Call to reserve your spot on the Briggs Movie Lot at 620.644.9927
Category Archives: Fort Scott
Sidewalk Sale This Saturday, May 30, As Merchants Reopen
The weather looks good for Saturday, a perfect day to get out and shop Fort Scott.
This Saturday, May 30, eleven retail stores have signed up to be a part of the Merchant Madness Sidewalk Sale, hosted by the Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce.
The event will be from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and participating stores will be marked with purple balloons, according to Rita Schroeder, the Chamber’s administrative assistant.
Those who have signed up: include Bids & Dibs, Books & Grannies (inside), Heidrick’s True Value/Nancy’s Gift Corner, Fort Scott Gun & Pawn, Hedgehog.INK (inside), J & W Sports Shop, Main St. Gallery & Gifts, Mayco Ace Hardware, Ruddick’s Furniture, Sunshine Boutique, Iron Star (inside) and Treasure Hunt Flea Market.
In light of the COVID 19 Pandemic, most businesses will have hand sanitizer available before touching items in the sale.
However, bringing one’s own sanitizer is a good option while shopping.
Hedgehog.INK is asking all who enter their store to wear masks as well.
Social distancing is in force in the county for all public events.
For more information: 620-223-3566 or
Lindsay Madison, President & CEO, [email protected]
or Rita Schroeder, Administrative Assistant, [email protected]
Fund Raiser For City Fireworks Display on June 13
State Farm Ins. Hosts a Beacon Food Drive
Milken Center Reopens June 4
Lowell Milken Center for Unsung Heroes Scheduled to Re-Open June 4th.
The Lowell Milken Center for Unsung Heroes plans to re-open for tours on Thursday, June 4th. We will be following the State of Kansas guidelines for our re-opening. Until then we can be reached at 620-223-1312, [email protected], as well as through social media.
Our work continues and we invite you to follow us on social media for daily inspirational stories of Unsung Heroes.
We also invite you to take our virtual tour, read about Unsung Hero projects, learn how to enter our Discovery Award and ArtEffect Project competitions, and utilize our lesson plans and Unsung Hero curriculum.
Our work as a non-profit organization depends on donors like you. Your donations are important to us as we remain committed to providing educational resources which empower students to create positive change in their communities. Thank you for your support.
We look forward to re-opening and seeing you at the Lowell Milken Center for Unsung Heroes soon!
About the Lowell Milken Center for Unsung Heroes:
The Lowell Milken Center for Unsung Heroes works with students and educators across diverse academic disciplines to develop history projects that highlight role models who demonstrate courage, compassion and respect. Through our unique project-based learning approach, students discover, develop and communicate the stories of Unsung Heroes who have made a profound and positive impact on the course of history. By championing these Unsung Heroes, students, educators and communities discover their own power and responsibility to effect positive change in the world. Visit www.lowellmilkencenter.org to learn more.
Fort Scott Public Library Summer Activities
Summer Reading Curbside Pickup
See Miss Val from a safe distance and pick up your summer reading packets! Anyone who plans on participating in this year’s FSPL Youth Summer Reading Program (birth – 12th grade) should plan to stop by the library’s south parking lot between 3 – 4 pm May 26 & 27 or 10 – 11 am May 28 & 29 to pick up a packet for their age group. Stay in your car, pull up to the table, tell Miss Val which packets you need, and she will push them forward for you to retrieve from your car. You may choose between a packet with a paper registration form or one without, if you’d like to (or already have) register online. Families may also choose to use Reader Zone for online reading goal tracking (sponsored by the Kansas State Library) or may choose to track reading goals on paper and drop off in library drop box. In case of inclement weather, Miss Val will use the library’s curbside service procedures to hand out packets. Anyone who cannot come during the hours and dates listed above should schedule a date and time by calling 223-2882 and asking for Miss Val, or by emailing [email protected]. You may also pick up packets along with your books during regular curbside service hours, starting on May 26.
