Category Archives: Fort Scott

Bourbon County, Clothing, Food, Fort Scott

Bourbon County Angels Group Rents Building to House Donations

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Bourbon County Angels new building is located at 111 W. Third, Fort Scott. Submitted photo.

Bourbon County Angels started because some local women saw that there are local families having a difficult financial time in their lives.

“We have seen a severe need in our community when we were doing Christmas (lists) for  (area) children and a lot of them had clothing items on their wish list that was sent to us,” Lisa Thurston, Fort Scott, one of the three organizers, said. “We want to be able to provide the clothing items and household items and even food to those that are having a hard time.”

“We have clothing, hygiene items, household items, and food,” she said. “It is hard to say exactly what we have as it changes with every donation we receive.”

The group recently attained a building at 111 W. Third, Fort Scott, to house all the donations and allow for people to come and choose what they need.

“Mayor Kevin Allen gave it to us to use monthly, he is donating the building until grant money comes in,” Thurston said. “We have Melissa Guns writing grants for us.”

“We started the actual building adventure this January, but the ‘angels’ actually started just for Christmas two years ago,” she said.

The other organizers are Sara Roufs, Redfield and Erin Thurston, Lisa’s daughter, Fort Scott.

Bourbon County Angels. Submitted photo. From left: Ronni Clayton, Sara Roufs, Lisa Thurston, Sadie Thurston, Erin Thurston, and Angie Clemens.

“Sara started Bourbon County Angels to provide Christmas presents for children,” she said. “People started volunteering so we started getting lists from about 75 families…this year we got 121 families. On their lists the kids were asking for shoes or coats or blankets. That’s when we decided to open a building and offer them all year long. So children could ask for toys instead of everyday items.”

“Living in a small town, we see a lot and we knew that there was a major need for people to be able to come get the items that we use in our everyday lives without having the worry of, (for example) if they got new shoes, how they could pay a bill or feed their families, and we want to be able to help with that.  No one should have to stress over being able to get the stuff that they need. With everything going on right now, a lot of people have been left without jobs or just don’t make enough to be able to provide everything that is needed in our everyday lives.”

During the COVID-19 Pandemic, the group received calls from people saying they needed food to make it through a few days.

“We would gather meals and deliver to their doorstep,” Thurston said. “We probably did 20 families when COVID was rough in our town. We have also been providing food for a homeless gentleman in our town.”

The group is planning several upcoming events:

Saturday, April 2 at the facility at 111 W. Third, the Easter Bunny will be there  to hand out candy and have pictures taken with children, for free, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Saturday, April 9 at Lake Fort Scott’s handicapped dock, there will be a fishing tournament, sponsored by Backroads Bait. The fundraiser starts at 5:45 a.m. with a check-in and has a 2 p.m. weigh in. Proceeds will help the Bourbon County Angels with rent.

For more information contact Thurston at 620.644.8291.

See the latest information on the groups Facebook page.

Hours the facility is open are Wednesdays from noon to 6 p.m. and Saturday from 8 a.m. to noon.

Saturdays are a donation exchange, she said. “Say kids clothes don’t fit anymore, you can leave those and take what you need. But some people just leave donations and some people just take what they need.”

Fort Scott, Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce

FS Broadcasting Hosts Chamber Coffee April 7

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The Fort Scott Broadcasting KOMB/KMDO  hosts the Chamber Coffee April 7

The Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce invites members and guests to a Chamber Coffee hosted by Fort Scott Broadcasting’s KOMB 103.9 and 98.3 FM, Thursday, April 7th at 8 a.m. The event will take place at Arnold Arena on campus of Fort Scott Community College, 2108 S. Horton St.  Coffee, juice, and light refreshments will be served.

The Coffee will kick off the Annual Home, Sport, Farm, and Garden Show taking place Friday, April 8th from 5 to 8 p.m. and Saturday, April 9th from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Arnold Arena.  Tim and Deb McKenney and team look forward to seeing everyone at both the Coffee and the Home Show.

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.

 

Fort Scott, Government

Fort Scott Design Review Board Vacancy

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Please see the following Board opening:

 

This is for the City of Fort Scott Design Review Board:

 

  • One opening (City resident)

 

The function of the Design Review Board is to review requests for Certificate of Appropriateness in the historic district of our downtown.  They meet on an “as needed” basis.

 

If you have a desire to serve on this board and meet the above requirements, please submit a letter of interest to the City Clerk, Diane Clay, 123 S. Main, Fort Scott, Kansas  66701. The names will be submitted for consideration to the City Commission.  All of the boards and commissions serve on a volunteer basis and are not compensated.  If you would like more information on this board, please contact Diane Clay, City Clerk at 620-223-0550 or [email protected].  Please submit your letter of interest by April 15th, 2022.

