Category Archives: Fort Scott

Business, Fort Scott

New Business: Helpful Hands Errands and Delivery Service Targets Help for Seniors

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Teresa Cummings. Submitted photo.

Teresa Cummings, 53, moved with her family from California to Fort Scott in May 2020, when her husband retired. “It was the best thing I’ve ever done,” she said. “We have more conservative values than the San Francisco Bay area.”

In October 2022, she started her business Helpful Hands Errands and Delivery Service.
She is hoping to fill a need for senior citizens who might need a little help shopping and running errands.
“I will deliver to anyone, but what got me started is I wanted to help older people,” Cummings said. “They are walking history and have done a lot for their families. Some people don’t have a lot of family to help them out.”
Cummings delivers from any restaurant and will shop at any store in town.
“I do additional errands, such as prescription pick-up, pick-up or drop-off of items to friends and family, in-home meal prep, party and holiday decorating, and more,” she said. “
Whatever the  errand or personal service need, she will accommodate.
Her hours are 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday, Sunday and Monday by appointment only.
The business contact is 620.224.7604.
The service area for the business is the Fort Scott area.
Her pricing for shopping service:
1-5 items $3.50
6-10 items $5.50
11-15 items $7.50
16+ items $11/hour (one hr. min.)
Delivery (for example: restaurant, prescription pick-up, etc.) $3.50
All other errands (example party prep, holiday decorating, in-home meal prep, etc.): $11/hour
15% discount for Veterans
This fall, Cummings was helped by the Healthy Bourbon County Action Team with the start up of her business.
“Rachel Carpenter and Dacia Clark helped me to go through each step to set up the business,” she said. “They were absolutely wonderful. I would recommend to anybody trying to start a new business.”
Fort Scott, Government

FS City Commission Special Meeting Agenda for Dec. 29

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SPECIAL MEETING AGENDA
FORT SCOTT CITY COMMISSION
CITY HALL COMMISSION MEETING ROOM
123 SOUTH MAIN STREET
December 29, 2022
5:00 P.M.
I. ROLL CALL:
J. Jones T. Van Hoecke M. Wells E. Woellhof K. Harrington
II. CONSIDERATION:
1. Approval to Purchase Road Machinery
2. Approval of Public Dance Licenses
a. Elks Lodge #579 – 111 W. 19th
b. Sharky’s Pub & Grub – 16 N. National
c. Liberty Theatre – 113 S. Main
d. Holmtown Pub – 206 N. National
e. Buck Run Community Center – 735 Scott Ave.
f. Memorial Hall Auditorium – 1 E. Third St.
3. Approval of Renewal of Drinking Establishment Permit
a. Holmtown Pub – 206 N. National
4. Approval of CMB License Renewal-Consumption on the Premises
a. M’axe Throw House – 212 E. 1 st Street
III. Adjournment:

Fort Scott, Government

Corrected Time for Special FS City Commission Meeting on Dec. 29

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CITY OF FORT SCOTT NEWS RELEASE
December 28th, 2022

The City Commission will have a special meeting Thursday,
December 29th, 2022, at 5:00 PM at City Hall, 123 S. Main, Fort Scott,
Kansas to discuss the purchase of road equipment discussed

at the December 20th, 2022, regular City Commission Meeting.

This meeting is open to the public. This meeting will also be
made available via the City’s YouTube channel at

City of Fort Scott.

 

Fort Scott, Government

A Special Meeting of the CITY OF FORT SCOTT Commission will be Dec. 29

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December 27th, 2022

The City Commission will have a special meeting Thursday,
December 29th, 2022, at City Hall, 123 S. Main, Fort Scott,
Kansas to discuss the purchase of road equipment discussed at the December 20th, 2022, regular City Commission Meeting.

This meeting is open to the public. This meeting will also be
made available via the City’s YouTube channel at

City of Fort Scott.

 

Business, Entertainment, Food, Fort Scott

New Staff at Common Ground Coffee Shop

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Common Ground Coffee Shop, 12 E.Wall.

Common Ground Coffee Shop is a place to sit a spell, have a cuppa and relax. The shop’s specialty is coffee, baked goods, breakfast and lunch.

They sell special order cookie trays as well.

It has been a community gathering place since its inception in 2013 by the Fort Scott Church of the Nazarene.

To view the first story on the business by fortscott.biz:

Common Ground Coffee Co. offers community a gathering place

Common Ground employees are from left to right: Dawson Korinke, Barista; Brightin Eads, Barista;, Lauren Ogran, Barista; Chandler Endicott, Barista; Michelle Keyes, Cook; Heidi Dixon, Manager, Samantha Racy, Asst Manager and Hannah Dunn, Bookkeeper. Submitted photo.
 Not in the picture: Payton Atwood, Barista; Ella Maher, Barista;  Skylar Mohler, Barista
and Hannah Keyes, Barista.

New Staff

Heidi Dixon, 52, started as the new manager of Common Ground Coffee Shop on Dec. 19.

Dixon grew up in Fort Scott, moved away and moved back.

She has been a general manager for Fort Scott Taco Tico, operations manager for Dave and Buster’s Restaurant in Kansas City and worked at several other restaurants through the years.

The Fort Scott Church of the Nazarene board oversees the coffee shop and selected Dixon as the new manager.

Hired as assistant manager is Samantha Racy, 22.

“I volunteered for about a week,” Samantha said. “There was a period the coffee shop was struggling. Others from the church helped. My whole family volunteered.”

Samantha Racy is an esthetician at Healing Hands Therapeutic Massage and Salon and also works at the coffee shop.

In addition, several high school students work there.

The business is searching for an additional cook.

“There is an assistant manager and a manager to take a load off of one person,” said Stacy Racy.

Racy has taken on the scheduling of the Loading Dock, the big rental room, in the rear of the shop.

 

The Loading Dock

Stacy Racy is hoping to have an event in the Loading Dock at least once a month, she said. Stacy is Samantha’s mother.

In December they had two events: a 1940s Christmas Concert on Dec. 16 and a Photo With The Grinch event on Dec. 17.

The Loading Dock has a stage area and an outside patio area.

To rent the event center costs $60 for four hours during business hours, eight hours will cost $100. To rent the space during in off- business hours is $150 for six hours, she said.

For small groups there is a conference room with a large table in a private area, and it is free, she said.

Hours of operation are Monday through Friday 7 a.m. to 8 p.m., Saturday 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Closed Sunday.

To contact the Common Ground Coffee Shop, call 620.223.2499.

Visit the shop’s Facebook page and webpage to see the shop’s latest news.

 

 

 

 

Business, Fort Scott, Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce

Local Bookstore Has End of Year Sale

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Hedgehog INK!
End of the Year Sale!
50% off on ALL gently used books!
December 26 ~ 31
Hedgehog INK! Bookstore
16 S. Main.
Thank you to our Chamber Champion members below!
Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce | 231 E. Wall Street, Fort Scott, KS 66701
Hedgehog INK!
End of the Year Sale!
50% off on ALL gently used books!
December 26 ~ 31
Hedgehog INK! Bookstore
16 S. Main.
Thank you to our Chamber Champion members below!
Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce | 231 E. Wall Street, Fort Scott, KS 66701
Business, Food, Fort Scott

Kevin Allen Purchases Aunt Toadies Restaurant

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Alisha Jamison is the new manager and Kevin “Skitch” Allen is the new owner of Aunt Toadie’s Restaurant. Submitted photo.

Kevin “Skitch” Allen purchased Aunt Toadie’s Restaurant in October but officially took over the business on Dec. 12, 2022.

Aunt Toadies Restaurant.

“My heart is on the east side of town,” he said.

Allen started his construction business and car wash on the east side of Fort Scott. Nineteen years ago he demolished a house on the west side of the Aunt Toadie’s restaurant property for the former owners Larry and Mary Jane McHenry.

That started a relationship with the McHenrys. Then two years ago he started dating their niece Alisha Jamison.

“One evening we were talking to Mary Jane and Larry and discovered they wanted to work less hours,” Allen said. “Alisha and I talked about it. She was interested in running the eating business and I am interested in eating.”

“I’ve never owned a restaurant before,” he said. But the McHenry’s have stayed on to help the transition until the end of December.

“Thankfully, Larry and Mary Jane made it a success,” he said. “It’s one more way to help out on my side of town.”

Allen has been doing work on the outside of the restaurant on East Wall since purchasing it.

Kevin Allen works on the new parking lot on the west side of Aunt Toadies on Dec. 13.

The west side of the building will have an addition, which will double the size of the eating area.

“It will be called the Lily Pad,” he said. “That will be for people who enjoy watching (sport) games on TV. Possibly with beer, in the future with dining.”

Possible futuristic plans are a pickle ball court to the north of this new addition, he said.

“You’ll be able to walk out to a pickle ball court,” he said. “Playing off the idea of chicken and pickle ball.”

On the east side of the restaurant there will be table and chairs for an outdoor eating area in warmer weather.

Inside, he has purchased a new soft-serve ice cream machine and discovered an old milk shake machine which will be put to use once again.

“We plugged it in and it went,” Allen said.

Alisha Jamison is the new manager and they are keeping the current wait staff. Matt McHenry, Larry and Mary Jane’s son, has decided to stay as cook.

“That’s a blessing,” he said. “He has worked there since he was a child.”

“I’m the taste tester,” Allen said.

The hours and menu will remain the same, but there might be additional hours on Monday and Saturday in the future.

There may be some additions to the menu because “we’ve got some good cooks thinking up ideas,” he said.

Larry and Mary Jane McHenry, left, Alisha Jamison and Kevin Allen. Submitted photo.

“I want to thank the McHenry’s  for allowing us to take over their family business,” Allen said. “We are going to work hard to keep the family food atmosphere.”

“And thanks also to Fort Scott customers for the years of patronage, we know they won’t be disappointed,” he said.

 

Bourbon County, Fort Scott, Government, Housing

Warming Station At Buck Run Community Center Today

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Buck Run Community Center, 735 Scott Avenue.

Taken From Bourbon County’s Facebook page:

The city will be opening Buck Run Community Center, 735 S. Scott  as a warming shelter today. The phone number is223.0386. 

Please do not go out unless necessary and if you do, take extreme caution in driving and make sure you have warmer than usual clothing on in case of a breakdown or accident.

Power is still an issue south of town to the Garland area but crews are working as fast as possible to get it restored.

Fort Scott, Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce

What’s Happening in Fort Scott Weekly Newsletter

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What’s Happening in Fort Scott!

December 21st Weekly Newsletter

Above image by Kenny Felt Photography, prints may be purchased here.

UPCOMING CALENDAR OF EVENTS

________________

Fort Scott National Historic Site

Daily Tours: 10am & 1pm

Museum of Creativity

Holiday Hours & Events

Click here! Great place to burn some

energy over the holidays!

12/21 ~ Sharky’s North Pole Kids Christmas Party, 5-8pm, click here for more info.

12/21 ~ Blue Christmas service at the First United Methodist Church, 7pm, click here.

12/22 ~ Seniorcise – Senior Exercise at Credo Senior Living, 10:30am. Click here for more info.

12/23 ~ Friday Fun Evening – Museum of Creativity, 3:30-7:30pm. Click here for more info.

12/24 ~ Hedgehog INK! Open from 10am-2pm for your last minute shopping! See flyer below for more info.

12/25 ~ Merry Christmas from the Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce!

12/26-27 ~ Everything in store at Bids & Dibs is 50% off, store hours will be 10am to 6pm on these days! Largest consignment store in Kansas! Click here for their FB page.

12/26-31 ~ All gently used books 50% off at Hedgehog.INK! Book Store.

12/26-30 ~ Kid’s Winter Art Camp, 1-4pm. Click here or see flyer below for more info.

12/27 ~ New Year’s Story Time at Fort Scott Public Library, 10am, click here.

12/29-30 ~ Kansas City T-Nuts Model Railroad Club at the Museum of Creativity, Friday 9am-10pm, Saturday, 10am-6pm.

1/1 ~ Potluck dinner at First Presbyterian Church, all welcome, guests will be the FSCC men’s basketball team, 11:30am after service, click here for info.

01/05 ~ BINGO hosted by the American Legion at Memorial Hall, 7pm

_________

SAVE THE DATE!

1/13 ~ Martin Luther King, Jr. Lunch & Learn at the Gordon Parks Museum, 12pm.

1/16 ~ Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service at the Gordon Parks Museum, 9am-2pm.

1/21 ~ Jeff Leeson Comedy Tour, Memorial Hall, fundraiser for the Splash Pad, doors open click here for details.

1/28 ~ Grand Opening Gala at The Artificers, Ribbon Cutting 5:30pm, Gala 6-9pm.

_________

SHOPPING ~ SUPPORT LOCAL!

Boutiques-Antiques-Flea Markets & more!

Click here for Chamber member

specialty shopping & other retail in

Downtown & other areas of the community.
Fort Scott Area
Chamber of Commerce
620-223-3566
In This Issue

Calendar of Events

Special Event Features

THANK YOU Chamber Champion members!!
Chamber Highlights
Click here for our
Membership Directory.
We THANK our members for their support! Interested in joining the Chamber?
Click here for info.
Thinking of doing business in or relocating to Fort Scott?
Contact us for a relocation packet, information on grants & incentives, and more!
Seeking a job/career?
We post a Job of the Day daily on our Facebook page, distribute a monthly job openings flyer, and post jobs on our website.
Many opportunities available!
Housing needs?
Click here for a listing of our Chamber member realtors.
Click here for our rental listing.

Holiday Hours at Hedgehog INK!

End of the Year SALE at Hedgehog INK!

Kid’s Winter Art Camp!

Jeff Leeson Comedy Tour @ Memorial Hall

Get your tickets here!

Upcoming Movie Schedule @ Fort Cinema
THANK YOU TO OUR CHAMBER CHAMPION MEMBERS!
Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce
231 E. Wall Street
Fort Scott, KS 66701
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Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce | 231 E. Wall Street, Fort Scott, KS 66701
Business, Food, Fort Scott, Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce

Hot Wok Restaurant Open on Christmas Day

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Sending on Behalf of Chamber Member
Hot Wok Chinese Buffet…
Hot Wok is Open on Christmas Day!
Make Reservations or head over for their all day buffet!
Hours are 11am-8:30pm.
Gift Certificates are also available for those last minute Christmas shoppers!
Thank you to our Chamber Champion members below!
Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce | 231 E. Wall Street, Fort Scott, KS 66701
Fort Scott, Government, Jobs

Brad Matkin is the New Fort Scott Interim City Manager

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Brad Matkin. Submitted photo.

At the Fort Scott City Commission meeting on Dec. 20, Brad Matkin was promoted to interim city manager, after having served as assistant city manager since September 2022.

Fort Scott City Hall.

Josh Jones, a Fort Scott Commissioner, congratulated Matkins for being moved up to interim city manager on his Facebook page, following the meeting.

“The current interim city manager will be retained at a cheaper rate to provide guidance for Brad,” Jones said.

On Sept. 20, the City of Fort Scott hired Jeff Hancock as interim city manager, and appointed Brad Matkin, current Human Resource Director, to become assistant city manager in addition to his HR duties. Matkin’s salary was increased to $85,000 annually.

To view a prior story:

Zellner Resigns, New Interim Jeff Hancock is Hired as FS City Manager

Matkin is in a 90 evaluation period for the city manager position now, he said.

“They will review the situation in three months,” Matkin said. “I’ll still be doing the human resource duties but will be looking for additional staff to take over some of the roles I have.”

Matkin’s city manager duties include:

communications to citizens, staff, commission, and media;

staffing-there are currently 92 employees with searches on for one more in the streets, police and fire departments;

day-to-day operations;

and project management.

Here are the projects he manages as interim city manager:

There is a winter street project, which will be busy the next couple of days with an Arctic Blast headed this way.

“We’ve got a great group of guys in the streets department,” Matkin said. “And the street superintendent has been through this kind of weather before. The dump trucks and plows are ready.”

The water department could be busy with broken pipes during this upcoming Arctic Blast, he said.

Other projects under his jurisdiction: resolving the downtown parking shortage, the Memorial Hall renovation, the golf course and Gunn Park improvements, and 100 more Fort Scott blocks of streets to be chipped and sealed, Matkin said.

“And whatever comes up, day to day,” he said.

“As mayor, I have had the privilege of working with Mr. Matkin on many different occasions in his previous role as Assistant City Manager,” FS Mayor Katherine Harrington said. “I feel that over this time he has grown as a manager and demonstrated that he was ready to take on this new role as Interim. I look forward to working with him more in 2023 and seeing how he leads this community forward.”

Fort Scott, Government

Minutes of FS City Commission Special Meeting Dec. 12

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CITY OF FORT SCOTT
SPECIAL CITY COMMISSION MEETING
123 SOUTH MAIN STREET
FORT SCOTT, KANSAS 66701
NOVEMBER 7, 2022, AT 12:00 PM
1
CITY OF FORT SCOTT
SPECIAL CITY COMMISSION MEETING
Minutes of December 12, 2022
A special meeting of the Fort Scott City Commission was held December 12th,
2022, at 5:15 p.m. in the City Commission Meeting Room, 123 S. Main Street,
Fort Scott, Kansas.
ROLL CALL:
Commissioners: Josh Jones, Tim VanHoecke, Matthew Wells, Edwin Woellhof
and Kathryn Harrington, Mayor
FLAG SALUTE
AUDIENCE IN ATTENDANCE: Jeff Hancock, Interim City Manager, Brad
Matkin, Assistant City Manager, Rob Harrington, Bourbon County REDI, Emily
Diebolt, Grants Manager of Bourbon County REDI, Tammy Helm, Editor of The
Fort Scott Tribune, Jessica Allison, and Lisa Lewis, City Clerk.
CONSIDERATION:
1. Approval of Grant for Memorial Hall Work
M. Wells stated that he called for a special Commission meeting to approve a
Grant found by Rob Harrington and Emily Diebolt of Bourbon County REDI.
The Grant would include funds for remodeling the Genealogy Department,
removing the mold, repairing the steps at the front of the building, sealing up
the exterior of the building and installing more energy efficient windows.
Rob Harrington addressed the Commission stating that Bourbon County REDI
just recently found this grant through the National Parks Service and spoke of
the need to repair Memorial Hall. He stated that the total to do the basement,
steps, exterior and new windows would be $881,220.00 and the grant is a
50/50 match. $440,610.00 will be requested from the federal government. The
remaining $440,610.00 that the City is responsible for could come from cash
In-Kind Donation (materials or services). The grant allows for up to 25% (federal
portion and cost share) to use for Administrative costs. R. Harrington stated
that Bourbon County REDI would waive that 25% ($220,305.00) which would
be used toward the In-Kind donation which would make the City’s portion
$220,305.00. He stated that the City has already budgeted $125,000.00
bringing the City’s portion down to $95,305.00 to each the total match needed
to repair all the items previously stated. He stated that a 10% contingency was
added to the total in the event of price increases. The grant is awarded in July;
therefore, some items would have to be held off until the award is announced.
He also discussed the option of not including the contingency.

CITY OF FORT SCOTT
SPECIAL CITY COMMISSION MEETING
123 SOUTH MAIN STREET
FORT SCOTT, KANSAS 66701
NOVEMBER 7, 2022, AT 12:00 PM
2
R. Harrington stated that what he is asking the Commission to act upon is to
allow Bourbon County REDI to move forward with the grant application with
the understanding that the City will pay the match not to exceed $700,000.00
R. Harrington said that with this grant, not all money is needed when the
application is submitted, only a plan is needed of how the money will be
obtained.
T. VanHoeck asked if the Commission would be going out for bids for this
project.
R. Harrington stated that following federal procurement regulations were
included in this grant process which requires going out for bids.
Discussion was had about In-Kind Donations and prevailing wage rate.
J. Hancock asked R. Harrington to look check other grants to see if the others
were comparable to the 25% Administrative Fee, which seemed high to him.
R. Harrington stated that he agreed it was high, but the purpose was to be able
to put it toward the match for the City.
R. Harrington said the grant application is due on December 20th, 2022, and
that is why he is asking for the Commission to act tonight.
M. Wells motioned to allow Bourbon County REDI to apply for the National
Parks Grant to make the repairs to Memorial Hall and allow for the
contingencies but not to exceed $700,000.00. J. Jones seconded the motion.
All voted aye.
APPROVED TO ALLOW BOURBON COUNTY REDI TO APPLY FOR THE
NATIONAL PARKS GRANT TO MAKE THE REPAIRS TO MEMORIAL HALL
AND ALLOW FOR THE CONTINGENCIES BUT NOT TO EXCEED
$700,000.00.
ADJOURNMENT:
J. Jones motioned to adjourn the meeting at 5:33 PM. M. Wells seconded. All
voted aye.
ADJOURNED MEETING AT 5:33 P.M.
Respectfully submitted,
Lisa Lewis
City Clerk