Category Archives: Fort Scott

Business, Fort Scott

New Fort Scott Business: Spyder, Inc.

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Nedra Barr from the Spyder Inc. website

Nedra Barr started her insurance career at age 16 in Fort Scott, and this week announces that she is bringing her new business home.

 

 

“I started my insurance career in Fort Scott while in high school,” Barr said.  “After a great career in the insurance industry, I started developing software that served this market.  I’ve designed various software products serving this industry.  It’s very exciting to develop the Spyder (her new company) product.  It will help producers and home offices modernize, digitize, standardize and simplify their business.”

 

She is the Cheif Executive Officer of Spyder, Inc., and Sharon Ross, Charlotte, SC,  is the Chief Operating Officer, with Bob Peacock, Denver, CO  the Chief Technology Officer of the business.

Sharon Ross from the Spyder, Inc. website.

 

Bob Peacock, from the Spyder, Inc. website.

 

“All three of us are software executives in the insuretech/fintech industry,” Barr said.  “I am an award-winning software executive.  I have won a Top 50 Tech Visionary award in 2019, a Top 50 Tech Leaders award in 2021, and last week named one of the most impactful women in technology,” she said.

 

See the feature of her award here: https://www.analyticsinsight.net/The-10-Most-Impactful-Women-in-Technology-2021-Volume-5/#page=1

 

“Once our offices are ready, I will be spending lots of time in Fort Scott as well Sharon and Bob,” Barr said.

 

The office is located at  102 W 2ndSt, Fort Scott,  with hours of 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Contact  Barr at 620-531-0368.

 

“The first two Spyder products will be released in June,” she said.  “The first two products will be cybersecurity device certifications and a document storage solution that is purpose-built for the insurance industry.  Additional products will be coming in the fall timeframe as well.”

 

 

 

Barr has led teams and guided technology firms for many companies, including SunGard Insurance Systems, Insurance Technologies, Experian, and Docupace Technologies. Most recently, Nedra was Chief Revenue Officer for Skience,

 

See the business website:  www.spyderloop.com

 

The Spyder logo, taken from the website.

 

 

” We are excited to get our software company going strong to contribute to the economic growth and employment of Fort Scott,” Barr said. ” We believe we will be hiring employees in the fall timeframe.  We will work closely with the Healthy Bourbon County initiative and the Chamber of Commerce to contribute to the well-being and beautification of Fort Scott.”

Bourbon County, Business, Fort Scott, Jobs

Center for Economic Growth: Focus on Health and Economic Stability

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Dacia Clark and Jody Hoener.

The group that set up an office on the second floor, above the Star Emporium Downtown General Store, 17 S. Main,  has changed the name, but not services.

 

 

“The partners that made up the Bourbon County Workforce and Entrepreneur Resource Center (BWERC) have decided to name ourselves The Center for Economic Growth,” Jody Hoener, director of the center, said. “We have the same space, model, operations, and services that were provided before.” The one exception is the Bourbon County Commission is not a part of the partnership, she said.

 

“Our mission is to increase access to physical activity and healthy food, promote tobacco cessation, enhance the quality of life and encourage economic growth,” she said.  “We wanted our program and name to tie directly to our mission.”

 

 

 

“The Healthy Bourbon County Action Team Board and our partners re-branded our collaborative efforts,” Hoener said.  “Our work to build healthy communities and address the social determinants continues, with health and economic stability as the focus of the center.”

 

 

“Specifically, we are working with community members and our partners on economic stability,” she said.

 

 

“Priority is given to those businesses owned by low-income, minority, female, or veteran,” she said. “Pittsburg State University Small Business Development Center uses the U.S. Small Business Administration small business definition…typically 500 employees or less with less than $5m in profit in a two-year period.”

 

 

Jody Hoener at her desk at the Center For Economic Growth, 17 S. Main, second floor.

 

 

 

“Poverty and low income are drivers of poor health,” Hoener said. ” Bourbon County is a rural community… with higher rates of poverty.  Our community has seen low investment and low upward mobility in employment.  We are working to create economic opportunities to generate wealth and income for Bourbon County residents.”

 

 

 

The partner organizations are the Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce,  Fort Scott Community College, Kansas Works, Pittsburg State University’s Small Business Development Center, and  BAJA Investments.

