BINGO hosted by the American Legion Post 25 every 1st and 3rd Thursday of each month unless it falls on a holiday. Doors open at 6pm and Bingo starts at 7pm at Memorial Hall.
April Specials at Hedgehog.INK! Bookstore, Buy 2 Get 1 Free on any Poetry, Classics,
and Performing Arts.
4/28-30 ~ 46th Annual Karate Tournament in Pittsburg Kansas, 150-200 competitors from the Midwest and Canada competing, tournament begins at 9:30am and is open to the public, no admission fee, click here for more info.
4/28 ~ Pop Up Poppy Class at The Artificers, stop in any time between 6-9pm, $20/person
4/29 ~ FSCC Spring Kids Fair, 9am-noon, click here for more info.
4/29 ~ Fort Scott Mud Run, Bourbon County Fairgrounds, 2102 S. Huntington, Two pits, a 24′ mud bog and a 12′ fun pit, plus a kids mud pool, concessions, and more. Click here for more info.
4/29 ~ Heidrick’s True Value 37th Annual Garden Party, get a hot dog & pop for $.25, cooked & served by Care to Share, celebrate Spring with big savings on vegetables, flowers, roses, soils, mulches and rock!
4/29 ~ Public Auction Benefitting Fort Scott Presbyterian Village, 2102 S. Horton Street, 10am, click here for more info.
4/29 ~ FSCC First Annual Twilight Open, Woodland Hills Golf Coure, 4 person scramble, $400 per team of 4 OR $100 per person, Entry includes 18 holes of golf, cart, meal, gift, and glow-in-the-dark ball, click here for more info.
5/3~ FSCC Kids College, grades k-5th, 2:30pm-4:30pm, click here for more info and to sign up.
5/4 ~ Chamber Coffee and Ribbon Cutting hosted by Papa Don’s Pizza, 10. North Main, 8am.
5/4 ~ Riggs Chiropractic Chamber After-Hours Grand Opening and Ribbon Cutting, 5:15-6:30pm, remarks and ribbon cutting at 5:30pm,
see flyer below.
5/5 ~ BINGO by the American Legion, Memorial Hall, doors open 6pm, BINGO starts 7pm
5/5 ~ Spring Town-Wide Garage Sale, register your sale with the Chamber for only $12 to be included on the official listing and map, ad sales also available on the map for businesses & organizations, click here for more info.
5/5 ~ Backroom Art Gallery First Friday at
Hare & Crow, 118 S. Main, 1-9pm, click here for more info.
5/5 ~ ADM Blood Drive, Front Office Admin Building-Conference Room, 17700 South Highway T Deerfield, Mo 64741, 11am-4pm, click here for more info.
5/5 ~ First Friday at The Artificers, 5-9pm
5/5 ~ Taco Tico Cinco de Mayo, Elks Lodge, dine or carry out, DJ for dancing, 5pm,
5/6 ~ 1 Day Intro to Pistol & Fundamentals Course, Fort Scott Munitions, 523 E. Wall St., 9:30am-4:30pm, click here for more info.
5/5-6 ~ Pioneer Harvest Swap Meet, Bourbon County Fairgrounds, gates open at 8am, camping available w/electric $20, $10 fee for a Swap Meet booth, click here for more info.
5/6 ~ First Saturday Story Time at Hedgehog.INK! Bookstore, 2:30-3:30pm, click here for more info.
5/6 ~ FSHS Prom, walk-in starts at 6:30 with prom starting at 8pm.
5/7 ~ May Floral Class at Sunshine Boutique, everything you need plus wine and refreshments, 12-2pm, contact sunshine boutique for more info!
SAVE THE DATE!
5/20 ~ Shead Homestead Festival, 10am-5pm, click here for flyer.
5/20 ~ Patio Concert at Liberty by Bourbon County Arts Council “Wednesdays at the Hermans”
5/23 ~ Spring into Summer Self-Care Fair hosted by Southeast Kansas Mental Health at Fort Scott Middle School, 5-8pm, SEKMHC is NOW requesting Vendors for this event, register here for a FREE booth.
Jones T. VanHoecke E. Woellhof K. Harrington M. Wells
Flag Salute:
III. Invocation: T. VanHoecke
Proclamations/Recognitions:
P.E.O. Chapter CA 100 Year Centennial Celebration
May is Mental Health Month
Approval of Agenda:
Consent Agenda:
Approval of minutes of the regular meeting of April 18, 2023
Approval of Appropriation Ordinance 1335-A totaling $716,237.41
Request to Pay Billiard Hammer Hartman Insurance (EMC Insurance) –
City Liability Insurance Renewal $333,818.00
Request to Pay the Kansas State Treasurer – Bond Payment – General
Obligation Temporary Notes, Series 2022-1 – $58,318.75
Nuss & Farmer – outside of contract work – $1,452.50
VII. Public Comment:
Sign up required. Comments on any topic not on agenda and limited to five (5) minutes per person, at Commission discretion.
