The City of Fort Scott Administrative Offices will be closed on Thursday, November 11th, 2021 in observance of Veterans Day. The regular offices will reopen on Friday, November 12th, 2021.
The City’s tree and brush dump site located on North Hill will also be closed on Thursday, November 11th, 2021 for the Veteran’s Day holiday. It will be open again on Saturday, November 13th, 2021 from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Unified School District 234 Board Agenda
November 8, 2021
5:30 p.m.
Fort Scott Middle School Commons
Live Stream on youtube channel:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjaU97n6HwM9fYHltUChYXg
The City of Fort Scott will hold a public hearing on Monday, November 8, 2021, at 6:00 p.m., in the Fort Scott City Hall, 123 S. Main, Fort Scott, Kansas, to discuss the City’s submission of an Urgent Need application for the Kansas Small Cities Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program.
The maximum Urgent Need grant that may be requested is $400,000.
No involuntary displacement of persons will be proposed.
For the Urgent Need application, the City proposes to address concerns on 8 and 16 North National Avenue including: the loose and deteriorated masonry at the top of the walls, joint reinforcement, framing shoring, installment of parapet caps, reconstruction/repair of building corners, removal of all interior plaster and finishes from the exterior face of the walls, repoint and patch old joist pockets, install anchors over entire wall surface, and remove old joist ties from the exterior face of the wall.
Proposed financing is $400,000 from CDBG funds, and $285,000 from City funds.
Other project proposals introduced at the hearing will be considered.
Oral and written comments will be recorded and become a part of the City of Fort Scott’s CDBG Citizen Participation Plan. Reasonable accommodations will be made available to persons with disabilities. Requests should be submitted to the City of Fort Scott Clerk’s Office at 620-223-0550.
The Fort Scott High School Performing Arts Department presents the new musical “Ranked” by Kyle Holmes and David Taylor Gomes.
Performances are Nov. 9, and 11 at 7 p.m. and Nov. 13 at 2 and 7 p.m. at the FSHS Auditorium. Over fifty FSHS students are involved in the acting, singing, dancing, and technical aspects of the show.
“Ranked” presents a dystopian high school where the theme, “Buy your grades. Buy your future. But what happens when the rest of the world finds out?” comes to the surface.
Rankedmusical.com describes the plot this way: “Lily is Above the Average, barely. Soon the giant, and very public, academic leaderboards will update everyone’s class rank, and for another day, everyone will know their place. If you fall Below the Average – say goodbye to college, and pretty much everything else… In the face of an intense and perverse culture of performance, Lily must find her place in the status quo as she watches friends and enemies alike destroy themselves and each other to score their way to the top. When an impossible lie is discovered, the fate of these students’ futures hangs in the balance.”
Tickets are $8 for adults and $6 for those under 18. Reserved tickets are available at fortscotthighschool.ludus.com or at the door. Doors open 30 minutes prior to showtime. Parental guidance is suggested.
Once an anchor store in Fort Scott Historic Downtown, Country Cupboard staff is opening the store at 12 N. Main on Saturdays only until the end of the year in a liquidation sale, according to employees.
Home decor, jewelry, clothing, cards, old fashion candy were among the offerings of the store, as well as Kansas State University accessories.
“Judy (Renard, the owner) was a true K-State fan,” a 20-year employee Sheila Blubaugh, said.
“We had the latest trends in merchandise,” Blubaugh, said. “Judy had a good ability to pick out something that was going to be popular. People came from lots of places, to shop here.”
“Judy was good at, if somebody wanted something we didn’t have, she would try to get it for them,” Marie Wiley, an almost 30-year employee, said. “She was a good boss, as well.”
Judy’s husband, John, had a shoe repair business inside the shop.
John died in December 2019, and Judy died this year in September.
In the last few years, the shop has been opened only rarely, as Judy had been ill.
Since the Good Ol Days Event this year in June, the shop has been open on Saturdays, Wiley said.
Now until the end of the year, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturdays, shoppers can purchase antiques, store displays, former consignment items, and store merchandise that is for sale.
All are included in the liquidation sale.
“We have boxes of old consignment items,” Wiley said. “Some are being given away.”
The Renard family has listed the business property with real estate agent, Crystal Mason, Blubaugh said.
The family is comprised of Renard’s four children, Jim, Dallas, TX; Ron, Marshall, MO; David, Mapleton, and Dee Anne Miller, Fort Scott.
The building has two stories and a basement, Wiley said.
History of the business
Judy Renard started her business as the Calico Cottage, in a different building on Main Street, Blubaugh said.
“The shop featured handmade items, sold on consignment,” Blubaugh said.
Then Judy and John purchased the current location at 12 N. Main, about 40 years ago, Wiley said.
The building was originally a men’s clothing store, then A & P Grocery Store and then a men’s Western shop-when the Renard’s bought it, Wiley said.
Kate and Trent Freeman, Edwardsville, purchased a building at 8 North National Avenue, Fort Scott, on October 2, 2020, and will soon open their new business there, called The Artificers.
