For those of you who have ever wanted to write a book, there is encouragement coming this weekend.
This Saturday, Oct. 15 from 9 a.m. to noon, Hedgehog INK a bookstore will have a workshop for aspiring book writers.
It’s a two-part writing seminar with publishing and marketing tips for writers in the morning and then meeting local authors in the afternoon.
Publishing and Marketing a Book
The morning seminar presenter, R.J. Thesman, will speak on best practices for publishing a book and the action steps for effective marketing of a book.
Thesman is a certified writing coach, editor, and author of 20 books and 800+articles in various publications, according to a Hedgehog.INK press release. Thesman’swork is included in 14 anthologies, and she is listed in the Who’s Who of Professional Women.Apopularspeakerandteacherfornumerouswriters conferences, Thesman loves to help her clients birth new words and publish their books.
The event is sponsored by the Bourbon County Arts Council, the Wednesday Writers Group,andHedgehog.INK!Bookstore.
Location for the morning event is at the Healthy Bourbon County Action Team office at 104 N. National, Fort Scott, KS.
A 2018 photo of the office of the Healthy Bourbon County Action Team, 104 N. National, from its Facebook page.
The office is located north of Luther’s restaurant, with public parking available on the east side of National Avenue.Lunch is on your own, with several restaurants within walking distance.
Registration is $40, and junior high, high school and college students are free, but registration is required. Registration forms are available at: Hedgehog.INK! Bookstore 16 S Main, Fort Scott, KS 620–670–2752 [email protected]
Author Book Signing
Local authors will sign and make available their books for sale, which might be a great idea for your Christmas list, according to information from the press release.
In the afternoon there will be multi–author book signing at the Hedgehog.INK bookstore at 16 S. Main from 1:30 to 3 p.m. with featured authors: Brian Allen, Rhonda Hassig, Sally Jadlow, Joyce Love, Rogene McPherson, R.J. Thesman, Jane Tucker and MartiWells–Smith.
Hedgehog.INK, located at 16 S. Main, in historic downtown Fort Scott.
Members of the USD 234 Board of Education met at 5:30 p.m. on Monday, October 10, 2022, for their regular monthly meeting at the board office.
President Danny Brown opened the meeting.
The board approved the official agenda, and the consent agenda as follows:
Minutes from September 12, 2022, Board of Education meeting
Corrected minutes to reflect an August 1st date versus August 15th date
Financials – Cash Flow Report
Check Register
Payroll – September 20, 2022 – $1,517,827.10
Activity Fund accounts
FSHS Choir Fundraiser, FSHS Orchestra Fundraiser
FSHS Orchestra Extended Trip
Assistant Superintendent Dalaina Smith updated the board on building consistency among processes in the district, thanked the community and parents for their support of PLCs, and provided an update on curriculum.
Finance Director Gina Shelton reported on the September 20th count day, the ESSER III application to include expansion of the preschool, health insurance renewal, and sanitation devices received.
The board approved the following items:
Approval of quote for student computer cases
Personnel Report – following
The board went into an executive session for personnel matters and the superintendent evaluation process.
President Danny Brown adjourned the meeting.
PERSONNEL REPORT – APPROVED EMPLOYMENT
RESIGNATIONS/TERMINATIONS/RETIREMENTS:
Gordon Harris – Resignation as Eugene Ware/FSPC Custodian, effective Sept. 19, 2022
Stuart Troutman – Resignation as district technology help desk, effective Oct. 14, 2022
Ralph Carlson introduces the Friday Night Concert musicians May 2019.
This week’s Friday Night Concert will be presented by the First Southern Baptist Church worship team. The quintet is comprised of John Poag, music director, Irene Bradbury, Madison Crippen, Bonnie Freels, and Andrea Poag. The program will feature gospel, praise and worship, and traditional hymns.
“John Poag and his wife moved here from Jacksonville, Florida,” concert-series organizer Ralph Carlson said. “John sings and plays acoustic guitar and leads the worship at church. We appreciate the quintet sharing their love of music with the community. Invite a friend and join us for an evening under the stars.”
The one-hour concert begins at 7 p.m. at the Heritage Park Pavilion at First and Main streets. The event is free and open to the public. Dave Oas and Jim Butler provide the sound each week. Due to limited seating, attendees are encouraged to bring lawn chairs.
In the event of inclement weather, the concert will be moved to The Loading Dock at Common Ground Coffee Co., 12 E. Wall Street.
Kathy Dancer stands in front of the Scottish Rite Temple. 110 S. Main, Fort Scott.
Kathy and Tracy Dancer are working to restore the former Scottish Rite Temple building in historic downtown Fort Scott.
“We bought it at the Bourbon County Tax sale in January 2022 for $20,000,” Kathy said. “That’s when we saw the opportunity to purchase it at the sale. We had been trying for years to contact the former owner, who purchased it from the Mason’s.”
The 12,000 square foot building that has been vacant for about 10 years is getting a electric update, Kathy said.
“Kudos to the Masons,” she said. “They took took good care of the building…the water and most of the electric were taken care of.”
The Dancers have plans for a cafe in the area that people might remember as where the Kiwanis and Rotary Clubs prepared and served their meals they sold the public as fundraisers.
Even before that recent use, there was a cafe there.
“The Cohen Cafe, before 1948, had a cafe in the space,” she said.
The Dancers plan to have the cafe open for breakfast and lunch service in that same space, possibly in spring 2023. “We are waiting for state approval for construction to begin.”
“We want to focus on locally produced in the region fruits, veggies and meat as much as possible,” she said.
Kathy Dancer stands in front of the current main entrance of the Scottish Rite Temple. After renovation of the building, there will be other entrances and restored large windows.
They are also planning on having a retail incubator.
“We also hope to put a micro-retail space for 6 to 8 businesses in one large section,” she said. “Handcrafted goods: jewelry, popcorn, custom home decor, furniture (for example). With a central check-out. People won’t have to man their space.”
“I need more approvals for this project,” she said. “It will focus on locally produced goods as much as possible.”
She said her husband is working through the process of getting a distillers license. “To have bourbon crafted and aged in Bourbon County,” she said.
“We are starting with the ground floor first, it will take time,” Kathy said. “I’m guestimating five years to complete.”
The beautiful theater in the building is a question mark.
“We don’t know what we are going to do with the theater,” she said.
The following attachment is the agenda for the 10-11-2022 City Commission Meeting. You will find an addition under New Business for the Consideration of Bids for the 900 E. National Trenching Project.
The Land Bank Advisory Board will meet on Monday, October 17th, 2022 at 4 p.m. at the City Hall Commission meeting room at 123 S. Main Street, Fort Scott, Kansas. This meeting is open to the public. The meeting will be available on the City’s YouTube channel.
The Land Bank Advisory Board will meet on Monday, October 10th, 2022 at 4 p.m. at the City Hall Commission meeting room at 123 S. Main Street, Fort Scott, Kansas. This meeting is open to the public. The meeting will be available on the City’s YouTube channel.
NOTICE OF AND AGENDA FOR MEETING OF FORT SCOTT CITY COMMISSION CITY HALL COMMISSION MEETING ROOM 123 SOUTH MAIN STREET OCTOBER 11, 2022 6:00 P.M. Call to Order I.Roll Call: J. JonesT. Van HoeckeS. WalkerM. WellsK. Harrington II.Flag Salute: III.Invocation:Led by:T. Van Hoecke IV.Consent Agenda: A.Approval of minutes of the regular meeting of September 20th, 2022, and Special Meeting minutes of September 21st, 2022, and September 22nd, 2022. B.Approval of Appropriation Ordinance 1321-A totaling $452,376.58. C.Request to Pay – J. Richardson Construction – $53,540.57 – 17th& Eddy Project. D.Request to Pay – L. G. Barcus and Sons – $170,681.75 – Dam Improvements E.Request to Pay – Circle C Paving & Construction – $230,165.50 – 2022 CapeSeal Program. F.Request to Pay Earles Engineering & Inspection, Inc – $4,120.00 – City Engineer. G.Request to Pay Earles Engineering & Inspection, Inc. – $12,799.20 – System Designs. H.Request to Pay Earles Engineering & Inspection, Inc. – $3,540.00 – South Industrial Park Waterline, Final Design. I.RequesttoPayEarlesEngineering&Inspection,Inc.–$13,700.00– Sanitary Sewer Project. J.Request to Pay Earles Engineering & Inspection, Inc. – $2,849.00 – Cooper St. Inspection
K.Request to Pay Earles Engineering & Inspection, Inc. – $5,850.00 – South Horton St. and W. 6thSt. L.Request to Pay AMS Advanced Microbial Solutions – $55,000.00 – Set Up Fee M.Nuss & Farmer August Out of Contract Hours – $1,435.00 N.Approve August Financials V.Public Comment: (Sign up required.Comments on any topic not on agenda and limited to five (5) minutes per person, at Commission discretion) VI.Old Business: VII.Appearances: 1.Lake Advisory Board Representative VIII.Public Hearing: None IX.New Business: 1.Consideration of Change Order #1 – L.G. Barcus and Sons, Inc. – $19,466.03 – River Intake Project XII. Reports and Comments: A.Interim City Manager Comments: B.Commissioners Reports and Comments: C.City Attorney Reports and Comments: XIII.ExecutiveSession–Ifrequested,(pleasefollowscriptinallmotionsfor Executive Sessions) IX.Adjournment:
Ronda and Rob Hassig with one of their adopted sons, Harvey Crowder in the room with the Mark Twain fireplace .