VIII. Old Business:
Consideration of Schneider Electric Contract – B. Matkin
Consideration of Lagoon Aeration Proposal – Phase II – J. Dickman
Consideration of CD bank bids – B. Hart
Appearances:
Cory Bryars – Temporary Street Closure Request – Care To Share Street Dance – Friday, September 29, 2023 – 6:30PM to 11:00PM – National Ave. between Wall and Oak (Wall and Oak to remain open).
Public Hearing: NONE
New Business:
Youth Activities Team (Y.A.T.) 1311 S. National going to auction – J. Jones
Consideration to go out for bids for 2023 Hay Rights
XII. Reports and Comments:
City Manager Comments:
Wastewater plant update
Downtown parking update
Aquatic Center update
Engineering Comments:
Commissioners Comments:
VanHoecke –
Woellhof –
Harrington –
Jones –
Wells –
City Attorney Comments:
XIII. Executive Session – If requested, (please follow script in all motions for Executive Sessions)
Fort Scottian Jennifer Michaud attended a seminar several years ago where Deborah Factor spoke about the Core Community program, her husband Bill said.
Factor started with a youth mentorship program and then added the Core Communities program, to help families as well,
Bill Michaud, said in an interview with fortscott.biz.
Bill Michaud. Submitted photo.
“I have been in contact with and getting to know Deb for…several years,” Bill said. “I recognized that poverty is an issue that is well documented and often discussed in southeast Kansas but I’m not aware of any programs that work so directly to hit the issue head-on. I believe that this is a program that has great potential to help change peoples lives so I brought it up a few times during different community-focused conversations in which I was involved over a several year period.”
Submitted graphics.
A small group of people came to see the potential that Bill Michaud saw, so there were a couple of follow-up informational meetings.
“In February Jennifer and I, Rachel Carpenter, Lindsay McNeil, Lisa Robertson and Destry Brown traveled to Greensburg, Kansas to attend one of Deb’s regular Monday class sessions and were able to see the program in action and hear more stories of lives impacted first-hand,” Michaud said.
“In March we asked Deb to come to Fort Scott to present to a larger group of church representatives, social service organizations and anyone else we thought might have an initial interest in learning about the program,” Bill Michaud said. “(Bourbon County Commissioner) Clifton Beth was in attendance at that presentation and at the conclusion, asked Deb to set a time to do an abbreviated presentation to the county commission.”
Submitted graphics.
In April, Bill Michaud and Deb Factor(on a Zoom call) presented to the commission on the Core Community Ministry.
Factor stated she started in 1998 in Greensburg, doing ministry for youth, according to the commission minutes. During the process she had kids she worked with for years walk into adulthood and follow in the cycle of poverty.
Factor said that her goal was to help the kids grow into healthy, thriving adults who can give back in their community and not be under the constant burden and struggle of poverty, according to the commission minutes.
Submitted graphics.
In 2015, after modeling a program that had been successful elsewhere, she launched the poverty program, Core Community.
They have 13 programs in Kansas and one in Illinois currently.
The program consists of weekly meetings, 48-50 weeks per year, and will continue to meet with the individuals for two to five years. The program tries to educate the community on what poverty really is, according to the county commission minutes.
Factor told the commission the program identifies barriers and helps people push through them, with 70 % increasing their income.
Core Community is tracking those that are out of poverty for ten years to gather data to see if they are maintaining the upward trajectory.
The first step in bringing the program to the community is fundraising. Then a community coordinator would be hired and reside in the county with CORE Community being their employer, and an advisory board formed.
Michaud said this is a fundraising-based organization and would not ask the county for money to sustain the program.
Bourbon County Commissioner Clifton Beth said he worked in home health and hospice in southeast Kansas and saw first-hand the poverty that residents are facing and would like to see the school district, college and city government come together to make this program happen, according to the commission minutes.
Michaud stated about five churches in Fort Scott have been asked to become involved.
The Bourbon County Commission in a vote of 2-1 voted to give Core Community program $50,000 to get it started in this community.
Nelson Blythe voted against it, stating that “he doesn’t believe charity is the role of government, and there is nothing stopping others in the community from writing a check.” Nelson stated “This is taxpayer’s money that should go toward making the courthouse run and roads better”, according to the commission minutes.
The county’s Chief Financial Officer Susan Bancroft, stated the money would come from PILOT funds received from the windmill money to the county for economic development, according to the commission minutes.
There is a requirement to have approximately the first years budget raised before launching the program, Michaud said in an interview. This could take up to 18 months.
“Before we launch our program in Bourbon County we are going to work to identify what sustainable funding sources we think we will be able to count on to fund the program in future years,” Michaud said in an interview.
The City of Fort Scott and the Bourbon County Commission have approved money to help with start up costs.
The city has approved $15,000 and will be meeting with the Core Community representatives on May 18, FS City Manager Brad Matkin said.
“The City and County funding that has been approved are remarkable gifts that will allow us to get this program launched and accelerate the time frame for this program to begin helping people, but this program is not one that we anticipate will require future city / county funding,” Michaud said. “We have developed an advisory board that consists of representatives of several church and social service organizations so that we have input from a very broad base of representatives. This…board will also guide the organization once we launch the program.”
The Fort Scott Planning Commission will meet on Monday, May 22nd, 2023, at 4:00PM at City Hall, 123 S. Main Street, Fort Scott, Kansas. This meeting will be held to consider the following:
A change of zoning from unknown to C-4 (Central Business). Evergy is proposing to construct and electrical substation on a tract of land located southeast of N. National Ave. and Maple Ridge Park Street in Fort Scott, Bourbon County, Kansas. It will be known as Case No. 1140.
This meeting is open to the public and will be available on the City of Fort Scott YouTube Channel.
There will be a Work Session prior to the Tuesday, May 2, 2023, City Commission meeting. The Work Session will begin at 5:00PM with Gilmore and Bell to speak to the Commission about STAR Bonds and TIFs. The regular City Commission meeting will follow at 6:00PM. Both meetings will be held in the City Commission Room at City Hall, 123 S. Main St. and will be available on the City of Fort Scott YouTube channel.
The Fort Scott Presbyterian Village Fundraising Public Auction will be held this year at the Bourbon County 4-H building, located on 2109 S. Horton street, about 3 blocks north of the Presbyterian Village.
The auction will start at 10 a.m. Saturday, April 29th.
Submitted photos of auction items.
“Bring a truck and a friend we have lots of great items too numerous to list and picture,” PV Executive Director Ginger Nance,said . “Lots of surprises on auction day, as we have been gathering items for about 2 years and much is still in storage!”
Submitted photos of auction items.
“All proceeds are kept local in Fort Scott to benefit the Presbyterian Village Good Samaritan program, designed to assist seniors who outlive their resources through no fault of their own, as well as other Life Enriching Programs that directly benefits our local seniors,” Nance said.
Submitted photos of auction items.
” We have been doing the auction annually for many years,” she said. “COVID got us off course for a couple of years, but we hope to build this back to return this to an annual event and this year promises to offer great items for people to bid on.”
Submitted photos for auction items.
“There is truly something here for everyone!” she said.
“We have everything from great, clean, household items, furniture (antique, vintage and new—some like new or never used), we have décor (some specialty artwork from local, K.C. and other artists), we have really nice washing machines, costume and other jewelry (some gold), handicap equipment (some new), we even have collectible coins this year that were donated from an estate!”
Submitted photos of auction items.
Feel free to contact Ginger Nance at (620) 224-6173 or Joe Redden (620) 644-8417 with questions or to make an appt. to preview.
Submitted photos of auction items.
Fort Scott Presbyterian Village is a faith-based, not-for-profit senior living community dedicated to serving residents with a culture inspired by our Christian values and heritage, according to its website: https://www.fortscottpresbyterianvillage.org/
The Fort Scott Hurricanes team, 2022. Submitted photo.
Fort Scott Hurricanes is a competitive summer swim team for youth who range in age from 5-18 years.
The group started around 1980, said Tara Holt, who is the Parent Board President of the swim team.
This year the team is part of the Tri-State Swim Conference.
The local club petitioned Tri-State at the fall conference meeting in 2022 to become a permanent member.
“Full, official membership gives our team the right to vote at conference meetings and to be on the rotation to pick invitational swim meet dates,” she said. “The conference approved our permanent membership… at the first of the month. Being a part of the Tri-State Swim Conference has given our swimmers more consistent competition.”
The head coach of the Hurricanes, in her fourth season, is Samantha Short.
Hurricane’s Assistant Coach Claire Holt, Eli Holt and Coach Samantha Short at the 2022 Tri-State A Championships. Submitted photo.
