Category Archives: Fort Scott

Tri-Valley Holds Award Ceremony

Labconco is the Business of the Year for 2022. Submitted photos.

On Friday, April 29th , Tri-Valley Developmental Services held their 2022 Award Ceremony to celebrate individual achievements as well as community support in Bourbon county.  The ceremony took place at 1 pm at Tri-Valley’s Service Center located in Fort Scott’s Industrial Park.  Awards were presented to the following individuals:

Business of the Year – Labconco

Employer of the Year – Wendy’s Ol’ Fashioned Hamburgers of Fort Scott

Achievement Award – Crystal Douglas

Winfred Jent Award – Judge Mark Ward

Mark Ward was selected at the Winfred Jent Award winner for 2022. Submitted photos.

Board of Director’s Award – Ken Anderson

Lifetime Achievement Award – Mertz Tax Service

The Lifetime Achievement Award went to Mertz Tax Service with Janice Allen accepting.Submitted photos.

Refreshments were served following the ceremony.  Attendees received a Tri-Valley cup as a takeaway.

Submitted by Tricia Campbell, Special Projects Coordinator at

Tri-Valley Developmental Services.

 

 

Weekly Chamber Coffee at Nelson State Farm on May 19

Join us for this week’s Chamber Coffee!
Hosted by Kale Nelson State Farm
Celebrating 100 Years of Good Neighbor Spirit!
Thursday, May 19th, 8am
1805 S. National Ave.
The Kale Nelson State Farm Insurance office is proud to serve Fort Scott, KS with Insurance and Financial Services, with a focus on resident relocations to the Bourbon and Linn County area. Kale’s team of licensed Insurance Professionals are here to help get you correct Insurance coverage for your specific needs. Not only can they help with Auto Insurance, Homeowners Insurance, Life Insurance and Financial Services to the Fort Scott, KS area including the surrounding Bourbon and Linn County areas, but they are also able to assist small business owners with their Commercial lines of Insurance. Give them a call today for a personalized Insurance Quote!
Visit Kale Nelson State Farm’s Facebook page HERE!
Visit Kale Nelson State Farm’s website HERE!
Thank you to our Chamber Champions listed below!

Greyhound Football Legacy Center Launching

Fort Scott Community College letter jackets are the first memorabilia to be placed in the Greyhound Football Legacy Center, 11 N. Main.

Supporters of football at Fort Scott Community College have filed for non-profit status from the State of Kansas and are in the process of setting up a Greyhound Football Legacy Center, Inc.

They have a board of directors, and set up by-laws.

“We just started the process of a 501 3c status,” Jack Milligan, president of the group, said. “We’ve hired an accountant firm.”

“We are setting up alumni chapters throughout Kansas and other states,” he said.

“We don’t have members, we have teammates,” Milligan said. “There is a lot of energy for it.”

“We are affiliated with the Fort Scott Community College Alumni  Facebook page,” he said.

They have joined the Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce, because the group wants “to be a part of the community,” Milligan said.

And they have a website: https://www.savegreyhoundfootball.com/

They have also rented 11 N. Main from Eddie Townley for a Greyhound Football Legacy Center, which will be a gathering place for the group.

11 N. Main.

 

Milligan is president of the organization, Doug Ropp is vice president; Jerry Witt is vice-president at large; directors are Steve Bowers, Jim Barrows, Jim Chapman, Matt Glades, Kevin Gundy and Steve Williams.

“We have a great network of business experience and success on the board and will use that to regain the football program and many other things in the community,” Milligan said.

“We will staff the center with volunteers, local and otherwise,” he said.

The center will house old football uniforms and trophies, along with computers and furniture. Currently there is a large conference table and chairs in the building.

The group plans to launch into the community during Good Ol Days, the annual homecoming event of Fort Scott on June 3-4.

The group is hopeful of bringing football back to the community college, following the recent closing of the program.

“The FSCC Board of Trustees unanimously voted to end the historic Greyhound Football program in November 2021,”  according the group’s website.

The group’s goal is to bring it back for the 2023 season.

 

USD 234 Special Board Meeting: New Super And Principal Hired

NEWS RELEASE

 

Monday, May 16, 2022

 

Members of the USD 234 Board of Education met at 5:30 p.m. on Monday, May 16, 2022, for a special board meeting.

President James Wood opened the meeting.

The board went into executive session to discuss personnel matters for nonelected personnel.  The board returned to open meeting and approved the following:

 

A.    Employment of Destry Brown as Superintendent of Schools for the 2022-23 school year

B.    Employment of Dr. Zach Johnson as the Fort Scott Middle School Principal for the 2022-23 school year

C.    Transfer of Jennifer Herring, Winfield Scott cook, to high school cook for the 2022-23 school year

D.    Base salary adjustment for Bryce Daly, district technology technician, effective July 2022

 

The board adjourned.

 

USD 234 Fort Scott Names New Superintendent

U234 Press Release to Announce Selection

Destry Brown begins leadership of USD 234 Fort Scott on July 1.


The USD 234 Board of Education has announced the selection of Destry Brown, as the new superintendent. Mr. Brown will take the reins on July 1, 2022, after the resignation of Ted Hessong at the end of the 2021-22 school year.


Destry Brown has broad educational experience, as a teacher, administrator
and an educator of educators. He is currently serving as Superintendent of Clinton, Missouri schools. Mr. Brown has also served as superintendent of schools in Pittsburg, KS, Frontenac, KS and has been an elementary principal.


Students in our schools succeed because they are quality students focused on preparing for their future. We feel our staff and administration support student learning and educational opportunities that will ensure they are prepared for career or college.


“I am so excited to be the new superintendent in my hometown! I look forward to serving the students, teachers, the Board and the rest of the Tiger community.

