Two openings (Must be a City resident) for the Fort Scott Library Board.
The function of the Fort Scott Library Board is to review requests in reference to the library. This Board meets monthly at 5:00 p.m. on the third Tuesday of the month.
If you have a desire to serve on this board and meet the above requirements, please submit a letter of interest to the City Clerk, Diane Clay, 123 S. Main, Fort Scott, Kansas 66701. She will then submit your letter of interest for consideration to the City Commission. All of the boards and commissions serve on a volunteer basis and are not compensated. If you would like more information on this board, please contact Diane Clay, City Clerk at 620-223-0550 or [email protected]. Please submit your letter of interest by September 14th, 2018.
Allyson Turvey is the Fort Scott Convention and Group Sales employee. She stands in front of the wall that once had a small window with an office inside. The room now has a bigger window and is the office of Larry Gazaway, the director of the Tourism/Visitor Center and Turvey.
An increased focus on tourism for the City of Fort Scott has brought about the renovation of the interior of the Tourism/Chamber of Commerce Center.
The center is located at 231 E. Wall Street.
“Now when someone hits the door, there is someone there to greet them,” Allyson Turvey, convention and group sales said. “It really needed to open up.”
The Chamber section of the building also needed more visibility, so a hole was placed in a wall so the administrative assistant can view the lobby. Lindsay Madison is the executive director of the Chamber, Hannah Reel is a part-time administrative assistant. The Chamber is currently searching for another staff person.
The Chamber’s administrative assistant office is located inside this space behind the window. The lights were turned off in the office in this photo.
Some fresh paint and a reconfiguring of the display areas were part of the process, as well.
The new retail area features souvenirs and books with local area interest. Turvey said the center is looking for local products to display and sell.Paul Milks Photography has some artwork on display for sale in the lobby area. Pictured is a fall scene of Rock Creek. Milks will be one of the featured artists at the Art in the Yard Festival, September 15 in Fort Scott, Turvey said. At right is a poster with the upcoming Veteran’s Weekend in November schedule of events.The Lowell Milken Center for Unsung Heroes has several posters on display. At eye level are travel brochures from the area and other parts of the country.These are the hours of the Tourism Center and Chamber Office, both under one roof at 231 E. Wall.The Tourism Center and Chamber Office are located at 231 E. Wall, just west of the Hwy. 69 overpass.The Tourism/Chamber of Commerce Center is conveniently located on Wall Street, near a Hwy. 69 turn off.
Decorator finishing touches will be provided by area merchants who will allow their furnishings and accessories to be seen and used in the center, according to Turvey.
“Fort Scott tourism is managed by the City of Fort Scott, which administers tourism operations by maximizing the utilization of transient guest tax revenues to advertise and promote Fort Scott lodging, activities, attractions and events, operate a Tourism Center providing concierge services and visitor information, and facilitate any other related programs to attract individuals and groups for overnight stay in the community,” according to the tourism website.
Orthopedic nurse practitioner Greg King will evaluate student athlete injuries at Mercy’s Free Bumps and Bruises Clinic on Saturday mornings.
Beginning Saturday, Sept. 1 at 7 a.m., Mercy Fort Scott Sports Medicine will offer free evaluations of student athlete injuries at the Bumps and Bruises Clinic. The location of the clinic is in the Health For Life area, in the lower level of the hospital.
Jared Leek shows the inside of his newly renovated building office space at 14 S. Main, Front Door Real Estate.
Jared Leek saw some downtown buildings that were vacant and decided to make a difference. He is already the owner of the Liberty Theater and Crooner’s Lounge in historic, downtown Fort Scott.
Most recently, he purchased the building whose storefronts are 14 and 16 S. Main.
“I purchased because I saw an opportunity to take a building vacant for several years and grow the downtown,” he said. “And grow my real estate business.”
His Front Door Real Estate office will be located at 14 S. Main.
Crystal Mason and Lisa Ward are working with Leek at the realty.
Leek has been renovating the building for a month and is working on the finishing touches and internet service currently.
The Front Door Real Estate business contains three offices and a conference room along with a lobby.
“In the very back there is an old dance studio,” Leek said. “That space will be available to rent.”
It would be suitable for a yoga or dance studio, he said. “And we will build to suit.”
The landline number to Front Door Real Estate is 620-224-9787, which connects with Leek, Mason and Ward’s cell phones.
He is anticipating an early September opening.
Leek received a downtown revitalization grant from the City of Fort Scott to help with the renovation of the old building which was once Dr. Charles Parson’s Chiropractic Office.
“It’s (the grant) for downtown business owners,” Leek said. “You can apply for it every year for heating, cooling, windows, doors…anything with the structure, to help preserve the buildings”
In addition to his businesses, Leek is the manager of the River Room Event center, just above the old Buffalo Grill on National Avenue.
“That space is available for rent for up to 750 people,” Leek said.
The River Room Event Center has a full bar, caterer’s kitchen, dance floor, bridal suite, handicapped-accessible restrooms, and an elevator, he said.
The Buffalo Grill, which is on the first floor, beneath the River Room, has been shown to several interested parties for possible restaurants, “But nothing is in stone yet,” Leek said.
Another building long vacant, the old Kress Building, is for sale across from Front Door Real Estate and is listed by the real estate business.
At 16 S. Main, Jan and Dick Hedges will be opening a bookstore, called Hedgehog Ink in October, Leek said.
The Fort Scott Middle School Volleyball home opener against Praire View provided wins in all six matches. Fort Scott played against 59 athletes last night, August 28.
Click below for the Fort Scott Police Department daily reports.
The FSPD is located at 1604 S. National, Fort Scott, KS 66701 and can be reached at 620-223-1700.
Emily Davenport, left, and Jacey Bowen, the Youth Engagement Team 2018 at Fort Scott National Historic Site.
Youth Engagement Team takes Leadership Role at Fort Scott NHS this Summer
Fort Scott KS – Fort Scott National Historic Site (FOSC) Youth Engagement Team planned activities and programs that introduced other youth to the park, shared the stories of Fort Scott, and built connections to park resources with youth in the surrounding area.
As one observer stated, “youth leading youth is a powerful concept”.
Jacey Bowen, a recent graduate of Uniontown High School in Uniontown KS, and Emily Davenport, a sophomore at Fort Scott High School, participated in the 2018 Youth Engagement Team.
The Youth Engagement Team is made possible in part through generous contributions by the Irby Family Trust, the Fort Scott Area Community Foundation, and the Friends of Fort Scott National Historic Site.
Activities the 2018 Youth Engagement Team have sponsored or been involved in include:
Family Day, July 21 (teaming with four members of the Fort Scott Youth Conservation Corps, they presented living history cooking, gardening, replica small arms demonstrated in the morning, with crafts and games in the afternoon). About 97 visitors attended the event.
Fort Art contest, July 28 (youth participants entered drawings and paintings of the fort, with the winner getting a cash prize)
Scavenger Hunt, August 4 (The team created the clues and 53 people participated, running all over the fort trying to find and answer the clues.
Writing and directing a play for the Trailblazer program. The Trailblazers program is a week-long series of activities that engage young people (age 9-12) with the mission of the National Park Service. One activity is to stage and perform a play for their parents at the end of the week. The play was one of Jacey’s favorite activities as it allowed her to use her creative skills. Ten youth attended the Trailblazer program total with about 35 people (parents and other family of the Trailblazers) attending the play.
“The fort has been an integral part of the community for over 150 years, it is imperative that we make youth a priority in what we do today for the next 150 years,” said Betty Boyko, Superintendent, FOSC. “This is the third summer we have hosted the program and hope to continue into the future,” continued Boyko.
Jacey will be studying graphic arts at a college this fall in Pensacola, Florida. She has several works of art displayed around the area, including some murals at a local preschool.
Emily enjoys living history and has attended youth programs in the past at Fort Scott including our weeklong Trailblazer workshop and an overnight Camp of Instruction.
The team was led by NPS Park Guide Paul Goodman, who is in his second season at Fort Scott NHS.
The City of Fort Scott will be closed on Monday, September 3rd, 2018 in observance of the Labor Day holiday. The offices will reopen on Tuesday, September 4th, 2018.
The City’s tree and brush dump site located on North Hill will also be closed on Saturday, September 1st, 2018 for the Labor Day holiday. It will be open again on Tuesday, September 4th, 2018 from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Nicki Traul is the new assistant superintendent at USD 234.
The former director of curriculum and instruction has taken on new duties in the Fort Scott School District.
Nicki Traul is now the assistant superintendent at USD 234.
“Mrs. Traul will continue to lead in the areas of curriculum, instruction, and assessment,” Superintendent Ted Hessong said. “She will also continue to oversee the preschool with the assistance of a lead teacher at the preschool. She will now be the lead for our special education department as well as the go-to person for the elementary principals, because of her elementary background.”
When Hessong came to the superintendency this year, he saw that Traul was doing the duties of an assistant superintendent.
“In my review of the district to prepare myself for my transition to USD 234,” he said. “I decided Mrs. Traul was doing the duties of an assistant superintendent and we needed to designate her with this title to put in her a true role as an administrator for the district.”
“I am excited about the new opportunity and am looking forward to working with Mr. Hessong,” Traul said.
USD 234 enrollment finalization is this week, Hessong said.
“There was an issue with our online enrollment system,” Hessong said. ” It is my understanding the system became overwhelmed because several of the districts across the country who use this online enrollment system were enrolling on the same day.”
Click below for the Fort Scott Police Department daily reports. The FSPD is located at 1604 S. National, Fort Scott, KS 66701 and can be reached at 620-223-1700.
Fort Scott High School is proud to announce auditions for the regional premiere of the new musical “Bright Star.”
Auditions are from 6:30 to 9 p.m. either Monday, Aug. 27 or Wednesday, Aug. 29 at the high school auditorium. Students only need to attend one night, but need to plan to stay for the entire time period.
“Inspired by a real event and featuring the Grammy-nominated score by Steven Martin and Edie Brickell, Broadway’s Bright Star tells a sweeping tale of love and redemption set against the rich backdrop of the American South in the 1920s and ’40s. When literary editor Alice Murphy meets a young soldier just home from World War II, he awakens her longing for the child she once lost. Haunted by their unique connection, Alice sets out on a journey to understand her past – and what she finds has the power to transform both of their lives. Propelled by an ensemble of onstage musicians and dancers, the story unfolds as a rich tapestry of deep emotion, beautiful melodies and powerfully moving performances. An uplifting theatrical journey that holds you tight in its grasp, Bright Star is as refreshingly genuine as it is daringly hopeful,” according to publisher Theatrical Rights Worldwide.
The show is open to current FSHS students and rehearsals are Monday-Thursday from 6:30-9 p.m. The performances are Nov. 6, 8, and 10.
Students who wish to audition for a lead solo role should prepare as follows: females will sing a portion of “If You Knew My Story” and males will sing “Bright Star” from the show. Links to karaoke tracks and piano accompaniment for the songs can be found at the “Fort Scott High School Thespians” Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/FSHSThespians/?ref=bookmarks and the “Fort Scott Choirs” website at www.fortscottchoirs.com.
The show is directed by FSHS Drama Director Angie Bin and FSHS Choral Director Meredith Reid and choreographed by Delynn Abati, assistant to the FSHS Dance Team.
For more information, please contact Angie Bin at [email protected] or 620-719-9622.
