Old Fort Auto dealership employees: from left Matt Bowersock, Rich Aydelotte, Matt Harvey. Not pictured is Becky Heidrick.
A new vehicle dealership has opened at 213 Scott Avenue, next to Mayco Ace Hardware.
The official first day of Old Fort Auto was March 2.
The business has been a thought in Rich Aydelotte’s mind for many years.
“This is something I’ve wanted to do for a lot of years,” he said. Aydelotte and Matt Harvey are the business partners in the new venture. “I thought this was the time to do it. I have no reservations or doubts about it.”
Both will be selling the vehicles.
Matt Bowersock will be the business manager and also sell vehicles as well.
Becky Headrick will be the comptroller, title clerk, and receptionist.
“We are going to specialize in trucks, heavy trucks and sports utilities and cars, too,” Aydelotte said. “We will sell only late models.”
“Three-quarter ton trucks, heavy and light duty,” he said. “We are trying to purchase what people in Fort Scott drive.”
“Financing, we have lots of different sources, outside lending with national lenders, credit unions and local institutions,” Aydelotte said.
“They are going to be good deals, priced right,” Matt Bowersock said. “We’ll take trade-ins.”
“We chose the location because it was downtown,” Aydelotte said. “We are leasing the building from Skitch Allen.”
Hours are 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday, Saturday 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Contact the business at 620-644-5015 or Aydelotte at his cell phone, 620-215-0986.
Old Fort Auto first’s load of vehicles on Feb. 28.
Gordon Parks Museum at Fort Scott Community College in Fort Scott, KS, will host “Children of the Promised Land,” a presentation and discussion by Angela Bates on Tuesday, March 17 at 12:00 P.M. at The Ellis Family Fine Arts Center, Fort Scott Community College, 2108 S. Horton St. Fort Scott, KS.
Members of the community are invited to attend the free program. Contact Kirk Sharp at 620 -223-2700 ext. 5850 for more information.
The program is made possible by Humanities Kansas.
“This is a Lunch and Learn event so everyone is welcome to bring their lunch and drinks. Dessert will be available,” said Museum Director, Kirk Sharp.
Nicodemus, a small, unincorporated town in Graham County, is the only remaining western town established by African Americans during the Reconstruction Period following the Civil War.
Today the town is a National Historic Site. This pictorial history explores the unique experience of mothers and their children in Nicodemus, some of whom were the first members of their families born free.
Angela Bates is the executive director of the Nicodemus Historical Society. She presents educational programs across the nation covering Nicodemus, Exodusters and black towns in the West, Buffalo Soldiers, and black women in the West.
“My great uncle, Henry Williams, was the first baby born in Nicodemus just a month after my great-grandmother Emma arrived with the first group of settlers in 1877,” said Bates. “He was one of the first in his generation born on the free soils of Kansas. He represents the many children of his generation that were reared by parents who were former slaves.”
“Children of the Promised Land” is part of Humanities Kansas’s Movement of Ideas Speakers Bureau, featuring presentations and workshops designed to share stories that inspire, spark conversations that inform, and generate insights that strengthen civic engagement.
For more information about “Children of the Promised Land” contact the Gordon Parks Museum at 620 -223-2700 ext. 5850 or visit http://www.gordonparkscenter.org/
About Humanities Kansas
Humanities Kansas is an independent nonprofit spearheading a movement of ideas to empower the people of Kansas to strengthen their communities and our democracy. Since 1972, our pioneering programming, grants, and partnerships have documented and shared stories to spark conversations and generate insights. Together with our partners and supporters, we inspire all Kansans to draw on history, literature, ethics, and culture to enrich their lives and serve the communities and state we all proudly call home. Visit humanitieskansas.org.
The City of Fort Scott Water Distribution Department will be renewing a water main from 5th & Andrick to 6th & Andrick. A new water main and valves will be installed to replace the existing aging and shallow one.
Work will begin on Tuesday, March 3rd, 2020 with the excavation of the water main at 6th & Andrick. Customers on Andrick and the surrounding area may experience water outages for short durations during the construction time. Precautions by the Water Distribution Department will be followed when the water is restored. However, customers may experience discolored water and some air. This should clear up by running the water for a short time from an outside faucet.
Access to your area and home will be available. At the beginning of the project, the intersection of 6th & Andrick will be closed and 5th and Andrick will be open. As the project moves north on Andrick, and it becomes necessary to close the intersection of 5th and Andrick, 6th and Andrick will be reopened for traffic.
If you have any questions or concerns, please contact City Hall at 223-0550 and ask or the Water Distribution Department.
The monthly meeting for the Ft. Scott Aglow Lighthouse will meet Monday, March 2, 2020 at 6:30 p.m. at the Rodeway Inn Conference Room, 101 State Street, Ft. Scott, KS.
The guest speaker is Bob Reazin from LeRoy, KS.
Bob is retired but has been involved in Eight Days of Hope Ministry over the last 10 years. He will be providing information about Human Trafficking Awareness.
Aglow Lighthouse desires to provide a place to bring unity among like-minded believers in our community.
This is a place to grow in relationship with God and others.
Men, women, and youth coming together to discover who Christ made you to be and who God wants to be for you.
The group also engages in meeting community needs such as protecting the unborn and orphans.
Currently, they are in the preparation stages of getting food, clothing, and shelter ready.
Donations are welcome.
“Please be our guest and bring a friend,” Fort Scott Aglow President Amanda Gilmore said.
Common Ground Coffee Shop will be moved to this location at 12 E. Wall later this week..
Common Ground Coffee shop’s last day of operation at its current, 116 S. Main location will be Friday, March 6.
A new chapter for this local meeting place will then begin.
“We will be closed Saturday, March 7 through 10,” Jennifer LaRoche, a member of the Common Ground board, said. “We have a tentative date of March 11th to be back in business.”
” We are going to close out the five-year journey with some live music from 7-8 pm by Rick Hite and friends,” she said.
Common Grounds Coffee Company, 116 S. Main.
The coffee shop will be back in business about two blocks away at 12 E. Wall.
There will be no sign on the building at 12 E. Wall, LaRoche said. Pictured is the protective fence that keeps people from getting too near the westernmost LaRoche building which is still being renovated.
The new space has more space, an enlarged commercial kitchen, a conference room and meeting space with a stage.
In addition, there will be a drive-up window that will be opened once the staff is “settled in”, LaRoche said.
The stage space will also need a little more work when the business is first moved in.
“It will be heated with portable heaters,” she said.
Signage will be temporary on the door to the new building, until warmer weather when it can be placed on glass, she said.
Common Ground Coffee Shop is a ministry of Fort Scott Church of the Nazarene.
Electrician Kirk Bryant, Jennifer LaRoche and Kasey Gross work on Feb. 25 towards the goal of opening the new Common Ground Coffee Shop in mid-March. LaRoche is the owner of the building that is being renovated at 12 E. Wall. Gross is the coffee shop coordinator, LaRoche said.
Men from the Catholic Church serve fish, potatoes, spaghetti, green beans, coleslaw, and grilled cheese sandwiches. Women of the church provide desserts.
The Knights of Columbus Fish Fry begins Feb. 28 at the Mary Queen of Angels Kennedy Gym at 705 S. Holbrook.
The meal is served from 5-7 p.m. each Friday until April 3 this year and if past years are any indication there will be a line to get the meal.
The annual community event includes southern fried fish, baked white fish, meatless spaghetti, or grilled cheese sandwiches with sides of french-fried potatoes, a baked potato, green beans, or coleslaw along with desserts provided by the women of St. Mary’s Catholic Church and drinks.
A free-will donation allows the Knights to contribute to local charities and the local Catholic school, said Deborah Skeen, church secretary.
“A lot of people in the community have said it’s good food for the money,” Skeen said.
*Make your award nominations by March 6th. Click here for online nomination form. Click here for printable form. A full Chamber member listing & past award winner listing is included on the online nomination form link for your reference.
* Make your dinner reservation and/or confirm sponsorship
by March 20th, see pricing options & contact info. below ~
You will need to specify choice of soup or salad, and
prime rib or chicken, when making your reservation.
* Click to email us if your business/organization would like to decorate a table for fun advertising & promotion.
* Click to email us if your business/organization would like to donate a silent or live auction item for advertising & promotion.
THANK YOU IN ADVANCE FOR YOUR SUPPORT!
We are looking forward to a fun evening of
celebrating our community!
The Chamber is supported solely by membership investment and fundraising efforts. Proceeds from this event contribute to the work of the Chamber to benefit Fort Scott, Bourbon County, and the surrounding area. Your participation in any way is sincerely appreciated!
Community members enjoy visiting at the Fort Scot Kiwanis Pancake Feed at Buck Run Community Center on Tuesday.
Members of the community came to Buck Run Community Center for the annual Fort Scott Kiwanis Club Pancake Feed, starting at 11 a.m. today.
For a $5 donation, attendees are served pancakes, sausage and a drink.
The event is open until 7 p.m. this evening, Feb. 25.
The Kiwanis Club provides support for many local charities and awards scholarships to local students.
Below are photos from the lunch session of the pancake feed:
Buck Run is located at 735 Scott Avenue.
Some of the projects of the Fort Scott Kiwanis Club were showcased on a poster of the gym at Buck Run Community Center.Glenn Newcomer, left, and Dale Johnson, sell the tickets to the pancake feed on Feb. 25.A banner at the pancake feed in Buck Run Community Center.Addisyn Fowler, Fort Scott High School Key Club member, left, along with Fort Scott Kiwanis Club members Bob Eckles and Clyde Stepps serve pancakes on Feb. 25.Sponsors of the pancake feed are featured on a poster during the meal.On the stage in the gym are Ralph Carlson and Wib Mowen on guitars and Carolyn Tucker, keyboard, who entertain the attendees during lunch session at the pancake feed. Helping with the sound system is Dave Oas.
Rita Schroeder and J.T. Heckman make a presentation to the Healthy Bourbon County Action Team of Feb. 6 of the proposed downtown walking trail. Submitted photo.
A local leadership class has taken on a project of creating a walking trail downtown with funding from Healthy Bourbon County Action Team.
Bourbon County Lead Class 2020 heard of the funding opportunity from Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Lindsay Madison.
“Lindsay brought the opportunity up to the class of extra funds from Healthy Bourbon County Action Team that we could use for our class project and we came up with a healthy walk downtown with educational fun facts about downtown Fort Scott,” Rita Schoeder, LEAD Class member said. ” What it was and what it is now!”
Rita Schroeder and J.T. Heckman present to the Healthy Bourbon County Action Team on Feb. 6. Submitted photo.
“Our presentation proposed to Healthy Bourbon County Board for approval was held at the Empress Event Center, Thursday, February 6th,” Schoeder said. “I and one other class member, J.T. (Heckman), presented to the board for approval of the design of the signs.”
Also included in the presentation was an example of a fun facts sign with QR code for younger audiences to use cell phones while approaching the sign, then scanning on the phone. It will then show images, reading material and recorded audio of the fun fact, Schroeder said.
“Some signs will show how many feet you have walked as well.,” she said. “At the Feb. 6 meeting, the budget and project were approved.”
The definitive location of the downtown trail is not final but the starting place will be at the Fort Scott Chamber, 231 E.Wall Street, Schroeder said.
There the walkers will receive a brochure of the walking trail, and the statistics of how many feet the walking trail is from start to finish.
The brochure will show the fun fact markers and highlights of the downtown walking trail.
What is the benefit of having a walking trail downtown?
According to Schroeder:
It’s a walk of downtown historic Fort Scott for people who work and live downtown, residents, and visitors of all ages.
The walk promotes retailers, restaurants, and points of interest.
Walkers will learn fun facts about Fort Scott’s history.
The hope is to challenge the next generation of opportunities to continue Fort Scott’s growth.
Small town hospitality will welcome visitors and share what Fort Scott represents and has to offer.
By mid-March/April, the project will be presented to the Fort Scott Design and Review Board and if approved will then go to the Fort Scott City Commission for final approval.
The completion date for the project is in June, Schroeder said.
“Before Good Ol’ Days, fingers crossed,” Schroeder said.
Members of the LEAD Bourbon County 2020 group have been divided into subgroups with the following tasks:
Naming the trail and gathering historical facts
based on the number of mile marker signs along the trail:
Matthew Chaplin, Devin Tally, Tony Tirri, JT Heckman.
Marketing and design of brochures, flyers, and printed maps to be picked up at the Chamber and/or trailhead, designing a welcome sign and mile marker signs, and getting quotes on pricing and installation:
Rita Schroeder, Ashley Keylon, Katie Allison.
Mapping the route, identifying sign placement and number of mile marker signs needed:
Traci Reed, Amy Budy, Kyla Probasco
