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What’s Happening in Fort Scott
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Category Archives: Fort Scott
Taco Azul Food Truck Moves to The Twin Mansions
The Taco Azul Food Truck has moved to a new site with more seating and shade for their customers.
“We’re excited about this move because there’s more seating, more shade, more room for kids to move around, and altogether a great atmosphere,” Erin Macik said. “Seb set up a really neat outside dining area, and it will be a lovely gathering place for the folks of Fort Scott.”
“Our only regret is that everyone at the Washateria was very accommodating and pleasant to work with, and we’re sad to leave them,” she said.
The reason for the move: technical reasons.
“The generator for the trailer has a carbon monoxide detector and automatically shuts off when levels get high,” she said. “Unfortunately, it was shutting off about every 20 minutes, so we needed to find a place with a plug-in. We were able to install one easily at the mansions, and Seb is starting there today!”
“After a year of planning and setting up, we opened at the Good Ol’ Days festival this year,” Erin said.
Seb Macik spent some time teaching in Mexico City before he and Erin were married, and discovered Mexican street tacos during that time.
“Ever since then, he’s been working to make the perfect street taco, and the result is Taco Azul: real-deal Mexico City tacos in Fort Scott, KS,” she said.
The Twin Mansions are located at 742 National Ave., Fort Scott, they are in the parking lot behind
.
Regular hours are Wednesday-Saturday, 11 a.m.-7 p.m.
“We post the week’s schedule on Facebook every week, and there are slight changes occasionally, but in general, those are the hours we’ll be open,” Erin said.
Wayward Bettys At Crooners June 30
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Spectacular Display and Other Fun Is Planned for July 3 in Fort Scott
The annual community fireworks display will be July 3 at Fort Scott Community College, 2108 Horton Street. Cars will be lined up on Horton for viewing the display.
Shaunn Pytlowany, lead pyrotechnician with Premier Pyrotechnics will be once again be orchestrating the fireworks display for Fort Scott.
“This is our second year of a multi-year contract,” Pytlowany said.
The display will be shorter this year, but more spectacular.
“We have been asked to provide a 15 minute show, to shorten it, so there will be more going off at any one time,” Pytlowany said. “Which will make it more spectacular.”
KMDO, KOMB, 103.9 radio station will be broadcasting music to listen to while watching the display.
There will be 512 aerials exploded with display heights of between 275 to 600 feet, depending on wind speed and humidity, he said.
Pytlowany and his crew will start setting up the display at 7 a.m. on July 3 and under normal circumstances set up will be complete between 8:30 and 9 p.m.
He has provided displays for local football and soccer games, cities, weddings, family reunions, and at the LaRoche Baseball Complex for the Wounded Warrior Project. The Premier Pyrotechnics company has provided displays for the Kansas City Royals and Chiefs, he said.
He has worked at Premier Pyrotechnics, based in Richland, MO for nine years, but has been fascinated by them for 40 years, he said.
“I was always interested in the design, manufacturing process and of course the explosion,” he said.
Sponsors
Advance Bourbon County, a local non-profit, took over the organizing and paying for the display from the Elks Club this year.
This year the cost of the event is $12,000.
Helping to sponsor the fireworks event is Fort Scott Gun and Pawn Shop, the City of Fort Scott, Tall Grass Building System, the American Legion, the Elks Club, Brian Bowman Construction, Engstrom Construction, the Kiwanis Club and A-1 Towing.
Prelude Fun and Food
There will be local vendors selling food and drinks: Juan Some Grub, Fort Scott High School Swim Team-lemonade tent, Valley Flavor, Tiger Ice Sno Cones, Doggone Dogs, and Los Tres Pollitos, Aaron Judy, one of the organizers said.
Additionally, there will be corn hole and other yard games for people to use, he said.
These will be set up in the area between the FSCC John Deere Department (the old armory) and the 4-H Building on the Bourbon County Fairgrounds.
Fort Scott’s Rules For Fireworks
During the event, there can be no fireworks discharged from 18th Street and Horton Street to 23rd and Horton, according to Fort Scott Police Department Chief Jason Pickert.
“They cannot be discharged on the community college campus or on the Bourbon County Fairgrounds,” he said.
Fireworks can be purchased until July 4.
Until July 2 they can be discharged from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. On July 3 and July 4 they can be discharged from 7 a.m. until midnight.