 

 

Hoener’s work as the Bourbon County Economic Director ended in March

 

Continue reading Center for Economic Growth: Focus on Health and Economic Stability →

Business, Fort Scott, Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce

Chamber Coffee at Billiard Hammer Hartman Ins. May 13

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The Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce announces that this week’s Chamber Coffee will be hosted by
Billiard Hammer Hartman
Insurance Agency
A tradition of providing quality service to clients, doing business in an honest fashion since 1921.
Celebrating 100 years in business!
May 13th, 2021 at 8 am
20 S. National Ave.
Join us for Coffee, Networking,
Community Events, and Business Growth!
Coffee, refreshments, and prize drawing in celebration of 100 years in business!
Chamber members and guests are invited to Chamber Coffee events each Thursday at 8 a.m. to network, make announcements, hear about happenings in the community as well as learn about the host business or organization.
Contact the Chamber of Commerce at (620) 223-3566 for more information. Visit the Events Calendar and category of Chamber Coffees on fortscott.com for upcoming locations.
UPCOMING CHAMBER COFFEE SCHEDULE:
 5/13 ~ KOMB FM 103.9 & 98.3
5/27 ~ FSHS Strength & Performance Program
June 2021
6/6 ~ Good Ol’ Days
6/10 ~ Sharky’s Pub & Grub, Celebrating 10 years!
 617 ~ The Lavender Patch Farm
6/27 ~ The Hound Nutrition – Ribbon Cutting
Entertainment, Fort Scott

Bird Lands In Fort Scott, starting Friday, May 14th 

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The City of Fort Scott is partnering with shared electric scooter company, Bird Rides. to bring e-scooters to the city.  The scooters are available through a mobile phone application and riders pay to use the scooter per minute, at no cost to the city.  

City of Fort Scott Community Development and Tourism manager, Allyson Turvey, stated: “We are happy to welcome Bird to the City of Fort Scott and look forward to having the scooters available to connect visitors to our attractions.  I think they will make a great addition to our community.”

The electric scooters can only be used on roads and in bike lanes and have a maximum speed of 15mph.  Scooters must be parked out of the way of pedestrians. Riders are required to be 18 years-old and above to access the scooters. They are also encouraged to wear a helmet on every ride and required to obey all standard rules of the road. 

“The City has been working with Bird, a LA based company for the last few months.  We are excited to see the economic benefit of these scooters in our rural community.”  according to Rachel Pruitt, City of Fort Scott Economic Development Director.  

‘Community Mode’ allows anyone with a Bird account to report or provide feedback on vehicle-related issues such as poorly parked or damaged vehicles in their area. When a report is submitted, a member of the Bird team is assigned to correct the issue. Anyone can access Community Mode by tapping the yield sign on the bottom left of the Bird map.

If a resident has questions or concerns about the e-scooters the company can be reached directly at 1-866-205-2442 or [email protected]. More information about the company can be found on their website (www.bird.co) and on their blog (www.bird.co/blog). 

Fort Scott, Schools

USD234 Board of Education Minutes of May 10

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NEWS RELEASE

 

Monday, May 10, 2021

 

Members of the USD 234 Board of Education met at the Fort Scott Middle School Commons on Monday, May 10, 2021, for their regular monthly meeting.

President David Stewart opened the meeting.  The board approved the official agenda.  The board also approved the consent agenda as follows:

 

A.    Minutes

B.    Bills and Claims

C.    Payroll – April 20, 2021 – $1,424,631.30

D.    Financial Report

E.     Activity fund accounts

F.     LCP Assurances

G.    May 15 – Baccalaureate – 4:00 pm; Graduation – 8:00 pm

 

Gifted teachers, Angie Kemmerer and Paulette Howard, presented a program on

the gifted education program.

There were no comments in the public forum section.

Reports were given by the following:

 

·       Brenda Hill, KNEA President

·       Administrators’ written reports

·       Dalaina Smith, Academic Director

·       Ted Hessong, Superintendent

·       Gina Shelton, Business Manager/Board Clerk

 

Board members approved the following:

 

·       Adjustment in adult meal fees for 2021-22

·       2021-22 Fees

·       Masonry bid

·       Summer Camps

·       2021 Summer pay, pending negotiations

 

Board members shared comments and then went into executive session to discuss personnel matters for nonelected personnel and to discuss upcoming negotiations sessions and returned to open meeting.

