Category Archives: Fort Scott

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

COVID-19 Clinic on March 16

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The former First Source Building is located in Fort Scott Industrial Park, south of town.

BOURBON County Health Department COVID-19 Clinic:

Date: Tuesday, March 16th, 2021

Location: Former First Source Building (4500 Campbell Drive, Fort Scott). Just South of Key Industries in the Fort Scott Industrial Park.

Time:

  • 9:00am-12:00pm: 65 years and older
  • 12:00pm-5:00pm: all persons eligible in Phase 2 (Age 65+, work/reside in congregate setting, high-contact critical workers, all un-vaccinated persons prioritized in previous phase)

LIMITED SUPPLY-If we do not get through everyone in this group, we will have another clinic for this group when vaccine is available.

Please do not begin to line up any earlier than 1/2 hour prior to the stated opening of the clinic-THIS WILL CAUSE SIGNIFICANT DELAYS.  

There will be one-way traffic flow into and out of the clinic site.  Please be mindful of the signs.

Required:

  • Masks are required at the vaccination site. Please wear a mask.
  • Because of the vaccine shortage, we will be prioritizing in-county residents.  You will need to bring proof of age and county residence to the clinic.
  • Wear short sleeves. Layer as appropriate for weather.
  • Be available for 2nd dose on Tuesday, April 13th, 2021-same location and time.

You cannot take the COVID-19 Vaccine at this time if you:

  • Had any vaccine within the last 14 days (flu, shingles, etc.)
  • Are in isolation or quarantine
  • Received Bamlivinimab as treatment for COVID-19 within the last 90 days

Please bring your completed consent form with you to the clinic. This will save time. Forms are available on our website (www.sekmchd.com) and at the Bourbon County Health Department.

If the vaccine clinic has to be cancelled due to inclement weather or lack of vaccine, the cancellation will be reported on the radio, our Facebook page and website: www.sekmchd.com

Fort Scott, Housing

GNAT Setting Up To Help Neighbors With Outside Projects

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A Good Neighbor Action Team past project, before volunteers, worked on painting the house. From the Good Neighbor Action Team Facebook page.
After the GNAT volunteers painted the house. From the GNAT Facebook page.
Good Neighbor Action Team is gathering resources and also looking forward to helping people with projects in the community of Fort Scott.
 If a person is interested in serving on the committee, organizing a group of friends, co-workers, a civic club, relatives, or your neighborhood, contact Craig Campbell on the Good Neighbor Action Team Facebook page.
The first organizational meeting of the  2021 GNAT season is at 4 p.m. on March 18 at  Fort Scott City Hall.

“Clint Anderson, the Bourbon County Appraiser, will speak on the topic of GNAT projects and the impact on assessed valuations of the property,” Campbell said. “AndJeremy Frazier, Fort Scott City Manager, will speak on his experience with a similar organization in Cushing, OK.”

 

“I am willing to meet with citizens in small groups if unable to attend the first meeting on the 18th,” Campbell said.

Interested people are encouraged to attend the meeting.
Ideas will be discussed for this year’s projects.
 

For over a decade the Good Neighbor Action Team has been helping Fort Scottians with painting, helping rid yards of debris, building handicap ramps, and other needed projects.

 

The team provides help for those who are not able to do the job themselves.

 

 

GNAT has tried to handle the project workloads using the model of Habitat For Humanity, Campbell said.

 

Work project recipients are asked to provide family and friends to assist GNAT workers.

 

For example, if GNAT provides five people, the recipient will need to bring five people to help with the project, he said in the prior feature.

 

In addition,  proof of income is required with one of the following: income tax return, pay stubs from the last two paychecks, a Vision card or Healthwave card.

 

Logo from the Good Neighbor Action Team Facebook page.

 

 
Area News, Entertainment, Fort Scott, Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce, Sports

Fort Scott Community College Rodeo March 12-14: YEE HAW!

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The FSCC Rodeo is this weekend. Submitted photo.

The FSCC Spring Rodeo is from March 12-14, at the southern side of the college, located at 2108 S. Horton.

