Category Archives: Fort Scott

Business, Fort Scott, Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce

Sales Tax Holiday This Weekend At Several Ft. Scott Retailers

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The Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce is excited to announce an opportunity for shoppers to save money August 6th through the 8th.

Select retailers will be offering a Sales Tax Holiday by volunteering to pay the sales tax for shoppers. Enjoy a 9.4% discount this weekend at these participating merchants: Angie Dawn’s Boutique, Bids & Dibs, Hedgehog.INK, J & W Sports, Ruddick’s Furniture & Flooring (up to $500 of sales/$50 of Sales Tax) Shirt Shack, Sunshine Boutique, and Treasure Hunt Flea Market. These stores offer a variety of merchandise including apparel, home furnishings and décor – both new and repurposed, school supplies and much more. There is no need to cross the border during this No Sales Tax Holiday Weekend. Save money, shop local, shop Fort Scott.

This shop local promotion is organized by the Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce. Please contact (620) 223-3566 with questions.

Fort Scott, Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce

Downtown Clean Up Day August 13: Ideas, Volunteers, Donations Needed

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Organized by the Downtown Divison of the
Chamber Board!
Engaging opportunities within our community!
Project Ideas, Volunteers
& Donations Requested
Downtown Spring Clean
Friday, August 13th, 3-6pm
See information below.
Project Ideas & Sign-ups
to volunteer requested by April 7th!
The Downtown Division of the Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce has planned a Downtown Spring Clean event on Friday, August 13th from 3 to 6pm. The committee is seeking project ideas and volunteers for the event to spruce up the Downtown Historic District.
The committee is asking for people to submit project ideas, or sign up to volunteer, preferably by this Wednesday, August 11th so projects and materials needed can be organized. All participants will receive a free t-shirt, courtesy of MyOneStop, and businesses/organizations who send a group of volunteers and/or provide a donation for materials will be listed on the back of the t-shirt. Donations may be made to the Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce and dropped off at 231 E. Wall St.
Those with project ideas or interest in volunteering may contact Bailey Lyons, Downtown Division Chair, at 620-224-7795 or email [email protected].
FORT SCOTT DOWNTOWN
SPRING CLEAN EVENT
Date: FRIDAY, AUGUST 13TH, 2021
Available Times: 3 PM – 6 PM
Bourbon County, Business, Fort Scott, Housing

New Employee Profile: Josh Hays

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Josh Hays. Submitted photo.

Josh Hays, 40, recently began a new chapter in his life: a realtor at Stewart Realty Co., 1707 S. National Avenue.

The broker of the company, Diann Tucker, has encouraged Hays to join her for years, Hays said.

“One of her boys is my best friend,” he said. “She wanted me to do it for a long time.”

He is currently a farrier as well.

“I’m still shoeing horses,” Hays said. “I’m a journeyman farrier.”

A farrier is a  craftsman who trims and shoes horses’ hooves.
Hays said the farrier career has limitations.
“The physical aches,” he said. “I’m tired of crawling under a horse and shoeing horses.”
“Real estate is one of those things you can work into,”  he said. “I still have flexibility. It’s a good career path to transition into.”
Hays has already listed his first property with Stewart Realty Co.
The property is at 1780 Indian Road, Fort Scott, KS 66701.  The link is:
Fort more information, call or send him a text (620) 215-5621
Stewart Realty Co., 1707 S. National Avenue. The photo is from its Facebook page.
In addition to horses, his family has a cow-calf operation south of Fort Scott.
Hays and his wife, April, have two daughters, Isabel, 11 years old, and Dally, 4.
They like to attend rodeos together and Josh is a roper.
“I like roping when I can, I enjoy it,” he said.
Hays is a 1999 graduate of Fort Scott High School, a 2004 graduate of Pittsburg State University with a major in history, and graduated from farrier school in 2010.
Fort Scott, Government, Schools

U234 Press Release July 30

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NEWS RELEASE

 

Friday, July 30, 2021

 

Members of the USD 234 Board of Education met in the Fort Scott High School Cafeteria at noon on Friday, July 30, for a special board meeting.

President James Wood opened the meeting.  The board approved the following employment matters:

 

A.    Employment of Gwen Skaggs as a middle school paraprofessional for the 2021-22 school year

B.    Employment of Shawn Judson as a 12-month custodian for the 2021-22 school year

 

Gina Shelton, Business Manager, gave a budget presentation.  The board adjourned.

