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What’s Happening in Fort Scott Oct. 23 Edition
Category Archives: Food
Fort Scott Downtown Halloween Parade
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What’s Happening in Fort Scott Oct. 16 Edition
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Beacon Will Reopen For Oct. 13 through 31 For Application Sign-Up
The Beacon Board of Directors made a decision to close the building on March 16 after receiving notice from the Feeding America, (a food bank) state, and local health authorities in response to the COVID-19 virus.
The Beacon is a local helping agency, whose main focus is food to those in need.
At the time of the building closure, a new procedure for obtaining The Beacon Food Box was initiated.
Clients were asked to call during normal business hours and arrangements were made to pick up the food off the dock at the rear of the building, Director David Gillen said.
“We felt this was our best approach for our staff and our clients to maintain social distancing,” Gillen said. “We also asked our clients in need of financial assistance or guidance to please call in and ask to speak with the director.”
After having been employed for four years by the Beacon, David Gillen became the director in June 2020. Patty Mowen became the assistant director, at this time.
“The Beacon will open its doors by appointment only starting Oct 13th thru Oct 31st for our clients to apply for their 2021 Beacon Cards,” he said. “At this time we will also be doing the sign-up for the 2020 Adopt A Child Program / Elks Christmas Baskets.”
Work On The Building
In recent weeks there have been some physical changes to the Beacon building at 525 E. Sixth. Some for esthetics and some for protection in the COVID-19 Pandemic.
“The front entrance of the Beacon has been given a new facelift, with paint and new flooring, Gillen said in an email interview.
In addition, new racks have been built for food storage, the main priority of the ministry.
“These improvements could not have been accomplished without the help of Wib Mowen, Patty Mowen’s husband, volunteering,” Gillen said.
Personal protective sneeze guards have been placed on desks in the building.
“Plastic face shields will be used for our protection and the clients when they are allowed in the building, and our clients must wear masks,” Gillen said.
Also going on at this time has been the entering of all the Beacon clients information into a computer, allowing accurate records to be kept, he said.
Beacon Food Distribution
“The Beacon Food Distribution is for all Bourbon County residents who qualify for a Beacon Food Card.,” Gillen said. “Their cards can be used immediately after they are qualified. Cards can be used two times a month.”
“Emergency food requests are granted for anyone in the county who has lost their job, illness as caused them from being able to work, house fire, or any other extraneous circumstance as it is our goal to help those in need.”
“The food we distribute comes from a monthly budget and grants we have received,” he said. “We make purchases from the Kansas Food Bank, GW Foods and Walmart. We also receive generous donations from local food drives, churches, civic organizations, businesses, schools and the local post office. We also receive donated items of meat, bakery and produce items from Walmart three times a week as part of their supporting the Feed America Program.”
Clients receive eggs, butter, fresh meat, bread, canned goods, peanut butter, beans, rice, soups, potatoes, mac and cheese, spaghetti with sauce, cereal and pastry,
“Baskets vary in size according to family size,” Gillen said. “We also offer fresh fruit and vegetables when available.”
“The Beacon is so blessed to exist in a community that so many people help us to help others,” he said.
Retired professional sign painter Joe Lee, a personal friend of Patty and Wib Mowen, painted a mural of a lighthouse for display in the Beacon.
“Joe volunteered his time and supplies,” Gillen said. “The Beacon is so thankful for this wonderful gift…Joe also painted our sign by the back deck…which was made by Wib Mowen.”
The back porch has been extended to allow more free items to be left out, Gillen said.
“Thank you Ralph Carlson and Don Tucker for volunteering and the material you provided,” he said.
Breakfast on the Bricks Oct. 3 Starting at 8 a.m.
Fort Scott American Legion Auxiliary Unit 25 will be hosting Breakfast on the Bricks at Skubitz Plaza Saturday morning, October 3 starting at 8 am.
Stop by for a cup of coffee or snack and meet other Legion family members. Bring a prospective member. I’ll be there helping and always have the time to recruit a new Legion family member.
Carl Jowers. Post 25 Commander.
Doughnuts For Dictionaries: Deadline Oct. 2
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Sharkey’s Gets A Facelift
David and Tina Lipe, owners of Sparky’s Pub and Grub, 16 N. National, have invested time and money to give their restaurant a facelift.
The project started with Mid Continental Restoration, Inc. doing some joint repair and brick replacement on the front of building, David Lipe said.
“Peerless (Products, Inc.) did all of the tear-out and installation of all windows and front doors of the building,” Lipe said. “The project started on August 17th and was completed on August 26th. ” There is still a little bit of floor replacement to be done, hopefully, this will be completed by August 31st.”
“We have been working on this project with Peerless for two years,” Lipe said. ” The building was extremely inefficient, windows were broken, (it) needed a facelift. We wanted to create an open-air type storefront.”
The facelift did not add any seating, Lipe said. “But possibly some outside seating.”