FS Design Review Board To Discuss the 1st Colored Infantry Mural on July 10
DESIGN REVIEW BOARD MEETING TO DISCUSS THE 1ST COLORED INFANTRY MURAL ON MONDAY, JULY 10TH , 4:00 PM AT CITY HALL
New Historic Fort Scott Mural Artist: Cbabi Bayoc
Cbabi Bayoc, St. Louis, MO, was selected to paint the latest downtown Fort Scott mural.
He was selected through a process, established by the Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce Downtown Division, to seek the best artist for the mural to highlight the 1st Kansas Colored Infantry historic significance in the Civil War.
To learn more about the selection process, Fort Scott Chamber Awarded Grant For History Mural on Skubitz Plaza
The mural will be facing the Fort Scott National Historic Site, which is where this infantry unit was organized for the Civil War.
Bayoc, 50, has been creating murals since 2017.
“I have about 25-30 murals in schools and businesses around the St. Louis region and several in outside locations, like the United Church of Christ corporate office in Ohio, the 1619 Freedom School in Iowa and the Family Reunification center in North Carolina,” he said in an interview with fortscott.biz.
“I have never done a military-inspired mural but have always been interested in the Civil War and Reconstruction,” he said.” I am also an Air Force brat, so this is special to me.”
“The only must-haves for (this) mural were three soldiers and their batallion flag,” Bayoc said. “So I designed a mural with a soldier in arms with the American flag, a soldier aiming his rifle across the design and the batallion flag as a backdrop.”
Bayoc will be in Fort Scott the second week of August for approximately a week for working on the mural, he said. At the beginning of the project he will have one or two people helping him.
About the 1st Colored Infantry
“Kansas was the first Northern state to recruit, train, and send Black soldiers into combat during the Civil War,” according to https://www.nps.gov/fosc/learn/historyculture/firsttoserve.htm. “Fort Scott served as the home base for both the 1st and 2nd Kansas Colored Infantry, with both regiments being mustered into federal service on Fort Scott’s former parade ground. The Emancipation Proclamation officially authorized the recruitment of African American soldiers for federal service (although the 1st Kansas Colored had earlier been recruited as a state unit in August 1862). This meant it was now legal for free Blacks and former slaves to fight back against the institution of slavery and seek to abolish it through armed resistance. As virtually every Southern slave code prohibited Blacks from carrying guns, the proclamation had a profound psychological impact across the region.”
Taken from the Fort Scott National Historic Site, courtesy of the Kansas State Historical Society
To keep up to date on the mural creation:
https://www.facebook.com/muralsoffortscott
The mural will be dedicated during the Gordon Parks Celebration on the first Friday in October, said Rachel French, a member of the Chamber Downtown Committee and project coordinator for the mural.
The $5,250 Kansas Office of Rural Prosperity grant awarded for the mural is a matching grant.
“We are fundraising for the match,” French said. “We need to do signage and there will be recognition of donors.”
To donate:
2023 Lowell Milken Center Fellows Receive Keys to the City
The 2023 Fellows: From left, Back Row: Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce Director Lindsay Madison; Ali Jun from Las Vegas, NV; Victoria Lightfoot from Raleigh, NC; Michelle Wolfe from Baker, WV; and FS Tourism Director Jackson Tough. Front Row: Kate Molodyk from Ukraine; Lesley Snyder from Irmo, SC Jennifer Farr from Junction City, KS.
2023 Lowell Milken Center Fellows Receive Keys to the City
The Lowell Milken Center (LMC) for Unsung Heroes in Fort Scott, Kansas has awarded its 2023 National Fellowship to 12 educators.
As part of their week-long experience in Fort Scott, the six fellows for June 25 – 30 were given the key to the city on Tuesday, June 27th, by Jackson Tough, Tourism Director. (Six other Fellows were in Fort Scott last week.) Upon the presentation of the keys, Tourism Director Jackson Tough said, “From Gordon Parks to the history of the Fort and the National Cemetery, along with this amazing Center for Unsung Heroes, we realize that Fort Scott is the home of heroes. Now we add you, the Lowell Milken Fellows to that list of heroes. You influence so many young people. You mold them, inspire them, and give them direction.”
The Fellows honored this week were Jennifer Farr from Kansas, Ali Jun from Nevada, Victoria Lightfoot from North Carolina, Kateryna Molodyk from Ukraine, Lesley Snyder from South Carolina, and Michelle Wolfe from West Virginia.
