2020 GORDON PARKS PHOTO CONTEST Sponsored by Merl Humphrey. The Theme “Social Justice, Diversity and Equity” for any amateur photographer. Deadline EXTENDED to 10/26/2020, send submission to [email protected].
GUIDED TOURS OF THE FORT DAILY, 10AM &1PMThe Fort Scott National Historic Site is open daily 8am-5pm for touring on your own, but arrive at 10am or 1pm on any day and take advantage of a guided tour with a park ranger! Guided tour lasts approx. 1 hour.
10/16-10/22 –FORT CINEMA Heaven, Nightmare Before Christmas, Honest Thief,
10/16 – The FSHS Tigers Football game on the Big Screen! Free – Reserve your seats to watch the game!
10/16 & 10/17 – CLARK STREET LIGHTS, HALLOWEEN THEME & SCREAM!
$1 entry from 7 pm -10 pm
10/16 –BOILER ROOM BREWHAUS! – Come in and drink and sing Karaoke night!
10/16 – FORT SCOTT FARMERS’ MARKET– At Skubitz Plaza in front of the Fort, 8am to noon. American Legion serving Breakfast on the Bricks starting at 8am.
10/16, 17 & 18th – KANSAS ROCKS WEEKEND Our C-19 Camp -N- Crawl a 3-day event. One price for the entire weekend, Collecting toys for the Christmas Season.
10/17 –CRUISE NIGHT – Cruise night for the season! 6 pm -10 pm, route of 6th St. to 18th!
10/17 –FSCC – HEAD BASKETBALL COACH “COOK’S CLINIC” – Open Sat. from 10 am – 1 pm., Arnold Arena. Coach Cook and other area coaches will present various drills and areas on emphasis. $20 per person .620.223.2700 # 7280
10/17- BOILER ROOM BREWHAUS!Live Music featuring Damaris hosted by the Boiler Room Brewhaus! 7:30 – 9:30 PM
10/17- FIRST SOUTHERN BAPTIST CHURCH ~”America in the End Times’ with Gary Kah, 6-8 pm. 1818 S. Main St.
10/18 – BOILER ROOM BREWHAUS! Brings back Trivia night for teams of 2 to 6 people, $5 entry
per team, 5-7 pm
SAVE THE DATE!
10/21 ~BOILER ROOM BREWHAUS! Brings in the Ghetto Taco Truck from 4 pm – 8 pm. Authentic Street Tacos, Come in for a Drink!
10/21 ~WARD KRAFT JOB FAIR ~ Hiring Office, Sales and Production Members. Apply from 10 am -2 pm and again from 4 to 6 pm. Hall, Meet & Greet at 5:30 pm, and Forum starts at 6 pm
The Fort Scott High School Choral Club pause for a photo during practice on Thursday. Submitted photo.
A Fort Scott Middle/High School Choral Music Teacher vacancy was not replaced by the USD 234 Board of Education this summer.
“Abby Helt, the choir teacher that was hired to replace Emily Elliott, withdrew in July, and there was not another teacher hired,” said Mary Jo Harper, Eugene Ware Elementary School’s Music Teacher. “They opened a position up for an after-school choir at the high school that I applied for.”
Mary Jo Harper. Submitted photo.
“I got the green light to begin rehearsals in October and we started on Tuesday,” Harper said. “Students in 9-12th grade are welcome to participate. We meet Tuesdays and Thursdays from 3:30 PM-4:15 PM in the Choir Room at FSHS.”
“Our goal is to aid students interested in auditioning for district and state choir (virtual this year) to have that opportunity and to prepare students for the spring musical.”
“We are also striving to continue to cultivate a passion for choral music, preparing for community performances and other events that may be able to happen in the future.,” Harper said.
” During the pandemic, the science is continuously updating,” Harper said. “Our goal is to continue to follow the COVID guidelines put out by the National Association for Music Education and Kansas State High School Activities Association, meaning masked singing during rehearsals whether indoors or outdoors, limited to about 30 minutes at a time in any space, temperatures recorded, and symptom scanning.”
“Our first rehearsal was filled with folk songs to warm up and prepare for this adventure,” Harper said. “While we wait for the clearance to sing in the elementary classroom, this has been one way I get to feed my musical soul. It’s been lovely to be able to see our students continue to love singing in high school. I’m glad I get to be a part of their continued choral education!”
Fort Scott Middle School After School Choir
Jannah Farrington at Fort Scott Middle School is doing an after school choir with interested students, Harper said.
Jannah Farrington, Fort Scott Middle School Special Education Teacher and Choral Club Teacher. Submitted photo.