 

Fort Scott, Government

Agenda For FS City Commission Aug. 3

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NOTICE OF AND AGENDA FOR
MEETING OF
FORT SCOTT CITY COMMISSION
CITY HALL
CITY COMMISSION MEETING ROOM
123 SOUTH MAIN STREET
AUGUST 3, 2021
6:00 P.M.
I. K. Allen P. Allen R. Nichols L. Watts J. Jones
II. Flag Salute:
III. Invocation: Led by: (To be Announced)
IV. Approval of Agenda:
V. Proclamations/Recognitions:
A. Recognition of Thade Yates, Summer Intern
VI. Consent Agenda:
A. Approval of Appropriation Ordinance 1293-A totaling $632,620.70
B. Request to Pay – Key Equipment & Supply Co. – Tractor Trailer – $139,754
C. Request to Pay – Earles Engineering & Inspection, Inc. – Building Inspection – $1,669.50
D. Request to Pay – Bettis Asphalt – National Ave. Mill & Overlay – $74,465.65
VII. Public Comment:
(Sign up required. Comments on any topic not on agenda and limited to five (5) minutes per
person, at Commission discretion)
VIII. City Manager Reports and Comments
IX. Engineering Firm Update
X. Public Hearing:
XI. Old Business:
A. Discussion of Downtown Parking
XII. Appearances:
A. Frank Halsey – Marmaton Massacre Event (September 18 & 19)
B. Lee Davis – Eagle Project Presentation
C. Terry Sercer – 2020 Audit
XIII. New Business:
A. Approval to go out for Request for Proposals for Kansas Moderate Income Housing Grant
B. Discussion of Code Enforcement Training and Adherence to the International Property
Maintenance Code
C. Approval of Bid for Lake Fort Scott Property Sale
D. Approval of Bid for FirstSource Property Sale
E. Approval of Super Market Developers & CHCSK Termination Agreement – CID & TIF
District
F. Approval of Contract for Audited Services 2020
G. Discussion of Potential Storwmater Projects for 2021
a. 15th & National – 17th & Eddy
b. Crawford from Wall to Elm
c. Washington & Wall
d. East National & Railroad
XIV. Reports and Comments:
B. Commissioners Report and Comments:
C. City Attorney Reports and Comments:
XV. Executive Session – If requested, (please follow script in all motions for Executive Sessions)
XVI. Adjournment:

To view entire packet including financials:

Agenda Packet 8-3-21

Fort Scott, Sports

Wiffle Ball Tournament Today On Burke Street

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The site of the Burke Street Classic Wiffle Ball Tournament, July 30, 2021. Submitted photos.

Some area youth have organized a tournament in their neighborhood.

The Burke Street Wiffle Ball Classic 2021 starts at 2 p.m. today and is estimated to run until approximately 7:30 p.m., according to event organizer Dryden Cosens, age 17.

The event is located on Burke Street, adjacent to the Cosens’ home at 1320 Marblecrest Drive.

“It’s on a lot between Ralph Hall’s and Frank Halsey’s houses, our neighbors,” Cosens said.

A wiffle ball is a light perforated ball used in a type of baseball.

“The rules are watered down,” Cosens said. “It’s a fun thing to do in the backyard with family and friends.”

But today it is a tournament, that approximately nine teams will be competing in, with around 35-40 people.

The name of the league is Burke Street Wiffle Ball, he said.

“Anybody can come and watch,” Cosens said. “There are some shade trees, but bring your own lawn chairs.”

To aid players on this humid July day with temperatures expected to be near 100 degrees, Cosens and his brother Cal, will have popcicles and a tent set up, along with water.

 

Cal and Dryden Cosens. Submitted photo.

The Cosen brothers have been playing wiffle ball since Dryden was in sixth-grade, he said. He is now 17, and Cal is 15.

“In 2015, we had our first tournament,” Dryden said. “We made a Youtube channel, but kind of gave it up when we got busy with playing baseball.”

A friend, Rocco Loffredo, came to Dryden, with the idea of restarting the tournament.

“I talked to Cal, and we decided it would be a good idea,” he said.

 

Ascension Via Christi, Bourbon County, Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas, COVID-19, Fort Scott, Fort Scott Community College, Fort Scott Police Department, Health Care, Lowell Milken Center for Unsung Heroes, Schools

Center Honors Fort Scott’s Frontline Workers

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The Lowell Milken Center for Unsung Heroes is located a 1 S. Main, Fort Scott.