 

 

Fort Scott, Government

Fort Scott Parks Board Committee Vacancy

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Please see the following Board opening:

 

This is for the Fort Scott Parks Board Committee:

 

  • One opening (City resident)

 

The function of the Fort Scott Parks Board Committee is to provide suggestions to the City Manager and Governing Body regarding all the parks within the City of Fort Scott.

 

If you have a desire to serve on this board and meet the above requirements, please submit a letter of interest to the City Clerk, Diane Clay, 123 S. Main, Fort Scott, Kansas  66701. The names will be submitted for consideration to the City Commission.  All of the boards and commissions serve on a volunteer basis and are not compensated.  If you would like more information on this board, please contact Diane Clay, City Clerk at 620-223-0550 or [email protected].  Please submit your letter of interest by April 15th, 2022.

 

Bourbon County, Business, Fort Scott

Free Seminar Targets Women Starting/Growing Their Business

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Healthy Bourbon County Action Team staff have organized a fourth seminar targeting women who are seeking information on starting/growing a business.

The event is Wednesday, April 6 from 5 to 9 p.m. at the HBCAT office, 104 N. National Avenue.

“This will help local women entrepreneurs know their resources and learn from local women leaders on how to create a sustainable business,” said Rachel Carpenter, program director. “This is an opportunity for women to network and create relationships to help their businesses take the next professional step.”

For this Dare to Dream seminar, the time has been scheduled for table-talk discussion with past keynote speakers and panelists.
“This is the fourth part of the Dare to Dream series,” Carpenter said. “We will have some of the past keynote speakers and panelists available for table discussion. This will be a time for any questions to be answered from the audience.”
“Any questions you may have you will be able to ask some of the women leaders of Bourbon County. We want you to be SUCCESSFUL! There will be more time for social networking and building relationships,” according to its Facebook page.
Past speakers who will be available for a round table open discussion are Erin Vann, Hwy. 3; Dacia Clark, PSU Small Business Development Center; Katie Casper, Union State Bank; Angela Simon, Bids and Dibs; Rebecca Williams, The Butcher Block; Kelly Perry, Perry’s Pork Rinds; Lindsay Madison, The Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce and Rachel Carpenter and Jody Hoener of the HBCAT.

Please note there is one registration per person to help us with registration.

Melissa Wise, the keynote speaker, is the owner of Wise Tax and Accounting and has over 20 years of experience with accounting, payroll, and taxes.

Melissa Wise. Submitted photo.

Registration is required for childcare.

There will be a taco bar catered by La Hacienda, and Margaritas available for purchase.

Dinner and networking from 5-5:30 p.m. with the program starting at 5:30 p.m.

Funding for this event is being provided by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas as part of Bourbon County Pathways to a Healthy Kansas grant and the USDA Rural Business Development Grant, according to its Facebook page.

“Through this grant, we are partnered with Pittsburg State University Small Business Development Center to organize this event,” she said.

“We will be giving away a PSU gift basket and a tablet as door prizes,” Carpenter said.
Fort Scott, Government

Fort Scott Project On Hwy.69 Gets Bids Approved

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KDOT announces approved March bids
The Kansas Department of Transportation announces approved bids for state highway construction and maintenance projects. The letting took place March 16, 2022, in Topeka. Some of the bids may include multiple projects that have been bundled based on proximity and type of work.

 District One — Northeast

Johnson ‑ 56‑46 KA‑6246‑01 – U.S. 56, from the start of curbs in west Gardner northeast to N. Sycamore Street, milling and overlay, 0.9 mile, Superior Bowen Asphalt Company LLC, Kansas City, Missouri, $423,590.45.

Johnson ‑ 56‑46 KA‑6370‑01 ‑ U.S. 56, ramps at the U.S. 56/I‑35/ W. 175th Street interchange to include unnamed road from southbound ramps to W. 175th Street in Gardner, overlay, Superior Bowen Asphalt Company LLC, Kansas City, Missouri, $1,305,146.60.

Osage ‑ 68‑70 KA‑6328‑01 ‑ K‑68, from the K‑68/K‑268 junction to the Osage/Franklin county line, milling and overlay, 1.0 mile, Bettis Asphalt & Construction Inc., Topeka, Kansas, $380,333.91.