“When I was asked if I would be interested I was over the moon excited.,” Farrington said. “Special Education is my passion but music was my first love. I am a singer and began my college career as a vocal music major. I am excited to be on this journey as it lights a fire deep in my soul.”
She started with four interested students and now has up to seven.
“That number is growing as the word gets out to more and more students,” Farrington said.
“Our purpose together is to create music,” she said. “To use our musical instrument that was given to us.”
“We meet three days a week after school,” Farrington said. “That is adjusted to two days a week if we have a short week.”
“I am teaching basic skills on how to read music,” she said. ” I am also teaching them how to improve their tone, pitch ability and we are working on two-part harmony.”
They are working on a traditional and a contemporary piece of music.
“I am working on them listening to one another and singing together, building confidence, practicing hard and improving their singing skills,” she said.
She is striving to have fun in the club, during these uncertain and different times, she said.
“We are following the (pandemic) guidelines we need to and my students have adjusted well to that,” she said. ” We are not preparing for competition currently but are preparing and will host a zoom concert for their parents.”
Dr. John Fox MD and Mary Beth Newkirk APRN, FNP-C are the owners of NewFox Wellness. Submitted photo.
Dr. John Fox and Nurse Practitioner Mary Beth Newkirk have partnered to open a new med/spa business called NewFox Wellness.
It is located at 1118 S. Clark, Fort Scott inside the Re:Freshed Salon and Spa, just off 12th Street and Hwy. 69.
NewFox Wellness is located in the Five-Corners Strip Mall off of 12th Street.
The business features advanced aesthetics.
“Advanced aesthetics is typically offered in large cities but we are bringing these services closer to home,” Newkirk said. “Many people use these types of products but it takes a lot of time, travel, and added expenses to go to K.C. or farther for treatment. By offering these services in the community, people can actually decrease their overall cost and time. We plan to continue to expand with many additional services and are open to wellness suggestions from the community!”
Newkirk works on a patient. Submitted photo.
Services offered: Botox, Dysport, dermal fillers, Kybella, microneedling with the only FDA approved SkinPen, skin tag removal, and Cryotherapy for minor skin lesions, she said.
“Our goal is to partner with Delane Godden, owner of {Re:Freshed} Salon and Spa, to treat the whole person’s facial and skin needs,” Newkirk said. “We all have blemishes or insecurities about our bodies we want fixed; these products allow Dr. Fox and I to offer results at a fraction of the cost compared to surgery and/or laser treatments.”
Newkirk enjoys the job she has.
Newkirk works on a patient. Submitted photo.
” As a provider, there is an amazing amount of joy in watching a person’s confidence increase after correcting a facial asymmetry or treating their TMJ pain with Botox or healing acne scarring that has been present for years,” she said. “Many of the services we are offering will boost a person’s self-esteem, worth, and confidence. Who doesn’t want that? “
NewFox Wellness is located inside the Re:Freshed Salon and Spa, 1118 S. Clark. Submitted photo.
She is offering free consultations and grand opening promotions as well. The grand opening is scheduled for Nov. 1.
The phone number is 620-215-5890.
The business will be from Monday-Saturday by appointments. “Times may vary based on injector availability,” Newkirk said.
Follow NewFox Wellness on Facebook and IG for more info and updates.
Owners
Newkirk is a Nurse Practitioner certified in family medicine.
” I graduated with my advanced nursing degree from Pittsburg State University and have additional training in Advanced Aesthetics and injectables through the National Laser Institute,” she said.
She trained under Brittney Burnworth, nurse practitioner and owner of BB Aesthetics in Columbus Ohio, a top 250 medspa in the nation, she said. She is an Allergan Epic Advanced Training Injector Nurse Educator.
Dr. John Fox is co-owner and medical director for NewFox Wellness.
“Dr. Fox is well known and loved in this community,” Newkirk said. “It was a huge loss to our area when Mercy (Hospital) closed and he was forced to move his practice outside our area. NewFox Wellness is a way for us to give back to his wonderful patients and the community by offering services not provided in this area.”
Submitted by the Fort Scott Kansas National Education Association’s Media Relations Contact Brian Pommier.
Prior to this school year, the Fort Scott KNEA negotiations team sat
down with their counterparts on the USD 234 Board of Education’s team and came to an agreement on a Memorandum of Understanding dealing with COVID-19.
At Monday night’s meeting, however, the board voted to change the COVID-19 quarantine requirements previously in place, which we believe to be a violation of the terms of the agreement.
Included in the MOU was an agreement to put the Return to Learning plan in place for this school year and to jointly address issues arising to COVID-19.
The Return to Learning plan defines the term “close contact” as someone who has been within “6 feet of the case for 10 minutes or more or if they had direct exposure to secretions into their nose, eyes, or mouth (for example, being coughed or sneezed on).”
The plan also stated that close contacts must remain in quarantine until they have met the criteria for release from quarantine set by KDHE or SEKMCHD.
On Monday, however, the board of education voted 4-3 to change the district’s policy regarding the quarantine of close contacts. Now, someone who has spent more than 10 minutes within six feet of
someone who has tested positive for COVID-19 no longer has to quarantine so long as masks are worn.
The board’s decision — in essence — to redefine the term “close contact” to avoid quarantine violates the terms of the agreement.
The issue should have been addressed in conjunction with the FSKNEA, as per our agreement.
The FSKNEA negotiations team denounces the board’s action and demands that the board honor the Memorandum of Understanding.
During our negotiations this summer, the FSKNEA found the board of education willing to come to a common-sense agreement to address COVID-19 issues in an attempt to re-open our schools and
allow in-person learning to occur.
We are disappointed in the board’s decision to back away from that
agreement without even discussing the issue with our team.
Hound Nutrition owner, Haven Kelly, right, stands in front of the snack shop with Abbygail Profitt, one of four employees. Profit is from Joplin, MO.
Haven Kelly was 19 when she opened Hound Nutrition in downtown Fort Scott in August 2020.
The young entrepreneur said she saw an opportunity and “went for it. There is not a nutrition shop in Fort Scott.”
An entrepreneur is a person who organizes and manages any enterprise, especially a business, usually with considerable initiative and risk. Kelly’s dad, David Owens, is a silent partner in the business.
“He comes on weekends and helps out,” Kelly said. “He supports me in every way possible.”
Kelly is from Blue Jacket, OK, her dad is from Welch, OK.
Hound Nutrition sells snacks, meal replacements, and all manner of teas at the shop.
One side of the Hound Nutrition Menu.
“We use Herbal Life Nutrition, the number one nutrition company in the world,” Kelly said.
“We do protein waffles, donuts and cake pops,” she said.
Today, Oct. 14 the shop is having its first Waffle Wednesday.
“We will sell them until we run out,” she said. “I’m super excited.”
On Thursdays, the shop personnel sells mega teas for the price of a medium, and on Saturdays, one can buy five to-go teas for $25, she said.
This Friday evening is the start of game nights at the shop, Kelly said.
“Card games, board games, Jenga, corn hole and tic/tac/toe,” she said.
“I’ll be open to play some games and hang out,” Kelly said. “It starts Oct. 16, open until 8-9 p.m.
Regular hours are Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday and Sunday 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Kelly is on the Fort Scott Community College softball team.
Members of the USD 234 Board of Education met at the Fort Scott Middle School Commons on Monday, October 12, 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 – September 18, 2020 – $1,391,092.25
D. Financial Report
E. Activity Fund Accounts
There were two comments during the public forum. Following the public forum, it was
approved (4 yes; 3 no) to add an item to the agenda.
It was moved and approved (4 yes; 3 no) that a close mask-wearing contact of a symptomatic, confirmed COVID-19 student or staff member does not have to go into quarantine from school.
Board members heard reports from the following:
· Brenda Hill, KNEA President
· All building principals
· Dalaina Smith, Director of Academics
· Ted Hessong, Superintendent
· Gina Shelton, Business Manager/Board Clerk
Board members approved the following:
· Roof payment
· Roof Reinspection Agreement
· Agreement of Cooperation and Partnership between USD 234 and No Limits Rehabilitation, Inc.
· Memorandum of Understanding between USD 234 and the Bourbon County Health Department
In addition, the board reviewed the September 21, 2020, Enrollment Count Report.
Board members shared comments and then went into executive session to discuss personnel matters for nonelected personnel and returned to open meeting
The board approved the following employment matters:
A. Resignation of Lisa Mathew, high school paraprofessional, effective October 2, 2020
B. Resignation of Glenda Cooper, Winfield Scott cook, effective September 17, 2020
C. Employment of Heather Geiger as a high school paraprofessional for the 2020-21 school year
D. Leave of absence for Lindsay Knopp, Winfield Scott second grade teacher
E. Leave of absence for Codee Weddle, Winfield Scott paraprofessional
F. Employment of Mary Jo Harper as high school Choral Club sponsor for the 2020-21 school year
G. Employment of Brooke Senkevech as a middle school first session intramurals coach for the 2020-21 school year
A local business resource center was brought to fruition because of the COVID-19 Pandemic.
