The annual Lenten Fish Fry started last Friday and will continue each Friday until April 11 at the Mary Queen of Angels Catholic Church gymnasium at 705 Holbrook.
The meals are offered 5-7 p.m. and are prepared by the Knights of Columbus.
The parish priest, Father Yancy Burgess, said that the community is welcome to come and view the new church building that replaced the 150-year-old Mary Queen of Angels Catholic Church which was destroyed in a fire on August 29, 2022. The new church was dedicated in November 2024.
Taken from the Catholic Diocese of Wichita website, the dedication of the Mary Queen of Angels Catholic Church in November 2024.
The Healthy Bourbon County Action Team office located at 104 N. National.
The first meeting of the year for the Fort Scott Farmers Market is on March 11 from 6-8 p.m. in the Healthy Bourbon County office at 104 N. National, directly across from the pavilion where the farmers market occurs.
“This is a business meeting for returning vendors only,” said Teri Hamilton, spokesman for the group. “We’ll be discussing finances and voting on leadership. One can pay for the season and put in location requests.”
On April 17, from 6 to 8 p.m., there will be a vendor welcome meeting.
“This meeting is for new and returning vendors,” she said. “We’ll go over market guidelines, talk about the SNAP program and accept applications and fees for the season.”
Fees remain the same from last year:
$5 registration fee, $5 per week booth rental, or $108 for the full season from May until October.
The Downtown Pavilion is at the corner of National Avenue and Old Fort Boulevard. The pavilion houses the Farmers Market on Saturdays from 8 a.m. to noon, and Tuesdays from 4 to 6 p.m.
The farmer’s market moved to the new Downtown Pavilion in 2024.
“The first year under the pavilion was great,” Hamilton said. “All of our vendors saw an increase in our sales. It didn’t matter what the weather was like, people came to shop and visit. We are so thankful for it.”
New this year is the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.
SNAP provides food benefits to low-income families to supplement their grocery budget so they can afford the nutritious food essential to health and well-being, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture website.
“This is for people who qualify for Food Stamps,” Hamilton said. “Any who has SNAP can use it at the Fort Scott Farmers Market.”
Venors interested in joining the 2025 Fort Scott Farmer’s Market season are welcome to the April 17 meeting.
The farmers market is open on Saturdays from 8 a.m. to noon and Tuesdays from 4-6 p.m. at the Downtown Pavilion at North National and Old Fort Boulevard starting the first Saturday in May, this year it’s May 3, and ending on the last Saturday in October, this year it’s October 25.
Teri Hamilton, owner of The Hamilton’s Artisan Bakery, is putting her own business on pause and will be using her baking talents at Common Ground Coffee Co.12 E. Wall as of Monday, February 3.
Common Ground Coffee Shop.
In recent years, Hamilton’s husband has been able to help her with her home business, but because of a new job, he won’t.
“This makes it unsustainable for me physically,” Hamilton said. “The bakery business needs to grow in employees and space…and we are not ready to take that step.”
Starting on February 3 she will be at the coffee shop on Mondays through Fridays, from 8 a.m. to noon, baking for them.
“I’ll be making cookies and pastry-type things and possibly adding a few things of my own but will be keeping that baked good case full,” she said. “Taking this part-time job will keep me baking for the community.”
She started her artisan bakery three years ago, and feels the job will allow her to “see people, interact with them and see them enjoy the things I make for them.”
“I’m excited to join the Common Ground team, I look forward to serving people good food.”
Suzanne Griffin will continue her weekly dinners at the coffee shop and offer catering services.
Together they will produce some fun offerings for Super Bowl parties and Valentine’s Day.
Griffin said they will be offering appetizer trays and dip assortments for Super Bowl parties and for Valentine’s Day-chocolate dipped strawberries and Chardudery Trays for men.
“We call it Chardudery Trays because it has bacon, beef and no frilly stuff,” Griffin said.
For more information contact Common Ground Coffee Co. at 620.223.2499.
Left to right: Common Ground Coffee Co. staff working this day: Ashton Pridey Heidi Dixon Orpha Durossette Ava Witt Suzanne Griffin Jenna Graham Submitted photo.
The west porch of Bethsada Christian Church, at 101 S. Judson, has donated items that are free to those in need at any time. Submitted photo.
Becky Cowlishaw purchased the former Christian Church at 101 S. Judson in 2016 and renamed it Bethsada Christian Church.
“About 7 years ago, in 2017, I saw an idea a friend of mine had shared on Facebook that I wanted to replicate. I started taking donations to give away winter coats, gloves, hats, and scarves,” Cowlishaw said.
That idea soon turned into giving away donated clothing of all kinds as well as bric-brac and other household items, Cowlishaw said.
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Becky Cowlishaw. Submitted photo.
She knows there is a clothing need in the community and asks those wishing to donate clothing to do the following:
“1. I would prefer a message or text letting me know an approximate time frame, if at all possible, as to when the donations will be dropped off. This allows me to get the donations taken inside where I can separate and hang items if needed. If bags are left on the porch without my knowledge many times I will find the bags ripped and items scattered.
“2. Do not donate dirty items, junk, trash, etc. That should go without saying but you would be surprised /shocked by what I have come across while going through bags and boxes.
“3. I ask that any items taken are for you or family members to personally use. I have had reports of items being taken with the purpose of selling those items.
“4. The donation box in the alley is not associated with the church. I did ask for the box to be put there so that I could forward non-wanted items to another organization. Just know, if you put your bags of donations in the box in the alley, those donations are not staying local. It’s the donor’s choice, but wanted to clear up any possible confusion.”
Clothing donations to stay local are left on the west porch on Judson Street.
Food Is Available Also
The Blessing Box has nonperishable food for those in need. Submitted photo.
“I also have a food Blessing Box on the west side of the building,” she said. “Should anyone have donations of non-perishable food items feel free to put your items in the box, no prior arrangements are necessary.”
“My intent and prayer is for the truly needy ( single mothers, folk with low income, the unemployed, the homeless ) to possibly come across items that they or their family can use,” she said.
“I understand how much of a blessing it is to have my family’s needs met when I didn’t have the finances to meet those needs. I want others to be blessed too.”
Donors can contact her through Messenger on Facebook pages at
Fort Scott City Manager Brad Matkin came up with an idea to create a community dance party in the town’s Memorial Hall, 1 East Third Street several times in 2025.
“I thought having a quarterly dance party with a disc jockey playing music would be a good idea to give our citizens and others from out of Bourbon County, the opportunity to come dance, listen to music, visit with friends, meet new friends, while eating/drinking from our local flavors.”
“We will be changing the type of music that will be played each quarter ranging from Disco to Country, to Rock and Roll,” he said. “We are planning on giving people the opportunity to dress up to the era of the music being played (an example would be dressing in 70’s Disco outfits or Rock and Roll outfits). The cover charge will be $5 per person.”
The first 2025 community dance is on Saturday, January 18 from 7 to 10 p.m.
This dance will be from every music era and genre.
Local restaurant, Aunt Toadies, will provide food and drinks for sale during the dance.
The 4th Annual Bourbon County Fair Association’s Jingle Bell Mart is this Saturday, December 14th from 9 am to 4 pm inside the Cloverleaf Event Center on the Bourbon County Fairgrounds, 2102 S. Huntington Blvd.
This event is a fundraiser for them to help maintain the fairgrounds including the barns, show ring, and rodeo arena, according to Emeila Whiteaker, event organizer.
This year there are 16 vendors including returning and new participants.
This year includes:
Blessed B Creations – Machine Embroidery items
The Market Lady – 3D printed creations
Uppa Creek Ranch – Honey
Blue Dog Wine Co.
Hamilton’s Artisan Bakery
Sally Kraft – Home Sewn items
Happy Little Candle Factory
Locust Hill Lamanch Goat Milk Products
Scentsy
Flying P Ranch – Western apparel and accessories
Gyp and Jo – Dog items
WriteOn – decorative pens
Osage Jewelry
Donna Jo Beerbower – Fudge
Tessie’s Nails – Color Street
Mmm Flavor Shop
“The Southwind Canine Club, the local 4-H dog project group will have breakfast and lunch for sale,” she said. “This fundraiser is to help them replace old/broken equipment and new equipment that is required to move to the next level. The club has three members who have completed at the Kansas State Fair and placed in the top 10 for two years.”
“Many of our vendors have items that are under $15 and make wonderful stocking Stuffers. These vendors are also long time supporters of the Bourbon County Fair Association, taking part in not only past Jingle Bell Mart but also during the Bourbon County Fair which is the third week in July.”
The Artificers at 8 N National Ave. is hosting an artist show tonight
December 6th from 5-9 pm, December 7th from 10am-9pm, and December 8th from noon-5 pm.
“We are so blessed to have returning artists that are with us every year as well as new artists that we invite because we love their art and want to offer unique gifts for purchase,” said Kate Freeman, part owner of the Artificers.
The list of Artists:
Trent Freeman (local) | Mixed Media Sculpture
Kate Freeman (local) | Clay Sculpture
Kate and Trent Freeman, from the Artificer Facebook page.
Erin Shevling (KC) | Functional Pottery
Erin Shelving. Submitted photo.
Darrell Williams (Nevada, MO)| Air Brush & Graphite
Drivers will pick up prepared meals Buck Run Community Center and deliver to individuals on a designated route within Fort Scott City limits.
Please Contact Roz Scarborough for more information:
phone: 620-251-7313
All Volunteers must complete the background check application and return ASAP before being assigned a route. You can pick up an application at the K-STATE Research and Extension Office at 210 S. National, Fort Scott, KS.