Shawnee ‑ 70‑89 KA‑1266‑06 ‑ I‑70 Polk/Quincy Viaduct from Topeka Boulevard to Kansas Avenue in Topeka, special, 0.3 mile, Bettis Asphalt & Construction Inc., Topeka, Kansas, $1,999,035.00.

Shawnee ‑ 4‑89 KA‑6127‑01 ‑ K‑4, bridge #231 over the Burlington, Northern and Santa Fe Railroad and the Shunganunga Creek located 0.71 mile north of the north U.S. 40/K‑4 junction, bridge repair, PCI Roads, LLC, Saint Michael, Minnesota, $606,868.75.

Shawnee ‑ 75‑89 KA‑6128‑01 ‑ U.S. 75, bridges #206 and #207 over Topeka Boulevard (Old Highway 75) located 2.53 miles and 2.54 miles respectively, north of the Osage/Shawnee county line, bridge repair, PCI Roads, LLC, Saint Michael, Minnesota, $2,549,668.42.

Shawnee ‑ 4‑89 KA‑6244‑01 ‑ K‑4, from the Wabaunsee/Shawnee county line to the K‑4/I‑70 junction, milling and overlay, 12.1 miles, Bettis Asphalt & Construction Inc., Topeka, Kansas, $2,850,806.88.

Shawnee ‑ 24‑89 KA‑6393‑01 ‑ U.S. 24, from 550 feet west of N.W. Rochester Road east to 1,130 feet east of N.W. Rochester Road in Topeka, milling and overlay, 0.3 mile, Superior Bowen Asphalt Company LLC, Kansas City, Missouri, $1,724,304.43.

Wabaunsee ‑ 30‑99 KA‑6245‑01 ‑ K‑30, from the K‑30/I‑70 junction to the city limits of Maple Hill, milling and overlay, 2.0 miles, Bettis Asphalt & Construction Inc., Topeka, Kansas, $489,475.17.

Wyandotte ‑ 73‑105 KA‑5498‑01 – U.S. 73, U.S. 73/K‑7 junction and Hollingsworth Road on the Wyandotte/Leavenworth county line, intersection improvement, Miles Excavating, Inc., Basehor, Kansas, $846,304.51.

Wyandotte ‑ 70‑105 KA‑6086‑01 ‑ I‑70, bridge #152 (over I-635 northbound) located at the I‑70/I‑635 Interchange, bridge redeck, Clarkson Construction Company, Kansas City, Missouri, $6,031,010.26.

Wyandotte ‑ 70‑105 KA‑6369‑01 ‑ I‑70, from S. 78th Street east 4 miles to the west I‑70/ I‑635 interchange approach; from 0.5 mile east of the I‑70 bridge over Kaw Drive east to the west S.18th Street bridge approach; and from the I‑70/I‑670 split east to the west Lewis and Clark Viaduct bridge, milling and overlay, 6.4 miles, Superior Bowen Asphalt Company LLC, Kansas City, Missouri, $13,161,769.50.

District Two — North Central

Dickinson ‑ 70‑21 KA‑6406‑01 ‑ I‑70, from approximately 1,843 feet east of the I‑70/K‑206 junction east to the Dickinson/Geary county line, patching and overlay, 2.9 miles, APAC-Kansas Inc. Shears Division, Hutchinson, Kansas, $1,682,930.05.

Geary – 40B3‑31 KA‑3952‑01 ‑ U.S. 40B3, bridge #035 (over the Union Pacific Railroad and Monroe Street) located approximately 1,214 feet east of U.S. 77B in Junction City, bridge replacement, King Construction Company Inc. & Subsidiaries, Hesston, Kansas, $15,957,363.42.

Geary ‑ 70‑31 KA‑6278‑01 ‑ I‑70, from 0.64 mile east of the I‑70/K‑57 junction to the Geary/Riley county line, pavement patching, 15.5 miles, R A Knapp Construction Inc., Lenexa, Kansas, $3,264,702.50.

Saline ‑ 143‑85 KA‑3940‑01 ‑ K‑143, bridge #104 over the Saline River Drainage located 2.62 miles north of I‑70 and bridge #103 over the Saline River Drainage located at the K‑143/E. Granville Road intersection, bridge replacement, L & M Contractors Inc., Great Bend, Kansas, $668,194.00.

District Three — Northwest

Graham ‑ 283‑33 KA‑6418‑01 ‑ U.S. 283, from Prout Street in Hill City to the Graham/Norton county line, milling and overlay, 13.5 miles, Venture Corporation, Great Bend, Kansas, $3,612,818.90.

