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Category Archives: Fort Scott
Holiday Open House Shopping Event Downtown & Around Thursday, November 9th, 5-8pm
The Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce announces the Annual Holiday Open House Shopping event, Downtown & Around in Fort Scott. The main event will take place Thursday, November 9th from 5-8pm with festive refreshments, drawings & deals for you to enjoy and get you in the Holiday spirit! Then, Open House will continue Friday & Saturday, November 10th &11th. On Thursday the trolley will be going store to store from 5-8pm so you can shop & ride!
There will be spirited holiday shopping at nearly 20 participating retailers including 110 South Main, Angie Dawn’s Boutique, Barbed Wire & Roses, Bartelsmyers Jewelry, Better in Bourbon, Be The Light Boutique, Bids & Dibs, Flint + Fray, Hedgehog.INK! Bookstore, Iron Star, Laree + Co, Long Creek Outfitters, Papa Dons, Ruddicks Furniture, Sekan, Shirt Shack, Sunshine Boutique, The Artificers, and The Beauty Lounge. Don’t forget to enter your name at each store for a chance to win $50 in Chamber Bucks!
Visit fortscott.com or the Chamber Facebook page for more details. Get out for the Annual Holiday Open House Shopping Event Thursday, November 9th through Saturday the 11th in Fort Scott.
Fort Scott Public Library Recognized as the Library of Excellence
Lisa Walther is retiring from her position at the Fort Scott Public Library tomorrow, Oct. 31, after over 27 years as director.
Walther said through the years, the changes she has seen include joining SEKnFind ( a consortium of Southeast Kansas libraries administered by SEKLS which shares a single automated system) multiple library remodeling projects, and the beginning of ebooks availability.
An ebook is a book in electronic form that can be read on a computer or handheld device rather than in print, according to Oxford Languages.
Walther said the library board is beginning the process of advertising for her replacement.
Library of Excellence Award
On Oct. 24 the Fort Scott Public Library received the Library of
Excellence award from the Southeast Kansas Library System in a ceremony at the library.
“The library received an award, a check for $1,000, and a traveling plaque which we can display in the library until another Southeast Kansas Library System library wins the Library of Excellence Award,” Valetta Cannon, assistant library director said. “The last and only other one was awarded to Savonburg Public Library in 2018.”
“The Fort Scott Public Library earned this through their tireless
efforts to create community partnerships, renovate their space, and bring creative and innovative programs specific to their
community,” according to the announcement here https://drive.google.com/file/d/14t9bXuXpaUy3ok77LTlxMASLWVph4WqM/view?pli=1.
“Several programs showcase this work and their partnerships with local businesses, including Girls Who Code, 500
books before middle school, 100 books before
graduation, and Walk Into Books, Bourbon County.”
“Both their community outreach initiatives and the library’s dedication to eliminating barriers to services demonstrate
their dedication to the community and earned them this Excellence Award.”
According to a press release from Fort Scott Public Library, a patron, Ashley Morris, said, “The real strength of this library is its involvement in the local community. They have been indispensable in our community, particularly in their ability to safely foster connections and offer essential resources during and after the pandemic.”
Halloween Benefit Run for Piper Weeks This Saturday
The Fort Scott Recreation Center is facilitating an event to help a local Fort Scott High School in her battle with cancer.
“Piper Weeks is a high school student here in town who is diagnosed with bone cancer,” said Lucas Kelley, recreation director. “She is currently undergoing treatment. All proceeds from this race will be donated to the Weeks family to help with treatment costs.”
This Halloween-based 5k Run/Walk is on Saturday, October 28, 2023 at 9 a.m.
“It is called the Spooky Scurry,” he said. “The route begins at Frary Stadium (at FSHS, 1005 S. Main) then goes south on Main Street, east on East National, south all the way to the end of Cooper Street and back. The total route is 3.1 miles. We are encouraging all participants to wear their Halloween costumes for a chance to win the prize of tickets to the Enchant Christmas Light Show in Kansas City this winter.”
“The purpose of all our 5k Run/Walks is to help provide for a need in the community,” he said. “The cost is $30 per participant. Participants can register at Buck Run Community Center (735 Scott Avenue) or the day of the race starting at 8 a.m.”
The recreation staff has created a Venmo account to accept donations for the Weeks family. To make a contribution you can do that on Venmo with the following QR code.
A reminder that 100% of the money raised will go to help Piper Weeks with her cancer treatments.