 

There are four hundred contestants from 20 colleges who will participate, said FSCC Assitant Rodeo Coach Caitlyn Wiswell.

 

Caitlyn Wiswell. Photo credit-FSCC.

 

Tickets go on sale on March 10 at 2 p.m. To secure a ticket contact the following number, 913-259-8453. Tickets are sold on a first-come, first-served basis.

Schedule of events:

  • Friday, March 12th:
    • 9 am- Slack, $5
    • 7:30 pm- Performance, $10

 

  • Saturday, March 13th:
    • 9 am- Slack, $5
    • 1 pm- Performance, $10
    • 7:30 pm- Performance,$10

 

  • Sunday, March 14th:
    • 1 pm- Short Go, the top ten in each event perform, $10.

 

Limited fan space is available with the FSCC COVID-19 regulations listed below.

Fort Scott Community College will allow spectators to attend athletic events up to 25% fan seating capacity.

 

  • FSCC students must present their student ID in order to attend the games.
  • All fans must wear masks for both indoor and outdoor venues.
  • There shall be no concession allowed.
  • No outside food or drinks allowed.
  • Every effort will be made to ensure a 6-ft area marked off separating the teams and participants from the spectators.
These are among the FSCC Rodeo Sponsors for 2021. Submitted photo.
Fort Scott, Government

FS City Commission Updated Work Session Today

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(Updated) – The Fort Scott City Commission will meet on Tuesday, March 9th, 2021 at 6:00 p.m. in the City Hall Commission Meeting Room at 123 S. Main Street, Fort Scott, Kansas to hold a work session to discuss economic development and potholes on Wall Street. This meeting is open to the public, but no action will be taken.

The work session will also be available on the City’s YouTube channel.

Business, Fort Scott, Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce

Chamber Coffee to be hosted by Old Fort Auto

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The Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce announces that this week’s Chamber Coffee will be hosted by Old Fort Auto on Thursday, March 11, 2021 at 8am. Chamber members and guests are invited to join us at the Chamber Coffee located at 213 Scott Ave., Downtown Fort Scott.

Coffee, juice, and light refreshments will be served, and attendees can enter into a drawing!

Attendees are strongly encouraged wear masks and follow social distancing guidelines.

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.

Fort Scott, Government

Fort Scott City Board Vacancy

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Please see below the above opening for the Fort Scott Planning Commission:

  • One opening (City resident) on the Fort Scott Planning Commission.

The function of the Planning Commission is to review and adopt (as well as update) the Comprehensive Plan for the City of Fort Scott, to establish zoning districts and allowable uses, to review zoning regulations within the City and to review requests for special permits or conditional uses within certain zoning districts in the City. Also reviews site plans for planned areas and is responsible for zoning within the 3-mile limit of the City of Fort Scott. Their recommendations are given to the City Commission for final approval. They meet on an “as needed” basis.

If you have a desire to serve on this Board and meet the above requirements, please submit a letter of interest to the City Clerk, Diane Clay, 123 S. Main, Fort Scott, Kansas 66701. She will then submit your letter of interest for consideration by the City Commission. All of the boards and commissions serve on a volunteer basis and are not compensated. If you would like more information on any of these boards, please contact Diane Clay, City Clerk at 620-223-0550 or [email protected]. Please submit your letter of interest by March 26th, 2021.

Fort Scott

Local Author Marti Wells-Smith Releases Book

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The cover of Marti Wells-Smith’s new book. Submitted photos.

 

Marti Wells-Smith is not a stranger to pain and loss.

Her only child died an unexpected death in 2019.

A Fort Scottian for 18 years,  Wells-Smith has written a book that relays her innermost thoughts and emotions concerning her son’s death.

 

She hopes it will help someone else with loss.

 

“Lamentations of the Heart – Mingled with Peace and Joy, was recently published through MSI Press, and soulfully combines contemporary poetry with nonfictional prose to reach out to others who have experienced similar pain and loss,” she said in a press release.

 

Written from a Christian perspective, it is a book that provides comfort and hope in the healing process, she said.

 

 The book has true stories of people she has met both in Fort Scott and in other communities where she grew up and lived.