Graham ‑ 24‑33 KA‑6419‑01 ‑ U.S. 24, from the east city limits of Hill City to the U.S. 24/K‑18 junction, milling and overlay, 8.2 miles, Venture Corporation, Great Bend, Kansas, $1,886,455.12.

Osborne ‑ 181‑71 KA‑3938‑01 ‑ K‑181, bridge #042 over Twin Creek located 6 miles south of U.S. 24, bridge replacement, Bridges Inc., Newton, Kansas, $1,585,322.53.

Phillips ‑ 36‑74 KA‑6002‑01 ‑ U.S. 36, at 10 locations beginning 0.57 mile east of E. 300 Road east to 0.27 mile east of E. 1000 Road, guard fence, 6.7 miles, Bettis Asphalt & Construction Inc., Topeka, Kansas, $1,727,949.50.

Rooks ‑ 82 K‑1659‑07 ‑ From 1.83 miles south of the U.S. 24/ Webster State Park Road entrance north to the U.S. 24/Webster State Park Road entrance, state park road, 1.8 miles, Venture Corporation, Great Bend, Kansas, $307,770.00.

Rooks ‑ 258‑82 KA‑6379‑01 ‑ K‑258, from beginning of route to end of route at the U.S. 24/K‑258 junction, milling and overlay, 3.5 miles, Venture Corporation, Great Bend, Kansas, $801,606.50.

Russell ‑ 281‑84 KA‑2370‑03 ‑ U.S. 281, from Land Road north to the U.S. 281/K‑18 junction, grading and surfacing, 12.0 miles, Sporer Land Development Inc., Oakley, Kansas, $35,972,721.00.

District Four — Southeast

Bourbon ‑ 69‑6 KA‑5563‑01 ‑ U.S. 69 and intersection of 3rd, 6th, 12th and 25th Streets in Fort Scott, traffic signals, 2.0 miles, LaForge & Budd Construction Company Inc., Parsons, Kansas, $2,645,573.03.

Chautauqua ‑ 166B‑10 KA‑4997‑01 – U.S. 166B, bridge #009 over Deer Creek, bridge replacement, B & B Bridge Company LLC, St. Paul, Kansas, $1,173,443.79.

Cherokee ‑ 11 KA‑6371‑01 ‑ U.S. 69 (Military Avenue), from the south city limits of Baxter Springs to the north city limits of Baxter Springs and U.S. 166 (12th Street), from the west city limits of Baxter Springs east to the east city limits of Baxter Springs, milling and overlay, 4.4 miles, Blevins Asphalt Construction Company Inc., Mt. Vernon, Missouri, $1,170,571.38.

Franklin ‑ 68‑30 KA‑6329‑01 ‑ K‑68, from the Franklin/Osage county line to the west city limits of Ottawa, milling and overlay, 12.3 miles, Bettis Asphalt & Construction Inc., Topeka, Kansas, $3,984,272.50.

District Five — South Central

Sedgwick ‑ 87 N‑0717‑01 ‑ Academy Avenue from S. Cathey Street to Maize Road in Maize, grading and surfacing, 0.6 mile, Pearson Construction LLC, Wichita, Kansas, $6,681,860.00.

District Six — Southwest

Meade ‑ 54‑60 KA‑6130‑01 ‑ U.S. 54, bridges #031 and #032 over Crooked Creek located 6.1 miles and 7.7 miles respectively, northeast of the U.S. 54/ U.S. 160 junction, bridge repair, Bridges Inc., Newton, Kansas, $909,070.95.

 

The following project was approved from the Feb. 16, 2022, letting.

Riley ‑ 81 U‑2373‑01 – Marlatt and Northview Elementary Schools in Manhattan, pedestrian and bicycle paths, 0.3 mile, Ebert Construction Co. Inc. & Subsidiary, Wamego, Kansas, $436,672.15.
Fort Scott, Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce

FS Spring Town-Wide Garage Sale Is May 6-7

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Mark your calendars for the Spring Town-wide Garage Sale on Friday and Saturday, May 6th and 7th. Now is the time to get your garage sale on the map.

The Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce encourages residents to do your spring cleaning and make room for something new. Garage sales may be registered through the Chamber by 1 p.m., Monday, May 2nd for only $12. The registration fee lists your sale on the official garage sale map, receive two colorful balloons and enables the Chamber to advertise the sale throughout the region on the radio, newspaper, social media, and the Chamber website.

In addition to garage sale listings, businesses are encouraged to advertise on the map, which will be distributed to shoppers the week of the Town-wide Garage Sale. The maps will be distributed from several local stores, the Chamber, social media, and fortscott.com. The cost to place a business ad or coupon is $25 for small ad and $35 for larger ad.