Agenda for the USD 234 Board of Education for Oct. 30
Unified School District 234
424 South Main
Fort Scott, KS 66701-2697
620-223-0800 Fax 620-223-2760
DESTRY BROWN
Superintendent
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BOARD OF EDUCATION SPECIAL MEETING
October 30, 2023 – 5:30 PM
AGENDA SUMMARY
1.0 Call Meeting to Order Danny Brown, President
2.0 Flag Salute
3..0 Other Business – Personnel Matters
3.1 Enter Executive Session – Personnel Matters (Action Item).
3.2 Exit Executive Session
3.3 Approval of Personnel Report (Action Item)
4.0 Adjourn Meeting
President Brown
Halloween Parade Tomorrow in Downtown Fort Scott
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The Beacon Food Pantry sign up for 2024 EXTENDED TO NOVEMBER 3RD
The signup period has been extended to November 3 for the Beacon Food Pantry.
Hours will be on the following days Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday through November 3rd.
Normal business hours from 9:15 am to 12:45 pm
Sign-ups must be done by November 3rd No Exceptions
You will need to call in advance to the Beacon to set an appointment for one of these days. We will start taking calls for appointments beginning October 2nd our phone number is 620-223-6869.
You will need to bring with you to qualify for a food card:
Picture ID for all adults in the household
Social Security card for all in the household and Birthdates, all dependent children with different names must show full-time parental custody, and adoption papers, and must live with you to be on your card.
Proof of income, pension, retirement, social security disability, VA benefits, unemployment, child support/alimony and any other income
If you receive any services from DCF please bring the verification letter.
Please have your information with you when you come or you will be turned away and will have to reschedule an appointment
WE WILL ALSO BE DOING SIGN-UPS FOR THE ADOPT-A-CHILD AND THE ELKS FOOD BASKET AT THAT TIME.
PLEASE WEAR A MASK IF YOU HAVE A COUGH OR COLD OR HAVE BEEN EXPOSED TO COVID-19 FOR THE SAFETY OF OUR VOLUNTEERS AND STAFF. WE ARE ASKING ONLY 1 PERSON PER FAMILY IN THE BUILDING AT THAT TIME.
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 PICKUP
Adopt a Child pick-up and food baskets will be at Community Christian Church on December the 15 from 10 am to 1 pm. Pick-up will be a drive-thru like last year.
Elk’s baskets will be delivered the Sunday before Christmas.
PLEASE CALL TO SET UP YOUR APPOINTMENT AS SOON AS POSSIBLE
THANK YOU, THE BEACON STAFF
Voices From the Grave Tour Postponed to Nov. 4, Due to Weather
The Voices from the Grave Tour produced by the Bourbon County Community Theatre scheduled for Oct. 28 has been postponed to Nov. 4 due to the possibility of inclement weather.
Bourbon County Community Theatre Presents Voices from the Grave Tour
The newly formed Bourbon County Community Theatre, LLC presents their inaugural production entitled Voices from the Grave.
Voices from the Grave takes place from 6-9 p.m. on November 4 at Riverfront Park in Fort Scott, KS. Guests will enjoy a guided walking tour of short acting vignettes centering around stories of murder and mayhem in Fort Scott. Scenes were written by the students in the Advanced Drama class at Fort Scott High School and are based off of stories from local author Brian Allen’s books about Fort Scott.
Tickets are $10 for adults and $7 for students and are available from the Chamber of Commerce in Fort Scott. Tour times must be pre-scheduled and run every 10 minutes. Parents must accompany children under the age of 14.
More information can be found on the Bourbon County Community Theatre Facebook page or by contacting Angie Bin at 620-729-9622 or angela.bin@usd234.org.
What’s Happening in Fort Scott
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Kiwanis Pioneers Host Drive Through Chili Feed Fundraiser
The Kiwanis Club of Fort Scott Pioneers will hold their 35th annual Chili Feed on Tuesday, November 7th at the United Methodist Church at 301 South National in Fort Scott. 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 $8.00 donation per meal) to be collected at the door.
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, Head Start, the Beacon, 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 Kiwanis Pioneer President Kelley Collins.
“The annual fundraiser will be drive through only.” according to Collins. 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.
Deliveries will be available for orders of ten or more by calling 620-224-0563 during serving hours.