Wells-smith has a bachelor of arts degree in English and sociology from Pittsburg State University and has worked as a writer and in varied positions in radio, authoring numerous human interest stories, articles, and poems over the years, she said.

 

She has also worked in social services, and served on a variety of boards, including Shirley Yeager Animal Friends Foundation and Mother to Mother Ministries.

She assisted with crisis services, providing resources and support for individuals and families in need through Southeast Kansas Mental Health.

She continues to raise funds for Paws and Claws with a booth at the Treasure Hunt Flea Market in downtown Fort Scott.

The book is available locally and online.

Lamentations of the Heart is available at Hedgehog INK!, also in downtown Fort Scott, with a book signing to be announced in the near future.

The book is also available through MSI Press, Amazon, and Barnes & Noble.

The author can be reached at her website: martiwellssmith.com.

A poem from her book:

SADNESS, LEAVING
by Marti Wells-Smith
Grief, in time,
is but a gentle missing;
a breath of want
for those gone on,
for those held dear–
a fond desire to bring them closer;
a wish to draw them near.
Sadness transforms,
making way for tomorrow,
as we each choose what will follow
in the aftermath of sorrow.
Matthew 5:4 Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
Marti Wells-Smith. Submitted photos.

 

Bourbon County, Church news, COVID-19, Food, Fort Scott

Knights of Columbus Fish Fry Is A Drive-Through This Year Through March 19

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The men of Knights of Columbus Council #796 serve the Lenten meal in February 2020.

 

New this year because of the COVID-19 Pandemic, the annual Knights of Columbus Fish Fry planned a drive-through pickup of the food served.

There are only two dates left for the event, both on Fridays from 5-6:30 p.m. March 12, and March 19.

Because of the pandemic, all the workers will be wearing masks and gloves to serve the meals.

But as in the past, it will be at 702 Holbrook,  at Kennedy Gym, which is a part of Mary Queen of Angels Catholic Church.

 

The fish fry in 2016.

 

The Knights of Columbus is a Catholic men’s organization, that has a “great tradition of fish fry’s nationwide,” Mark McCoy, spokesman for the group said.

 

The meal had to be simplified this year because it is a drive-through, McCoy said.

 

“Meal #1 will be catfish, french fries and coleslaw, Meal #2 is catfish, cod, fries, and coleslaw and Meal #3 is baked cod with fries and coleslaw,” McCoy said.

 

There will be no home-made desserts this year that have been provided by the ladies of the parish in past Lenten fish fry meals.

A row of homemade desserts lines tables at the Knights of Columbus  Lenten Fish Fry in February 2020 at Kennedy Gym.

Logistically, it would not work, McCoy said, since the drive-through was new this year.

The annual Lenten fish fry is also a community event where lots of conversations happen between attendees, McCoy said.

“We look forward to going back to sit down dining” in the future, he said.

 

Art, Business, Entertainment, Fort Scott, Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce

March 19: Lollipop Hop and Shop, Plus Sidewalk Chalk Art Contest

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Chamber Announces LOLLIPOP HOP & SHOP + SIDEWALK CHALK ART CONTEST!

The Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce announces a Lollipop Hop & Shop + Sidewalk Chalk Art Contest will take place Friday, March 19th through Sunday, March 21st. Most stores in the Downtown Historic District and several additional locations will be participating in the fun.

All ages are encouraged to take part in the Chalk Art Contest by making a display in the Downtown Historic District or at another participating store and post the art creation to the Chamber Facebook page “Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce” with the hashtag #fortscottshopart to be included in judging.

Customers are invited to shop local while viewing the chalk art. Most retailers will be offering complimentary lollipops, and many will also be offering drawings and promotions. Locations included in the event will have a Lollipop Hop & Shop poster and pink & blue balloons displayed at their entrance.

The Chamber encourages the community to shop local, express yourself through art for all ages, and join the Lollipop Hop & Shop + Sidewalk Chalk Art Contest starting Friday, March 19th thru Sunday, March 21st. A list of participating retailers will soon be posted on fortscott.com.


Contact the Chamber for more information at 620-223-3566.