Garage sales may be registered in person at the Chamber office at 231 E. Wall St., 8am-5pm Monday through Friday, online at fortscott.com, or over the phone using debit or credit card by calling (620) 223-3566.

Business, Fort Scott, Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce

Chamber Coffee at Iron Star March 31

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Join us for this week’s Chamber Coffee!
Hosted by Iron Star Antiques & Such
Thursday, March 31st, 8am
3 N. Main Street
In Fort Scott’s Downtown Historic District
Barbara Trimbur, Owner,
Invite Chamber members & Guests
to come see what’s new for Spring!
Follow Iron Star on Instagram HERE!
Like Iron Star’s Facebook page HERE!
Thank you to our Chamber Champions listed below!
Business, Food, Fort Scott

Moe’s Is Moving: Will Reopen April 4

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Moe’s Bread is moving to the old Boiler Room Brewhaus at Wall and National Avenue.

Moe and David McCurry are the owners of Moe’s Bread, 20 W. Wall and have been selling many kinds of breakfast, lunch, and snacks at this site for three years.

Moe’s Bread is moving from this site on Wall Street to around the corner east on National Avenue.

But on April 4 they are opening their business in a new location on National Avenue to be able to offer more.

“Moe’s Bread will be closed March 31st to April 3rd to move to 2 South National,” Moe said on the business Facebook page. “We hope to see you on Monday, April 4th.”

Moe McCurdy with grandson Keeghan Bishop in Moe’s Bread Store on March 29.

Today,  Wednesday, March 30 from 10 a.m. until they run out of food, everything in the current storefront will be sold for half off the original price.

2 S. National Avenue is at the corner of Wall and National Avenue, the former Downtowner Hotel, and most recently the Boiler Room Brew Haus.

“The reason we’re moving is … to add a soup and salad bar and we needed more room in the kitchen,” she said in an interview.

A peak in the front windows of the new Moe’s Bread, shows the salad bars.

“We have hot breakfasts in the morning, including biscuits and gravy sausage rolls, breakfast burritos, breakfast sandwiches, croissants, cinnamon rolls, muffins of all flavors and we have muffin top donuts,” Moe said.

For lunch they offer deli sandwiches “and you can call in and have those delivered or you can pick them up any time of the day that we’re open,” she said.

They also offer all kinds of bread: wheat bread, white bread, French bread, Italian bread, sourdough, and fruit bread: pumpkin, banana, apple, cinnamon, chocolate chip, and muffins: blueberry and raspberry.

“We make pies, we make any kind of dessert you’d like,” she said. “Unfortunately, we do not decorate cakes at this moment but we look forward to doing that in the future at our new address.”

Contact info for the store number is 620-768-8009.

“They’re welcome to leave a message,” she said. “We do check our phone every morning.”

Hours of operation currently are 4:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Monday through Friday and Saturday 7:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

“When we move on April 4th we will be open 4:30 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. Monday through Friday 7:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. on Saturday, those are subject to change,” she said.

 

Entertainment, Fort Scott, Schools

FSHS Hosts Annual Talent Show and Pageant

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The FSHS Improv Troupe performs “Late for Work.” L to R: Anthony Russo, Mykael Lewis, Jackson Elton, Jaedyn Lewis. Photos are courtesy of Megan Conner.

The annual FSHS Talent Show and Miss(ter) FSHS Pageant occurred March 25 at Fort Scott High School.

The event, hosted by Thespians and emceed by seniors Christina King and Ashlynn Bagnall, awarded cash prizes to the top three competitors. Senior Tina Ramirez won first place for singing “She Used to Be Mine” from the musical “Waitress.” Junior Ella McElroy won second for her original song accompanied by ukulele. Third place went to sophomore Jericho Jones for his original piano performance of a medley of Elton John songs.

Shakira Shakira (Shekhar Gugnani) wins Miss(ter) FSHS representing Future Business Leaders of America. Pageant emcee – Zaria Byrd.

Eleven senior males represented clubs and athletic teams in the Miss(ter) FSHS Pageant. The winner, by round of applause, was Shakira Shakira (Shekhar Gugnani) representing Future Business Leaders of America.

Talent Show winners and emcees: L to R – Ella McElroy, Jericho Jones, Tina Ramirez, Ashlynn Bagnall, Christina King.

Proceeds from the event will assist Thespians in attending the International Thespian Festival on June 20-24 at Indiana University. Senior Christina King and sophomore Regen Wells will both compete in the monologue category at the Festival.

 

Casey Gomez performs “Yakko’s World” where he recited and pointed to every nation in the world.