“The idea of a business resource center being needed became abundantly clear around March or April,” Jody Hoener, Bourbon County Economic Director said. “Businesses were scrambling, trying to maintain or adapt as required, trying to keep their heads above water, all while attempting to navigate the very complex financial relief offered by the (U.S.)Small Business Administration and others. Just raising awareness of the opportunities and making critical connections to financial institutions for relief became a full-time job, let alone helping owners fill out applications.”
Jody Hoener, Bourbon County Economic Development Director. Submitted photo.
B-WERC Formed
The local program, called the Bourbon County Workforce and Entrepreneur Resource Center (B-WERC), was funded through Kansas’ Strengthening People and Revitalizing Kansas program, which was from money dispursed through the U.S. Cares Act Relief, all of these COVID-19 related measures by the layers of government.
Its purpose is to address current and immediate COVID-19 Pandemic related needs to assist business, encourage economic activity, and address unemployment, according to Hoener.
“I realized that the solution of throwing money at the problem was a very short term fix,” Hoener said. ” Businesses need customers for long term sustainability. The value in an increased online presence was highlighted more than ever during this pandemic. Restaurants were developing online solutions for curbside or delivery services as they were forced to close down. Other retailers were developing online solutions to get their products in the hands of customers. Distance learning, telework, or telehealth became a forced reality.”
Partnerships
“Other partnerships and resources are available through the Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce and the Fort Scott Community College,” she said. “The chamber will assist the county in coordinating and promoting. Fort Scott Community College will be offering community classes in B-WERC on social media and other skills. Classes will be hands-on with available laptops for each participant. Telework and distance learning stations will be available for community members who need access to high-speed internet.”
Fort Scott Community College.
“We will provide 20 qualified businesses free website building with expert assistance in value propositions and messaging critical to branding,” Hoener said.
A partnership with the Small Business Development Center at Pittsburg State University will assist businesses to obtain needed capital and provide business planning assistance for sustainability, Hoener said.
Pittsburg State University.
“These incredibly valuable services, in addition to marketing or industry reports, will be readily available,” she said. “This unique assistance will give businesses the needed help to build sustainable models.”
Entrepreneurs
“Many times communities who experience high unemployment rate will in turn see high entrepreneurship rates,” Hoener said. “For those (who are) unemployed and have great ideas to start their own business, this will give them the tools and know-how to move forward successfully.”
Job-Seeking
“A job seeking service will also be available onsite through another partner, KansasWorks, two times a week,” she said.
Childcare, An Important Component
“Childcare centers and daycares have high standards to maintain licensures. One requirement is to meet continuing education requirements. Although continued education for staff is clearly a need, it can create a burden on the facilities in scheduling, costs, and human resources. It is estimated there are approximately 15 illegal daycare providers in our county. Through our partner KansasWorks, B-WERC will be implementing a program that will offer to work with the childcare centers and daycares to meet credentialing requirements of continuing education hours. A program will be implemented to incentivize illegal care to become legal. Childcare is critical to keep our workforce working.” Hoener said.
The B-WERC office will be located on the second floor of the old Kress building at 17 S. Main in downtown Fort Scott. The office is expected to be open Nov. 2, according to Hoener.
The street-level floor of the building will house a grocery store.
The store owner, BAJA Investments, LLC, was also a recipient of the SPARK grant program. To see the story on that, click below:
Bourbon County Website Building and Marketing Grants Program Parameters
The grants will be scored and consequently awarded on a first come first serve basis to those that are eligible, according to Hoener. Applications will remain open until October 31, 2020. The grant will be awarded until 20 qualified businesses have been awarded.
Who Is Eligible
For businesses located within Bourbon County, priority will be given to those businesses with a physical location.
The business must currently have minimal (basic) to no online or website presence.
Grants are for businesses who have experienced business disruptions as a result of the COVID 19 pandemic and will benefit from an increased online presence through any or all of the following:
Increased foot traffic
Encouraging tourism activities
Enhance or enable online scheduling (i.e. curbside, delivery, hair appointments)
Enhance or enable online sales
Raise awareness of critical structures in the community (i.e. Food Access, Child Care, etc.)
The applicant must be willing to spend a minimum of 5-10 hours over the next several months working with The Bureau of Small Projects staff.
Non-profits are not eligible under this program
The County reserves the right to request additional documentation
How to Apply
Applications are online at Bourboncountyks.org/spark
Once an application is submitted, Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce President, Lindsay Madison, and Bourbon County Economic Development Director will review, Hoener said. The application will be scored to determine if the application meets minimum standards to qualify. A follow-up email will be sent to the applicant’s business.
Lindsay Madison, Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce Executive Director. Submitted photo.
An application will only be considered once it is fully completed with all requested documentation required to support the requested funding.
Parameters
Grants applications will be open until October 31st.
Grants are awarded on a first come first serve basis to those who are eligible.
Grant Scoring Algorithm:
Grant Purpose: Website Building and Marketing Services for Business Impacted by the COVID 19 Pandemic
Points
Current Online Presence
Facebook Only
5
No Facebook or Website
5
A basic, static, webpage only
5
A dynamic web page currently exists
0
How Would an Online Presence Benefit the Applicant? (Check all that apply)
Increased foot traffic
5
Encourage tourism activities
5
Enhance or enable online scheduling
5
Enhance or enable online sales
5
Raise awareness of a public need such as food or childcare
5
Business Activities and Impact (Check all the Apply)
The business is a childcare center or daycare
5
Business sales a product that can be legally sold online
5
The business provides a service that scheduling can be done online
5
The business is located in Downtown Historic District
5
The Business encourages overnight stays
5
***Minimum score of 5 from each of the three categories is required to be determined eligible
Process
A complete application must be submitted online.
Additional Information may be requested for clarification.
Economic Development Director and Chamber President will score the application and make the final determination of eligibility.
Economic Development Director will send congratulatory and introductory emails to The Bureau of Small Projects and the business contact.
The Fort Scott Planning Commission will meet on Monday, October 19th, 2020 at 4:00 p.m. at City Hall, 123 S. Main Street, Fort Scott, Kansas. This meeting will be held to consider a Conditional Use Permit for a telecommunications tower to be located north of the Water Treatment Plant located at 910 Burke Street.
This meeting is open to the public. This meeting will be made available via the City’s you tube channel at City of Fort Scott.
Brent Cavin, manager of Fort Cinema, has come up with a collaboration to allow Fort Scott High School Tiger Football to be seen on the big screens.
“As new movies continue to be pushed back months we have switched our mindset and focus from being not only a movie theater, but into a gathering place for the community,” Cavin said.
Recently, they have made theater rentals available for private movie and video game parties on the big screens.
To view the previous story on theater rentals, click below:
“This is the next step for our community to help keep their theater open,” Cavin said. “It was an idea that came to us as we realized some of the away football games have limited fan attendance. When we noticed that the upcoming football game is several hours away we decided this is the perfect opportunity to give back to the community.”
The number of fans is limited because of the COVID-19 pandemic precautions.
Cavin contacted FSHS and Fort Scott Broadcasting on Friday to pitch the idea, and both were enthusiastic about the concept.
“All three screens are capable of broadcasting the game via Fort Scott TV,” he said. “We are hoping that broadcasting conditions will be optimal Friday night from Wamego, and we are making sure our theater will be able to hopefully stream the game without any hiccups.”
Admission is free.
The staff is asking those who want to attend to come and get a ticket sometime this week between the hours of 6 p.m.and 8 p.m.
“This is solely to give us an estimate on crowd size,” Cavin said.
“There will be a free will donation bucket available for anyone who would like to donate money,” he said.
“Our concession stand will be open with food that all fans are familiar with when they attend games: popcorn, pretzels, nachos, candy, and pizza by the slice from Papa Don’s will be sold,” Cavin said.
The cinema is located just off South Main Street at 224 W. 18th Street.
Doors will open at 6:00 with kickoff scheduled for 7:00.
Come support the undefeated Tigers, while supporting the local cinema.
The Fort Scott High School football team celebrates in a 2015 game.
Jody Hoener, Bourbon County Economic Development Director. Submitted photo.
The following is a statement from Jody Hoener, the Bourbon County Economic Director, in regards to recent activities of the Bourbon County Economic Development Corporation.
“Currently, there are three economic developers in our community. The City of Fort Scott employs two, with community and economic development directors, and Bourbon County employs me as the county-wide economic development director.
“Consolidating services between the City of Fort Scott and the County has been discussed in depth with departments like public works, human resources, and economic development.
A group of community members researched potential cost savings in addition to best practices as modeled by similar communities.
A recommendation was presented to BEDCO to develop a private/public partnership in order to consolidate economic development to one director, under a single entity, with broad representation from each of the six cities, the county, and taxing entities.
Bourbon County has committed to funding this position. I believe it is the hope that all entities, including the City of Fort Scott, will see the benefit in this model and participate likewise.
While I am fully aware that my current position will be eliminated, and have no preconceived notion that I will be gainfully employed in the new position, I fully support the decisions made by the county commissioners and BEDCO Board. I have been encouraged to apply for the new position, along with other incumbents in Bourbon County, once it is posted.
The move is in the best interest of the entire community and is one step in the right direction toward building a better business climate.
