This Friday night, September 20th, the concert at Heritage Park will present four different musical couples: Larry and Judy Snow from Mound City, Allen and Connie Edgerton from Kincaid, Kevin and Kathy Woods from Prescott, and Jack and Sandy Hemphill from Fort Scott.
The featured emcee will be Floyd Feezell and the featured drummer will be Kristen Weeks.
The concert will start at 7:00 at the pavilion and will include a range of country and gospel music. It will be a couple’s jam session! Each performer will select songs to sing for the crowd. It should be a fun time for all present.
The Friday night concert in the park series, headed by Ralph Carlson, has limited seating so please bring a lawn chair. In case of bad weather, the concert will be moved to Common Ground Coffee Shop. Come out for a fun night of entertainment!
Downtown Fort Scott, looking north on Main Street, city hall is on the right.
On September 3rd, the Fort Scott City Commission voted to demolish several blighted buildings.
The purpose and goal of the Fort Scott Codes Department is to enforce all codes, ordinances, and regulations adopted by the City of Fort Scott to ensure the safety and aesthetic value of all properties and establish a standard of property maintenance, according to the city’s website.
The city has a process to allow extended time for property owners to repair the buildings.
Properties in a state of deterioration are turned into the city by community members for the most part, said Leroy Kruger, who works in the codes department.
This begins a process that starts with a letter to the property owner asking them to repair the house up to city codes and to give the codes department a phone call, within 30 days of receiving the letter.
“If we haven’t heard from them, we send out a condemnation letter,” Kruger said.
“We give 30 more days, if we haven’t heard from them, we turn it over to the city commissioners, and they vote on it,” he said.
“The next step is to advertise (in the Fort Scott Tribune) that we are going to tear it down. Then we have a public meeting,” Kruger said.
“Homeowners or any interested parties get another letter to come and speak to the commission,” he said.
“If no one shows up, the next step is to tear it down.”
“We try to get three bids submitted to the commission (for demolition) and they decide who gets the bid.” he said.
Once torn down to ground level, if the owners want to sell the property, a special assessment fee is given them to recoup the cost of the demolition.
“There’s quite a few blighted properties in Fort Scott,” Kruger said. “We have to stay in a budget for the year. Usually, there are two to three properties at a time.”
At the September 3 Fort Scott City Commission Meeting six properties were submitted.
“If these six go through, we’ve done 10 or 11 properties this year. I think the six have eaten up our budget,” Kruger said.
The codes department office is located in City Hall at 123 S. Main Street and can by reached by calling 620.223.0550.
Norm Nation is the supervisor and lead codes inspector.
On September 3rd, the Fort Scott City Commission voted to demolish several buildings. Here are the addresses and photos of the buildings taken from Google Street View.
A HUGE Thank You to ALL of the businesses/organizations that entered the contest! We encourage EVERYONE to venture Downtown to view all the festive scarecrows! A special THANK YOU to KEY Apparel for sponsoring the contest and providing the winner 12 logoed t-shirts!
Core Community of Bourbon County, scarecrow located at Sleep Inn, 302 E. Wall
First Presbyterian Church, scarecrow located at Front Door Realty, 113 S. Main
Gross Insurance, 18 S. National
Guild Mortgage, 1 E. Wall
Kansas Teachers Community Credit Union, 24 S. National Ave.
Ruddick’s, 117 S. National Ave.
SEK Multi County Health Dept, scarecrow located in front of Iron Star, 3 N. Main
Sleep Inn, 302 E. Wall
SAVE THE DATE for the Downtown Halloween Parade, Saturday, October 26th with Festivities starting at 10am, Parade 11am!
Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce | 231 E. Wall Street | Fort Scott, KS 66701 US
Fall Town – Wide Garage Sale in Fort Scott September 20th & 21st!
The Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce is EXCITED to announce the Fall Town – Wide Garage Sale happening September 20th & 21st!
Sales may be registered with the Chamber and listed on the official garage sale map for only $12. Those interested may register in person at the Chamber, over the phone by credit, debit or Venmo, or online at fortscott.com. The Chamber also offers display ads to businesses and organizations on the map for $35.
The deadline to register a sale on the official map is 1pm on Tuesday, September 17th.
The Chamber sincerely appreciates sales and ads being registered with the Chamber as those funds make it possible for the Chamber to host the event and cover expenses incurred on the event to bring as many people to the community as possible to shop the sales and patronize other businesses while here.
Contact the Chamber for more information at 620-223-3566 or visit fortscott.com.
Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce | 231 E. Wall Street | Fort Scott, KS 66701 US
The public is invited to attend the 2024 Annual Meeting of the Friends of Fort Scott National Historic Site (FSNHS) being held TONIGHT at the Herbert House located at 512 S. Judson.
This meeting will feature a program “The Greatest Test of Courage: A Story of WWII and the Philippines”, presented by Ronda Hassig. The program begins at 6pm. Light appetizer refreshments will be served.
Join us to learn about the Friends work on behalf of FSNHS and a little known WWII story in one of Fort Scott premier historic homes.
The Friends of Fort Scott National Historic Site is a non-profit organization established in partnership with the National Park Service to support and promote the preservation and interpretation of FSNHS.
September 16, 2024
512 S. Judson St.
6pm
Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce | 231 E. Wall Street | Fort Scott, KS 66701 US
VII. Public Comment – Sign up required before the beginning of the meeting on register at the entrance of the Commission Room. Public Comments are for any topic not on the agenda and limited to five (5) minutes per person, at the Commission’s discretion.
VIII. Appearances – Must be scheduled with the City Clerk at least (1) week prior to the meeting
you wish to address the Commission. You will be scheduled on the agenda to speak on your topic.
Matthew Wells/Bourbon County Community Theatre – Temporary Park Closure – Riverfront Park – October 26, 2024, 6:00PM – 9:00PM – ‘Voices From The Grave’
Kathy Brennon/Executive Director/Southeast Kansas Area Agency on Aging – Meals on Wheels
Unfinished Business
Consideration of Building at 118 E. Wall – Continued from September 9, 2024, Special City Commission Meeting – waiting on requested documents from owner.
New Business
Action Items:
Consideration of Certificate of Appropriateness – 12 N. Main St. – Alteration to Existing Structure – Design Review Board meeting on September 13, 2024.
Consideration to Go Out For Bids for External IT Services
Consideration of Bids for Reinvestment of $1,000,000.00 from Wastewater Fund for six (6)-Month CD – Four (4) bids received: Citizens Bank, City State Bank, Landmark National Bank and UMB Bank.
Consideration of Approval of Certificate of Substantial Completion – Project No. 22-031B – Fort Scott Pavilion – Earles Engineering & Inspection, Inc. and Sprouls Construction, Inc. – Dickman
Request to Pay – Earles Engineering & Inspection, Inc. and Sprouls Construction – Project No. 22-031B – Fort Scott Pavilion – Payment Application No. 5 – $8,075.00
Request to Pay – Earles Engineering & Inspection, Inc. and Sprouls Construction – Project No. 22-031B – Fort Scott Pavilion – Payment Application No. 6 FINAL (Retainage) – $10,397.85
Request to Schedule a Special Meeting (September 23, 2024) to Consider RFPs for Consultant to Airport Projects within the Next Five (5) Years.
The Kitchen Collective+Collaborative is at 12 S. Main, The Parlor at Eighteen 65 is at 10 S. Main.
Two of the storefronts that have been in a renovation period for a few years are about to open.
The facility is not a restaurant. The renovated space will be the first of its kind in Southeast Kansas.
12 S. Mainwill be a culinary business incubator, said Rachel French, co-owner and operations manager of The Kitchen Collective + Collaborative
An incubator firm is an organization engaged in the business of fostering early-stage companies through the different developmental phases, according to investopedia.com
Bailey Lyons, Rachel French and Angie Simon are the owners of the Kitchen Collective+Collaborative. Submitted photo.
French, along with co-owners Bailey Lyons and Angie Simon are local business owners who have a passion for cooking.
A few years ago they were involved with the Dare To Dream, a local women’s entrepreneurial event. They saw many women who had a dream of a culinary business.
“We hope with our business knowledge we can come alongside and help springboard new or existing culinary businesses,” French said.
To that end, the two side-by-side businesses in Fort Scott’s Historic Downtown District were created to develop food businesses.
A view of two of the four food incubator pods in The Kitchen at 12 S. Main. Submitted photo.
12 S. Main: The Kitchen
At 12 S. Main, there are four incubator pods in The Kitchen Collective + Collaborative side. These are four sections in a kitchen, each all-inclusive in what a culinary entrepreneur would need to start their business.
“Our incubator kitchen allows food entrepreneurs, food growers, or producers to start or scale their business in a licensed commercial kitchen,” she said. “The cost of starting a business is astronomical. Our facility helps relieve that burden.”
“You must be licensed to launch your business from here, but we will help with that process.”
