The Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce would like to thank all who braved the cold for the 2018 Christmas Parade in Downtown Fort Scott Tuesday, December 4th. The theme was “It’s a Cowboy Christmas!” and the parade was sponsored by Briggs of Fort Scott.
The Chamber would also like to announce the parade entry winners: 1st place winner, receiving a $75 prize, was Fort Scott Community College; 2nd place winner, receiving a $50 prize, was Parkway Church of God Holiness. The 3rd place winner, receiving a $25 prize, was Twister Trailer.
Putting on such events takes many hands, time and talent. The Chamber is sincerely appreciative of all who volunteered, entered, and otherwise contributed to the parade.
Contact the Chamber for more information at 620-223-3566.
McDonald’s Fort Scott is open once again for business, following a hiatus from November 13 to December 8, when the drive-through service only was available.
The restaurant is located at Main and 23rd Street, 2224 S. Main.
“McDonald’s Corporation wants to refresh and re-image McDonald’s nationwide,” Michael Durbin, general manager at the Fort Scott McDonald’s said.
Following the renovation, there are some new features.
A station called a kiosk, where customers can self-order and pay at the kiosk with a debit/credit card or pay at the counter has been installed.
Michael Durbin, general manager of Fort Scott’s McDonalds, demonstrates how to use the ordering kiosk at the restaurant, a new feature.
USB ports have been installed throughout the restaurant for cell phone and computer use.
New decor in grey and yellow has been installed.
Also new: no more McCafe HappyHour.
The grand-reopening of the store is Friday, Dec. 14 at 8 a.m., when the Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce will have a ribbon-cutting event.
A new food menu item is a mushroom swiss burger or chicken sandwich, Durbin said.
There will be food specials throughout the next week, including on Dec. 14 there will be 69 cent cheeseburgers from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
A list of the foods that will be discounted until Dec. 22.
Mark McCoy is the owner and there are currently 60 employees.
The Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce hosts Quarterly Downtown Meet & Greets from 8:30 to 9:30 am at a different downtown location for downtown business owners or representatives, or anyone in the community with an interest in downtown to attend and share thoughts and ideas related to downtown and to stay current on new happenings.
The first one of the year will be pushed back to Tuesday, February 5th as the Ritter’s of Boiler Room Brewhaus will be the host and they are not available on January Tuesday morning dates.
The tentative schedule for the Downtown Meet & Greets for 2019:
All of these meetings are on Tuesdays from 8:30 to 9:30 am:
The Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce sponsored its 2nd annual Toy Soldier Contest this year where the public could purchase blank wooden templates from the Chamber and express their artistic ability by painting the soldiers which are now on display for the public to view through the New Year.
A total of 13 new soldiers were submitted for judging this year, in addition to those entered last year for a total of 29 soldiers currently on display primarily in the Downtown Historic District.
After a tough decision by the judges, the prize of $50 in Chamber Bucks Certificates was awarded to Mathew Morgan of Uniontown who painted his soldier as The Grinch. Mathew’s winning soldier, along with two others, may be viewed in front of Nate’s Place, 750 S. National Avenue. Other soldiers are along Main Street and in front of the Courtland Hotel.
The Chamber would like to thank all who participated and is looking forward to next year’s contest. For questions or more information, contact the Chamber at 620-223-3566 or email [email protected].
FSHS Select Ensemble Director Meredith Reid welcomes the attendees to the Christmas performance.
In its’ first performance of the Christmas season, the Fort Scott High School Select Ensemble entertained the attendees of Community Christian Church’s open house Monday at lunch.
The ensemble is the direction of Meredith Reid and was accompanied by Pat Harry.
This Thursday, Dec. 13, the FSHS choir, band, and orchestra will perform a Christmas concert at the high school gym, 1005 S. Main, at 7:30 p.m.
On Sunday, Dec. 16 at 3 p.m. the FSHS Select Ensemble will perform during a fundraiser that provides for attire, music, travel expense and guest conductors for the music group.
The concert entitled “Classic Christmas” is $10 for adults, $5 for children and includes homemade cookies and coffee following.
Also featured in the concert is Dan Duling and the Stone Country Band, a group of local musicians.
Crooners & 56J Productions are Hosting a New Year’s Eve Party at The River Room!
Come celebrate with us on Monday, December 31st, 6 p.m. to 1 a.m. at the
historic River Room
3 W. Oak, Fort Scott
Please join us for a festive evening as we ring in the New Year. Tickets are $50 per person in advance, $75 after December 15th. Price includes dinner, live entertainment, and a champagne toast at midnight!
A task force began in October 2018 following the announcing of the closure of Mercy Hospital Fort Scott.
That task force has been meeting weekly since, to work on issues regarding the need for emergency medical services following the closure of Mercy.
“There is a statute that counties are to provide EMS services,” Dave Bruner, a member of the task force said.
“What is in concrete at this point is that the county and the city have signed a contract to provide a service for a year,” Bruner said.
Since both the City of Fort Scott and Bourbon County Commission had already set their budget for 2019 prior to the announcement of Mercy closing, it put them in an uncertain financial position to provide those emergency medical services.
Fort Scott City Hall
“We said ‘let’s put this together and after a year, look at the contract’,” Bruner said.
“When Mercy announced the closure, they have to give 180 days notice,” Bruner said. “So April 1 is when we will be fully Bourbon County EMS.”
“In the meantime from Jan. 1 to April 1, there will be a change of labels on the ambulances,” he said. “Mercy is obligated until April 1. They will still be employees of Mercy.”
There are currently six full-time employees and 16 part-time employees of Mercy EMS.
“We are going to do our best to retain all of them,” Bruner said. “The city will run the day to day operations of the service-the staffing of ambulances and dispatch.”
The county will pay a subsidy to the city and handle the billing.
“There is a goal to establish a third-party entity to do the billing for the county,” Bruner said.
“The first responders (in emergency situations) in the small towns will continue to be local volunteer fire departments and EMT’s,” he said.
This provides help until the ambulance can arrive on sight of the emergency.
“The goal is to keep the same familiar faces,” Bruner said. “The only thing that will change will be the names on the ambulance and the uniforms.”
“My goal is to give the EMS a place to call their own facility,” he said
Currently, the task force is in negotiations.
“We don’t have a list of what Mercy is donating yet,” Justin Meeks, Bourbon County Legal Counselor said.
“We hope donations will be finalized by Dec. 18,” Meeks said.
Under discussion in negotiations are vehicles, equipment and facilities.
The task force is comprised of Nick Ruhl, Meeks, Jody Hoener from the county; Dave Martin, Bruner, Robert Uhler, Paul Ballou, Rhonda Dunn and Deb Needleman from the city; and Christi Keating from Mercy.
