Category Archives: Fort Scott
FS Future Farmers of America Students Selling Hay Rings
Former Mercy Hospital Building Reopening Process Moves Forward
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.
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:
“As You Are Ministry” Starts
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”
To view the story on the barbershop they opened in May 2021:
FS City Commission Holds Special Meeting To Interview City Manager Candidates
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.
Writers Workshop Held Nov. 17 at Local Bookstore
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.”
Tabletop Ads Available At La Hacienda
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Handicapped Swing In Gunn Park
The Kiwanis Club of Fort Scott Pioneers’ donation of a handicapped swing placement in Gunn Park is nearly completed.
“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.
To view a prior story on the swing:
Pioneer Kiwanis Initiates Collaboration For Community Friendship Swing
FSHS Talking Tigers Place First in Debate Tourney
Congratulations to the Fort Scott High School Talking Tigers on their 1ST PLACE win at DeSoto on November 13!
In the Open Division, Neil and Shekhar Gugnani took 1st place with 5-0 record.
In the JV division, Cadence Tuck and Joy Self took 1st place with a 5-0 record.
Even though our other teams didn’t place, their wins helped to contribute to our first-place win as a team. Congratulations Tigers!!
Submitted by coach/teacher Angella Curran
FS Land Bank Meets November 16
The Land Bank meeting will be held on Tuesday, November 16th, 2021 at 5:00 p.m. at City Hall in the City Commission meeting room. There will be a majority of City Commissioners present, but no City Commission business will be conducted.
This meeting will be made available via the City’s you tube channel at City of Fort Scott.
FS Commission Special Meeting On November 16
There will be a Special Meeting of the Fort Scott City Commission held at 12:00 p.m. on Tuesday, November 16th, 2021. It is anticipated the Commission will adjourn into Executive Session at this time.
This meeting will be held at the Landmark National Bank building on the 2nd floor, at 200 S. Main Street. This meeting is open to the public.
The Commissioners may gather at the Courthouse following this executive session, but no City business will be conducted.
Presentation Explores The Fight For Women’s Suffrage in Kansas
Fort Scott, Kansas – Lowell Milken Center for Unsung Heroes in Fort Scott will host “The Fight for Women’s Suffrage in Kansas,” a presentation and discussion via Zoom by Dr. Sarah Bell on Friday, November 19th, 2021 at 3:30pm, at the Lowell Milken Center at 1 South Main Street. Members of the community are invited to attend the free program. Contact the Lowell Milken Center for Unsung Heroes at #620-223-1312 for more information. The program is made possible by Humanities Kansas. Refreshments will be provided for those attending at the Center.
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82602725600?pwd=UE10T0R2T1hCb2prTi9TZ1NWZmZpZz09
Meeting ID: 826 0272 5600
Passcode: 269586
Kansas was repeatedly a leader in advancing progressive issues and rights for women during the late 19th century. However, one cannot talk about women’s suffrage, without noting that the movement and its leaders were primarily white and middle class. Many of these women practiced and perpetuated prejudice against Black women throughout women’s organizations at this time. However, Black women were as actively involved in pushing for equal and civil rights in Kansas as their white counterparts. This presentation will highlight several Black women who were leaders in suffrage, the Woman’s Christian Temperance Union, and women’s clubs, while walking through the fifty-year chronology of women fighting to get the vote in Kansas. It will also touch on key events and leaders, while examining why it took so many years to achieve this milestone called suffrage.
Sarah Bell has a Ph.D. from the University of Kansas in History and is Development Officer at the Watkins Museum of History in Lawrence. Her dissertation studied woman suffragists’ participation with the Chautauqua Movement.
“The women I research inspire me to fight for progress and justice in our world today. Sharing their stories is a way to honor and recognize their hard work at advancing our society,” said Bell.
This presentation is part of Kansas’s Movement of Ideas Speakers Bureau, featuring presentations and workshops designed to share stories that inspire, spark conversations that inform, and generate insights that strengthen civic engagement.
For more information about “The Fight for Women’s Suffrage in Kansas” presentation in Fort Scott, contact the Lowell Milken Center for Unsung Heroes or call #620-223-1312 or visit our Facebook page – Lowell Milken Center for Unsung Heroes.
About Humanities Kansas
Humanities Kansas is an independent nonprofit spearheading a movement of ideas to empower the people of Kansas to strengthen their communities and our democracy. Since 1972, our pioneering programming, grants, and partnerships have documented and shared stories to spark conversations and generate insights. Together with our partners and supporters, we inspire all Kansans to draw on history, literature, ethics, and culture to enrich their lives and serve the communities and state we all proudly call home. Visit humanitieskansas.org.
About the Lowell Milken Center: The Lowell Milken Center is a non-profit 501 © (3) that works with students and educators within a range of diverse academic disciplines, to develop projects focused on unsung heroes. Once their projects are finished, we advocate the student’s unsung heroes by sharing them in our Hall of Unsung Heroes or our website so people all over the world discover their individual influence and obligation to take actions that improve the lives of others. The Hall of Unsung Heroes is proudly located in Southeast Kansas and showcases some of the top projects developed in collaboration with the Center.
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