“We are fortunate to have her back coaching for us this season! The kids and parents love her!” Holt said “Our new assistant coach will be Claire Holt. Claire is joining us as a coach after having been a swimmer for the Hurricanes for 13 seasons. She graduated last year.”
One way to support the youth swim team is to order Papa Don’s Pizza on Wednesday, May 17 from 10:30 A.M. to 8 P.M.
“Papa Don’s will be giving the Hurricanes 10% of the proceeds that day!” Holt said. “The Hurricanes thank Papa Don’s for their generosity!”
“The Hurricanes will have a meeting for the parents of new swimmers on Wednesday, May 3 at 5:30 P.M. in the small gym at Buck Run Community Center,” Holt said.
PEO Chapter CA will celebrate its 100th Anniversary May 3 at Liberty Theater.
The group is a philanthropic education organization whose legacy is empowering woman’s educational dreams. The PEO Sisterhood owns and supports Cottey College in Nevada, a four year bacculauerate-granting program open to women.
Chapter CA was organized on May 1, 1923, by the following Fort Scott women: Rose B. Miller, Henrietta Price, Fay A. Sample, Pearl C. Bamberger, Ethelyn W. Pritchard, Nina M. Trask, Lulu McGowan Mead, Rena Hunter, Ferne M. Duboc and Jessie G. Russell.
Today’s membership is comprised of business and professional women, educators, artists and those wishing to see women have the tools necessary to achieve their educational goals.
Throughout the years the Sisterhood has provided scholarships for women, young and old, who desire to pursue their education as well as providing other charitable work in our community.
For more detailed information, please contact President Pat Harry, 620-215-3913.
Ellis Fine Arts Center on the campus of Fort Scott Community College, 2108 S. Horton.
Fort Scott Community College’s Women’s Appreciation Luncheon is April 26 from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the Ellis Fine Arts Center, 2108 S. Horton. Please RSVP today, April 25 by 3 p.m.
In addition to lunch, catered by Great Western Dining and Twigs & Berries, there will be door prizes and product displays.
The menu for the event:
Choose one wrap from two selections: Southwest or club (Great Western Dining)
Traditional salad (Twigs & Berries)
Caprese pasta salad (Twigs & Berries)
Sugar cookie fruit pizza (Twigs & Berries)
Rainbow fruit salad (Twigs & Berries)
Cost of the lunch is $5. One can also pay at the door.
“The purpose of the event is to provide a luncheon of good food, great company, and to support local businesses owned by women,” Allie Birket, a Community Relations Committee member said. Birket, who is the assistant to the college president and Susie Arvidson, director of library services, are on the committee.
Vendors are FSCC Nursing Dept., FSCC Cosmetology Dept., Better in Bourbon Clothing, Tupperware, Mary Kay Cosmetics, Jbloom Jewelry, Riggs Chiropractic Fort Scott, Red Aspen, Bourbon County Health Dept., The Baby Stitch, Erica George Photography, The River Room (event center), Flying P Ranch, Kimberly Demko, Southeast Kansas Mental Health Center, Desert Blooms Boutique, Locust Hill Lamanches (goat milk products).
Do you have something to say about access to Child Care in Bourbon County?
K-State researchers are looking for respondents to a brief survey (less than 10 minutes) to help understand the need for access to quality, affordable child care in Bourbon County. If you are looking for care, have care, provide child care, or are simply a resident of Bourbon County, we want to hear from you!
To participate, simply scan the QR code below, click on either K-State logo, or click on the link here: https://tinyurl.com/mcjsa6mj
For questions about the survey, please contact Holly Connell at [email protected] / 319-538-4761 For questions about the child care coalition in your county, please contact Rachel Carpenter at [email protected] / 620-215-2562
The Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce invites members and guests to the Chamber Coffee this Thursday, April 27th at 8am. This week’s coffee will be hosted by Fort Scott Public Library located at 201 S. National. Coffee and light refreshments will be served.
In 1891, Eugene Ware established the Ware Public Library in Fort Scott. After Mr. Ware donated his library collection to the City of Fort Scott in 1894, the citizens voted to establish a free Fort Scott Public Library to be maintained by the taxpayers.
Today the Fort Scott Public Library is very active with the community, some things they offer are; Marvelous Monday’s, 500 books before middle school, 1,000 books before Kindergarten, Storytime every Tuesday, Saturday Crafterday, and MUCH MORE!
The Fort Scott Public Library Staff would like if anyone attending the Coffee to please use the door off of Second street.
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.
Contact the Chamber of Commerce at (620) 223-3566 for more information.