On July 28, the Lowell Milken Center for Unsung Heroes began a new exhibit entitled”Fort Scott’s Frontline Workers”, highlighting groups of local COVID-19 workers.

Hours at the center, located on Main Street at Wall Street in downtown Fort Scott are  Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The exhibition is pictorial with text that honors first responders from four local agencies, health care workers from five local agencies, and educators in five local public and private schools.

Lowell Milken Center’s Frontline Workers Exhibit, July 2021. Submitted photo.
“Contacts were made to all the different agencies, we received input from several administrators and staff,” Cathy Werling, spokesperson for LMC said.
Cathy Werling is a children’s book author at the Lowell Milken Center For Unsung Heroes in Fort Scott, who has published several books depicting unsung heroes at a young child’s level of understanding.

This new exhibit has been made possible with funds received from a Fort Scott Area Community Foundation grant, according to an LMC press release.

“Work began on plans for the project in October of 2020 after we knew we received the Fort Scott Area Community Foundation grant,” Werling said. “Contacting and interviewing all of the various frontline worker’s staff began in January of 2021.”

“The Lowell Milken Center’s Fort Scott’s Frontline Heroes project highlights frontline professions within our community who have been directly dealing with pandemic issues in order to provide safe and direct action for our citizens,” according to the press release.

Law enforcement photo from the exhibit.

The following are recognized: firefighters, law enforcement officers, emergency medical services workers, health care workers from Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas, Ascension Via Christi Emergency Department, Southeast Kansas Multi-County Health Department, and long-term care facilities, assisted/independent living facilities, and local teachers/administrators at schools.

Educators. Photo from the exhibit.

“The LMC believes these groups of workers are truly Fort Scott’s unsung heroes, as they have given so much of themselves to our community’s citizens during the pandemic and continue to do so,” according to the press release. “We encourage all Fort Scott area citizens to support these heroes by viewing the new exhibits at the Lowell Milken Center, sharing words of gratitude and support in the LMC guest book and through the LMC’s social media pages on Facebook – www.facebook.com/LowellMilkenCenter, Twitter – https://twitter.com/LowellMilkenCtr, and Instagram – www.instagram.com/LowellMilkenCtr.”

Emergency Medical Services workers. Photo from the exhibit.

 

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, the student’s unsung heroes are shared in the Hall of Unsung Heroes or on the website, encouraging people all over the world to 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.

 

Fort Scott, Government

City Invites Bids For Alley Modification Between First and Wall Streets

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INVITATION TO BID
CITY OF FORT SCOTT, KANSAS
BLOCK 89 ALLEY MODIFICATIONS

Project 21-02

You are invited to bid on a contract for alley modifications of Block 89 located between 1st street on the south and wall street on the north in Fort Scott, Kansas.

Work shall consist of stripping and removal of undesirable materials from the route, proof rolling and compaction of the subgrade to acceptable standards as discussed in the technical specifications, grading of subgrade to the lines and grades shown on the plans, and construction of concrete paving and curbing as shown on the plans.

Along with alley construction, adjustment of manholes along the paved route, installation of an underground storm drain along 1st street, with inlet and outlet construction, and street and sidewalk construction along 1st street with ADA accessibility ramps.

The City of Fort Scott, Kansas will receive bids until 2:00 PM on August 12, 2021, at the Office of the City Clerk.

The scope of work may be examined at:
Fort Scott City Hall Agricultural Engineering Associates
Office of the City Clerk OR Frank Young ([email protected])
123 S. Main Street (620) 756-1000
Fort Scott, KS 66701

Copies of the proposed work may be obtained electronically by sending an email to: [email protected]

General Liability, Workers Compensation, and Automobile Liability will be required for this job as well as a performance bond.
The owner reserves the right to reject any or all bids.
CITY OF FORT SCOTT, KANSAS
Susan E. Bancroft, Acting City Clerk

Bourbon County, Fort Scott, History, Lowell Milken Center for Unsung Heroes

Fort Scott’s Frontline Pandemic Workers Honored

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Lowell Milken Center Announces New Banner Exhibits Honoring Fort Scott’s Frontline Workers

 

The Lowell Milken Center for Unsung Heroes invites all community members to visit the Center beginning Wednesday, July 28, 2021, to see its newest exhibit, “Fort Scott’s Frontline Heroes.” Three new banners will be part of the exhibit, highlighting three groups of frontline workers – First Responders, Health Care Workers, and Educators. This new exhibit has been made possible with funds received from a Fort Scott Area Community Foundation grant.