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Design Review Advisory Board Meeting is Nov. 6
The Fort Scott Design Review Advisory Board Meeting
When: November 6th, 2023
Time: 4:00 pm
Location: City Hall
Topics for discussion:
- Certificate of Appropriateness for storefronts of 6 S. Main and 8 S. Main in Fort Scott submitted for consideration.
- Certificate of Appropriateness for 10 S. National DCF Building project submitted for consideration.
The meeting is open to the public and the recording is available to watch on YouTube after the meeting is held.
Submitted by:
Mary Wyatt
Community Development Director
City of Fort Scott
Brad Matkin Resigns as City of Fort Scott Manager, Effective January 3
Brad Matkin, Fort Scott’s City Manager for approximately 1.5 years resigned yesterday, posting a public service announcement on the City of Fort Scott Facebook page.
Matkin said on October 24 he turned in a letter of resignation to the Fort Scott City Commission, effective on January 3, 2024.
“I will continue doing duties of city manager until that time and close out some of the projects we’ve got, and establish guidelines for the next few years, ” he said on Facebook.
“There is a lot left to do,” Matkin said. “We have only touched the very tip of the iceberg with our accomplishments. As a City, we must establish a Housing/Business Development Coordinator who works full-time for the city and goes and visits with our existing businesses to see if there is anything the City of Fort Scott can do for them. We worry so much about bringing in new business sometimes the great businesses like Timken, Peerless, Ward Kraft, etc. get forgotten.”
This Housing/Business Development Coordinator position would also help developers in their housing and business developments, finding grants, property, and opportunities, he said.
Other projects that Matkin sees as not completed are street, water, and wastewater 2024 and 2025 programs that need to be developed and executed, along with several other tasks.
“You sacrifice a lot with this position and family is very important to me,” he said in an interview. “I have lost many years with my family in previous jobs, and I have decided this was not fair to me or my family. There are several reasons for my departure but this is the only one I will discuss.”
Matkin thanked the city staff and utility work crews, the commissioners, citizens, and his family for their support.
Even “Citizens who haven’t always been supportive, I want to thank you because you are the motivation that drives us,” he said.
He credits any accomplishments to his staff and crews, he said in an interview. “I was just the person that helped with the decisions, they are the ones that made them happen. Every accomplishment I can write down was done by the City of Fort Scott Team and not the City Manager.”
Here are the staff accomplishments:
- Building the staff that the city currently has.
- Establishing the “My Fort Scott” app.
- Finishing Cooper Street.
- Finishing “Old Faithful” project.
- Improving wages for City staff members.
- Improving wages for City Public Safety members
- Gunn Park camping area improvements.
- Lake Fort Scott stem repair.
- 2022 Cape Seal program completion and 2023 Cape Seal program preparation work.
- Increasing advertisements and promotions of area events by the tourism department.
- Approvement of 2025 CCLIP grant for 2nd phase of Wall Street
- Pothole and Crack sealing program.
- Establishing a brick crew, and a street repair team.
- Memorial Hall improvements.
- Additional Lake Fort Scott fishing docks.
- Buck Run Community Center improvements.
- Wastewater Treatment Plant improvements and elimination of “the smell”.
- Assignment of Baker Tilly as City’s Finance Director.
- Flawless 2022 City audit.
- $1.7 million CDBG sewer repair grant ($1.1 million was the city’s responsibility).
- Airport runway and taxi-way improvements.
- Stormwater project on 17th and Eddy.
- Purchased street line painter, painting the city streets with city crews.
- Several street and water line repairs.
- Bringing back the Community Development position.
- Establishing a budget that did not increase taxes and opened up some additional monies.
Fort Scott has a future, he said. “If it’s allowed, but it’s going to take positivity. That was my goal to spread positivity and get rid of negativity. I feel like I have done that, for the most part.”
“It’s my hometown,” he said on the Facebook announcement of his resignation. “I’ve lived here 53 years….there is no place better.”
He will help the commission find a replacement for the position, he said. “To get everything ready for basically what I would have done into the next two years,” he said in making the resignation announcement at the Community Connections Panel at noon yesterday.
When Matkin told the panel he was resigning, at the end of his presentation of highlights at the city, the moderator, Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce President Bailey Lyons thanked Matkin for his service to the city of Fort Scott, and asked if there is a new search started for city manager.
“I haven’t talked to the commission, personally,” he said. “If I had a recommendation, I would make it a national search or a least broaden the search out a little further. It will take a little while to find one.”
To view a prior story: