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Category Archives: Fort Scott
The 2020 Gordon Parks Museum to feature Photo Contest
Contact: Kirk Sharp at 1-800-874-3722, ext. 5850
Email: [email protected]
Fort Scott-The Gordon Parks Museum at Fort Scott Community College, will feature a photo contest sponsored by Merl Humphrey Photography and inspired by Gordon Parks, who was a champion in the fight for social justice and racial equity. His weapon of choice was a camera to fight against racism, discrimination and poverty.
The theme of the contest, “Social Justice, Diversity and Equity” is for any amateur photographer.
Photographers are invited to capture the essence of one of the concepts and share one or two sentences on what inspired the photo.
Non-professional photographers of any age and skill level are invited to take pictures for the project and may enter up to two photos in jpeg format with less than2MB.
There will be a first place ($100), second place ($75) and third place ($50) prize and up to five honorable mentions.
All photos submitted will be on exhibit at The Gordon Parks Museum and in the Ellis Family Fine Arts Center Oct. 8 – 16, 2020. All photos will also be posted on the Gordon Parks Museum website and Facebook page.
Photographs must be submitted via e-mail to [email protected].
All photos must be attached in JPEG format and limit file size to less than 2 MB. All entries will be confirmed via email.
Photographers should submit (in their email) a title, along with their name, address, email, phone number and share a one or two sentence on what inspired the photo.
If under 10 years old please include parent’s information.
Photos should be received via email by Wednesday, September 30, 2020 at the latest.
For more info, click below:
For more information email [email protected] or by phone call 223-2700, ext. 5850.
“Always Choose Family” by Ashton Nolan was1st place winner in the 2019 Photo Contest. The theme was: “My Learning Tree, Life Lessons Learned.”
Presbyterian Village All Clear For COVID-19
Fort Scott Presbyterian Manor says all clear
following additional testing for COVID-19
FORT SCOTT, Kan. – Fort Scott Presbyterian Manor has good news to share following a second wave of testing for COVID-19 at the community. All residents and employees have tested negative for the virus.
“We’re glad to have this round of testing behind us and we’ll keep our focus on resident and employee safety,” said Jeanne Gerstenkorn, PMMA’s infection preventionist and vice president for health and wellness.
Because all residents and employees tested negative for the virus, the Bourbon County Health Department is not recommending further testing at the community at this time.
The residents and employees who tested positive for the virus earlier this month will remain in isolation until cleared to return to work by the Health Department. Per CDC guidelines, team members may return to work once they have been symptom free for 72 hours without the aid of a fever reducer and demonstrate improvement in respiratory symptoms, and at least 10 days have passed since symptoms first appeared. Upon their return to work, we will follow CDC recommendations related to work practices and restrictions.
Presbyterian Manor implemented a strict no visitor policy at the community and discontinued group activities and communal dining for the entire campus per guidelines released by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) and the CDC on March 13.
All employees are encouraged to follow CDC guidelines and best practices as these are continually updated. The community regularly reinforces with all staff that an employee should not report to work if he or she is experiencing symptoms of a respiratory illness or not feeling well.
For more information about Fort Scott Presbyterian Manor’s response, go to PMMA’s (Presbyterian Manors of Mid-America’s) website, Presbyterianmanors.org/Media- room.
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LaRoche Building Update: Outside Nearing Completion
Several downtown Fort Scott buildings are in process of being transformed.
Work began on two historic side-by-side downtown buildings at 10 and 12 E. Wall St.,owned by Jennifer LaRoche on Nov. 5, 2018.
The outside work is now nearly complete and the interior spaces are on the list for completion.
The buildings on Wall Street at National Avenue have been the work of several local contractors and businesses, which were able to work through the COVID 19 Pandemic restrictions.
The LaRoche Building space housing the Common Ground Coffee Co. at 10 East Wall Street was completed just before the COVID 19 Pandemic started in the U.S. in March 2020.
Then Kenny Felt Photography moved its office to the space just west of the coffee shop at 12 E. Wall Street.
Now the building that faces both Wall and National is being worked on.
“By the middle of September, I will have the building weather tight,” Jennifer LaRoche said. “And then we will start on the inside. I do not know how long that could take to complete. I don’t have an end date.”
“In the Tribune Building…….The upstairs will be apartments. Anywhere from two to four,” she said. “I have not decided yet.
On the ground level, it can occupy four businesses. I do not know what businesses will want to occupy the space.”
City Press Release Regarding the Union Block Building
NEWS RELEASE from the City of Fort Scott
August 24, 2020: Regarding the Union Block building the City reviewed its records and has determined the following:
1) The Commission appropriately proclaimed the use of the City’s economic development funds in support of economic development projects as a public purpose.
2) The City Commission recognized the Union Block Building as a project deserving of the City’s economic development programs and services, and authorized expenditures.
3) All expenditures toward the Union Block Building were authorized and paid by funds allocated by the Commission for the public purposes for which they were authorized.
4) All payments on the Union Block Building were properly paid and accounted for in the normal course of business. Requests for payment were supported by invoices or other documents certifying that the funds were for the Union Block Building project and for purposes approved by the Commission.
5) No funds under any Commission-approved program were intended or required to be repaid by the developer, owner, or contractor(s) of the Union Block Building.
The City encourages and supports economic development in the City, including the preservation and redevelopment of its many historic properties.
Inquiries on the City’s economic development programs should be directed to the City’s Economic Development Director, Rachel Pruitt ([email protected]).
