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Category Archives: Entertainment
Halloween Parade Tomorrow at 10:30 a.m. Oct. 26
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Halloween Parade Oct. 26 Downtown Fort Scott
The Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce announces this year’s Halloween Parade will be held Saturday, October 26th, 2019 at 11:00 a.m. in Downtown Fort Scott.
Prior to the parade, starting at 10:30 a.m., there will be special activities including pictures with a spooktacular backdrop at the City Scales building on North Main, face painting by Fort Scott High School thespians, and fun music by local DJ, The Hull Experience.
The parade trick-or-treats merchants along Main Street, starting at La Hacienda, south to 2nd Street, crossing the street then heading north back to Skubitz Plaza. Any businesses or organizations in the community, not located along Main Street, are welcome to set up a table on the sidewalk also providing treats, coupons, or other handouts for kids. Children are encouraged to bring a sack or bag to collect treats along the parade route.
Following the parade, a free hot dog lunch will be served to kids in costumes.
Special thanks to donors 5 Corners Mini Mart, Bids & Dibs, The Hull Experience, FSHS PRIDE & Thespians, Walgreens, and all participating organizations and merchants offering treats. The Chamber would also like to recognize the parade committee Darcy Smith, Chair; Crystal Mason; Vonnie Rickerson; and Angela Simon.
For more information contact the Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce at 620-223-3566.
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Participants Sought For Veterans Day Parade Nov. 9
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Turvey Promoted to Tourism Manager
Allyson Turvey, 30, is the new Fort Scott Tourism Manager at the Fort Scott Visitors Center, 231 E. Wall.
“Most of my past experience has been in customer service, but because I worked in the tourism department for two years before the promotion, I have gotten lots of on-the-job training,” she said. ” I am a certified Kansas Destination Specialist, a credential I received last year from the Tourism Industry Association of Kansas. I’m also a Certified Professional Travel Counselor, a credential I received from the State of Kansas Tourism Department.”
Turvey graduated from Sail High School, Tallahassee, FL and attended Fort Scott Community College for an associate’s degree before attending Missouri Southern State University for a bachelor’s degree in business.
Turvey’s duties include managing the visitors center, and social media marketing.
“I also attend various conventions and trade shows throughout the year in an effort to secure group tours and conferences, for which I help plan itineraries and agendas,” she said. “I work closely with the city and county tourism assets in order to get more visitors to them, and assist in planning and marketing events.”
In addition, she handles the marketing program of the LaRoche Baseball Complex.
” The best part of my job is the people,” Turvey said. ” I not only get a chance to work closely with locals, but I also get to meet people from all over the world who have come to visit this little community. At the visitors center, I’ve met people from Mexico, Canada, Australia, Great Britain, Germany, France, and so many others.”
Many in the community often take for granted Fort Scott and its’ attractions, but “Our visitors are always beyond impressed,” she said.
Her work is enjoyable in other ways as well.
“It’s also pretty awesome to work so closely with locals as well,” she said. “This community is absolutely filled with great people who love this city and want it to continue to succeed. This makes my job a lot easier because someone always has a new idea, or event, or business they want to bring here. I love that I can use my job position to help out with some of the fun endeavors people come up with. ”
Turvey grew up near Tulsa, OK, and still has family there.
Fort Scott Convention & Visitors Bureau can be reached at
620.670.2750 or [email protected]
Music Entertainment at Pioneer Harvest Fiesta Oct. 19-20
At the entertainment tent at Pioneer Harvest Fiesta, there will be music and events starting at 10 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 19 through 4 p.m.
Mike Lundeen will be on the keyboard; David Prickett, guitar and vocal, The Carlsons, guitar, bass, harmonica and vocals;The Eastsiders, Steve Fortenbury on guitar and others of the Heritage Park Pavilion performers.
Sunday’s events will commence with a 9:30 a.m. church service provided by Rev. Paul Rooks and the Grace Baptist Church.
Following the church service, there will be an open mike period for musicians to gather, until 2 p.m.
Bo Co Economic Development Community Goals
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
Join Pittsburg Youth Chorale
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.
Friday Night Free Concert: Eugene Ware Youth Choir
Eugene Ware Youth Choir, a vocal ensemble made up of 4th and 5th grade performers, will sing at the Friday Night Concert at the Heritage Park Pavilion (1st and Main) this Friday, October 18th from 7-8PM. In case of rain, the performance will take place at the Presbyterian Church
Pioneer Harvest Fiesta: Looking At Our Rural Roots
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.”
FSCC theater department to stage classic tale of injustice
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 .”
Shopping Discount Downtown with Pioneer Harvest Fiesta Button
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.