The Fort Scott Public Library is proud to announce having won the Dollar General Literacy Grant, which awards select libraries and other educational organizations across the country with grants to support literacy programs! As a result, the library has an extra $500 in funding for this year’s summer reading program. In addition to presenting both physical rewards and supplies, the library will offer two performances online and a wide variety of virtual programming. The library is also partnering with local restaurants and grocery stores to offer gift certificates as reading rewards, in hopes to support local businesses while feeding local families’ minds and bodies. Now more than ever, the community must work together to maintain and improve students’ academic achievement levels.
Summer reading programs will begin on June 2, with a Zoom Preschool Story hour starting at 10 am, moderated by Miss Val, with stories read by educator Jeff Pommier, and a Zoom Elementary Story hour starting at 11 am, with stories read by educator Angie Bin. At 2 pm, a pre-recorded video of the preschool stories will release on Facebook and YouTube, with a story video for elementary students releasing at 2:15 on the same platforms. Then at 3 pm, Scouts Leader Cyndi Goebel will demonstrate how to make the week’s craft in a pre-recorded video released on Facebook and YouTube. The week’s theme is: Princesses and Princes. All Zoom meetings will require a password which you can obtain by messaging the library or emailing Miss Val at [email protected].
Middle & high school students will meet weekly on Wednesdays at 4 pm, on Zoom for the summer reading teen program. Teens may also win prizes for reaching reading goals. Special, pre-recorded videos and challenges will also be released throughout the summer, specifically for teens. Stay tuned for more details.
To volunteer to read or demonstrate a craft on video, fill out a volunteer form here.
Storytime
May 26: 10 am Alphabet Storytime on Zoom
11 am Alphabet Storytime on Facebook Live
Join Miss Val online for virtual storytime! The library will use the Zoom platform for the 10 am storytime and Facebook Live for the 11 am event. This will be the final week of regular virtual storytimes. Beginning Tuesday, June 2, virtual storytimes will be replaced by weekly virtual summer reading stories and craft demonstrations!
To attend the Zoom meeting, click here. You will also need to message the library for the meeting password, unless you have attended recently. You may receive the password by one of two methods:
Message Fort Scott Public Library through Facebook or email Miss Val at [email protected] before the start (10 am Tuesday) of storytime, and they will send you the link. The same link will be used for all future Zoom story programs. Zoom can be accessed on any pc with a camera and headset, smartphone, or tablet with online access. The application will allow families to see and interact with one another, in addition to being a part of storytime. Zoom storytime is no longer recorded. You will have the option of turning your video and audio on and off anytime during the meeting.
This week’s books: Mrs. Peanuckle’s Vegetable Alphabet, Sign Language ABC by Lora Heller, & The Alphabet Parade ABC by Charles Ghigna
This week’s craft: Nature ABCs or Nature Names
Materials Needed: Nature ABCs or Nature Names
Materials Needed: Clippings or small plants, tree leaves, twigs, etc.; paper or paper plate or recycled cardboard to glue them on, glue, pencil or crayon.
This week’s snack: Build-a-Letter
Materials Needed: Pretzel sticks, carrot sticks, celery sticks, or other long, thin snack. Want to make alphabet pretzels homemade? See how here.
For activity suggestions and more see the library’s Storytime Pinterest board: https://www.pinterest.com/fortscottpublic/story-time/.
Reserve books on this week’s theme for curbside pickup here. You must have an active Fort Scott or SEKLS library card to check out books at curbside.
Reserve books on this week’s theme for curbside pickup here. You must have an active Fort Scott or SEKLS library card to check out books at curbside.
Read digital books related to the theme at Sunflower eLibrary or Hoopla (seknfind.org account required) or eBooks for Kids (for residents of Kansas only).
Teens & Tweens:
Miss Valetta will hand out curbside packets for summer reading on Wednesday afternoon, so there will be no meeting on May 27. Join her on June 3 at 4 pm for the first FSPL virtual teen summer reading meeting, ever!
State Farm to Host Beacon Food Drive
Now, more than ever, being a good neighbor means everything.
That’s why Kale Nelson State Farm will be hosting a Beacon Food Drive from May 25 to June 5.
In addition to collecting food, Kale Nelson State Farm will match food contributions up to $500 in a grocery donation to the Beacon.
The State Farm team encourages community members to drop off canned goods, dry goods and other non-perishable food items to the office between the hours of 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. The office is located at 1805 S. National, Fort Scott.
“We have always been community-minded and, State Farm supports those efforts,” said Kale Nelson, agent said.
“The Beacon serves so many people, and I hope we can play a part in providing the much-needed support for this important entity.”
In addition to the upcoming food drive, Nelson hopes to sponsor similar activities in the coming months.
Quick Basics:
- What: State Farm Beacon Food Drive
- When: May 25 to June 5
- Where: 1805 S. National
- How: Drop off canned goods, dry goods and other non-perishable items to State Farm
- Why: State Farm will match food contributions up to $500 for the Beacon
For more information, please contact Kale Nelson State Farm, 620-224-2828.
Christian Ministries Team Up to Distribute Food Tomorrow, May 23
Three Christian ministries are working together to bring food to those affected by the COVID 19 Pandemic.
Fort Scott Compassionate Ministries, Fort Scott Church of the Nazarene, and Convoy of Hope will be having a food distribution event, Saturday, May 23, from 10 AM to 2 PM at Fort Scott Nazarene, 1728 S Horton.
Convoy of Hope is providing the food, the church is providing the distribution place and some volunteers and Allen Schellack, director of Fort Scott Compassionate Ministries, is providing the coordination of the food distribution.
Food distributed (while supplies last) will include potatoes, bread, eggs, produce, and bottled juice and tea, according to Allen Schellack, director.
Schellack recently completed a Convoy of Hope Zoom training and on May 20 he was told that food to distribute would be available on May 23.,
Schellack with his son, Dustin, will be picking up the food from the Convoy of Hope hub site in Webb City, MO.
Volunteers are needed on May 23 to help direct traffic for the event, unpack the food, and hand out the food, Schellack said.
Volunteers can call Schellack to schedule a work time at 620-223-2212.
There are no income guidelines to receive the food, nor registration requirements.
“We hope to make this the first of many more events,” Schellack said.
“This is a community event and our vision is to have more churches involved to help serve the community,” he said.
Convoy of Hope is a faith-based organization with a driving passion to feed the world through children’s feeding initiatives, community outreaches, disaster response and partner resourcing, according to its’ Facebook page.
Schellack is a member of the Fort Scott Church of the Nazarene and members are supporting this outreach as volunteers and allowing the church to be the distribution point.
The mission of Fort Scott Compassionate Ministries is to
alleviate suffering caused by poverty, and issues relating to poverty, and promote family values through partnership with local and state agencies.
The FSCM Outreach Center is located on the second floor of The Bourbon County Senior Citizens Center, 26 N. Main and was founded in 2014, with Schellack at the director.
Reyna Valenzuela: New Fort Scott High School English Teacher
Reyna Valenzuela, 21, was hired as a Fort Scott High School English Teacher for 2020-21.
She graduated from Pittsburg High School in 2016 and from Pittsburg State University with a Bachelor’s Degree in English Education in May 2020 and will be starting a Master’s in English Literature in the fall.
“I worked at St. Mary’s Colgan as a YES Tutor for a year and a half, following that I worked for two years on campus as a writing center consultant,” she said. “I also did my internship through PSU at Northeast High School as well as completed my student teaching at Northeast.”
Valenzuela was born in Fort Hood, Texas and has lived in Arma, KS since she was three-years-old.
Her interests include reading, Greek Mythology, British Literature, watching YouTube, and Netflix, her cat, and hanging out with her family.
In addition, she loves softball, baseball, and football.
“So I look forward to cheering students on at their games in the future,” she said.
Becoming a teacher was a realization for Valenzuela.
” I wasn’t always sure what I wanted to do, I switched my dream career a lot when I was younger,” she said. “Eventually though, after watching my mom become a teacher and having an amazing AP Literature teacher during my senior year of high school, I realized that this was the field for me. I wanted to have the chance to make a difference in a student’s life as my mom, Tina Valenzuela, and my AP Literature teacher, Mrs. Johnson, did in mine. Because of this, I’ve worked hard through college to learn as much as I could so I could become a successful educator who makes a difference and helps her students in positive ways.”
