We are working together with Feeding America, our sister food banks and state and local health authorities to understand and manage our response to the Covid-19 virus.
PLEASE BE ADVISED EFFECTIVE MARCH 16 UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE…
There is a new procedure for obtaining food box if one is eligible.
Please call the Beacon with name and when you would like to pick up your order. It will then be filled between normal business hours.
Orders will be picked up off the back deck of the agency.
To see the Beacon Director for any reason please feel free to call and visit with him at 620-223-6869.
Thank you for understanding we are just trying to protect our clients and staff. We feel social distancing is the best approach.
A Sunday drive through Gunn Park found Alison Leach digging in the entrance garden of Fort Scott’s largest park.
“I thought I would come out and work about an hour,” she said. “To get away from all the craziness (of the COVID 19 news). I am removing weeds, turning soil and seeing what we have to work with.”
She is part of the Citizens For Park Improvement group that has organized under the initiating of Seth Needham.
Some of the group met yesterday, but it was raining and cool, so Leach opted not to come.
Leach and her family, the Leach-Troutman family, have volunteered to enhance the entrance to the park, she said.
“Redbud Nurseries is donating $150 for this project,” Leach said.
Stockpiles of materials wait for the next Citizens For Park Improvement workday.New paint on the trim of shelter house no. 3.
Check out the Citizens for Park Improvements Facebook page.
Visiting loved ones and friends in Fort Scott nursing homes is not advised because of the COVID 19 pandemic.
“We are monitoring who comes and goes,” Kathy Nalley, administrator of Guest Home Estates, 737 Heylman, said. “That’s what the CDC is saying to caregiver facilities.”
As of this morning, the doors are locked at Guest Home Estates, she said.
Kenna Smith, owner-operator of Franklin House, 1126 Horton, said only health care providers will be allowed into their facility.
“It’s hard on everybody, but necessary,” Smith said. They have not been allowing visitors since yesterday, she said.
Country Place Senior Living, 820 S. Horton, also has visitor restrictions.
“Out of caution and care, we are limiting to direct staff care and health care providers,” Margaret Moyer, director of Country Place, said. “I’ve received notification from corporate office. It’s effective as of 10 a.m. today.”
Presbyterian Village, 2401 S. Horton, is discouraging visitors, but they are allowed, Becky Kellum, marketing director at the assisted living facility said.
On March 10, Lynnette Emmerson, administrator of Medicalodge, 915 S. Horton, wrote a letter to the families of their residents asking for families and friends to not visit the nursing home for the benefit of its’ residents., she said.
She is following the Center for Medicare Services recommendations that they are getting from the Center for Disease Control, she said.
They are actively screening individuals, including staff, who are necessary to come into the facility, Emmerson wrote in the letter.
FortScott.Biz was unable to speak with Hillside Guest House leaders on their possible visitation constraints.
Please be advised to contact them, should you have questions.
Girl Scout Ashley Goebel with 121 cases of cookies ready to load up. Submitted photos.
Girl Scout Troop 71650 with help from Troop Leader Cynthia Goebel are selling those famous cookies.
But because of the COVID-19 virus, the sale has changed.
“This will be our last cookie booth sale,” Goebel said. ” Due to the coronavirus, we received word that direct sales to the public will end after March 15th. But you can still get your favorite Girl Scout Cookie until March 28th .”
The troop will be outside Walmart from noon till 4 pm on Sunday, March 15.
“We have 17 girls ranging from kindergarten to high school,” Goebel said. “We meet at the First Presbyterian Church on Fridays at 6 pm.”
Eva Sackett. Submitted photos.
“Last year the girls were just short of their goal of selling 3000 packages of cookies,” Goebel said. ” They sold 2960 packages. This year the girls hope to make their goal of 3000. Currently, we are at 2,708.”
Ashley Goebel and Brennyn Cole. Submitted photos.
Locally the troop’s best-sellers are Thin Mints, Caramel Delites, Peanut Butter Patties cookies, she said. “The Thanks-A-Lot cookie is retiring. It is the shortbread cookie with chocolate on the bottom.”
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Ava Johnson and Ashley Goebel at a PSU STEM Event. Submitted photos.
The funds are used for fees (registration annual fee is $25.00), supplies, camp/day camp is $40 -$50, summer camp fees range up to $400, Goebel said.
Olive Ellis and Ashley with Hopkins. Submitted photos.
The troop has many activities during the year.
“In November we have the nuts and candy sale, ice cream social, roller skating, yoga, swimming, camping and of course the cookie sale,” Goebel said. “This year we have a spring trip planned to Worlds of Fun in June. Last year we went to the Butterfly Palace and Fritz’s Adventures in Branson, day camp is the first week of June at Friendship Fields in Frontenac. Sheriff Bill Martin came to explain and show the girls fingerprinting.”
Benjamin Banwart and Carolyn Tucker. Submitted photo. Ben is in his eighth year of piano study with Tucker.
A local piano teacher has encouraged many students to pursue music in her 25-year career.
And it started in her childhood with a passion for piano and encouragement from her parents.
When Carolyn Tucker was in third grade, she had a desire to play the piano but there was no piano in her home.
Like a broken record, she consistently told her parents that she wanted to play, she said.
“They soon realized this desire was not going to go away, so one Saturday the three of us went to Springfield, MO, to shop for a piano,” Tucker said. “A few days later a brand-new piano was delivered to our home, and I couldn‘t play a lick! That expensive purchase was a huge step of faith for my parents and I will always be grateful.”
Carolyn and Zachary Ballou at a piano recital in April 2013. Submitted photo. Ballou was a student of hers for nine years.
She began studying piano with Miss Rebecca Murray and found she loved it.
“I soon realized that God had given me the gift to play by ear, ” she said. “My mother never had to tell me to practice my lessons because every time I walked through the living room, I’d stop and play the piano. The ability to read music and play by ear was a great marriage, and by the time I was in eighth grade, I was the church pianist. I ‘cut my teeth’ on gospel music and it’s always been my first love.”
Taylor Cation and Carolyn at a piano recital in 2012. Cation was a 10-year student with Tucker. Submitted photo.
Since that purchase and the subsequent lessons, she’s been sharing her of love of music for 53 years in various church settings, weddings, funerals, civic functions, patriotic programs, nursing homes, retirement facilities, gospel concerts, family reunions, baby dedications, recitals, music parties, prayer breakfasts, etc.
“Music is a powerful language that everyone understands because it speaks from the heart,” she said.
In 1994, a friend asked her if she would teach her daughter to play the piano.
“I agreed to give it a try. Now, 25 years later, 97 students have come through the studio,” she said.
At a recital in 2016 – with 10-year student Kelcie Bailey.
Grateful
“Playing the piano has provided a lifetime of musical ministry and joy for me,” Tucker said. ” I can’t imagine what my life would be like had my parents not provided the ‘begged-for’ piano and lessons for me.”
“I believe every baby is born with God-given gifts, and it’s up to the parents to help the child discover his/her destiny using those gifts for God‘s glory,” she said. “My Dad always said, ‘Buying that piano was the best investment I ever made.'”
Encourage children to find musical gifts
Tucker wants to inspire parents to provide their children with opportunities to find their gifts.
“God doesn’t gift every individual to be musical, but if a child expresses a deep desire to play an instrument, there’s a good chance that he/she was created to do it,” she said. “You never know what treasure lies within a child’s heart until the door is opened.
To contact Tucker for lessons, call 620-223-1483.
Tucker Music Studio is located at 954 240th Street
Wind Science Tinker Lab: A Successful STEM Community Collaboration
A preschooler turned a hand-crank fan to move a small boat across a pan of water, while a few feet away, an elementary student used a condiment bottle to blow leaves across the floor. Nearby, a middle school student held a unique mobile he had designed, while a teenager drew back the string on a wind cannon to test it. On the other side of the room, a family gathered to read a stack of books about wind. What drew all of these age and interest groups together? Surprisingly, a fascination with wind science.
Utilizing the $500 mini-grant from the Franklin Institute and the national Leap into Science program that it won last year, Fort Scott Public Library held a wind science workshop on Monday, February 24, at the Buck Run Community Center in Fort Scott. Valetta Cannon, youth librarian and assistant director at FSPL, collaborated with Diana Alters of the Southeast Kansas Community ActionProgram, Star McClellan of Parents as Teachers, Jennifer Terell and Makayla Stroud of 4-H and the Southwind K-State Extension Office, Michelle Stevenson of the Fort Scott Early ChildhoodProgram, and Fort Scott Community College professor Ronda Bailey, along with education students Courtney Williams and Karis Mengarelli, on the project.
Grant funds were used to purchase supplies for creating wind science experiment kits, each of which included three to four science experiments in labeled bags, two books about wind
science, instructions for using the experiments, a hand-crank or battery-powered fan, glue stick, tape, and a condiment bottle. Families were also able to select age levels for their kits. Four
Airzooka wind cannons were also purchased, three of which were given away in a drawing at the end of the workshop.
24 adults, 6 teens, and 31 children attended the event, which was held in the big Buck RunCommunity Center gymnasium. Attendees enjoyed wind science experiments from the Leap
into Science curricula, including a challenge to a build something that could detect different types of wind and a tower that could withstand big gusts of wind. They were also encouraged to enjoy fresh fruit or fruit snacks, along with bottled water, at a refreshment table. Families were invited to read a variety of wind science books together, listen to a group story, and to color or fill out worksheets.
Most of the community partners came early to set up, oversaw a table or station of their own, and they stayed late to clean up. Collaborators also received science kits to use in their organizations, and Michelle Stevenson won a wind cannon in the drawing. Collaborators and community members alike expressed delight in the success of the event and hope that similar events would follow.
Beauty salon owner Margo Davis, right, gives a friend who dropped in, Mary Etta Williard, a tour of her new business on March 3.
Margo Davis took time out of a hair appointment to give a friend a tour of her new salon on the salon’s opening day, March 3.
Structure by Margo is at 19 S. National Avenue, where Bids and Dibs Consignment store was formerly located.
The tour included a look at the new salon area that will eventually allow five other beauticians space, a kitchenette, a dispensary, a waxing room, hair washing stations, nail spa, bathroom and lots of storage space.
“I’m loving it, the new location, and the renovation work,” Davis said.
Davis shows the dispensary of the salon.
The salon opened following a Kansas State Board of Cosmetology inspection on Feb. 26 and months of a renovation of the building.
The hours of the business are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, Saturday 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
The brand new business phone number, as of March 9, is 620-644-5003.
Davis shows Willard the hair washing stations.
Davis received her cosmetology degree from Fort Scott Community College and taught in the cosmetology department for 26 years.
Following her desire to mentor new hairstylists, Davis has a 2020 Fort Scott Community College Cosmetology student, Joy Page, coming when Page graduates.
Davis shows the waxing room where she removes facial and upper body hair. The reno work was done by Jim Jones, an electrician, and Josh Query, a contractor.
“They did an amazing job,” Davis said.
Margo Davis takes an appointment by phone at her new shop, Structure By Margo.
Davis, in a previous interview, said she received help starting her business from Bourbon County Economic Director Jody Hoenor who gave step-by-step guidance during the process of applying for an eCommunity loan.
She also received a grant from Bourbon County Economic Development Council with The City of Fort Scott Economic Director Rachel Pruitt instrumental in attaining this grant, she said.
Topeka, Kan. – The Kelly administration announced today that nominations are being accepted for the prestigious 2020 Governor’s Awards for Business Excellence, which honor businesses across the state.
“The Governor’s Awards for Business Excellence have been presented to outstanding Kansas businesses since 1995,” Kansas Governor Laura Kelly said, “It’s my honor to continue the tradition of recognizing the magnificent work Kansas businesses do for our people and our communities.”
In past years, the state has presented the Governor’s Award to one outstanding Kansas business. This year, in addition to Business of the Year, the state also will present awards for Outstanding New Business, Outstanding Veteran-owned Business and Family Friendly Business. Regional awards also will be presented in the Manufacturing and Distribution, Healthcare and Nonprofit, Business Services and Retail sectors.
“Businesses play a critical role in creating and maintaining a healthy Kansas economy,” Secretary of Commerce David Toland said. “With so many terrific businesses in Kansas, I know members of the selection committee will have their work cut out for them in selecting this year’s winners.”
Nominations for the Governor’s Awards for Business Excellence are reviewed and scored by a committee of Kansas businesses and economic development professionals.
Businesses may be nominated by an individual or organization, and nominators may submit multiple companies for consideration. Self-nominations also are accepted. The nomination deadline is April 3, 2020. Additional details on the awards, as well as the nomination form may be found online at www.kansascommerce.gov/governorsawards.
Smallville CrossFit Recognized as Emerging Business of the Year at 2020 Kansas Small Business Awards
Smallville CrossFit was recognized as the Kansas SBDC at Pittsburg State University Emerging Business of the Year at the annual Kansas Small Business Awards on March 5th in Topeka.
Aaron and Lindsey Watts, owners of Smallville CrossFit in Fort Scott, are on a mission to build a well-balanced, healthy, and fully capable community. Smallville’s atmosphere allows for anyone to come through their doors and start on their better health journey with no judgement.
The Wattses purchased Smallville CrossFit in 2016 and the business quickly grew. Knowing they would need to purchase a larger facility, the Wattses reached out to the Kansas Small Business Development Center in 2019 for assistance with cash flow projections and the development of a financial strategy.
“Laying out a detailed list of all of the costs we needed to address and be prepared for was huge for me,” said Lindsey Watts. “I am a planner; however, there were still many things that were not even on my radar. [Kansas SBDC advisor] Dacia Clark explained each and every cost and asked questions that helped me question ways to do things better with future spending.”
Smallville CrossFit is located at 1905 S. Judson Street in Fort Scott, Kansas. To learn more, follow them on Facebook at @smallvillecrossfit.
The First and Main building as seen from National Avenue on Nov. 4, 2019.
The renovation of a downtown late-1800s building has been at a standstill.
Work began in 2018 on the Union Building, at First and Main Street, and stopped for many months in 2019 and into 2020.
The inside was gutted and will be built back to make it into apartments, according to the developer.
“We replaced the (first) contractor” Tony Krsnich, president and CEO of Flint Hills Holdings, told FortScott.Biz.
A new process began of moving forward on the project, he said.
Architects and engineers have been working on plans for the gutted Union Building for weeks, Krsnich, said.
The three-story building is being converted into apartments for the general public and rent will be based on income, Krsnich said in a prior interview.
“Architects and engineers work from their offices most of the time,” Krsnich said. “They’ve been on site along with subs every week for the past five weeks or so.”
Hans Thomas and Associates, K.C. MO are the architects, Agricultural Engineering Associates, Uniontown, is the civil engineer, Rau Construction, Overland Park is the general contractor, and Joe Towns, Lee’s Summit, MO is the structural engineer, Krsnich said.
The developer, Flint Hills Holdings, is located at 2315 W. 65th, Mission Hills, KS.
Completion of the project is expected to be in December currently, he said.
Union Building, First and Main streets, Fort Scott. June 2018, before inside demolition began.
There will be a free-will fundraiser in support of a local helping agency from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sunday, April 5 at the Empress Event Center, 7 N. Main.
“I’m hoping we can get a great show of community support and provide some funds for the things Compassionate Ministries do to serve the needs of others, Bill Michaud said.
“We’re hosting a pancake feed at the Empress on April 5th and we hope that you might help us spread the word,” he said.
Michaud is owner of the Empress Event Center.
To learn more about Compassionate Ministries view a recent story:
