Huffman of Pittsburg.

The play does contain offensive language.

“I guarantee you that no one in this cast wanted to use words like that to disparage fellow human beings,” said Twitchell. “But, you really can’t tell this story without doing that. To water it down in any way would subvert the truth and minimize the message that racism is wrong – on every level .”

Entertainment, Fort Scott, Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce

Shopping Discount Downtown with Pioneer Harvest Fiesta Button

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Pioneer Harvest Fiesta will take place October 18-20, 2019 at the Bourbon County Fairgrounds, kicking off with the Pioneer Harvest parade through Downtown at 6pm on October 17th.

The Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce announces that participating retailers in the Downtown Historic District will be offering a 10% discount to shoppers who have a Pioneer Harvest button which is the same as a ticket to the weekend steam engine and tractor show festival.

Buttons may be purchased for $5 at the gate of the Pioneer Harvest
Fiesta, or at the Chamber of Commerce, 231 E. Wall St.

This cross-promotion is a great way to support a local festival while enjoying a discount on books, apparel, antiques and more in the Downtown Historic District.

Shoppers mayl ook for a shopping discount flyer in the window of participating stores.

For more information on Pioneer Harvest Fiesta visit fortscott.com.

Entertainment, Fort Scott

Chili And Cornbread Cookoff Nov. 7

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LET’S WARM UP WITH A CHILI AND CORNBREAD COOKOFF!

Event Date: Thursday, Nov. 7, 11:30am

Paper Pre-registration of your recipe is required by November 4th at Presbyterian Village, 2401 S. Horton, Fort Scott, KS or contact Ginger Nance at [email protected] for more information.

Day of the event: All Pre-registered cook-off participants will bring a covered crock-pot portion of chili &/or pan of cornbread with a focus for the “experienced” senior palate. All food entered will need to be delivered to the Presbyterian Village for judging no later than 11:00am.

Top three winners in both categories will be awarded prizes. Additionally, first prize winning recipes will be published in local Fort Scott news and the community newsletter.

*After judging, at approximately 12:30 pm bowls of chili and cornbread may be purchased by donation while supplies last.

All proceeds will go toward a local holiday fund drive

Bourbon County, Entertainment, Exercise, Fort Scott

Tri-Yak-A-Thon Rescheduled to Sunday Oct. 13: Registration at Noon

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The annual Gunn Park race, the Tri-Yak-A-Thon, scheduled for tomorrow, Oct. 12 has been moved to the next day, Oct. 13  This move is to allow a dry-out of the trails that have been inundated with rainwater lately.

The race has been postponed to Sunday, October 13 and will begin at 2:00 PM and on-site registration will begin at 12:00 PM.

“The Tri-Yak-A-Thon is a race where participants run on Gunn Park’s beautiful trails, kayak up and down the Marmaton River, and then tackle the trails again on a bike,” said event coordinator Penny Pollack-Barnes. “The trail run is a 5K, the kayak portion is another 5K, and the bike portion is a 10K.  You may participate as a relay team, or if you are tough enough you can do the entire race as a solo participant.  You must bring your own kayak, life jacket, helmet, and mountain bike.  Riders must wear a helmet.”

 

The event is located in Gunn Park, on the west side of Fort Scott.

“We will have a tent in the open field in the northwest corner of the park,” Barnes said. “The race will begin on the road at the back of the park near the spillway.”

Currently, there are 20 entrants, “but most will enter the day of the race,” Barnes said.

“We do this to have fun and to raise money for a local charity,” she said.  “This year the net proceeds will go to Fort Scott Paws and Claws Animal Shelter.

 

Our sponsors are UMB Bank, Briggs Auto, Peerless, Ft. Scott Veterinary Clinic, Landmark National Bank, City State Bank, Smallville Crossfit, Mid-Continental, Brock Electric, Key for Business and the City of Fort Scott.

 

 

Business, Entertainment, Fort Scott, Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce

Chamber After Hours Oct. 16 at Holmtown Pub

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Chamber members & guests are
invited to join us for a
Chamber After-hours Event
hosted by Holmtown Pub!
206 N. National Ave.
Wednesday, October 16, 2019
5:15 to 7pm
Brief remarks & drawings at 6pm
$2 admission for Chamber 50/50 drawing.
Refreshments provided,
Cash bar available.
Holmtown owners Chuck and Kristy Holmes,
Manager James Wood, and staff welcome attendees
to come and see what’s new with “The Pub”,
enjoy door prizes, good food, and great company.
Although this is a free event, outside of the $2 admission,
your reservation is welcome for planning purposes:
Click hereto RSVP online,
Call the Chamber at 620-223-3566,
We hope to see you there!
Business, Entertainment, Fort Scott, Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce

Chamber Coffee at McDonald’s Restaurant Oct. 10

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WEEKLY CHAMBER COFFEE REMINDER
Join us for Chamber Coffee
Thursday, October 10, 2019  at 8:00 a.m.
Hosted by:
McDonald’s
Location:

2224 S. Main St.
Come meet the new owners,
Nichols Management, Inc.
Glen Nichols, Owner/Operator
Thomas Nichols, Director of Operations
Wes Irvin, CEO
Click here for the McDonald’s Facebook page.
Click here for Nichols Management website.
Chamber members and guests are encouraged to attend for networking, community announcements, and to learn about the hosting business or organization.
Members may pay $1 to make an announcement about an upcoming event, special/sale/discount, or news of any kind.
Upcoming Coffees:
October 17 – Pioneer Harvest Fiesta (BB County Fairgrounds)
October 24 – Sleep Inn (celebrating 5th anniversary)
October 31 – Fort Scott Area Community Foundation (Landmark Bank)
Entertainment, Fort Scott, Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce

Friday Night Free Concert: David Prickett

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This week’s Chamber of Commerce sponsored Friday Night Free Concert will feature David Prickett on the guitar and vocal.

David performs gospel, classic country and old standard pop tunes.

“David is one of the concert series favorites,” Ralph Carlson, event coordinator said.

In addition, there will be an open-mike period for walk-on musicians.

The show will start at 6:30 pm due to the earlier sunset times.

The show will take place indoors at the Common Grounds Coffee Shop, on Main Street in downtown Fort Scott.

The outside temperature is predicted to be in the low 50s at showtime.

 

Area News, Entertainment

Cato Tour Oct. 12

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The new cabin built in 2018 with Marilyn Coonrod Flagg, Jerry Coonrod, Susie Stelle with Maudine Picht in the front sitting in the chair.  Maudine is our only living teacher from the Cato School
The cabin was donated by the Coonrod Family
 Susie Jones from Ft. Scott was a presenter in the cabin for the school kids – showing her spinning in 2018.
Joe Maghe who was a presenter with his Civil War Artifacts – pictured with Don Miller from Ft. Scott and his friend, Karen Keen, from Overland Park.

Tours, reenactments of historic Cato to be held Sat., Oct. 12

Tours of Cato, the first town in Crawford County, are hardly new.

Susie Stelle, president of the Cato Historic Preservation Association, said she started helping John Spurling organize the annual Cato fall tour as far back as 1985. For several years prior, Spurling had given informal tours of the town, which is located northwest of Arcadia, KS.

This year, the Cato School will be celebrating it’s 150th Anniversary.

Organizers of the upcoming Cato Tour, scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 12, plan to take visitors back to the mid-1800s through music, history and re-enactments.

Activities on Saturday begin at 9 a.m. with registration in the Cato Christian Church and will continue throughout the day.

Ralph Carlson, a member of the Old Fuss and Feathers musical group and Cato member from Fort Scott, will perform at 9:30 a.m. in the Cato Church.

Presentations by Anna Portwood Swank and her sister, Elizabeth Portwood Thompson and husband, Jaime Thompson, will take place in the restored 1869 rock school.

Various souvenirs and homemade baked goods will be available at the “Cato Store,” headed up by Stelle.

Proceeds from the tour will benefit the continued restoration and preservation of the Cato School and Cato Christian Church, as well as a newly-constructed cabin donated by the Coonrod family.

At noon, ham and beans cooked by Bob “Buck” Rowland of Arma, will be served along with corn bread.

There will be an open fire for attendees who wish to cook their own hot dogs.

Drinks will also be provided, all for a nominal fee.

After lunch, at about 12:30., a quilt donated by Sue James of Galveston, Texas, will be given away as part of a drawing. James’ husband, Dale James, attended all eight grades at the one-room Cato School.

At 1 p.m., Cato member Joe Bournonville will offer hayrides to area cemeteries and other sites related to Cato’s history.

On Friday, Oct. 11, over 600 youngsters from area schools will have a field trip to Cato.

The trip is organized by Cato member Katharine Spigarelli. Schools attending from Bourbon and Crawford Counties will be Uniontown, Fort Scott, Girard, Arma, Frontenac, and Pittsburg. New from this year also will be students from Liberal, Mo.

A tour guide will direct groups of kids to various stations to observe living history exhibits such as blacksmithing, wagons, and farming, schoolhouse games, area history, Civil War weaponry and Native American culture.

For more information: visit www.catoschool.com

Short sleeve t-shirts and long-sleeved t-shirts will be on sale at the Cato Store

Any questions – contact:

Marilyn Flagg

794 190th St.

Ft. Scott, Ks. 66701 620-223-2541

[email protected]