LMC Director Norm Conard praised these outstanding individuals, saying, “We are so honored to be able to network and collaborate with these exemplary educators and provide them with an opportunity to reflect, reenergize and strategize with each other as they seek to find new ways to inspire their students.”
Every summer, the Lowell Milken Center for Unsung Heroes awards their Fellowship to national and international award-winning educators from America and around the world.
As National LMC Fellows, they deepen their understanding of Unsung Heroes and project-based learning in preparation for developing Unsung Heroes projects with their students. They also learn the stories of powerful role models who have helped to change the world and can be life-changing examples for students today.
Along with the time spent deepening their professional skills at the LMC, the Fellows enjoy visiting the Fort Scott area.
U234 Report from June 27 Meeting
Unified School District 234
424 South Main
Fort Scott, KS 66701-2697
620-223-0800 Fax 620-223-2760
DESTRY BROWN
Superintendent
BOARD OF EDUCATION SPECIAL MEETING
NEWS RELEASE
Tuesday, June 27, 2023
Members of the USD 234 Board of Education met at 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday, June 27, 2023, for a special board meeting at the board office.
President Danny Brown opened the meeting.
The board approved the following items:
- High School Science Resources from McGraw Hill in the amount of $13,531.64
- Preschool Resource from FrogStreet in the amount of $23,216.16
- KERMP Property, Casualty, Auto Insurance Renewal
- Laptop Storage from WebRestaurant & Supply from Amazon in the amount of $16,946.08
- Year-End Budget Review and Approval of Transfers
The board went into executive session and then approved the Personnel Report as presented.
President Danny Brown adjourned the meeting.
PERSONNEL REPORT – APPROVED EMPLOYMENT
June 27, 2023
RESIGNATIONS/TERMINATIONS/RETIREMENTS:
Feagins, Cecil J – Retirement – Fort Scott Middle School Custodian, as of August 31, 2023
Gumfory, Chelsea – Resignation – Fort Scott Middle School 8th Grade Math Teacher as of June 26, 2023
TRANSFERS/REASSIGNMENTS:
For the 2023-24 school year:
Certified:
Hall, Kathi – transfer from Fort Scott Middle School 6th Grade ELA Teacher to Fort Scott Middle School 8th Grade Math Teacher
Minor, Linda – transfer from Winfield Scott Elementary 2nd Grade Teacher to Winfield Scott Elementary Technology Teacher
Classified:
Glover, Carol – Winfield Scott Cook – change in hours from 5.5 hours to 5.0 hours
Vincent, McKayla – transfer from Eugene Ware Elementary Paraprofessional to Winfield Scott Paraprofessional
EMPLOYMENT:
Certified Recommendations for the 2023-24 school year:
Rivera, Jacquelyn – Winfield Scott Elementary 2nd Grade Teacher
Singmaster, Torrie – Fort Scott Middle School 6th Grade Math Teacher
Classified Recommendations for the 2023-24 school year:
Jobe, Candace – Special Education Administrative Assistant
Judson, Mary – Fort Scott High School Cook
Kim, Jong – Winfield Scott Kitchen Manager
Marsh, Anna – Eugene Ware Elementary Cook
Jones, Haley – Administrative Assistant/Communications Coordinator
Supplemental Recommendations for the 2023-24 school year:
Ables, Andrew – Fort Scott Middle School Assistant Football Coach
Chamber Feature: Organized by Karis
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Fort Scott Splash Pad and Sensory Park Receive Grant from CVS Health Company
Aetna Better Health of Kansas grant supports fully accessible splash pad for southeast Kansas kids
TOPEKA, Kan., June 27, 2023 – Aetna Better Health of Kansas, a CVS Health® company, announced that it provided a community investment to support the opening of the first and only fully accessible community park in Fort Scott. The southeast Kansas area will be home to the new, all-inclusive splash pad and sensory park beginning this summer.
The 50×50 foot splash pad and sensory park on the west side of Skubitz Plaza, off North National Avenue in Bourbon County is anticipated to open in July 2023. The park is designed to be easily accessed, with no physical barriers to kids and caregivers enjoying the park. The park features zero-depth water elements and sensory components that encourage cognitive development, imagination, teamwork and learning.
“There is a real need for local resources that bring members of our community together and support their health and wellbeing,” said Jane Brown, Aetna Better Health of Kansas CEO. “Our donation backs up all the community support that brought this park to life. This project will provide sensory stimulation and social development for Kansas kids of all abilities.”
Aetna Better Health of Kansas has been providing quality care to Medicaid enrollees in the state since 2019. The health plan serves more than 130,000 enrollees across the state through the KanCare Medicaid managed care program.
Since 2021, Aetna Better Health of Kansas donated more than $330,000 to various community-based organizations across the state to positively impact population health and provide under-resourced individuals and families with more options to access quality health care.
About Aetna Medicaid
Aetna Medicaid Administrators LLC (Aetna Medicaid), a CVS Health company, has more than 30 years of experience managing the care of under-resourced populations, using innovative approaches and a local presence in each market to achieve both successful health care results and effective cost outcomes. Aetna Medicaid has expertise serving high-need Medicaid members, including those who are dually eligible for Medicaid and Medicare. Currently, Aetna Medicaid owns and/or administers Medicaid managed health care plans under the names of Aetna Better Health and other affiliate names. Together, these plans serve members in 16 states, including Arizona, California, Florida, Illinois, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas, Virginia and West Virginia. For more information, visit www.aetnabetterhealth.com.
About CVS Health
CVS Health is the leading health solutions company, delivering care like no one else can. We reach more people and improve the health of communities across America through our local presence, digital channels and over 300,000 employees including more than 40,000 physicians, pharmacists, nurses, and nurse practitioners. Wherever and whenever people need us, we help them with their health whether that’s managing chronic diseases, staying compliant with their medications, or accessing affordable health and wellness services in the most convenient ways. We help people navigate the health care system and their personal health care by improving access, lowering costs and being a trusted partner for every meaningful moment of health. And we do it all with heart, each and every day. Learn more at www.cvshealth.com.
Construction of Downtown Splash Pad Is Moving Forward
The splash pad project is moving ahead with plans for a summer opening, according to Bailey Lyons, one of the committee members spearheading the project.
The project is located on North National Avenue, across from Brick Street BBQ Restaurant on Skubitz Plaza.
“You may have noticed there has been a lot of recent action at the site of the Splashpad and Sensory Park,” according to a press release from Lyons. “With Playscapes Recreation leading the charge, and the Splashpad and Sensory Park committee heavily involved, much progress has been made in the last few weeks.”
The Splashpad and Sensory Park Committee is comprised of Kelly Barr, Katie Hueston, Josh Jones, Lyons, and Meredith Tucker.
They have been actively working on this project for the past year, and have raised over $300,000 in funds and in-kind donations.
The committee’s mission is to build the first all-inclusive, fully accessible park in Fort Scott, according to the press release.
The full press release is as follows:
“This sensory playground and splash pad will offer children and their families a fun, safe, barrier-free space to play, laugh, interact, and feel like they belong – regardless of their abilities. This project is about community, education, engagement, advocacy, and inclusion.”
“This playground has been intentionally designed with sensory stimulation in mind to maximize play and support the development of all children. The park will include a variety of equipment and activities made to engage as many senses as possible, and appeal to a broad range of ages and ability levels.”
“While the Splashpad and Sensory Park will provide a new, unique, and fun option for able-bodied children to play, it will be the first and only option for many kids in our community who have disabilities and cannot enjoy our other parks. These special kids and their families will no longer be left out or displaced when it comes to enjoying recreational amenities, something that many take for granted.”
The committee has plans to open the splash pad this summer and “is almost to the finish line….through grants, monetary donations and in-kind donations,” according to the press release. “As work quickly progresses towards a grand opening (date to be announced), there are notable changes occuring at the site regularly.”
Here is a list of what has been done:
- the pad has been leveled and brought up to grade,
- elevations have been set,
- water and electric have been laid to the site,
- drain lines have been laid,
- feature footings have been set,
- piping from the features has been laid,
- and the vault has been set to house the manifold which will soon be placed.
“Once all of this is wrapped up, concrete will be poured, and the features will be installed after the pads have cured. The committee is still actively working to complete the park with the final piece – an ADA accessible restroom – which they hope will be added in the very near future.”
The committee is planning two work days and is inviting the public to help on-site with the project
In the coming weeks, clean up and landscaping will take place on Sunday July 9, and/or Saturday July 15.
Those who would like to help, please contact Lyons at (620)224-7795 so that jobs and tools/materials can be coordinated for the work.
“The Splashpad and Sensory Park Committee would like to sincerely thank all of the generous donors who have contributed thus far, both monetary and in-kind donations,” according to the press release. “Donors who have given $500 and above are listed below, and will be featured on permanent signage at the park:
| FOUNDERS |
| Timken Foundation of Canton |
| Walmart |
| BENEFACTORS ($10,000+) |
| Contributors to YAT/Parks Advisory Board |
| Alta Davis |
| Evergy |
| No Limits Rehabilitation/Brad & Meredith Tucker |
| City of Fort Scott |
| ADVOCATES ($5,000-9,999) |
| Advanced Bourbon County |
| Aetna – Better Health of Kansas |
| Bourbon County REDI |
| Bourbon County, KS |
| Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas |
| Forrest & Julia Sewell |
| Fort Scott Area Community Foundation |
| Healthy Bourbon County Action Team |
| Key Charitable Trust |
| Lyons Realty Group |
| Niece Products of Kansas |
| Steven & Jessica Tucker |
| SPONSORS ($2,500-4,999) |
| Bloomfield Foundation In Memory of Tim Bloomfield & His Grandaughter Olivia Bloomfield |
| Hammerson Ready Mix |
| Jayhawk Wind |
| In Honor & Memory of Lillian Rose Kraft |
| Modern Woodman Fraternal Financial |
| O’Brien Ready Mix |
| Joshua & Terra Tecchio-Baseley |
| Sheridan Nash |
| Skitch’s Hauling & Excavation |
| DONORS ($1,000-2,499) |
| A1 Towing & Recovery |
| Advantage Metals Recycling |
| Big Sugar Lumber |
| Bourbon County Cars |
| Bourbon County Garden Club |
| Cheney Witt Funeral Chapel |
| DelBrenna Jewelry by Megan Neil & Sebastian Ghezzi |
| Dreamscape Innovations, Inc. |
| Fort Scott Recreation Department |
| Highway 3 |
| In Loving Memory of Marsha Lancaster, Longtime Owner of Marsha’s Deli |
| In Memory of Angelo-Sondra Dellantonia |
| Janet Braun |
| Jeff Allen Electric |
| Landmark National Bank |
| Lee Sewell-Painter |
| Legacy Health |
| Mid-Continental Restoration |
| Mitch Welch |
| Pearson Towing |
| Pete’s of Erie, Inc. |
| RII Concrete Construction |
| Sleep Inn |
| Sonic |
| Thomas Concrete & Construction |
| Valu Merchandisers Co. |
| W/K Holdings |
| FRIENDS ($500-999) |
| Bowman’s NuGrille |
| Budgetel Inn & Suites – Aaradhya Piyush Mistry |
| Clifton Chiropractic |
| Davis & Associates Tax + Consulting |
| FSHS FFA & Construction Trades |
| Greyhound Football Legacy Center |
| The Gugnani Family |
| The Horton House |
| John Crain – In Memory of Don & Connie Crain |
| JW & Diana Endicott |
| Konantz – Cheney Funeral Home |
| Labconco |
| Liberty Savings Association, FSA |
| Lyons & Lyons |
| The Meeks Family |
| Scott and Melissa Meyers |
| Museum of Creativity |
| {Re:freshed} Spa |
| The Reynolds Law Firm |
| Riggs Chiropractic of Fort Scott |
| Stewart Realty |
| Union State Bank |
The donors listed above have contributed $500+, according to Lyons. “In addition to these, there have been numerous donors below the $500 level, and their generosity and support is also much appreciated!”
The City of Fort Scott is supplying the water to the splash pad.
“The city’s part is to get the splash pad the water supply,” Fort Scott’s Water Distribution Supervisor Bill Lemke said.
Chamber Coffee hosted by Bourbon County Garden Club on June 29
The Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce invites all members and guests to the Chamber Coffee this Thursday, June 29th at 8a.m. hosted by Bourbon County Garden Club at the Heritage Park Pavilion. Coffee, juice, and light refreshments will be served in addition to a door prize drawing.
Bourbon County Garden Club is a group of local gardeners that gather to learn, grow, and share in their passion for gardening. They meet to plant and care for gardens throughout the City.
Chamber members and guests are invited to Chamber Coffee events each Thursday at 8 a.m. to network, make announcements, hear about happenings in the community as well as learn about the host business or organization.