She said with a standard license, one can sell it directly to consumers, but can’t sell it to another business for that business to sell it, which requires a wholesale license.
Each food incubator pod has a stove, fridge, mixers, measuring utensils, and just about everything a culinary business needs, except the ingredients for the person’s cooking/baking.
“Our kitchens are available for rent to the general public. For instance, if you are hosting a large family dinner, but your kitchen is too small, you can rent one of our kitchen pods to prepare your meal,” she said.
“If renting to launch your business, in addition to the kitchen pod you would have access to special dry good storage and additional refrigerators and freezers. You could also sell approved products on-site in our market area, still retaining your business’s branding. “
Even though not a restaurant, their vision is to sell grab-and-go food items, and take-and-bake items for dinner.
“Our goal is bringing healthy, convenient food options to Fort Scott and Bourbon County,” French said. Meals will be sold in 2 servings or 6 servings sizes.
The Kitchen will also offer culinary classes to the community and if anyone is interested in teaching a class, they can complete a form on their website.
For example: Jake Gross is planning on teaching how to smoke and prepare meats, she said.
With the pods at the back, at the front of 12 S. Main is the retail food area which has glass-front refrigerators to keep the food products that will be for sale. There will eventually be curbside pickup in the back of the business.
Hours will be Monday through Thursday 6:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., Fridays they will close at 5:30. Saturday hours are 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Contact French at 620.418.9284.
10 S. Main: The Parlor by Eighteen 65
At 10 S. Main, there is an event center, called The Parlor by Eighteen 65 for wedding receptions, birthday parties, etc.
Ribbon Cutting and Opening
The ribbon cutting for The Kitchen Collective and Collaborative is Thursday, September 19 at 4 p.m.
“On September 20, you can come in and get breakfast, lunch, and dinner,” French said. Opening day will be chicken/noodle with mashed potatoes and homemade snickerdoodle cookies by Jamie Beckham.”
Employees
All staff will be cooking, baking, catering, and also teaching classes at any one time in the facility.
Beckham was a restauranteur and baker in Fort Scott’s recent past.
Also hired by The Kitchen is Melissa Houston, a graduate of California Culinary Academy who has 30 years of experience and will be doing recipe development and cooking classes.
Madelyn Martin will be helping with catering and is locally known for her charcuterie boards.
Dawna Krebs will be taking care of the retail section and also baking, as will Grace French.
On Wednesday September, 11th at approximately 0253 hours, the Fort Scott Police Department was dispatched to a residence in the 1800 block of Charles Street in Fort Scott.
Upon arrival at that location, FSPD officers learned that an altercation had taken place between a 16-year-old male and a 41-year-old male identified as Nicholas Howard Juarez.
Officers were advised the altercation had taken place at a residence in the 100 block of South Margrave Street in Fort Scott. During the altercation, the juvenile male sustained a laceration from a knife utilized by Juarez. The juvenile’s injury is not considered life threatening at this time.
Juarez is believed to have left the scene on foot and has not been located.
This is believed to have been an isolated incident however; Juarez should be considered armed and dangerous and should not be approached. Contact the Fort Scott Police Department or call 911 if you have information related to this incident or have information concerning the whereabouts of Nicholas Juarez.
Please note. All individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
Diehl Banwart Bolton CPA, 7 1/2 East Wall Street, Fort Scott. This is a file photo from 2019. The business occupies the second floor (the red brick building), which faces Wall Street.
In 2024, Diehl Banwart Bolton CPAs PA is celebrating 75 years of service to the community.
At the Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce Coffee on September 12, James Wood, one of the partners in the firm, said they have had a “long history” in the community because of the “great leadership, amazing team, and this community and everything that goes on in it.”
The business is a full-service accounting firm located in Fort Scott and Pittsburg,
They help both businesses and individuals succeed financially through accounting services, with expert, professional and confidential service, according to their website.
Current and past employees of Diehl, Banwart, Bolton CPAs at the Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce Coffee on September 12, 2024. Submitted photo.
The business story begins just after the Second World War.
John Diehl came to Fort Scott in 1948 with his wife Ina Mae, after serving in the United States Marines as a pilot in World War II.
He worked for the Winchell Manufacturing Company, and soon after, opened an accounting office in Fort Scott for a Kansas City firm of Senderson, Little, and LaChelle, according to James Banwart Jr., who is currently a partner in the business.
In 1949, Diehl purchased the business and renamed it John E. Diehl and Company.
Maurice Fletcher later joined the firm and it was renamed Diehl and Fletcher. The company was located in several buildings
in what is now the Fort Scott Downtown Historic District.