The Lowell Milken Center’s “Fort Scott’s Frontline Heroes” project highlights frontline professions within our community who have been directly dealing with pandemic issues in order to provide safe and direct action for our citizens. The following three groups have been recognized in the new banner exhibits: FIRST RESPONDERS (Firefighters, Law Enforcement Officers, EMS Workers), HEALTH CARE WORKERS (CHCSEK, Ascension/Via Christi ER, Southeast Kansas Multi-County Health Department, Long Term Care Facilities, Assisted/Independent Living Facilities), and EDUCATORS (Public and Private Schools).

The LMC believes these groups of workers are truly Fort Scott’s “unsung heroes,” as they have given so much of themselves to our community’s citizens during the pandemic and continue to do so. We encourage all Fort Scott area citizens to support these heroes by viewing the new exhibits at the Lowell Milken Center, sharing words of gratitude and support in the LMC guest book and through the LMC’s social media pages on Facebook – www.facebook.com/LowellMilkenCenter, Twitter – https://twitter.com/LowellMilkenCtr, and Instagram – www.instagram.com/LowellMilkenCtr.

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, the student’s unsung heroes are shared in the Hall of Unsung Heroes or on the website, encouraging people all over the world to 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.

 

Bourbon County, COVID-19, Fort Scott, Government, Health Care

Former Mercy Hospital Building Being Considered By Noble Health

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The west end of the former Mercy Hospital, located on South Horton Street at Jayhawk Road.

The Fort Scott City Commission and the Bourbon County Commission signed a contract last week to facilitate Noble Health Corp’s feasibility study of the former Mercy Hospital building.

Mercy Hospital closed its doors in December 2018, following declining patient numbers and shrinking reimbursement.

To view Mercy’s closing announcement:

https://fortscott.biz/news/mercy-hospital-fort-scott-to-close

The building is located just off Hwy. 69 on Fort Scott’s south side at 401 Woodland Hills Blvd.

It currently houses the Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas clinic and the Via Christi Emergency Department. Their leases are ending in 2022.

Noble Health Corp., Kansas City,  announced on June 25, 2021, that it will explore the possibility of reopening an acute care hospital facility in Fort Scott, Kansas.

To view the Noble Health Corp. announcement:

Reopening An Acute Care Hospital In Fort Scott Being Explored by Noble Health

The city will contribute $200,000, the county $800,000 towards the feasibility study,  according to the contract. The local government entities will be using American Rescue Plan money from the federal government for the project, according to Bourbon County Commissioner Clifton Beth.

The American Rescue Plan Act 2021 can be viewed at ARP Act SxS – as of 02.22.21.pdf (house.gov)

The feasibility study will investigate the condition of title to the development property, the physical condition of the property, the zoning, the economic feasibility, and all matters relevant to the acquisition, usage, operation, valuation, and marketability of the property and the project, as the developer deems appropriate

Should the project prove feasible, the county agrees to contribute at least $2,000,000 to finance certain costs and expenses related to and associated with the project, according to the contract.

The following is the agreement that the Fort Scott City Commission and the Bourbon County Commissioners signed with Access Medical Advisors LLC and Noble Health Corp. on July 21, 2021.

Continue reading Former Mercy Hospital Building Being Considered By Noble Health →

Entertainment, Fort Scott, Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce

Friday Night Concert: David Prickett

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Ralph Carlson introduces the Friday Night Concert musicians May 2019.

This week’s Friday Night Concert will be presented by David Prickett, Deerfield. The vocal and guitar performance will feature a variety of gospel favorites in his unique styling. Some of the songs will include his own original compositions.

“Prickett is no stranger to the stage. After his first live performance in Fort Wainwright, Alaska, in 1962 at the All-Army Talent Show, he got hooked on music. He later moved to Texarkana where he had several bands and then eventually began doing single gigs. After returning to Alaska, he and his wife Midge moved to Deerfield, MO in 2005. Prickett has played Good Ol’ Days, Bushwacker Days, churches, healthcare facilities, our Friday night concerts, and many other events,” concert series organizer Ralph Carlson said. “Come out and join us for a fun opportunity to see friends and enjoy some great music. We are pleased to welcome David Prickett back to the park pavilion.“

The concert begins at 7 p.m. at the Heritage Park Pavilion at First and Main streets. The shows, sponsored by the Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce, are free and open to the public. Dave Oas of Parsons serves as sound technician 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 Common Ground Coffee Co., 12 E. Wall Street.