“No grant monies were used on this project,” Lipe said. “We have applied for a building improvement grant through the City of Fort Scott. I was told today that all funds are on hold due to COVID. We have also applied for some funding help through BEDCO (Bourbon County Economic Development Council), (we) have not received anything at this point.”
Sharky’s Pub & Grub phone number is 620-223-4777
The restaurant’s hours are: open at 11 am Monday through Sunday,
close at midnight Monday through Wednesday, close at 2 am Thursday through Saturday, and close at 7 pm Sunday.
USD234 News Release of BOE Meeting Aug. 24
NEWS RELEASE
Monday, August 24, 2020
Members of the USD 234 Board of Education met at the Fort Scott Middle School Commons on Monday, August 24, for a special board meeting at 5:30 p.m.
President David Stewart opened the meeting. Board members approved the following items:
· Revised 2020-21 school calendar
· Memorandum of Understanding between USD 234 Board of Education and Fort Scott Kansas National Education Association
· Employee COVID-19 Policy
· Addition of high school and middle school Choral Clubs to the supplemental schedule for the 2020-21 school year
Superintendent Hessong shared updated information regarding the Return-to-School
Plan. Gina Shelton, Business Manager, shared Mask Campaign information.
Board members went into executive session to discuss personnel matters and returned to open meeting. The board approved the following employment matters:
A. Resignation of Audra Young, Winfield Scott paraprofessional, effective August 10, 2020
B. Resignation of Jacy Walker, high school paraprofessional, effective immediately
C. Resignation of Russ Hughes, central office custodian, effective at the end of the 2019-20 school year
D. Resignation of Libby Stumfoll, van driver, effective September 3, 2020
E. Transfer of Brent Cavin, Eugene Ware fifth grade teacher, to middle school 8th grade social studies teacher for the 2020-21 school year
F. Transfer of Jennifer Stafford, Winfield Scott paraprofessional, to high school teacher aide for the 2020-21 school year
G. Transfer of Dee Peters, Eugene Ware paraprofessional, to Winfield Scott paraprofessional for the 2020-21 school year
H. Leave of absence for Sabrina Keating, Eugene Ware fourth grade teacher
I. Work agreement adjustment for Angela Mix, Winfield Scott paraprofessional, from 7.5 hours to 4 hours per day for the 2020-21 school year
J. Employment of Brendon Blackburn as a one-year middle school elective teacher for the 2020-21 school year
K. Employment of Cindy O’Rear as a high school paraprofessional for the 2020-21 school year
L. Employment of Kourtney Harper as a high school paraprofessional for the 2020-21 school year
M. Employment of Mary Cole as a high school paraprofessional for the 2020-21 school year
N. Employment of Julie Carpenter as a high school paraprofessional for the 2020-21 school year
O. Employment of Jannah Farrington as the middle school Choral Club sponsor for the 2020-21 school year
P. Employment of Brenda Hill as Eugene Ware 5th Grade Team Leader for the 2020-21 school year
Q. Employment of Randy Phillips as a regular route bus driver for the 2020-21 school year
R. Resignation of Taylor McDermed, Eugene Ware paraprofessional, effective August 24, 2020
S. Leave of absence for Brenda Hathaway, high school ticket clerk
T. Employment of Maggie Johnston as a high school paraprofessional for the 2020-21 school year
The board adjourned.
Coffee Drive-Through Store Coming to South Fort Scott
Scooter’s Coffee is coming to Fort Scott.
The store will be located in the strip mall on Main Street, which is also 69 Hwy on the south end of town.
“We are very excited to open in Fort Scott,” said Demi Bouwens, director of operations for the franchise in Pittsburg and Fort Scott.
“The store will be located in the parking lot near the Hibbett’s Sports Store,” Bouwens said. “We are aiming for a November 2020 opening.”
“As we were building our location in Pittsburg last year we began to notice the community in Fort Scott,” she said. “We loved the warm, friendly environment as we spent time in the community. Because of this, we knew this community would be a great fit for Scooter’s brand.”
Not just coffee will be offered but other snack items will be sold at the drive-through only coffee store.
“We offer a variety of options from coffee, smoothies, teas, lattes, blenders, muffins, breakfast options, to cookies and our famous cinnamon roll,” she said. “This is a drive-through only model where you can count on amazing drinks served to you amazingly fast!”
What is the history of Scooters?
“In 1998, Scooter’s Coffee was born,” Bouwens said. “Co-founders Don and Linda Eckles began an amazing journey when they opened their first drive-thru coffeehouse in Bellevue, Nebraska. Their keys to success: find a great location and stay committed to high-quality drinks, speed of service, and a BIG smile. Scooter’s Coffee is fortunate to have over two decades of success due to its commitment to the original business principles and company core values. Amazing People, Amazing Drinks…Amazingly Fast!”
A Free Pantry Opens In a Fort Scott Neighborhood
A couple of Fort Scottians saw a need in their neighborhood and decided to help meet it.
Chase Warner and Whitney Wratchford purchased their house last summer and immediately saw the need within their neighborhood for some food assistance.
“Chase and I have had this on our hearts since we first became homeowners in our community,” she said. ” We noticed immediately that our own neighborhood was in need of a little help. We were seeing children daily that would make comments like ‘Can I have a banana? I had Ramen Noodles for breakfast.’ And ‘My mom doesn’t have money to buy us dinner.’ We know that this problem isn’t just in our neighborhood but all throughout our community and when the Covid-19 pandemic really hit hard and people started to lose jobs we set out to put the pantry up as soon as the stay-at-home order lifted! Chase and I just really wanted to help and the best way was to provide food that any individual could choose from on their own time and when they feel comfortable.”
“We ourselves are a working-class family and have at times in our lives struggled to provide as well and knowing the heartache that those parents and children are feeling just put our plan in motion,” she said. “I have since seen our pantry helping lots of people and lots of people helping fill the box! That is exactly how the pantry should work!”
They opened Warner’s Little Free Pantry on June 6, 2020.
It is a box on a stand that contains numerous items for the taking: food, hygiene items and other shelf-stable items that can stand Kansas temperatures housed in a box.
“Take what you need,” Wratchford said. ” Leave what you can. Above all be blessed! We ourselves donate whenever possible and just hope that others will decide to donate as well. The pantry is open for donations for nonperishable food items and various toiletries and household items. If anyone has any questions or concerns they can reach us via email, phone or on our Facebook page Warner’s Little Free Pantry.”
Wratchford stumbled across a grassroots movement and decided this would help fill that need.
The Little Free Pantry is a grassroots, locally sourced solution to local need, Wratchford said. “Whether a need for food or a need to give, our mini pantry helps neighbors feed neighbors, nourishing neighborhoods. It is meant to meet immediate needs for families or individuals who are struggling to make ends meet. “
“Jessica McClard launched the movement in May 2016 in Fayetteville, AR,” Wratchford said. “Since that time there have been many families like ours, building and opening little pantries of their own…. We used wood we purchased for our fence and Chase and his dear friend Lincoln Brubaker built the box in a day! “
“The box sits on 4th Street between Holbrook and Eddy facing north., she said. “If you need to use GPS to find us you can program 314 W. 4th St. You can’t miss it!”
Annual Show Is June 26-27
Because of the COVID 19 Pandemic, the annual All-Hit 103.9 Home, Sport, Farm and Garden Show was moved from spring to summer.
The event is now scheduled Friday, June 26 from 5 to 8 p.m. and Saturday, June 27 from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Arnold Arena on the campus of Fort Scott Community College, 2108 S. Horton.
Hosted by Fort Scott Broadcasting, which includes radio stations 103.9, Red Dirt 98.3, and 1600 AM, the event is “a great opportunity to get local businesses to show off their products,” said Deb McKenney. Tim and Deb McKenney own the business.
This year there will be pandemic guidelines, Tim McKenney said.
“We are encouraging people to wear masks and gloves, and we will provide some for those who would like some,” he said. “Also hand sanitizing will be available.”
In addition, there will be more spacing between the vendors, he said.
“There will be fewer booths, so it won’t be so crowded,” Tim said.
This year they are expecting 40 vendors as opposed to 60, he said.
The show began in 1982, and in the late 80s the Pride Organization at Fort Scott Middle School took the reins, as a fundraiser, Deb said.
The broadcast company was asked to take the show on again and they have since continued the showcasing business event for the community.
USD 235 Provides Meal Program in Summer 2020
The Uniontown School District is providing a meal program to its’ districts’ children through June 25.
The first day for meals was June 2.
In addition, summer school children receive activity packets.
“We usually have kids in the building for summer school,” Tara Gorman, third-grade teacher at West Bourbon Elementary School, said. “We couldn’t because of the pandemic. This is our alternative plan, if they signed up for activity packets.”
“This week is a book, they get a book once a week, a craft kit and a couple of games to work on with siblings,” Gorman said. “This week they will be building paper airplanes and testing paper airplanes.”
Breakfast and lunch are available to children ages 1-18 in this program, with no eligibility or paperwork required to receive the food.
Multiple days breakfast and lunch will be provided to each child on Tuesday and Thursday of each week through June 25.
USD 235 Food Service Director Michelle DeMott said food is prepared on Mondays and Wednesdays and delivered on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
Parents are asked to call DeMott at 620-238-4968 to sign up.
DeMott will ask for some information of either a pickup point or a rural address for delivery.
Deliveries will be between 11:30 a.m. and 1 p.m.
Pickup points are the West Bourbon Elementary School on at the front of the building, Marmaton Community Church in Redfield, the city park in Mapleton, in front of the Bronson Meat Locker in Bronson.
Pickup points open from 11 to 11:20 a.m.