In the Fall of 1963, James L. Banwart Sr. joined Diehl and Fletcher.
James Regan, the long-time Information Technology “guru”,
joined the firm in 1971.
In 1973, Mark Bolton joined Diehl and Fletcher and in 1976, the firm became Diehl, Banwart, Bolton, CPA’s.
The firm’s shareholders purchased the Milrose Block at
Wall and National in 1974 where the business continues today.
Mr. Diehl died in 2017 at age 99.
“He was an involved member of church and community and a loved and respected employer and partner.” James Banwart Jr. said.
Currently, there are five partners, James L Banwart Jr., Daryl Eagon, Amanda Lancaster, Matthew Keys, and James Wood.
“CPAs Randy Phillips, Carol Hill, and Donna Banwart round out the list of supervising accountants and we have 10 staff accountants doing IT, payroll, accounts payable, and other client service,” Banwart said.
The business currently has offices in Fort Scott and Pittsburg and “are always on the lookout for additional talented people,” Banwart said.
The firm offers municipal and commercial auditing, preparation of general ledger and financial statements, payroll, estate planning, tax planning, income tax, retirement planning, business analysis
and coaching, and assisting clients with Accounting CS, Quickbooks, and other software.
“Not many small businesses survive and thrive for 75 years,” Banwart said. ” But because John Diehl founded the firm on the
principles of integrity and prompt client service and we strive to uphold his high standards in the present, we plan on being a member of the Fort Scott business community for a long time to come. He
would be pleased to know his firm continues his traditions.”
The business is located at 7 1/2 East Wall, in Fort Scott’s Historic Downtown. They can be reached at 620-223-4300.
Fall Town – Wide Garage Sale in Fort Scott September 20th & 21st!
The Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce is EXCITED to announce the Fall Town – Wide Garage Sale happening September 20th & 21st!
Sales may be registered with the Chamber and listed on the official garage sale map for only $12. Those interested may register in person at the Chamber, over the phone by credit, debit or Venmo, or online at fortscott.com. The Chamber also offers display ads to businesses and organizations on the map for $35.
The deadline to register a sale on the official map is 1pm on Tuesday, September 17th.
The Chamber sincerely appreciates sales and ads being registered with the Chamber as those funds make it possible for the Chamber to host the event and cover expenses incurred on the event to bring as many people to the community as possible to shop the sales and patronize other businesses while here.
Contact the Chamber for more information at 620-223-3566 or visit fortscott.com.
Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce | 231 E. Wall Street | Fort Scott, KS 66701 US
The Wreaths Across America fundraising theme for 2024 is “Live With Purpose”. With that in mind, we need your help again, says location Coordinator Diann Tucker. Each year we renew our goal to provide a wreath for each grave site at Fort Scott National Cemetery on national wreaths day; this year that day is December 14. There are nearly 7000 brave soldiers resting at Fort Scott National Cemetery who deserve to be remembered. Our mission, “Remember, Honor, and Teach”, is worth committing to.
Wreaths are $17.00 each. Please consider purchasing a wreath (or multiples) is Tucker’s request. Make it “your purpose” to sponsor wreaths at our local cemetery. We appreciate your donations and ask that you share this event with your friends and family. We need their help too. All sponsorship donations must be received by November 19 and are tax deductible.
To donate, or for any questions you have, please contact Diann Tucker (620-224-7054) or Mika (620-223-6700). Cash, checks and credit cards are accepted. Checks should be made payable to Wreaths Across America and sent to 746 215th St., Fort Scott, KS 66701. You can also contact us at [email protected]. If your donation is “grave specific” for a special person, we will need their name. In the event that we do not receive enough donations for all grave sites, we will provide wreaths first to the grave specific sites that received sponsorship.
Diann Tucker wants to invite you to the ceremony and wreath laying on December 14. She said they cannot do this without the many volunteers who share their time for this cause.
Free Friday Night Concerts are sponsored by the Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce and coordinated by Ralph Carlson. The event is usually at First and Main Streets, Fort Scott. In case of inclement weather, the event is moved to indoor venues.
This Friday at 7 p.m. at the Heritage Park Pavilion Second Hand Strings will perform.
They are a local group that plays for us often,” said Ralph Carlson, facilitator of the free Friday Night Concerts, which is sponsored by the Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce. “They are one of my favorites. They perform country and popular songs. In addition, they perform some original music.”
The group includes Tammie Helm, Mike Buller, Rosemary Harris, Jean Strader and Paul Milks.