“Seeing how much they both loved to teach and how they put everything they had into the classroom was incredibly inspiring and I don’t think I would have come this far without them,” she said.
The best part of teaching for her are the students, she said.
“Getting to know them, watching them grow, and succeed, they are the reason I want to teach so I guess it only makes sense they are the best part of teaching.”
Some of the challenges of teaching is continuing to learn and grow as a teacher “so that you are still providing students the most effective methods of learning is what I would consider one of the greatest challenges in teaching; because as humans we like routine, and so making sure that you’re constantly changing and evolving is something that can be a struggle, but it’s worth it, in the end, to watch students grow,” she said.
Fort Scott Lightning Strike Caught on Camera
On Friday, May 15, 2020, Kansas Gas Service responded to a gas odor call after a report of a lightning strike that damaged two structures in the 600 block of S. National, according to a press release from KGS.
Fort Scott Fire Department and Fort Scott Police Department had National Avenue blocked off between 6th Street and 7th Street that morning as a result of the gas leak, according to Aimee Moore, who lives in the block that was affected.
Moore had cameras on her house that caught the lightning strike. They are included at the end of this feature.
KGS technicians performed inspections and turned the gas off at two properties until the customers completed necessary repairs to the customer-owned equipment, Dawn Tripp, KGS Media Relations said on Monday afternoon.
“Kansas Gas came out and shut off the gas line before removing the meter,” Moore, said. Stoughton Inc. completed the repairs and ran the pressure test. Fort Scott Code Enforcement personnel gave the okay and Moore waited until KGS put the meter back and turned it on.
As a reminder, if you smell natural gas or have a natural gas emergency, leave the area immediately. Then call 911 and Kansas Gas Service at 888-482-4950.
Moore submitted the following information and links to the recent lightning strike in Fort Scott.
“Friday, May 15, 2020, at 9:37 a.m., lightning struck Dr. Steve Mitchell’s office at 624 South National Ave and caused a gas leak,” she said.
“The current traveled through our electrical lines and also caused arcing to blow out our gas line at 612 S National Ave.,” Moore said. “Pictures fell off of our wall and also at the florist next to us, Flowers by LeeAnn.”
Moore submitted the following links of the lightning strikes.
https://www.dropbox.com/s/rtq3gfiphmd0xh7/cam4_05-15-2020__09-37-00_09-38-59__Driveway%204.mp4?dl=0
FS Commission Special Meeting May 22
There will be a Special Meeting of the Fort Scott City Commission held at 8:00 a.m. on Friday, May 22nd, 2020 in the City Commission Meeting Room, at City Hall, 123 S. Main Street, Fort Scott, Kansas. This special meeting will be held to hold a public hearing to consider an application to be submitted to the Kansas Department of Commerce for Small Cities Community Development Block Grant funds under the CDBG-CV category. The specific project application to be discussed is for the Economic Development program within the City limits of Fort Scott. The maximum amount of the grant request will be for $300,000 for both micro and regular business assistance category.
The City Commission meeting will not be open to the public at this time due to the limited number of 15 allowed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This meeting will be made available by calling 620-724-9910, enter access code 515698#, and when prompted state your full name followed by the # tag.
Kansas Sons Of American Legion Is Recruiting
Fort Scott has a Sons Squadron and we are always accepting new members. Jeff Norris is our local Squadron Commander.
To join the Sons, one must be a male descendant of a Veteran. The Veteran could be a parent, grandparent or great grandparent. A grandson of a Legionnaire is also eligible to join the Sons.
Eligibility for the Sons can be confusing. I was able to join the Sons through my grandfather’s World War One service, not through my own Navy service. I signed up two of my grandsons as Sons members and Myra signed up one of hers based upon our military service.
The Sons, like the Auxiliary and the Legion, is about service to veterans and the community. Recruit a member today!
Department of Kansas Sons of the American Legion SALute newsletter is attached for your reading pleasure.
Carl Jowers. SAL Squadron 25 Adjutant.