Help The Salvation Army make beautiful music this holiday season –
sign up to be a bell ringer and make a difference in our community!
The Salvation Army’s 2021 Red Kettle Campaign in Fort Scott begins Saturday, November 20th, and continues every day through December 24.
This year again, we will have volunteers ringing bells at Walmart.
“Volunteers are critical to the overall success of our Red Kettle Campaign. Individuals, families, and groups are encouraged to sign up for a shift – it’s a fun, easy way to help those less fortunate in our community,” said Outreach Director, Allen Schellack.
The money collected during the 2021 Red Kettle Campaign will support Salvation Army programs in Bourbon County for the coming year. These programs include emergency rent and lodging, utility assistance, gasoline, prescriptions, as well as local disaster response.
“All gifts made in our community stay in our community,” said Schellack.
Allen Schellack, director of Fort Scott Compassionate Ministries.
To volunteer to be a Salvation Army bell ringer, please call Fort Scott
Compassionate Ministries at 620-223-2212.
Monday, November 22nd is the VIP Fall Extravaganza that will be held at the Fort Scott Middle School in the Gymnasium & Commons Area from 5-8 p.m.
This is a one-stop shopping and dining experience.
Pick up baked goods for your Thanksgiving dinner, purchase holiday gifts, and hear holiday music – all in one great evening.
Donated items from vendors will be available as raffle prizes.
Participating Vendors:
*2 Southern Ladies / Jessica Cullen
Baked Goods / Hunter Parker
*Bids & Dibs / Angela Simon
*Color Street / Heather Geiger
*Cowboy Christmas Store & Murphy Boys / Jaymie Murphy
*Crystal’s Jewelry / Carolyn Crystal
*Custom Jewelry / Laura Howard
*Desert Bloom / Jimmie Hughes
Dixie’s Lilla Rose / Dixie Jackson
*Down Home Country Crafter / Cindy Hall
*Flying P Ranch / Abbie Powell & Jolynne Mitchell
FSHS After Prom 2022 / Amy Harper
FSMS Technology Products / Adam Feagins
*Funky Junktiques / Jennifer Cox
*Happy Little Candle Factory / Lori Craig
*Home Sewn Items / Micki Kraft
*Laree + Co. / Rachel French
*Locust Hill Lamanchas / Sue Reinecke
Mixed Media Mosaics / Cindi Lipe
*Paul L. Milks Photography / Paul L. Milks
*Plain Jane’s Soap / Heather Mace & Pamela Walters
*Redbud Farms & Nurseries / Tara Allen
*Shirt Shack / Billy Webster
*Sugar Bakery / Jessie Combs
*Sunshine Boutique / Georgia Brown
*The Purse Lady / Nancy Crawford
*The Spurred Mule Creations and Décor / Jessica Norwood
*Tiger Threads / Morgan Sage
*Tupperware / Shawn O’Brien
*Uppacreek Ranch / Doug Simpson
*Well Spring Acres / Penny Moore
*Wood Crafts & Art / Wilbur Fleming
*These vendors will be donating items to be raffled that evening.
Tickets may be purchased for $0.25 each. Winners need not be
present to win.
Monday, November 22nd
Fort Scott Middle School
Gymnasium & Commons Area
5:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Parking is available on the east, west, and south sides of the school.
Noble Health Corporation announced yesterday that in the near future they will be deciding whether it is feasible to reopen a hospital at the former Mercy Hospital facility, according to Rob Harrington, Director of Bourbon County Regional Economic Development Inc.
“There will be two more meetings with the (Bourbon County) Commission and then they will begin talking with the public about the outcome of the feasibility study,” Harrington said.
“Today was a good day for Bourbon County and we are excited to see the process continue,” he said.
“The next phases will be dedicated to renovation costs and I believe labor,” he said.
“The study has been completed, however, it contains information that at this time needs to remain confidential until after the property is transferred to Noble by the county,” Harrington said. “We are hopeful that this will happen in January and February when they begin doing their town hall meetings.”
Noble Health Corp. announced in June 2021 that it would explore the possibility of reopening the acute care hospital facility in Fort Scott, according to a previous press release from the corporation.
The corporation, a Kansas City company, engaged in a cooperative agreement with Bourbon County to conduct a feasibility study that could lead to the reopening of the former Mercy Hospital building, located at 401 Woodland Hills Blvd., according to the press release.
The building is located just off Hwy. 69 on Fort Scott’s south side.
Mercy Hospital Fort Scott closed in December of 2018.
Mercy Hospital before it closed in December 2018.
Since that time Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas has leased a portion of the building, and Ascension Via Christi Hospital, Pittsburg, has leased the emergency department. Those leases end in December 2022. Fort Scott Community College has leased the western part of the building for student housing.
To view the prior features on Nobel Health in Fort Scott:
Mayra and Jose Montanez, have started a helping ministry in Fort Scott. Submitted photo.
As You Are Ministries is a ministry started by Mayra and Jose Montanez, owners of the Fort Scott Barber Shop.
“We were led by God to not only bring this ministry here but also to move here along with our kids and grandkids as well as our barbershop,” Mayra said. The family came to Fort Scott earlier this year from the Kansas City area.
The ministry will provide faith-based community services such as clothing, shoes, hygiene products, food, and hot/cold beverages to those in need.
And they have much bigger plans for those people who are down and out.
“We will also be building two bathrooms with showers for anyone in need of one,” Mayra said.
The ministry is headquartered above their family business, Fort Scott Barbershop, 118 E. Wall.
The next step will be to create a healthy-food pantry, in collaboration with local farmers, she said.
Then they plan to build four family bedrooms for anyone needing a place to sleep or stay until they can be placed in a more permanent situation or program, Mayra said.
The ministry started at the beginning of the COVID-19 Pandemic in 2020.
“We quickly realized that people were desperate for hope and encouragement,” she said.
They started on social media.
“Every Sunday at 7 p.m., we would log in to our Facebook page ‘As You Are Ministries’ and give a word of encouragement to all that would log in.”
“Through our online videos, so far we have reached 15 countries,” she said.
They began to give out Bibles.
“Quickly noticing many people didn’t have Bibles, we started offering free Bibles, of their choosing, and would mail them to them,” she said. “We’ve currently given out close to 100, (with the) price ranging from $40-$100. It’s always what the person chooses, as long as it is Christian-based so that we can be in one accord.”
“Our Facebook page is public, anyone can see it and our goal is to reach all those in need of encouragement,” Jose said. “But the faith-based community service is for Fort Scott.”
The Montanez’s attend Faith Church and go to Bible studies with one of their groups on Mondays, he said.
The family had a setback when money was stolen from them recently.
“Our funds were stolen from our home about two months ago and we are currently in the process of saving up money to put in the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system and bathrooms,” he said. “The community has donated randomly so far $1,075 to help with the money stolen, we are so appreciative of that”
The ministry is headquartered above the Montanez family’s barbershop at 118 E. Wall, on the second floor.
To view the story on the barbershop they opened in May 2021:
The City Commission will meet for a special meeting at 9:00 a.m. on Saturday, November 20th, 2021 at City Hall in the City Commission meeting room at 123 South Main Street, Fort Scott, Kansas. The City Commission will meet to interview candidates for the City Manager position. The City Commission will recess into Executive Session for these interviews.
This meeting is open to the public, but the Executive Session is not.
Wednesday Writers will happen at
Join Hedgehog.INK! on November 17 from
1:30 to 3 p.m.
The bookstore is located at 16 S. Main Street.
Jane M. Tucker, author of the Lottie Braun trilogy, will join the group to share insights into the writing and publishing of her books.
“This will be the third in a three-part series of workshops to give encouragement, motivation, and support to people who want to write,” said store owner Jan Hedges. “If there is enough interest, we may continue as a writers support group after the first of the year.”
NEW TABLETOPS AT LA HACIENDA ~ GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO PROMOTE YOUR BUSINESS!
La Hacienda is replacing our 21 table tops with a beautiful new design/finish and we are partnering with local businesses that will be featured on the tables with full color magazine quality ads.
The new tables will stay in place for 3 years.
There are 3 ad sizes to choose from.
A one time payment for all 3 years!
We handle all of the graphics or you can submit a PDF of a completed ad.
Most important is reserving your spot on the table as these ads are going fast.
Your involvement will show important community support in exchange for this unique exposure!
Contact Carol Carney if interested 1-316-641-7639 or let Mirna or Lupe know at La Hacienda.
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Thank you in advance to those who have already confirmed ad placement!
The new swing is provided for handicapped individuals by the Kiwanis Club of Fort Scott Pioneers. Photo taken on Nov. 6.
The Kiwanis Club of Fort Scott Pioneers’ donation of a handicapped swing placement in Gunn Park is nearly completed.
Gunn Park is the largest public park in Fort Scott and is located on the west side of the city, off of Park Avenue.
“The one-size-fits-most swing offers a unique opportunity for area children and families to engage in healthy outdoor play together and help youth to develop a variety of physical and social skills,” Kellye Collins, spokeswoman for the club said.
The location is north of Shelter House No. 3 near the big lake, she said.
The name of the project is the Joyce True Memorial Project for Children, and sponsoring in addition to the club, were the City of Fort Scott, the Fort Scott Area Community Foundation, the Kansas Kiwanis Foundation, along with the friends and family of Joyce True.
“The project began with the passing of longtime Pioneers club member, Joyce True in July 2019,” Collins said.
“There will be a dedication of the swing in the spring of 2022,” she said. “We hope the city will have completed the landscaping by then.
Kiwanis is a global organization of volunteers dedicated to improving the world, one child and one community at a time.
“This project honors Joyce while fulfilling the Kiwanis mission to serve children and the community,” Collins said.
