Category Archives: Fort Scott

Art, Business, Fort Scott

Artificers Art Show Dec. 3-4 at 119 S. Main

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The Artificers 5th Annual Christmas Show,  a new artshow to Fort Scott this year, is Friday, Dec. 3, and Saturday, Dec. 4 from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. at 119 S. Main.
“Once a year Trent and I create Christmas and holiday-themed (art) work,”  Kate Freeman said. “We invite some artists’ friends to share their offerings as well.”
The Freeman’s, from the Kansas City area,  purchased the building north of the radio station 8 North National Avenue in Fort Scott and were renovating it, but had a few setbacks, Kate said.
To view the prior story on the Freeman’s art business: The Artificers Are Coming
“Jared Leek, the owner of Front Door Realty, was kind enough to give our show a home when we weren’t able to open our studio in time for our annual show,” Kate said. “We were hoping to be open for business, but due to some setbacks our space isn’t finished.”
This year seven artists are participating in this event.
“I hand-picked them for their craftsmanship and diverse mediums,” she said. “There is sure to be something special for everyone on your Christmas list!”
The artists include Trent and Kate Freeman, in the medium of sculpture:  Andrea Latham, Kansas City, Kansas, ceramic pottery; Erin Shevling, Edwardsville, Kansas, functional pottery;
Tim Kienzle, Bonner Springs, Kansas, copper jewelry;
Darrell Williams, Kirksville, Missouri, airbrush art; and
Julie Snitker, Kansas City, Missouri, mixed media collage.
Some of the artists work:
 
The Artificers studio is progressing on National Avenue.
“Slowly but surely,” she said. “There is progress on all fronts, it just feels like a snail’s pace when we are so excited to share our space and art with our new community.”
Below is a link to sign up for updates and emails for classes and events.
Bourbon County, Entertainment, Fort Scott

SEK Library System Newsletter for November 2021

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The SEKnFind Newsletter
November 2021

This newsletter about new books is distributed to people who are registered adult users at a southeast Kansas library participating in the SEKnFind catalog. We hope you find it useful, but if you don’t wish to receive this anymore, you can click on the “Manage Subscriptions or Unsubscribe” link at the bottom.
All the books included in this newsletter are new additions in one or more SEKnFind libraries–and since the catalog is shared, that means they are available to you whether they are in your local library or not!  Just place a hold on the item(s) you want.  If you don’t know how, your librarian can show you.

New Fiction

The neighbor’s secret
by L. Alison HellerWhen late-night acts of vandalism target the women of the Cottonwood Book Club in increasingly violent and personal ways, they are forced to decide just how far they will go to keep their secrets and protect their children—even if it means someone has to die. 75,000 first printing.

Sleigh bells ring
by RaeAnne ThayneWhen Tate Sheridan unexpectedly returns home to Angel’s View Ranch, caretaker Annie McCade is shocked when he lets her to stay in exchange for posing as his long-lost love to keep his busybody matchmaking grandmother off his back—a ruse that leads to something more. 10,000 first printing.

When two feathers fell from the sky
by Margaret Verble”Louise Erdrich meets Karen Russell in this deliciously strange and daringly original novel from Pulitzer Prize finalist Margaret Verble: set in 1926 Nashville, it follows a death-defying young Cherokee horse-diver who, with her companions from the Glendale Park Zoo, must get to the bottom of a mystery that spans centuries”

56 days
by Catherine Ryan Howard”No one even knew they were together. Now one of them is dead. 56 DAYS AGO. Ciara and Oliver meet in a supermarket queue in Dublin and start dating the same week COVID-19 reaches Irish shores. 35 DAYS AGO. When lockdown threatens to keep them apart, Oliver suggests they move in together. Ciara sees a unique opportunity for a relationship to flourish without the scrutiny of family and friends. Oliver sees a chance to hide who-and what-he really is. TODAY. Detectives arrive at Oliver’s apartment to discover a decomposing body inside. Can they determine what really happened, or has lockdown created an opportunity for someone to commit the perfect crime?”

Riverbend Gap
by Denise HunterMoving to a small North Carolina town to be near her new boyfriend, Katelyn Loveland, after a chance encounter, finds herself falling in love with local sheriff’s deputy Cooper Robinson—her boyfriend’s brother—and stands to lose everything. Original.

A flicker of light
by Katie PownerWidower Mitch Jensen is at a loss with how to handle his mother’s odd, forgetful behaviors and his daughter’s sudden return, but when his mother reveals a long-held secret about her past, their lives will never be the same. Original.

These bones
by Kayla Chenault”In a neighborhood known as the Bramble Patch, the Lyons family endures despite poverty, racism, and the ghoulish appetites of an underworld kingpin called the Barghest. As the years pass and the neighborhood falls into decay, along with the town that surrounds it, what’s left of the Bramble Patch will learn the saying is true: These bones are gonna rise again”

Trashlands
by Alison StinePlucking plastic, which is now currency, from rivers and fields to sell or trade, artist Coral is forced to dance at Trashlands to recoup her savings in an attempt to rescue her son from the recycling factories, in this love story to survival in an unloved place. 50,000 first printing.

The body scout : a novel
by Lincoln Michel”Kobo has some problems. His cybernetics are a decade out of date, he’s got a pair of twin sister loan sharks knocking on his door, and his work scouting for a baseball league run by pharmaceutical companies is about to go belly-up. Things couldn’t get much worse. Then his childhood best friend–Monsanto Mets slugger J.J. Zunz–is murdered at home plate. Determined to find the killer, Kobo plunges into the dark corners and glittering cloud condos of a world ravaged by climate change and repeat pandemics,and where genetic editing and advanced drugs mean you can have any body you want–as long as you can afford it. But even among the philosophical Neanderthals, zootech weapons, and genetically modified CEOs, there’s a curveball he never could have called”

Hyde
by Craig RussellThe chief detective of Edinburgh in Victorian Scotland is shocked and appalled when he finds himself at the scene of a grisly murder, with no idea how he got there in this reimagining of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.

Down range : a novel
by Taylor MooreAn elite, undercover DEA officer helps out a formerly-peaceful ranching community in Texas who are under assault by a group of criminals controlled by a rich, entitled businessmen with ties to law enforcement and local businesses. 100,000 first printing.

Winter wolves
by Matthew P. Mayo””One man’s quest to lose himself in the West.” Roamer’s long-planned winter snowshoe trek to the high, lonesome peaks of the Bitterroots takes a hard turn when the big loner of a woodsman finds his mentor, cantankerous mountain man Maple Jack, savaged, terrorized, and raving about the Alooknok, blood-eyed demons who absconded with his cold-weather mate, Winter Woman, a no-nonsense healer and midwife. It’s up to Roamer to rescue her. He takes to the trail in the wake of a blizzard, battling winter-starved timber wolves and the unforgiving elements. Tracking him, the addled Maple Jack falls prey to a trio of greasy wolfers. Then the very demons Roamer seeks find him-and force him deep into the belly of the beast, a foreboding, grim place in the raw mountains where sunlight never shines. A brutal battle among friends, enemies, and Alooknok will seal their fates and haunt the few survivors . . . forever”

New Nonfiction

Around the world in 80 books
by David Damrosch”A transporting and illuminating voyage around the globe, through classic and modern literary works that are in conversation with one another and with the world around them”

The age of AI : and our human future
by Henry KissingerThree leading thinkers put their heads together to explore Artificial Intelligence and how it will change our relationships with knowledge, politics and the societies in which we live. 100,000 first printing.

The book of hope : a survival guide for trying times
by Jane GoodallTold through stories from an extraordinary career and fascinating research, this urgent book, written by the world’s most famous living naturalist and an internationally best-selling author, explores one of the most sought after and least understood elements of human nature—hope. 300,000 first printing.

The end of bias : a beginning : the science and practice of overcoming unconscious bias
by Jessica Nordell”A transformative, groundbreaking exploration into how we can eradicate unintentional bias and discrimination, the great challenge of our age”

Frequently asked questions about the universe
by Jorge ChamYou’ve got questions: about space, time, gravity, and your odds of meeting your older self inside a wormhole, and all the answers you need are right here. Illustrations.

Immune : A Journey into the Mysterious System That Keeps You Alive
by Philipp DettmerThe creator of a popular educational YouTube channel presents and illustrated journey through the human body’s immune system, with each chapter focusing on an element including defenses like antibodies and inflammation as well as threats like bacteria, allergies and cancer. Illustrations.

Gastro obscura : a food adventurer’s guide
by Cecily WongThe team behind Atlas Obscura, a friendly tour-guide to the world’s most amazing places, presents incredible ingredients, food adventures and edible wonders from around the world, including Chilean beer made from fog and 2,000-year-old egg ovens. 250,000 first printing. Illustrations.

Pottery for beginners : projects for beautiful ceramic bowls, mugs, vases and more
by Kara Leigh Ford”If you ever daydream about delving into pottery but aren’t sure where to begin, this is your book. Professional potter Kara Leigh Ford will be your personal pottery guide, helping you to overcome any doubts about your abilities. All you need are curiosity and a few simple tools to mold stunning stoneware with confidence. Inspiring projects and primers on equipment, technique, clay types and setting up a workspace make pottery approachable for complete newcomers, as well as budding potters who want to hone their skills. Plus, gorgeous photos from Kara’s studio offer visual guidance every step of the way”

Code name Badass : the true story of Virginia Hall
by Heather DemetriosThis rebellious and revolutionary biography of the most dangerous of all Allied spies follows Virginia Hall as she plays a dangerous game of cat and mouse with Hitler’s henchman, becoming the Gestapo’s most wanted spy. 30,000 first printing. Simultaneous eBook. Illustrations.

Bucket list USA
by Fodor’s TravelA trave guide packed with 500 carefully curated “must” lists to see and do in the United States, including Grand Canyon camping, cheesesteaks in Philadelphia, walking through sunflowers in Kansas and partying at Mardi Gras in New Orleans. Original. Illustrations. Maps.

Even more reading suggestions

NextReads Sneak Peek
Looking for something else to read? Try subscribing to our free NextReads newsletters. Newsletters are divided into a variety of genres and topics so you can get recommendations tailored to your interests sent directly to your inbox every month to two months.
Each issue contains around 9 to 10 reading suggestions. If we don’t have a copy, make a purchase suggestion or ask your library about in
…
Entertainment, Fort Scott, Gordon Parks Museum

Gordon Parks Museum to Celebrate Gordon Parks Birthday on November 30

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Fort Scott–The Gordon Parks Museum at Fort Scott Community College will celebrate the anniversary of Gordon Parks’ birthday on Tuesday, November 30th with the showing of films by or about Parks throughout the day along with cupcakes for visitors.

The event is free of charge and the public is invited to attend.

The schedule of showings throughout the day will include:
10:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. – “The Learning Tree,” (Filmed in Fort Scott) 1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. – “Half Past Autumn” 2:30 p.m. –4:30 p.m. – “Solomon Northup’s Odyssey”

Parks, born in Fort Scott on November 30, 1912, would have been 109 this year. He died in March, 2006 at the age of 93. For more information contact the Gordon Parks Museum at 620-223-2700, ext.5850 or by email at [email protected].
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Fort Scott, Government

FS City Offices Closed For Thanksgiving

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The City of Fort Scott Administrative offices will be closed on Thursday, November 25th and Friday, November 26th, 2021 in observance of the Thanksgiving Day Holiday. The regular offices will reopen on Monday, November 29th, 2021.

The City’s tree and brush dump site located on North Hill will also be closed on Thursday, November 25th, and Saturday, November 27th, 2021 for the Thanksgiving Day holiday. It will be open again on Tuesday, November 30th, 2021 from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.

Fort Scott, History, Housing

Fort Scott Home Placed on the Kansas Historical Register

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512 S. Judson.
The house at 512 S. Judson has recently been approved for the Kansas State Historical Register.
The current owner, Ronda Hassig, and husband, Rob,  moved in in February 2019.
“We are both history teachers and moved from Olathe to Lawrence for retirement,” Ronda said.
They were there for one year when a native of this area and friend, Carmen Streeter Misse, showed her the house.
“We drove right down and bought it outright,” she said. “It was the house we had always dreamed of owning and putting our Victorian antique furniture in.”
It had been up for auction two times since Ken Lunt died, she said.
Ken and his wife, Charlotte, were well-known volunteers in the community. Lunt who was the mayor of Fort Scott died in 2013, Charlotte in 2007.
“Both times (it went up for auction) there was interest from a salvage company in Kansas City,” she said. “We decided to get it on the Kansas Historical Register, once we settled in. Once on the register, it would be protected from such a fate.”
Ronda was a middle school librarian, and is a historical fiction author and “all-around research nerd,” she said and began researching the history of the house.
Ronda Hassig. Taken from the Lowell Milken Center Facebook page.

History of the house

“The Thomas and Anna Herbert house sits at 512 Judson Street, the sign on the house says it was built in 1887, but it was built in 1888,” she said. “Thomas bought the property in 1870 and married Anna in 1873. They waited a while to build the house though.”
“He owned a successful home design business at 2nd and Wall and sold paint, wallpaper, household items from all over the world, and anything dealing with decorating your home,” she said. “He was a painter. In my research, I found that he helped decorate some of the most beautiful homes in Fort Scott.”
The couple had no children and Thomas died in 1913. Anna sold the house in 1917 to a banker, C.D. Sample.
In seeking to be on the register, Hassig thought she could do the architecture piece on the application.
“It became apparent after trying to use the dictionary for every other word when explaining the features of the house, that this was a job for a professional,” she said.
Hassig hired Susan Fort, a preservationist, and architect from Kansas City, Missouri to help her with the application.
On November 13, 2021, she found out the application was approved.
Now it is on the Kansas State Historial Register, but is heading to the U.S. Park Service for approval for the National Register of Places, she said.
“We should know in three to six months,” she said. “Then a plaque will be put on its’ beautiful facade.”
“I hope that Ken and Charlotte Lunt are happy in heaven with the exciting news and won’t mind too terribly that the house will now be called the Thomas and Anna Herbert House,” she said.
Fort Scott, Schools

Fort Scott High School Debate Takes First at Invitational

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On Saturday, November 20, The Talking Tigers took a small contingency of six teams to compete at the Louisburg Wildcat Invitational.
In the open division, Joy Self and Lillian Collins placed sixth, Berkley Wood and Thade Yates placed fourth, while Anna Hall and Reagan Wells finished in first-place.
The Talking Tigers’ combined scores were enough for a first-place team finish in sweepstakes.
“Thanks for your hard work,” said teacher/coach Angella Curran. “Tigers. It certainly paid off this weekend.”
Art, Business, Fort Scott

Holiday Art Show: Dec. 3-4

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The Artificers invite you to their
5th Annual Christmas Art Show!
December 3rd 10am to 9pm
December 4th 10am to 9pm
Crooner’s Lounge &
Front Door Real Estate
119 South Main Street
Fort Scott, KS
7 artists, including Trent and Kate Freeman,
will be participating. All of them were handpicked for their craftsmanship and diverse mediums.
There is sure to be something special
for everyone on your Christmas list!
Please RSVP and enter your email with this link and receive a token of our appreciation to be picked up at the show! Here’s the link. theartificers.com/chamber

 

 

Business, Fort Scott, Housing

Another Historic Downtown Building Gets Some Attention

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Workers from Mid-Continental Restoration Company work on the front of the building at 20 N. Scott. New awnings, siding, and paint are improvements being added to the building.

The Fort Scott downtown area is seeing new life.

Already approximately one dozen buildings have been purchased by new buyers and are being or have been renovated in the last few years.

Judy and Jerry Witt, who sold their suburban home and moved downtown to an apartment at 9 Main Street, have also purchased a  building in the back of their living space, located at 20 N. Scott Avenue.

The purchased building has 1,812 square feet on each floor and was built in 1880 as a harness shop, Jerry said.

“Harnesses were put on horses to pull wagons,” he said.

“It’s the small building north of the Courtland Hotel,” Judy Witt said. “It was formerly owned by Jim Shoemaker and before that, it was a coffee shop.”

“I wanted to preserve it,” Jerry Witt said. “I wanted to see renovations on Scott Avenue.”

“It was basically in good shape,” Jerry said. “We finished the downstairs area; redid the bathroom and put new cabinets in.”

“The upstairs has a commercial kitchen,” he said.  “Three sinks, a double oven, and a range.”

“We hope to have an area for a small business on the lower level,” Judy said. “And an apartment upstairs.”

“The idea is someone could start a business downstairs and live upstairs,” he said.

“I’d like to see something like an ice cream shop or popcorn,” he said. “To serve the visitors to the fort (Fort Scott National Historic Site).”

The building will be for rent, when the reno is completed, which should be the end of the year, he said.

Jerry and Judy moved downtown last year.

“We have a front door on Main Street and a back one on Old Fort Boulevard,” he said. “I talk to a lot of visitors to the fort and find out where they are from.”

Old Fort Boulevard is directly in front of the national historic site.

Jerry said he is enjoying living downtown.

Jerry and Judy Witt hand out Halloween candy in front of their apartment on Main Street on October 30. Taken from the Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce Facebook page.

“We are part of everything going on,” he said. “And it’s close to restaurants. There is always something happening. It’s beautiful and peaceful at night.”

“I have my rental office in the front room of my condo,” he said. “It’s the only one-story building on Main Street.”

The Witts own three businesses on North Main Street that currently house Audette Davis’s beauty shop,  Mary Eastwood’s upholstery shop, and Stacy Gooderl’s healthy living store, he said.

This week Mid-Continental  Restoration Co. of Fort Scott was working on the front side of the building at 20 North Scott Avenue.

“They are doing siding, awnings, painting, and bringing the brick back to life,” Judy said.

20 North Scott Avenue. Nov. 16, 2021.
Bourbon County, Fort Scott

Salvation Army Bell Ringers Needed

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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.