The Fort Scott High School Swim Team will have a fundraiser at the Fall Extravaganza on November 22 at Fort Scott Middle School.
They will be selling pulled pork stuffed baked potatoes or a pulled port sandwich meal.
Drinks will be available for sale also.
To learn more:
The Kiwanis Club of Fort Scott Pioneers will hold their 33rd annual Chili Feed on Thursday, November 18 at the United Methodist Church at 301 South National in Fort Scott. “The annual fundraiser will be a drive through only event this year” according to Kiwanis Pioneer President Elizabeth Schafer.
A meal of the Pioneers’ signature chili with crackers and a homemade cinnamon roll will be served from 11:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. for a free will donation (suggested minimum $6.00 donation per meal) to be collected at the door. Pick-ups will be available under the canopy on the National Avenue side of the church. Please take care not to block private driveways as you are waiting in line for service.
This is the Kiwanis Pioneers’ major fundraiser for the year. In keeping with the Kiwanis motto of “Improving the world one child and one community at a time”, the Pioneers support more than 40 community projects including College scholarships, CASA, the Backpack food program, FSHS Key Club, playground equipment, the Beacon, United Way, Foster Kids, Feeding Families in his Name, Care to Share, and school reading and arts programs. “All of the funds raised stay in Bourbon County” stated Schafer.
Deliveries will be available for orders of ten or more by calling 620-224-0563 during serving hours.
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The signs on the local restaurant will remain the same, Marsha’s Great Plans Deli, but the owners have changed.
Owner Marsha Lancaster died on September 19, 2021, and on October 13, her siblings became the owners of her decades-running restaurant.
The restaurant will be called Lancaster’s Great Plain Deli.
Debbie Baxley, Tom Lancaster, and Don Lancaster all of Fort Scott and Carolyn Washburn, Alaska, Marsha’s brothers, and sisters, are the new owners.
“We are going to keep the signs that say Marsha’s Deli, but the business will be called Lancaster Great Plains Deli,” Baxley said.
“The last time we saw her (before she died), she said she wanted us to keep it going,” she said.
Baxley and her daughter, Shelly Rowe, are the restaurant managers.
Changes
They have recently created a new menu, dropping some options that didn’t have enough sales.
The family raised the price of their meats.
“Our prices went up on the meat price,” Baxley said. “All of our providers of meat by the pound raised their prices.”
“Marsha hadn’t raised prices in years,” she said.
“An example, like roast beef it is $7.75 per pound when we buy it but we were selling it for $6,” Rowe said. “But now it has gone up again and we are paying a little over $10.”
Family Deaths and the Pandemic
They were closed for three weeks following Marsha’s death, and the death of another family member soon after.
Since then they have been working on the paperwork involved in the new business and grieving their losses, Baxley said.
“All the people that work here have been with Marsha for over 20 years,” Rowe said.
They have had difficulty finding more employees, as many businesses have during the COVID-19 Pandemic, Baxley said.
The pandemic protocols of wiping down menus after each use, along with cleaning the chairs, after each use, etc. have increased the labor involved in running a restaurant, Baxley said.
The family has been using a walk-up order window since the pandemic began, Baxley said.
As of today, November 1, people will be able to come in and order, but won’t be able to sit and eat the food as the restaurant, Rowe said.
“We didn’t want people to stand in the cold outside to order,” Baxley said.
They currently have six employees. Martha’s three siblings in Fort Scott, along with Rowe, help out as needed, Rowe said.
“We are a tight-knit family, if we need help, we can call on others,” Rowe said.
Rebounding
Rowe said the re-opening of the restaurant on Oct. 13, following the death of Marsha was very busy.
“The first three days we re-opened, we ran out of bread, we were so busy,” Rowe said. “Everybody was so glad to have us back. It made us feel good the community is happy, wanting us to keep it going.”
Locally known for the size of their sandwiches
“Our big sandwiches are what we are known for,” Rowe said. “The meats on the sandwiches are stacked.”
“If you don’t get full, it’s your fault,” Baxley said.
The most asked for sandwich is #25, The Marsha, Rowe said. The sandwich includes turkey, ham, salami with cheddar cheese. “That was her favorite and everybody loved it.”
Marsha named all her sandwiches after family members.
History
Marsha Lancaster took over the business called the Great Plains Deli in 2002. “She worked here before she owned it,” Rowe said. “She put her name in front of it.”
The hours of operation are 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday. For more information or to place an order: 620.223.6432.
Lancaster’s Great Plains Deli delivers to homes and businesses.
Many activities are planned for Fort Scott’s entertainment this Halloween.
Starting Thursday from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., the Common Ground Coffee House Fort Scott High School Debate and Forensic Students will be reading spooky stories.