The board approved the following employment matters:

 

A.    Resignation of Baylee Newman, Eugene Ware paraprofessional, effective May 13, 2021

B.    Resignation of Kristin Bishop, Winfield Scott paraprofessional, effective at the end of the 2020-21 school year

C.    Resignation of Vernon Hill, Winfield Scott cook, effective June 3, 2021

D.    Transfer of Jennifer Tourtillott, Winfield Scott kindergarten teacher, to Winfield Scott counselor for the 2021-22 school year

E.     Contract extension request from Angella Curran, high school debate and forensics teacher

F.     Leave of absence request from Natalie Kitsmiller, Winfield Scott paraprofessional

G.    Additional duties for Krista Gorman, high school/middle school instructional coach, as high school lead administrator for the remainder of the 2020-21 school year

H.    Employment of Madeline Martin as a gifted teacher for the 2021-22 school year

I.      Employment of Todd Magee as a Eugene Ware third grade teacher for the 2021-22 school year

J.      Employment of Trent Johnson as a high school agriculture education teacher for the 2021-22 school year

K.    Employment of Carol Glover as a Winfield Scott cook for the 2021-22 school year

L.     Employment of Eileen Strakal as a Eugene Ware cook for the 2021-22 school year

M.   Employment of Millicient Willard as a Winfield Scott cook for the 2021-22 school year

N.    Employment of Lynn Barr as high school head girls’ tennis coach for the 2021-22 school

O.    Termination of Joie Moore, high school cook, effective April 1, 2021

 

The board adjourned.

 

Church news, Food, Fort Scott

10 Years of Ministry: Feeding Families in His Name

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First United Methodist Church at Third Street and National Avenue,

Feeding Families in His Name celebrates 10 years of ministry on May 11, 2021.

 

 

“We started the ministry because of a seen need of school children being food insecure,” Jean Tucker, coordinator of the weekly meal, said.

 

 

“Tom Braker had the idea ten years ago and gathered a group of people who started the program on May 11, 2011,” she said. “The administrative board of the First United Methodist Church voted unanimously to start the program.”

 

 

The meal is offered each Wednesday evening at 301 S. National, the Fort Scott First United Methodist Church from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m.

 

 

“From May 11, 2011, until March of last year we served the meal in the basement Fellowship Hall,” she said. “This allowed us to visit with the families and get to know them and their needs other than a hot-home cooked meal. Now we must visit with them as they drive through.”

 

Feeding Families in His Name offers a meal to Fort Scottians each Wednesday evening.

 

 

“Since the beginning of COVID-19 restrictions, we have served to-go-meals only,” Tucker said.

 

 

“The ministry has extended past the serving of a meal,” she said.  “Some of our dinner guests have become our valued weekly volunteers. We believe that the meal is a delivery system for God’s love!”

 

 

 

Currently helping weekly are Tom Braker, Steve and Susan Cole, Tom Coyan, Joey Beerbower, Linda and Leroy Cox, Betty and Pat Galan, Koyle Link, Lisa Robertson, Phyllis Colthart, and Don and Jean Tucker, plus a group of 15-20 dessert bakers who bake one or two desserts every week, Tucker said.

 

St. Martin’s Academy students clean up after preparing and serving the meals for Feeding Families in His Name on May 5 . From left to right:  Oliver Stover, Jack Costanzo, Deneys Lategan, and Aidean Harris.  In the background is volunteer Tom Coyan,  who is responsible for FFiHN food inventory and kitchen. Submitted photo by Steve Cole.

 

A different group helps with the entrée and serving every week.

“The first Wednesday (of each month) is St. Martin’s Schoolboys; the second Wednesday during the school year, the Community Christian Church, under the direction of Gail Sackett, alternates with the First United Methodist Church; the third Wednesday is the Nazarene Church Small Group, under the direction of Gretchen Goodyear; the fourth Wednesday is the First Presbyterian Church under the direction of Alesha Martin and Sandra Cowan, and the fifth Wednesday is Pioneer Kiwanis under the direction of Kelly Collins,” she said.

 

The amount of meals served has grown.

In  March 2011, the ministry served 44 meals, on  March 10, 2021, they served 281 people a meal, Tucker said.

 

 

“The most we have served is 422 meals on a Wednesday last November,” Tucker said.

 

 

” I just did some math and the number of meals served since we began May 11, 2011, is over 98,000 and we have averaged 1,233 meals each month for the past year,” she said.

 

 

The ministry receives funding from the Fort Scott Area Community Foundation.

 

 

For more information, contact Jean Tucker, Coordinator of FFiHN at 620-223-4617 or church office at 620-223-1950

 

Bourbon County, Entertainment, Fort Scott

Friday Night Concert Features The Hemphill Family

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Ralph Carlson introduces the Friday Night Concert musicians May 2019.

This Friday night, May 14th, the Chamber of Commerce Concert series at Heritage Park, will present The Hemphill Family and Friends Band. The group consists of Jack and Sandy Hemphill and their two adult children, Brad Hemphill and Kristen Weeks.

A granddaughter, Piper Weeks, will perform a song. In addition, Floyd Feezell (fee zel’), who is a crowd favorite, will join them for some songs.
The band plays old country songs, old-time rock, gospel, and country standards. Because of limited seating, please bring a lawn chair. The concert begins at 7 PM.