The Fort Scott school system has a rich history and tradition of excellence. I am humbled to think that I will be a part of continuing this tradition. The district has amazing staff and students as
well as a super supportive community. All of those things working together will make being the superintendent in Fort Scott a joy and a pleasure. I am excited for the opportunity to become reacquainted with the Fort Scott community and to become a part of the Tiger
Family once again.”


Board President James Wood says that Destry Brown emerged from a very thorough search process as the right candidate to lead the School District.

“The Board is certain in our choice of Mr. Brown and confident that under his leadership USD 234 will again to be recognized as having a culture of student success, employee appreciation and community
pride.”


James Wood, Board President, explained that community input, including the involvement of stakeholders was a key factor in the success of the superintendent search process. The feedback provided from teachers and administrators, parents and community members, insured the board and stakeholders were on the same page. “The input from the community as a whole was very helpful to our process.”


The Board selected two finalists, who were interviewed by the Board.


As a board team we feel we made the right selection to serve our students and our community.

Help Build the Field of Honor at Fort Scott National Historic Site

 

Symbols of Sacrifice, Memorial Day Weekend

 

Fort Scott Kan. – Fort Scott National Historic Site invites you to join the park in placing the flags for the “Symbols of Sacrifice” Field of Honor Friday morning, May 27, beginning at 9 am. To ensure everyone can help, we will be scheduling shifts that begin each hour from 9 a.m. through 1 p.m., but you may help as long as you wish. To find out more and to become involved, please contact the park at 620-223-0310, email us at [email protected], or just come out and help. We welcome community members and organizations to participate.

 

Symbols of Sacrifice continues the entire Memorial Day Weekend, Friday, May 27 through, Monday, May 30, and the Field of Honor will be open throughout the weekend. There will be guided fort tours daily at 10 am and 1 pm. This is an all-weather event.

 

“The Field of Honor with its approximately 7,000 flags commemorate the ultimate sacrifice members of the United States Armed Forces have made to keep this country free,” said Carl Brenner, Acting Superintendent, Fort Scott National Historic Site. Memorial Day was originally known as Decoration Day. It originated in the years following the Civil War and became an official federal holiday in 1971.

STEP INTO SUMMER SIDEWALK SALE

 


The Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce announces a Step into Summer Sidewalk Sale that will take place Downtown and Around on Saturday, May 21st

 

Participating merchants include Angie Dawn’s Boutique, Bartelsmeyer Jewelry, Bids & Dibs, Hare & Crow barber Shop, Hedgehog.INK! Bookstore, Iron Star Antiques & Such, Main Street Vintage & Co., Mayco Ace Hardware, Museum of Creativity Gift Shop, Ruddick’s Furniture & Flooring, Shirt Shack, Sunshine Boutique, and Treasure Hunt Flea Market. 

 

The Step into Summer Sidewalk Sale is a great opportunity to support locally owned retailers while enjoying refreshments and finding good deals.

Contact the Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce for more information at 620-223-3566 or visit fortscott.com.

Historic Buildings Are Given New Life

11 N. Main.

Eddie Townley and his wife, Susan, have purchased two historic buildings in downtown Fort Scott.

Ed and Susan Townley with their daughters from left Cheyanne Griffin, Dani Townley and Ella Townley. Pictured in the store front before the renovation of the building at 11 N. Main began in November 2021.

One, 11 N. Main,  is now completed and put to use, the other, 12 N. Main is on the agenda for updating.

11 N. Main seen through the front window. May 2022.

11 N. Main is the former Books and Grannies Book Store which was purchased in January 2021, while 12 N. Main is the former Country Cupboard.

11 N. Main as seen from the back door on Skubitz Plaza. May 2022.

At 11 N. Main, “We emptied it out, rearranged some walls, and made an ADA compliant bathroom on the first floor,” Townley said. “We also did painting, new flooring and painted the ceiling.”

“It turned out really nice,” he said. “It is rented by a Fort Scott Greyhound legacy group, as a gathering place.”

The building has about 1,700 square feet on the first floor. The second floor is a later project, he said.

12 N. Main, the former Country Cupboard

12 N. Main is slated for renovation completion in the summer of 2022, according to new owner Eddie Townley.

12 N. Main was purchased by the Townleys in December 2021.

“We are going to give it a good facelift and bring it up to date,” he said. “Bathrooms, flooring, painting.” The timeline is summer 2022 completion.

“The Country Cupboard was a great building with good bones,” Townley said.

This building use is undetermined as yet, Townley said.

12 N. Main was formerly the Country Cupboard, a decades old business which was an anchor in the historic Fort Scott Downtown.

Townley said he “wants to see the downtown come back to life,” and wants to be active in the revitalization.

“We would, like the Renard’s want to be involved in the community,” he said.

Judy and John Renard owned the Country Cupboard for many decades and was an anchor store in downtown Fort Scott.

To view more history of the building:

Country Cupboard To Close For Good, Until Then Saturdays Only

 

 

Sens. Moran, Marshall Announce 23 Grants for Kansas Airports 

 

 

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Jerry Moran (Kan.) and Roger Marshall, M.D. today announced 23 U.S. Department of Transportation grants for Kansas airports. These grants will be used to make repairs and upgrades to the airports.

 

“Local airports help bring economic opportunities and critical resources to communities across Kansas,” said Sen. Moran. “These grants are an investment into regional Kansas airports to make certain they are running safely and efficiently to support interstate commerce and travel to and from Kansas.”

 

“Airports throughout our state provide essential services and expand business opportunities for Kansans,” said Sen. Marshall. “Through these grants, each of these airports will be able to make crucial repairs and upgrades. No doubt, the improvements made will allow the airports to better serve Kansas communities, and I’m glad to see this type of investment in our airports.”

 

Grant Recipients