Friday, from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m., Presbyterian Village Assisted Living staff will be hosting trick or treaters outside the facility.
Also Friday, from 4 to 7 p.m., Briggs Auto Lot will be hosting trick or treaters.
Saturday at Buck Run Community Center from 9 to 10 a.m., kids can make creepy, crawly crafts for $1 and then come back from 1 to 3 p.m. to carve a pumpkin for $3.
At the Butcher Block, one can purchase smoked turkey legs or hot dogs for dinner and enjoy caramel apples at 6 p.m.
The Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce Halloween Parade will be held Saturday, October 30 at 11 a.m. in downtown Fort Scott.
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 Street, and face painting by Fort Scott High School Thespians.
The parade of children will trick-or-treat merchants along Main Street, starting at La Hacienda Restaurant, south to 2nd Street, crossing the street then heading north back to Skubitz Plaza, according to a Chamber press release.
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, according to the release.
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, according to the release.
The Chamber wishes to thank the sponsors which include, Briggs, Niece, Empress Center, KTCCU, Sharky’s, Valu-Merchandisers, Fort Scott Inn, Fort Scott Family Dental, Crain Insurance Agency, 3D Alternator, Lowell Milken Center for Unsung Heroes, and Walgreens.
For more information contact the Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce at 620-223-3566.
On Sunday, October 3, Sonic Drive-In Restuarant will have 50 cent corndogs for sale all day.
On Sunday evening, both Community Christan Church and the Fort Scott Church of the Nazarene will be hosting trunk and treats for the community.
A new food truck business visited Fort Scott on Oct. 21.
The Crumble and Cream food truck was positioned in the parking lot of Tractor Supply Company, Scooters Coffee House, and Hibbets Sports Store on South Main Street, for its debut in Fort Scott.
“We specialize in deep dish cookies,” Joshua Scott, operations manager, said. “They are soft and gooey on the inside and slightly crusty on the outside.” They also have ice cream and sundaes.
The Crumble and Cream business is headquartered in Wichita and is owned by Rachel Marlow. Marlow started the venture four months ago, Scott said.
The food truck gets daily shipments of fresh cookies to replenish supplies.
“The home office in Wichita is where the bakery is,” Scott said. “We are entirely mobile, on the road.”
“We are visiting many towns really quick, going to places a second time in maybe six weeks,” Scott said.
The hours were from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.
The price of the cookies is $5 each or six cookies for $25.
“Facebook is our huge (marketing) type of notifying people of when we will be in town,” he said. On Oct. 20 they were in Chanute, yesterday in Fort Scott, and today in Iola, he said.
He stays in a hotel each night in between cities.
“Going to small towns, we are having success,” he said. “We also do corporate events.”
Corporate events, such as an apartment landlord providing the truck for a few hours for tenants, or Scholfield Honda and Home Depot paying a flat fee and serving all their employees to show appreciation, Scott said.
To find out more, follow them on their Crumble and Cream Facebook page.
After the Lyons family closed the Twin Mansions on National Avenue in March 2020, the bed and breakfast along with the restaurant remained shuttered.
The family closed as the COVID-19 Pandemic shut down businesses in the nation.
A new chapter started in June 2021 when the Elton family moved from Kansas City into the northern mansion to make their home at 742 S. National Avenue and in September 2021, the southern mansion at 750 S. National Avenue was once again opened as a restaurant.
Dry Wood Creek Cafe is owned by Chef Marty Elton and his wife, Carrie.
To view a prior feature on the business: Dry Wood Creek Cafe: New Business Owners at the Former Lyon’s Mansions
The new business venture idea came about during downtime following lockdown, because Elton’s K.C. area catering business was affected by COVID-19 as well.
“During COVID, a catering business was up in the air,” Elton said.
His own home needed some remodeling and he looked on Zillow for possible properties to look at and saw the property in Fort Scott, known as the Twin Mansions.
“The property attracted us, and the people and town have been great,” Elton said in a break from restaurant work on Wednesday morning.
He is hoping to have a grand opening later in the year, close to the holidays, he said.
Until then, he and his four employees are serving breakfast and lunch from Wednesday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.
He said after decades in the business he knew he wanted more time with his family and the cafe hours allow that.
“I’m spending my evenings with my kids,’ Elton said.
Elton also caters meals to all size orders, from box lunches to weddings, he said.
In the southern mansion on an upper level, the Elton’s have an office for rent that would be suitable for an accountant or lawyer, he said.
Dry Wood Creek Cafe is located at 750 S. National and can be reached at 620-224-2970. For the latest info, see their Facebook page.
