Category Archives: Fort Scott

Fort Scott, Government

Public Service Announcement: Don’t Remove Cones/Barricades AND Bring Back The Sign

1 Comment
Taken from the City of Fort Scott’s Facebook page.

Public Service Announcement: If there are cones or barricades blocking a work site please go around the block or go a different direction. Please do not remove the cones and drive through the worksite. All you are doing is tearing up the work and most of the time it has to be redone by City of Fort Scott Public Works crews. We have a citizen on video doing just this and will be looking for the person responsible.

I am personally trying to do the best I can to communicate to citizens daily about road closures, water outages, detours, or anything else that goes on; either on Facebook, the radio, or other media outlets, but it takes help from the citizens also. Please communicate to your neighbors.

We have a lot of projects going on right now in Fort Scott and maybe you are not used to this, but it is called progress. This progress is what the citizens of Fort Scott deserve. Remember, we pay a special 1/2 cent sales tax for street repairs, so every time you see someone tearing up work that was done by the city, and it has to be done again. It is taxpayers’ money being wasted.

I will continue to update citizens on things you need to know, and our staff/crews will do our best to eliminate any inconveniences that are caused by progress. Please help us by following the law.

The citizens of Fort Scott deserve better streets and infrastructure, but it will take time to get you what you deserve. It did not crumble overnight, and it will not be fixed overnight. Progress will continue and improvements will be made! We are not perfect so there will be mistakes along the way, but I can ensure you we will work hard to get things done.

Also, if you see our dang sign, bring it back!!!

if you have any questions please write me an email. [email protected].

Brad Matkin
City Manager
City of Fort Scott

 

Brad Matkin

City Manager

City of Fort Scott

Fort Scott, Kansas 66701

620-223-0550 ext. 210

 

Fort Scott, Government

Special Meeting Today at City Hall

Leave a comment

NOTICE OF AND AGENDA FOR SPECIAL MEETING

OF THE FORT SCOTT CITY COMMISSION

City Hall Commission Room – 123 S. Main Street, Fort Scott, KS 66701

July 29, 2024 – 5:00 P.M.

 

  1.     Call to Order
  2.     Roll Call

Tim VanHoecke,   Matthew Wells,   Dyllon Olson,   Kathryn Salsbury,  Tracy Dancer

III.       Pledge of Allegiance

  1. Invocation
  2. Approval of Agenda

 

  1. New Business

            Action Items:

  1. Consideration of Approval for Healthy Bourbon County Action Team (HBCAT) to apply for the Our Town Grant (a 1/1 match grant), a Letter of Cash Commitment of $16,780.00 to be drawn from the Parks Fund, and $29,720.00 of in-kind services from the City, to be used for the proposed project at Nelson Park – Rachel Carpenter/Executive Director of HBCAT.

 

  1. Consideration of Bids for the Investment of $1,500,000.00 in Certificates of Deposit to drawn from the fund and redeposited with earnings to the same fund – B. Matkin

 

  1. Consideration to amend Golf Cart Ordinance – T. VanHoecke

 

  1. Reports and Comments
  2. City Manager Comments
  3.  Engineering Comments
  4.   Commissioners Comments
  5. City Attorney Comments

 

 

XII.      Executive Session

 

XIII.     Adjourn

Fort Scott, Schools

USD 234 Meeting Minutes from July 29

Leave a comment

Unified School District 234

424 South Main

Fort Scott, KS 66701-2697

www.usd234.org

620-223-0800   Fax 620-223-2760

 

DESTRY BROWN    

   Superintendent                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              


BOARD OF EDUCATION REGULAR MEETING

NEWS RELEASE

Monday, July 29, 2024

 

Members of the USD 234 Board of Education met at 7:30 a.m. on Monday, July 29, 2024, for a special meeting at the board office.

 

President David Stewart opened the meeting.

 

The Board approved Resolution #24-06 for Supplemental General Budget Percentage.  It will be published in the Fort Scott Tribune Wednesday, July 31, 2024.

 

PERSONNEL REPORT – APPROVED

July 8, 2024

 

RESIGNATIONS/TERMINATIONS/RETIREMENTS:

 

Graham, Jenna – Resignation – Paraprofessional – Middle School

Lewis, Bert – Resignation – Social Science Teacher – High School

Palmer, William – Resignation – Preschool Van Driver

Pryor, Kyra – Resignation – Paraprofessional – Eugene Ware

 

LEAVE OF ABSENCE:

 

Bowles, Kendall – 8/30/24-10/11/24

 

TRANSFER:

 

Feeback, Brennen – Special Education Teacher to Social Science Teacher – High School

Herring, Jennifer – Maintenance II to Cook – High School

Rackley, Karen – Ticket Clerk (Winfield Scott) to Ticket Clerk (Middle School)

Sharp, Frances – Food Service (Middle School) to Ticket Clerk (Winfield Scott)

 

EMPLOYMENT:

Certified Recommendations for the 2024-25 school year:

 

Regan, Nikki – Special Education Teacher – High School

Torres, Cynthia – ELA Teacher – High School

 

Classified Recommendations for the 2024-25 school year:

 

Bowers, Chelsie – Paraprofessional – Winfield Scott

 

Supplemental Recommendations for the 2024-25 school year:

 

Barrows, Nick – Assistant Football Coach – High School

Robertson, Tom – Assistant Girls Golf Coach – High School

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Business, Fort Scott

Local Author Tanya Glessner Has Written a New Daily Devotional Book

1 Comment
Tanya Glessner. Submitted photo.

Local Fort Scott Author Tanya Glessner has written a daily devotional to help stay connected to God.

Here is a press release from her:

Are you ready for some exciting news?!

My newest book-New Mercies Every Morning: Devotions for Every Day of the Year, is now available!

Here’s the purchase link:

Book Overview:

The Lord blesses us with new mercies each morning as we wake up and spend time in His presence. By seeking His strength and guidance, we can overcome any challenges that come our way. Starting the day with a positive mindset is pivotal in preparing us for whatever lies ahead. This daily devotional provides a scripture verse and reflection to help you stay connected to God throughout the day. Remember, you are never alone – God is always by your side, eager to connect with you. Embrace this opportunity to draw closer to Him and experience His love and grace. New Mercies Every Morning is a valuable tool to help you appreciate the goodness of God.

Key Features:

  • Daily Bible verse for each day of the year
  • Daily devotion for each day of the year corresponding to the daily Bible verse
  • Perfect gift for every occasion

Having a daily devotional is a wonderful companion to your Bible. It offers hope and encouragement, paired with the word of God to get you started off in the right direction every morning.

This book was such a blessing to write, and I know it will bless you also!

Fort Scott, Government, Schools

Agenda for the USD 234 Board of Education on July 29

Leave a comment

 

Unified School District 234

424 South Main

Fort Scott, KS 66701-2697

www.usd234.org

620-223-0800   Fax 620-223-2760

 

DESTRY BROWN                                                                                                                                                        

Superintendent                                                                                                                                             

 

 

 

 

BOARD OF EDUCATION REGULAR MEETING

July 29, 2024 – 7:30 A.M.

AGENDA SUMMARY WITH COMMENTARY

1.0       Call Meeting to Order                                  David Stewart, President

2.0       Flag Salute

3.0       Resolution #24-06 for Supplemental General Budget Percentage

 

4.0       Enter Executive Session – Personnel Matters (Action Item)

4.1       Exit Executive Session – _______ (Time)

4.2       Approval of Personnel Report (Action Item)        

 

5.0       Adjourn Meeting _____ (Time)            David Stewart, President

Bourbon County, Entertainment, Fort Scott, Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce

What’s Happening in Fort Scott

Leave a comment

What’s Happening in Fort Scott! July 25th Weekly Newsletter

Trolley Tours every Friday and Saturday on the hour.

Fridays 11am-3pm, on the hour, last tour leaves at 2pm

Saturdays 10am-3pm, on the hour, the last tour leaves at 2pm

$6 adults, $4 children 12 & under

UPCOMING CALENDAR OF EVENTS

________________

Fort Scott National Historic Site

Daily Guided Tours: 10am & 1pm

Currently closed Wednesdays & Thursdays

until further notice.

Visit your National Park!

Click here to see all the FUN classes at The Artificers, classes for ALL ages!

BINGO hosted by the American Legion Post 25 every 1st and 3rd Thursday of each month unless it falls on a holiday. Doors open at 6pm and Bingo starts at 7pm at Memorial Hall.

Farmer’s Market at the Gathering Square Pavilion every Tuesday from 4-6pm and Saturdays from 8am-12pm over 15 returning vendors and 11 new ones!

7/25-27 ~ Summer Garage Sale & Open House at Presbyterian Village, garage sale hours: 25th 4-7pm/26th 8am-7pm/27th 8am-12pm, open house hours: 26th-27th 10am-3pm, see flyer below for more information.

7/26 ~ Aging Forward hosted by First United Methodist Church located at 301 S. National, Fellowship Hall from 1pm-4pm, click here for more information.

7/26 ~ Flower Class by Sunshine Boutique at Common Ground Coffee Co., 6-8pm, click here for more information.

7/27 ~ Second Annual End of Summer Craft Creations at the River Room, food/drinks/crafts, 10am-4pm

7/27 ~ Paint & Pizza – Paint Party Horse at Papa Don’s Pizza, $5 to reserve your spot with $20 due at party, food and drinks available for purchase, click here for more information.

7/27 ~ Care to Share Golf tournament at Woodland Hills Golf Course, silent/live auction items, music, food, good company, see flyer below for more information! Community encouraged to come out and enjoy the fun, live music 6-9pm on the tennis courts!

7/27 ~ Jim Meech Agri-Med Crisis Foundation Inc. presents the Inaugural Agri-Med Crisis Fundraiser Event at Sharky’s Pub and Grub, silent/live auction items with live music featuring Trevor Holman and the Haymakers, pre-sales for smoked pulled pork meals $15/meal, see flyer below for more information and to order!

7/30 ~ Bourbon County Republican Candidate Forum, 6pm, Empress Event Center.

8/1 ~ Chamber Coffee hosted by Chamber Member Jim Harris at Empress Event Center, 8am

8/1, 2, 3 ~ Bourbon County Community Theatre performs Holy Mother of Bingo!, Ellis Fine Arts Center on the campus of FSCC, tickets are $12 for adults/$10 for children and Senior Citizens, click here for more information and to order tickets.

8/3 ~ Ride for Lils at Fort Scott Munitions, food trucks and other great things happening, 9:30am, click here for more information.

8/3 ~ 2nd Annual Bourbon County REDI Gala, dinner/live entertainment/online auction/live auction, all proceeds will be dedicated to providing scholarships for local students, single ticket/$50 and table of 8/$375, click here to purchase tickets and for more information.

8/2-4 ~ No Sales Tax Holiday Weekend – Shop Local in Fort Scott, receive a 9.4% discount on all purchases at participating locations TBA, shop local promotion organized by Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce.

8/8 ~ Chamber Coffee hosted by FSCC – John Deere, 8am.

8/9 ~ Burlington Recreation Travel Group Daytrip to Fort Scott, over 14 guests. Welcome!

SAVE THE DATE!

8/16-18 ~ Sunflower Ride at Kansas Rocks Recreation Park, raffle items/BBQ lunch/vendors, click here to pre-register and for more info.

8/17 ~ Pen and Ink Class with Philip Ortiz at The Artificers, 10am-12 or 1-3pm, click here to register or for more information.

8/20 ~ Fort Scott Community College Business Expo in Bailey Hall, 8am-11am, contact Tanya Potthoff if your business/organization would like to participate, see the flyer below for more info.

8/31-9/1 ~ Alumni & Friends Weekend at Fort Scott Community College, alumni social/hall of fame induction dinner/activity and athletic team/so much more, click here for more info.

8/30-9/2 ~ Uniontown Old Settler’s Picnic, car show/horseshow pitching/parade/vendors/food trucks, street dance begins at 7pm, click here for more information.

_________________

SHOPPING ~ SUPPORT LOCAL!

Boutiques-Antiques-Flea Markets & more!

Click here for Chamber member

specialty shopping & other retail in

Downtown & other areas of the community.
Fort Scott Area
Chamber of Commerce
620-223-3566
In This Issue

Calendar of Events

Special Event Features

THANK YOU Chamber Champion members!!
Chamber Highlights
Click here for our
Membership Directory.
We THANK our members for their support! Interested in joining the Chamber?
Click here for info.
Thinking of doing business in or relocating to Fort Scott?
Contact us for a relocation packet, information on grants & incentives, and more!
Seeking a job/career?
We post a Job of the Day daily on our Facebook page, distribute a monthly job openings flyer, and post jobs on our website.
Many opportunities available!
Housing needs?
Click here for a listing of our Chamber member realtors.
Click here for our rental listing.

Summer Garage Sale and Open House at Presbyterian Village!

Care to Share Golf Tournament ~ Come out and enjoy food, music, silent/live auction items!

Second Annual End of Summer Craft Creations at the River Room!

Inaugural Agri-Med Crisis Fundraiser Event at Sharky’s Pub and Grub!

No Sales Tax Holiday Weekend – Shop Local, Shop Fort Scott!

Upcoming Movie Schedule @ Fort Cinema
THANK YOU TO OUR CHAMBER CHAMPION MEMBERS!
Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce
231 E. Wall Street
Fort Scott, KS 66701
Facebook Share This Email
Twitter Share This Email
LinkedIn Share This Email
Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce | 231 E. Wall Street | Fort Scott, KS 66701 US
 
Bourbon County, Entertainment, Food, Fort Scott

REDI Gala Is August 3

Leave a comment

Sending on behalf of Chamber Member

Bourbon County REDI…..

You are cordially invited to the

2nd Annual Bourbon County REDI Gala

featuring Right on Red, a variety band from Kansas City

Saturday, August 3rd, 2024

Liberty Theatre

113 S. Main St.

Fort Scott, Kansas 66701

6:30pm

Cash Bar, Dinner, & Live Auction

$50 single ticket

$375 reserved table of 8

Suggested cocktail attire, theme is an “End of Summer Soiree”, suggested colors: purple, blue, and other floral shades.

Attention All Swifties!

Enter for a chance to win a Taylor Swift Hand-Signed Acoustic Guitar!

Tickets are $20/each or $100/for 6.

(Winner does NOT have to be present to win)

All proceeds go to the Bourbon County REDI Scholarship Fund!

Click here to purchase tickets or call 620.215.3546
Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce | 231 E. Wall Street | Fort Scott, KS 66701 US
 
Business, Entertainment, Food, Fort Scott

Ongoing Revitalization of 110 S. Main Has Target of Fall Completion

Leave a comment
Kathy and Tracy Dancer own the former Scottish Rite Temple, 110 S. Main. Submitted photo.
The former Scottish Rite Temple, 110 S. Main, is in a constant stage of revitalization.
Kathy and Tracy Dancer, who purchased the building at a public auction, plan an “ongoing effort to revitalize the building and increase the useable commercial space.  We also want to improve the energy efficiency of the building.”
Terry and Kathy Dancer. Stock photo.
The work will be a combination of restoration and renovation.
“The first project is new signage for the front of the building,” she said.  “We will be removing the blue plastic lettering designating the building as the Scottish Rite Temple and replacing it with a new sign for the cafe and retail store.  We are also installing a new ceiling and lighting in the south half of the building.”
The ceiling is being replaced in the south half of the building. . Submitted photo.
“Because the building is part of the historic district, we are working with the Fort Scott Design Review Board,” she said.  “Any changes to the exterior of a building in the historic district including painting, windows, and signage must go through the Design Review Board.  They have been very helpful during this process and a great source of feedback for our plans.”
Completed mural in the south side of the building by local artist Rudy.Castillo. Submitted photo.
New windows, heating, and air conditioning are coming.
“Next, we will be installing glass windows in archways to restore the storefront appearance,” she said.  “The new windows mean you will be able to see into the cafe and retail store if you are walking or driving down Main Street.”
” We are also adding several new HVAC…  Once HVAC is installed, we will be moving and expanding our retail store into the south portion of the building.  Moving the retail store to the south side of the building will more than double the amount of space we have for the Mercantile and Market store.  The additional space will allow us to add new vendors and craftspeople to the retail store.”
“New HVAC will also be installed for the Speak Easy space we created on the second floor,” she said.  “This will allow us to operate the Speak Easy year round.”
Speakeasy was a term used during Prohibition for drinking establishments and illegal bars,  Dancer said in a prior interview. “They were usually hidden away in a building and sometimes you needed a password to be allowed to enter. Fort Scott had several speakeasies including The Green Lantern, operated by J.D. McClintock.”
On the horizon
“The Speak Easy will reopen in the Fall after we have installed new HVAC.  We plan on being open  two evenings a week for cocktails and light food.  We had an excellent response to our soft opening in the Spring so we are really excited to reopen on a regular basis.  While we wait for reopen, we have been working on the cocktail menu and working with suppliers to provide additional Kansas made wines, beers, and spirits.”
“We will also be hosting another Murder Mystery Dinner in October.  The dinner we hosted this past spring sold out quickly and was very well received.  Tickets for the October show will be available in mid-August.”
 
They are in the process of applying for grants focused on energy efficiency to defray the cost of adding HVAC and energy efficient windows and lighting.
“We might need to adjust the scope of some of the work based on the grant amounts, but we still plan on completing these projects,” she said.
” The new ceiling and lighting for the south half of the building has already started,” she said. “New sign letters for the front of the building have been ordered and should be ready for installation in August.  The HVAC and storefront will take a bit longer since we will be ordering equipment and materials for these projects.”
“We hope to have the work completed by late Fall this year,” Dancer said.
“Our other BIG project is the distillery.  We are in the final stages of the Federal licensing process to open the distillery and then we will file for state licensing.  We do not have a projected opening date yet but we hope to be in production by the end of this year.”
Artist rendition of the new sign at 110 S. Main. Submitted photo.
Business, Food, Fort Scott

End of Summer Craft Event on Saturday July 27

Leave a comment

Fort Scott River Room, 3 W. Oak St., is the site of a Second Annual End of Summer  Craft Creations event on July 27 from 10 a.m .to 4 p.m.

 

Food, Drinks, Crafts are offered for sale.

 

“We will have tees, hats, purses, wallets, trendy bags, bookmarks, keychains, pens, keychains, lanyards, scarfs, crochet baby booties, scrubbies, ponchos, wooden crafts,” said Cathy Bishop, event coordinator.

“Brick Street will have food and drinks available upstairs and off of their menu.”

“The bake sale is a fundraiser for the High School Volleyball Team selling all sorts of goodies.”

Vendors are still being accepted.

 

Cathy Bishop is the events coordinator at the River Room Event Center. Submitted photo.

For more info

Email:  [email protected]

620.224.8289

Fort Scott, Schools

USD 234 New Teachers: Howell, Motley, Weddle

Leave a comment

This is part of a series of new teachers in USD 234 School District, Fort Scott. There are 22 new teachers and two new administrators in the district.

School starts for students on August 16.

There are five campuses in the district:

  • Fort Scott Preschool Center (serving pre-kindergarten students ages 3+)
  • Winfield Scott Elementary School (serving kindergarten through through second-grade students)
  • Eugene Ware Elementary School (serving third through fifth-grade students)
  • Fort Scott Middle School (serving sixth through eighth-grade students)
  • Fort Scott High School (serving ninth through twelfth-grade students)

The district has nearly two thousand students enrolled within the district and over 350+ staff members, according to its website.

Carolien Howell. Submitted photo.

Carolien Howell, 49, is a new second-grade teacher at Winfield Scott Elementary School.

She has a varied teaching experience.

  • First-grade teacher for 3 years at Grace Christian Academy in Saipan, Mariana Islands
  • PE/Art teacher for grades 1-5 for one year at Grace Christian Academy in Saipan, Mariana Islands
  • Third-grade teacher for 4 years at Grace Classical Academy, Springfield, MO
  • Fourth-grade teacher for 1 year at Polk County Christian School, Bolivar, MO
  • Substitute teacher in Wyoming elementary schools for 2 years.
  • Substitute teacher at Meadowlark and George Nettels Elementary Schools for 3 years.

She is involved in her church, Family Life Assembly of God in Pittsburg as a pre-kindergarten teacher,  works with youth Sunday School, life group leader and host, and on the refreshments team.

Her husband, Bill Howell,  works as the director of Family and Children’s Services at Crawford County Mental Health and they have been married for 27 years.

They have two sons. Liam, 14 years old, attending Pittsburg High School as a freshman, and Karsten,12, a 7th grader at Pittsburg Community Middle School.

“The rest of my family lives in the Netherlands, which is where I am from,” she said.

“I think that the best part of being an educator is seeing the growth in the students,” she said.

There are many challenges to being an educator, she said.

“One of the biggest challenges is managing and helping all the students when there are so many needs within the classroom.”

Aubri Motley. Submitted photo.

Aubri Motley, 28, will be a new special education teacher at Winfield Scott Elementary School.

” I graduated from Ottawa University with a bachelor of arts in elementary education and three years of experience as a para-educator in a school setting.”

She and her husband Levi have three children together and live on a small ranch with three dogs and a cat.

“From my experience as a para I think the best thing about being an educator is when you see the “aha moment” from a student because whatever they are learning is starting to click,” she said. “I am sure I will come across many challenges as a first-year educator but I am ready to tackle all of the challenges head-on.”

 

Codee Weddle and family. Submitted photo.
Codee Weddle, 25, is a new fourth-grade teacher at Eugene Ware Elementary School.
At Fort Scott Community College she earned an Associate in Science, from  Ottawa University and a Bachelor’s in Arts in Education.
She was a paraprofessional for five years at Winfield Scott Elementary School.
She is a member of Fort Scott Nazarene Church, and she and her husband, Dalton, have two sons Porter (3)  and Kallum (9 months).
“I love interacting with the kids and watching them feel excited about learning!” she said.
“A challenge I have had in the past is not being able to help more outside of school. Knowing what they go through and then expecting them to come to school as if everything is okay is heartbreaking.”

 

Fort Scott

Gathering Square Pavilion Will Be Painted July 24-26

Leave a comment

ATTENTION: Sprouls Construction will be at the Gathering Square Pavilion starting tomorrow afternoon to paint the steel beams. They will be blocking off the parking lot under the pavilion on Wednesday afternoon, Thursday, and Friday. If you are going to enjoy the Splash Pad on these days please use the parking to the north and south of the Splash Pad.

 

It will be available for the Farmer’s Market on Saturday morning.

 

Thank you for your patience.

 

Brad Matkin

City Manager

City of Fort Scott

Fort Scott, Kansas 66701

620-223-0550 ext. 210

 

Entertainment, Food, Fort Scott, Sports

Care to Share Golf Tournament: Golf, Auction, Raffle, Live Music on July 27

Leave a comment

Sending on behalf of Chamber Member

Care to Share “The Sharing Bucket”…

Join Care to Share for a fun filled day while supporting your favorite golfer and Care to Share THIS Saturday, July 27th starting at 7am!

*A Community Smashburger lunch & Brickstreet BBQ Dinner, both requesting a freewill donation!

*Silent and Live Auction Items

*50/50 Raffle

*Live music featuring Vic Vaughan & Souled Out, 6-9pm.

If you like to golf, eat, drink, dance or just want to support Care to Share–this event is FOR YOU!

First round of the tournament starts at 7am, with the second round starting at 1pm!

If you can’t make it and want to donate–click here!
Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce | 231 E. Wall Street | Fort Scott, KS 66701 US