The Thomas and Anna Herbert House, now owned by Rob and Ronda Hassig, has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places by the U.S. Department of the Interior.
The house is located at 512 South Judson St.
Fort Scott.
The heavy plaque noting the registration sits inside the Hassig home, waiting for a pole to be built to attach it to, since it is very heavy.
“Having the house on the National Register of Historic places means the Herbert House gets the recognition it so richly deserves,” Ronda Hassig said. “Rob and I both feel strongly that this designation will also keep our beautiful home safe even after we are gone. We love the Herbert House and are hoping that the Heritage Trust Fund Grant from the state of Kansas will come through and we can do some much-needed repairs on the exterior of the house!”
“The reason the Herbert House was placed on the National Register of Historic Places is because of the Queen Anne architecture and style,” Ronda said. “When the historical architect first visited us to help with the National Register application, she literally walked through the front door and said ‘This is a slam dunk!’ The Queen Anne style was based on the premise of ‘decorative excess” and that is exactly what the Herberts did!”
About Thomas Herbert
Thomas Herbert. Submitted photo.
“Thomas Herbert worked for the government and happened through Fort Scott on one of his business trips after the Civil War and fell in love with the town,” she said. “He bought the lots on Judson in the early 1870s but didn’t build until 1887/88. He married his wife Anna in 1873 at the Episcopalian church.”
“Mr. Herbert owned a store at Second and Wall Street that had paint, wallpaper, and home decor items from all over the world, kind of a mini-Home Depot,” she said. “He was from Canada and learned painting as an apprentice in Buffalo, NY.”
“He…decorated some of the most beautiful houses in Fort Scott so he was quite the artist,” Ronda said. “When the town renovated the Opera House, Mr. Herbert painted all of the Egyptian figures on the walls and ceiling of the theatre! He would definitely be considered one of the founding fathers of Fort Scott.”
Anna Herbert. Submitted photo.
Herbert was a Mason of the 33rd Degree, so he spent time at the Scottish Rites Temple, she said.
Description of the Herbert House
“We have lived in the house for almost four years and we still find little decorations inside and out that we haven’t noticed before,” she said. “The hand carved woodwork would have been done back East, and then would have been shipped by train. A builder would have built the house to suit the Herberts. We don’t know who the builder was but whoever it was they did a really nice job!”
The house is 6000 square feet including a full attic, dry basement and coal shoot, and 4000 square feet of living space with 5 bedrooms, 2.5 baths, music room, living room, dining room, modern kitchen and library/den.
“My favorite room is probably the dining room because of the Czechoslovakian chandelier and the Mark Twain fireplace,” Ronda said. “Mark Twain liked to watch the snow fall and the fire blaze at the same time so there are two flues and a window above the fire box!”
“The library/den, half bath, and 5th bedroom were added to the house in 1930 by Dr. Wilkening who lived in the house longer than anyone else,” she said. “The music room was actually his office.”
A photo of Dr. William Wilkening’s medical class. Hassig is unsure which one is Dr. Wilkening. Submitted photo.
Renown photographer Gordon Parks was friends with one of the more recent owners of the house, Ken and Charlotte Lunt.
“Gordon Parks was very good friends with the Lunts and he visited the house often in his later years,” she said. “He held court in the front burgundy velvet antique chairs by the round window whenever he visited. We’ve hosted the Gordon Parks Celebration VIPS that last two years so that David Parks (Gordon’s son) can see the house again every year.”
“The National Register of Historic Places is the official list of the Nation’s historic places worthy of preservation. Authorized by the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, the National Park Service’s National Register of Historic Places is part of a national program to coordinate and support public and private efforts to identify, evaluate, and protect America’s historic and archeological resources.”