Supplemental Pandemic Food Assistance program announces benefit distribution dates
TOPEKA – The Kansas Department for Children and Families (DCF) announces the distribution of the Supplemental Pandemic EBT food assistance benefit to eligible Kansas students.
Distribution of the one-time benefit of $375 per child will begin to be issued starting tomorrow, Oct. 12. This benefit is for the summer months of June, July and August 2021.
All school aged children who were eligible for free and reduced-price meals during the 2020-2021 school year through the National School Lunch program will receive the one-time benefit. This includes Head Start children who attend a Community Eligible Provision (CEP) school or were enrolled in the National School Lunch program.
Qualifying school aged children who did not receive P-EBT for the 2020-2021 school year because they attended school in person and do not already have a Kansas Benefits Card will receive a preloaded card in the mail beginning Oct. 26. Eligible households that do not receive the benefit by Nov. 4 will need to provide additional information to DCF through the DCF Self Service Portal after Nov. 1.
The benefit can be used to purchase eligible food items from approved vendors that accept food assistance benefits like grocery stories and online at Aldi, Amazon or Wal-Mart.
The Supplemental P-EBT program provides temporary food benefits to families of children who normally receive National School Lunch program benefit but the education cycle was disrupted due to the COVID-19 Pandemic. Learn more at www.dcf.ks.gov/pages/p-ebt.aspx.
Contact DCF at 1-888-369-4777 with questions or visit the P-EBT page on www.dcf.ks.gov.
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At the Fort Scott High School Football Game and the Uniontown High School Volleyball Tournament this weekend, one might think there is a crime being investigated.
But that thinking would be wrong.
Both Fort Scott Police and the Bourbon County Sheriff Officers will be there to mingle with people to “meet the community and let the community know us,” said Bourbon County Sheriff’s Office Chaplain Bob Jackson.
The events are part of an organization called Faith and Blue.
“Nation-wide, after the George Floyd deal, things started spiraling downhill for law enforcement,” said Jackson.
Last year following the civil unrest, an organization called Faith and Blue was started nationally.
The following is the organization’s purpose, according to its’ website: Faith & Blue: Partnering for stronger, safer communities (faithandblue.org)
“Communities are stronger and safer when residents and law enforcement professionals can relate as ordinary people with shared values, hopes, and dreams. The partners who are a part of National Faith & Blue Weekend believe we can find ways to work together around our many commonalities instead of being divided by our differences.”
The Faith and Blue weekend nationally is Oct. 8-11, according to Jackson.
The law enforcement officers will be at Frary Field this evening, Oct. 8, on the campus of Fort Scott High School starting about 5 p.m. to “pass out popcorn and give away tickets to the concession stand,” Jackson said.
Then on Saturday, the officers will be at West Bourbon Elementary School for the Uniontown High School Volleyball Tournament from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. There, they will be giving away food too, with the help of local food truck (The Sunshine Shack) owners, Shayla and Kyle Knight.
“They are going to set it up inside the school cafeteria,” Jackson said.
The officers are hoping to get to know those they serve a little better in the mingling and also let the community get to know them.
He is hoping the event will be a positive one, he said.
“It will not be to hear complaints,” Jackson said. “But it’s to get to know you and you know us.”
The event is a collaboration of some local churches and the FSPD and the BCSO.
In Fort Scott, Community Christian Church, Fort Scott Church of the Nazarene, Trinity Lutheran and the Seventh Day Adventist Church have provided funds for the event.
In Uniontown, the Uniontown Missionary Baptist Church, along with the Bronson, Hiattville, and Uniontown United Methodist Churches have contributed to the event.
Those who need food assistance for 2022, may sign-up at Beacon Food Pantry, 525 East Sixth, Fort Scott from October 25 through October 29.
“Sign-ups must be done by October 29th ,” Dave Gillen with The Beacon, a helping agency, said. “No exceptions. You will need to call in advance for appointment for one of these days.”
The Beacon staff started taking appointments on October 4.
Gillen said the participants will need to bring the following to qualify for a food card:
“If you are also getting food that day, you will need to call in advance and your order will be put on the back porch for pick-up,” he said.
“We’ll also be doing sign-ups for the Adopt-A-Child program and additionally the Elk’s Club food basket, at this time,” Gillen said.
“Adopt-A-Child pick up and food baskets will be at Community Christian Church on December the 17th from 9 am to 1 pm,” he said. “Pick-up will be a drive-through like last year.”
“Elk’s baskets will be delivered the Sunday before Christmas.”
There will be COVID-19 Protocols when one comes to sign-up.
“You will be required to have temperature checked and wear a mask before entering the Beacon,” he said. “If you do not have a mask, one will be provided for you. Please enter through the front door. We are asking only one person per family in the building at this time.”
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