Follow up on the Union Block Building can be addressed to the City Attorney ([email protected] )
Taken from the City of Fort Scott Facebook page
What’s Happening in Fort Scott
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Pioneer Harvest Fiesta Canceled Due to COVID-19
The Pioneer Harvest Fiesta Board has canceled its 2020 show due to the virus, according to President Allen Warren.
The event was to be held on October 2, 3, and 4.
Plans are being made for a Swap Meet on May 9, 2021 and the show is planned for October 1, 2, & 3, 2021.
For questions, please call Allen Warren at 620-224-7761.
U234 Board Met to Purchase Temperature Scanners.
NEWS RELEASE
Thursday, August 20, 2020
Members of the USD 234 Board of Education met virtually on Thursday, August 20, for a special noon board meeting.
President David Stewart opened the meeting. The board approved the purchase of temperature scanners.
The board adjourned.
Community Foundation Selects New Board Members
The Fort Scott Area Community Foundation announces the selection of four new board members who will serve three year terms beginning in 2020 through 2023. They include Connie Banwart, community volunteer with a focus on historic preservation, Kirk Sharp, executive director, Gordon Parks Museum, Deb McCoy, registered nurse, and Lindsay Madison, executive director, Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce.
“FSACF welcomes these outstanding individuals who have each made a commitment to serving the needs of our community through the Foundation,” said Carla Farmer, chair.
The new board members join the local volunteer board comprised of 16 individuals from diverse professional backgrounds and interests. FSACF meets quarterly and focuses on being a resource to other not-for-profit organizations whose goal is to improve the quality of life in Fort Scott and Bourbon County. One of the primary ways in which the Foundation assists other organizations is through its annual granting process.
The grant cycle is currently underway and applications may be submitted through August 31. Gregg Motley, grant chair, announced that $42,000 is available for projects that benefit our community and youth. Applications can be obtained by emailing [email protected].
In other action at the annual meeting in July, officers were elected. Serving as chair will be Carla Farmer, Barbara Albright, vice chair, Frank Halsey, secretary, and Craig Campbell, treasurer.
Committee chairs for 2020-2021 are Gary Palmer, asset development, Gregg Motley, granting, Travis Shelton, nominating, Frank Halsey, marketing, and Charles Gentry, bylaws.
FSACF was established in 2007. Currently, the Foundation has assets in excess of $9 million which includes restricted funds established and directed by donors. Of the total fund balance, over $1 million is unrestricted endowed funds controlled by FSACF. The unrestricted funds generate interest which in turn is utilized for annual grants.
For more information about FSACF, go to fsacf.com or follow FSACF on Facebook. For specific information about making a gift, call 620-224-6500.
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FS Design Review Board Meets Aug. 25
The Design Review Board will meet on Tuesday, August 25th, 2020 at 4:00 p.m. at the City Hall Commission Meeting room at 123 S. Main Street, Fort Scott, Kansas. This meeting will be held to discuss a Certificate of Appropriateness for a sign at 19 S. National, a Certificate of Appropriateness for signage in the downtown area for the walking trail, and a Certificate of Appropriateness for signage at 124 E. Wall and any others matters to be brought before the Board. 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.
FS Planning Commission Meets Aug. 24
The Fort Scott Planning Commission will meet on Monday, August 24th, 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.
Community Foundation: Resource For Local Organizations
The Fort Scott Area Community Foundation is a funding resource for local organizations whose goal is to improve the quality of life in Bourbon County, according to Carla Farmer, FSACF Chairperson.
Applications are being received until August 31.
“In 2019, FSACF received 33 grant applications totaling over $106,000,” said Greg Motley, Grant Committee Chairperson. “The grant committee awarded over $33,000 for projects in our community, such as musical instruments and interesting field trips for elementary school children, food and clothing to serve the disadvantaged in our area, writing, music and art projects to support the arts in our community, amenities for parks and schools, critical medical equipment for our emergency room and equipment for high school girls’ athletics, to name a few.”
“The grant application period for 2020 ends August 31,” Motley said. “This year, we have over $42,000 in available grant money to be awarded during the October 29th Fort Scott Area Chamber Coffee at Landmark National Bank, 200 S. Main at 8:00 AM.”
For an application and copy of FSACF’s Grant Evaluation Guidelines, please email Gregg Motley, Grant Committee Chairman, at [email protected] .
History of FSACF, provided by Carla Farmer.
The Fort Scott Area Community Foundation is a 501(c)(3) organization established in 2007. The Foundation, led by a local, volunteer board, was created to meet the needs of greater Bourbon County. Its mission is to partner with and be a resource to organizations whose goal is to improve the quality of life in Bourbon County. The Foundation strives to create connections between donors and a variety of worthwhile causes.
With assets over $9 million, the FSACF provides a tax-exempt vehicle for donations to be given to charitable groups and government agencies of the donor’s choice. Donations, large and small, are gratefully accepted from individuals living within Bourbon County or around the world. The Foundation offers a variety of giving options from gifts of cash, securities, stock, to planned gifts.
FSACF operates as an affiliate of the Community Foundation of Southeast Kansas.
“The Fort Scott Area Community Foundation exists to support the good work being accomplished by our not-for-profit organizations in Bourbon County and to address the needs of our most vulnerable citizens. Board members recognize that the needs in our community and county continue to increase. The annual grants awarded by the Foundation is one tool for placing funds directly back into the hands of not-for-profits to meet these needs,” said Farmer.
“These are challenging times in our community and the country. The Foundation offers opportunities for creating many types of funds that can continue to benefit our citizens for generations to come. If you have questions about giving to the Foundation, please contact me or any board member,” added Farmer.
You may visit www.fsacf.com for more information or call 620-224-6500.