“The definition of artificers is fine artists and craftsmen,” Kate said.
The business will be an art gallery, a teaching studio workshop space, and a studio space for both Kate and Trent, who are artists by profession.
“We have a network of artists that we will pull from to come in and display and teach watercolor, collage, airbrush artists… from all over the country,” she said.
There will be classes and workshops.
A possible opening will be late winter, 2021, or early spring, 2022, Trent said.
“Artificers is a group, including Trent and I and anyone we invite in,” she said. “You can expect quality work.”
Trent received a degree in fine art from Emporia State University; Kate “just does art”, she said, and added, “I do the marketing for the business.”
The business will take commissioned art and have art for sale.
Trent works to create art in mixed media: clay, glass, wood, metal; Kate works in clay and acrylic painting.
“We had our studio in Kansas City for 22 years,” Trent said. “I’ve been a professional for 28 years. We’ve done everything from gallery to commission to art festivals all over the country. Most of our work is commission now.”
Trent said when Kansas City shut down businesses during the COVID-19 Pandemic, they began coming to their farm, west of Fort Scott.
Trent’s parents, Ed and Jackie Freeman built a house near Bronson and retired there, and so Trent and Kate have been coming here for 20 years, he said. “And we loved the town.”
“We love the atmosphere here,” Kate said. “It feels like home here. I feel there is a revival about to happen in the town and it feels good.”
The artists had a setback in July 2021, when the building next door to the north, between The Artificers and Sharkey’s Pub & Grub Restaurant, collapsed.
“That set us back three months,” Trent said.
Also, the pandemic has kept contractors busy and the Freemans are in line for plumbing, electrical, etc.
Trent is doing most of the repurposing of the inside of the former Hammond Real Estate building himself, and last Saturday was framing up some rooms on the inside.
“The front one-third of the building will be a gallery space,” Kate said. “The next one-third will have a small kitchenette and be a teaching studio workshop and have classes in all art genres. The back one-third will be our studio space for creating.”
“The City of Fort Scott is contracting Mid Continental Restoration for some facia and the entire north side (of the building) will be cleaned and sealed,” Trent said. “They have been good to us.”
The Freeman’s will eventually live on the second floor of the building when the business’s first floor is complete, Kate said.
They are not in a hurry, because their daughter is a senior in high school and they don’t want to move until she leaves for the University of Arkansas next fall.
Accompanying them in the move will be their Red Healer dog, Ivy, Kate said, and Ivy was enjoying the sun from a south-facing window in the gallery on Saturday. There will be many more days in that spot.
For more information: 8 North National-The Artificers Facebook page or https://tefreemanstudio.com/
Today, November 2, is a day to vote your conscience in the contests for all the cities in Bourbon County, plus the school districts, including Fort Scott Community College. The polls will be open from 7 a.m to 7 p.m.
If there are any questions, contact the Bourbon County Clerk at 620.223.3800, ext. 802.
The following is where each precinct resident votes on election day, along with a sample ballot for that precinct.
Residents living in the City of Fort Scott vote at the following locations:
1st Ward Community Christian Church
2nd Ward Grace Baptist Church
3rd Ward Grace Baptist Church
4th Ward Community Christian Church
5th Ward Community Christian Church
6th Ward Community Christian Church
7th Ward Grace Baptist Church
Residents living in the county vote at the following locations:
DRYWOOD Grace Baptist Church
FRANKLIN Mapleton Community Building
FREEDOM Fulton Community Building
EAST MARION Uniontown City Hall
WEST MARION Bronson Community Building
MARMATON Redfield City Hall
MILLCREEK Redfield City Hall
OSAGE Fulton Community Building
PAWNEE Redfield City Hall
NORTH SCOTT Community Christian Church
SOUTH SCOTT Grace Baptist Church
TIMBERHILL Mapleton Community Building
WALNUT Uniontown City Hall
Next week is bully prevention week.
“We are getting ready for our week long Bully Prevention Celebration,” Jennifer Tourtillott, Student Support Specialist at Winfield Scott Elementary School, Fort Scott, said.
“We would love to invite all Bourbon County residents and businesses to join us,” she said. “When the students see members of the community involved, it lets them know that we are all against bullying and we’re in this together!”
November 15th-19th 2021
Bourbon County
Bully Prevention Spirit Week
_____________________________
Monday, November 15th
PUT BULLYING TO REST
Wear your pajama’s to school. (No slippers)
_________________________________________
Tuesday, November 16th
WE ARE ALL ON THE SAME TEAM
Wear your favorite jersey to school
_________________________________________
Wednesday, November 17th
UNITY DAY
Wear RED in support of our district being bully free
__________________________________________________
Thursday, November 18th
HELP Everyone Respect Others
Super H.E.R.O. Day
Wear your favorite superhero t-shirt (no face make up or costumes)
_____________________________________________________________
Friday, November 19th
HATS OFF TO GOOD CHOICES
Wear your favorite hat to school
The signs on the local restaurant will remain the same, Marsha’s Great Plans Deli, but the owners have changed.
Owner Marsha Lancaster died on September 19, 2021, and on October 13, her siblings became the owners of her decades-running restaurant.
The restaurant will be called Lancaster’s Great Plain Deli.
Debbie Baxley, Tom Lancaster, and Don Lancaster all of Fort Scott and Carolyn Washburn, Alaska, Marsha’s brothers, and sisters, are the new owners.
“We are going to keep the signs that say Marsha’s Deli, but the business will be called Lancaster Great Plains Deli,” Baxley said.
“The last time we saw her (before she died), she said she wanted us to keep it going,” she said.
Baxley and her daughter, Shelly Rowe, are the restaurant managers.
Changes
They have recently created a new menu, dropping some options that didn’t have enough sales.
The family raised the price of their meats.
“Our prices went up on the meat price,” Baxley said. “All of our providers of meat by the pound raised their prices.”
“Marsha hadn’t raised prices in years,” she said.
“An example, like roast beef it is $7.75 per pound when we buy it but we were selling it for $6,” Rowe said. “But now it has gone up again and we are paying a little over $10.”
Family Deaths and the Pandemic
They were closed for three weeks following Marsha’s death, and the death of another family member soon after.
Since then they have been working on the paperwork involved in the new business and grieving their losses, Baxley said.
“All the people that work here have been with Marsha for over 20 years,” Rowe said.
They have had difficulty finding more employees, as many businesses have during the COVID-19 Pandemic, Baxley said.
The pandemic protocols of wiping down menus after each use, along with cleaning the chairs, after each use, etc. have increased the labor involved in running a restaurant, Baxley said.
The family has been using a walk-up order window since the pandemic began, Baxley said.
As of today, November 1, people will be able to come in and order, but won’t be able to sit and eat the food as the restaurant, Rowe said.
“We didn’t want people to stand in the cold outside to order,” Baxley said.
They currently have six employees. Martha’s three siblings in Fort Scott, along with Rowe, help out as needed, Rowe said.
“We are a tight-knit family, if we need help, we can call on others,” Rowe said.
Rebounding
Rowe said the re-opening of the restaurant on Oct. 13, following the death of Marsha was very busy.
“The first three days we re-opened, we ran out of bread, we were so busy,” Rowe said. “Everybody was so glad to have us back. It made us feel good the community is happy, wanting us to keep it going.”
Locally known for the size of their sandwiches
“Our big sandwiches are what we are known for,” Rowe said. “The meats on the sandwiches are stacked.”
“If you don’t get full, it’s your fault,” Baxley said.
The most asked for sandwich is #25, The Marsha, Rowe said. The sandwich includes turkey, ham, salami with cheddar cheese. “That was her favorite and everybody loved it.”
Marsha named all her sandwiches after family members.
History
Marsha Lancaster took over the business called the Great Plains Deli in 2002. “She worked here before she owned it,” Rowe said. “She put her name in front of it.”
The hours of operation are 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday. For more information or to place an order: 620.223.6432.
Lancaster’s Great Plains Deli delivers to homes and businesses.
NOTICE OF AND AGENDA FOR
MEETING OF
FORT SCOTT CITY COMMISSION
CITY HALL COMMISSION MEETING ROOM
123 SOUTH MAIN STREET
NOVEMBER 2, 2021
6:00 P.M.
Call to Order
Roll Call:
K. Allen P. Allen R. Nichols L. Watts J. Jones
II. Flag Salute:
Invocation: Led by: To Be Announced
Approval of Agenda:
Proclamations/Recognitions:
Service Award Recognitions:
5 years: (Certificate and Gift)
Todd Bond, Water Treatment Plant
Jerry Morgan, Street Department
Alek Shelden, Wastewater Treatment Plant
10 years: (Certificate and Gift Card)
Stanley McKeen, Water Distribution
15 years: (Certificate and Gift Card)
Tim Harper, Fort Scott Police Department
25 years: (Certificate and Gift Card)
Travis Shelton, Fort Scott Police Department
Consent Agenda:
Approval of minutes of the regular meeting of October 19th, 2021.
Approval of Appropriation Ordinance 1299-A totaling $279,119.72.
Request to Pay – Nuss & Farmer – $1,540.00
Request to Pay – Allgeier, Martin & Associates, Inc. – $501.04 – Clarifier Painting Project
Public Comment:
(Sign up required. Comments on any topic not on agenda and limited to five (5) minutes per person, at Commission discretion)
Old Business: None
Appearances: Toni Donahue – 1702 E. Wall – Discussion of building a tiny house on her property
Melissa Guns – Christmas in the Park
New Business:
Consideration to accept T-Mobile grant – $50,000
XII. Reports and Comments:
Interim City Manager Comments:
– First Source Building – Sale of Property
B. Commissioners Reports and Comments:
C. City Attorney Reports and Comments:
XIII. Executive Session – If requested, (please follow script in all motions for Executive Sessions)
XIII. Adjournment:
