Category Archives: Fort Scott

Police Department Received Report of Criminal Threat to FSHS

Fort Scott High School.
 USD 234 Superintendent Ted Hessong received a report from the Fort Scott Police Department that a criminal threat was made regarding Fort Scott High School on Oct. 28.
A person was accused of posting a social media threat against the high school on October 28, just about the time Fort Scott High School lets out for the day.
“The Fort Scott Police Department reported to me this afternoon, (Oct. 28) after school was out, that they had received information from a third party website that a criminal threat was made on the high school this afternoon,” Hessong said.  “FSPD investigated the report this afternoon and found that no credible threat was made upon the high school.”
“It was a hotline based out of California,” FSPD Captain Jason Pickert said. “They received an anonymous tip that a video had been posted on a social media site.”
“We learned upon investigation the person does not have an account with that media site, so it was falsely reported,” Pickert said.
“We spoke with the suspect involved and did independent research,” he said. “The person was local, but not a high school student.”
“We notified Ted Hessong shortly after the report came in, about 3:20 p.m.,” Pickert said. “I think it was a false report from the get-go.”

The incident was  communicated to the school district parents through the school messenger mass phone call system that a report of a criminal threat was made, it was investigated, and no credible threat was made upon the high school, Hessong said.

“The safety and security is the number one priority of the school district,” Hessong said. ” I want to thank Chief (Travis) Shelton and his detectives and officers for reporting and investigating the possible threat.  It is nice to know that our local law enforcement agencies, FSPD and the Bourbon County Sheriff’s Department, supports our schools.”

Forks and Corks Event Nov. 2

You are Invited
To an evening you won’t want to miss!
16th Annual
Forks & Corks ~ A Taste of Fort Scott
THIS SATURDAY, November 2nd
River Room Event Venue
Only $25 for all the tasting you can endure
from over 12 local restaurants & caterers,
beverage tasting hosted by Standard Beverage
live & silent auctions, special raffles, 50/50!
New this year ~ Added entertainment!
The food & beverage tasting will be from 6:30 to 9pm and all included with your $25 ticket plus a souvenir wine glass just as it always has been!
——–
Then, from 9 to 11pm you may enjoy the popular
Hull Experience DJ for fun & dancing
and a full cash bar will be available
during this time!
See information below for purchasing tickets!
Purchase your tickets today!
Tickets available at the
Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce,
231 E. Wall St.,
credit/debit by phone @ 620-223-3566.
Any Chamber Board Member also has tickets for sale.
Or, purchase your tickets online here!
We are seeking silent & live auction items, baskets or packages!
We would love to promote your business or organization!
Click here to email us if you have a donation and we would be happy to pick it up, you can drop it off, or we can make a certificate for you!
This is one of the Chamber’s primary
annual fundraising events to support the
work we do to serve the Fort Scott,
Bourbon County community! We thank you in advance for your support!

Chamber Coffee at Landmark Bank Oct. 31

The Chamber Coffee for Thursday, October 31, 2019 will be hosted by the Fort Scott Area Community Foundation Grants. The Chamber Coffee will be held at the Landmark National Bank, 200 S. Main St. Fort Scott, KS.

The Fort Scott Area Community Foundation’s mission is to help our donors establish long-term charitable funds, using the most tax-advanced methods, to benefit their causes and our community.

The Chamber opens the floor and encourages members to make an announcement about their business, organization, or the community of upcoming events by donating $1.00.

If you are not a member but would like to explore and experience the community support that is developed at the weekly Chamber Coffee, you are welcome to come and talk to our Executive Director Lindsay Madison for more information. We offer member pricing from just Community supporters to Executive Business Owners and Organizations!

Bancroft Returns as Fort Scott Finance Director

Susan Bancroft is the new Fort Scott Finance Director. Submitted photo.

Susan E. Bancroft, 44, started as the new City of Fort Scott Finance Director on October 9.

However, Bancroft is not new to the City of Fort Scott.

“I left the City of Fort Scott as Assistant City Manager/Finance Director to work for USD 234 as the Business Manager in 2012,” she said.  “I was employed by them for three years when I realized I wanted to chase my career.  I then went to work for NPC International as HCM Director in Pittsburg.  NPC employs roughly 40,000 employees and is the largest franchisee for Pizza Hut and Wendy’s in the nation.”

Bancroft’s husband died this summer, which changed her life priorities.

” Unfortunately, life threw me a curveball when I lost my husband in June of 2019 in a car accident east of town,” she said. ” My life’s priorities changed and I started looking for something closer to home.  I am thankful that the City of Fort Scott welcomed me back to work in the position of finance director.  I have a lot of catching up to do but am very excited to be back.”

 

Bancroft replaces Rhonda Dunn, who resigned for a job in private industry.

 

Bancroft earned her bachelor of science degree from Missouri Southern State University in business administration.

 

Her family includes daughter, Bailie Hughes and son-in-law Victor Hughes; son- Gunnar Brown: step-daughter – Kynleah Bancroft and daughter – Allie Brown.

 

 

 

Candidate Forum for 2019 Election Oct. 29

Join us for the
General Election Candidate Forum
This Tuesday, October 29th
Have last-minute questions
for the candidates?
Click here to email questions.
Or, drop off in person to the
Chamber, 231 E. Wall St.
Candidates invited to this forum include:
* Fort Scott City Commission
There are 6 candidates for 3 positions,
constituents may vote for 3 or less.
Candidates include:
Harold (Pete) Allen
Kevin (Skitch) Allen
Cindy Bartelsmeyer
Josh Jones
Deb McCoy
Lindsey Watts
* USD-234 Board of Education
Candidates include:
Position 1: James Wood
Position 2 (Vote for 1):
Danny Brown
Michelle Hudiburg
Position 3:
Kellye Barrows
At Large (Vote for 1):
Lynette Jackson
Bill Michaud
* Fort Scott Community College
Board of Trustees
There are 5 candidates for 3 positions,
constituents may vote for 3 or less.
Candidates include:
David Elliott
Kirk Hart
Michael Hoyt
Curtis Lear
Robert Nelson
This Candidate Forum is co-hosted by:
Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce
&
Young Professionals League
of Bourbon County

Grant Writing Workshop Deadline Nov. 1

Deadline November 1st to register!
Join us for a
Grant Writing Workshop
co-hosted by
Southwind Extension District & the
Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce!
Friday, November 8, 2019
9:30am to 3pm
Only $10 including lunch
Click here to email Carla Nemecek to
reserve a spot & pay by check
(payable to Southwind Extension District).
Click here to register online by credit card.
Grants are a vital piece in your community’s
funding puzzle, and YOU can do it!
What you will learn:
-Sources of data for community needs.
-Where to find grants
-Elements of a significant grant proposal
-Practicing the grant elements
Presented by:
Nancy Daniels
Community Vitality Specialist
K-State Research & Extension
Location:
River Room Event Center
3 West Oak Street
Fort Scott, KS
To register or for more information:
Name: Carla Nemecek
Phone: 620.365.2242
There is a registration fee of $10 (includes lunch).
Make checks payable to
Southwind Extension District.
Registration Deadline: November 1, 2019
Click here for the Facebook event.

Holiday Dinner Theater Dec, 13

Sending the email below on behalf of Chamber member Historic Preservation Association of Bourbon County.
Thank you for your Chamber partnership!
Greetings,
HPA in the past has had good success with our Homes for the Holidays Tour, but as of late attendance has dropped due to it being increasingly difficult to secure new houses or at least homes that have not been on the tour 4-5 times. In response to this we have decided to try something new this year.
We are proud to announce our first annual
HPA Holiday Dinner Theater!
HPA has partnered with FSCC Drama and Choir to put on an hour-long program.
This will be on Friday, December 13th beginning at 7pm at Liberty Theatre and will feature entertainment, good food and drinks. Also, a live auction of some historic memorabilia. This will be an exciting event to attend!
As this is our only fundraiser for the year we are trying get sponsors for the program. As a local business we appreciate all you do in this county and would love if you would choose to help us out on the inaugural event. We are offering several levels of sponsorship’s, Platinum $500+ Gold $200+ Silver $100+ Bronze $50+. Your tax-deductible gift will stay local and help maintain our historic presence in Bourbon County and Fort Scott. We love our history and know you all do as well.
Below is a little about what we do and who we are.
Bourbon County HPA:
The Historic Preservation Association of Bourbon County, Inc. is an organization formed by citizens interested in the preservation of historic sites, display records, objects & documents of historical importance to the County of Bourbon, State of Kansas, & the United States of America.
The largest preservation project by HPA has been the purchase of the Congregational Church at 5th & National Ave. The church is the meeting place of HPA, but also is the venue for weddings, musicals, programs, and has been leased for church services.
HPA has been involved in storefront grants, walking tour grants, pocket museums, Homes for the Holidays tours & celebrations, moving the MK&T freight house from the floodplain, stabilizing the roof of the Union Block building, sponsorship of the FSHS Jr. History Club, published/promoted several books on Fort Scott and Bourbon County and helped to sell them, established a Facebook page to promote interest in local history, and in general has tried to instill interest in history that we live around every day! HPA at one time had a museum, finances and logistics now don’t favor that, but we try to display some of our artifacts at the Bourbon County Courthouse and businesses so the public may enjoy them.
CLICK HERE TO COMPLETE YOUR DONATION FORM.
Thank you in advance for your consideration!

Taylor Qualls, Decor Creator: Young Entrepreneur

Taylor Schilling Qualls. Submitted photos.

This is part of a series that highlights young entrepreneurs, under 30 years of age, in Bourbon County. If you would like to nominate a young entrepreneur, submit to news@fortscott.biz the name and email/phone number of the person, along with why you are nominating them and your name.

Taylor Qualls, 22, is the owner of her own business, Hazel Bee Ink.
” I create customized gifts and hand-lettered products,” Qualls said.  “I have also created wedding invitations, signs, and decor. I have made a little bit of everything. I mostly do calligraphy, but I also make custom dip mugs and coasters, pet portraits, home illustrations, and wall signs. I have also made wedding invitations and I address envelopes! “
Qualls is currently attending Pittsburg State University and will complete her bachelor of music education with an emphasis in vocal music in December 2020. She and her husband are living in Pittsburg. She is from Fort Scott and graduated with an associate of arts from Fort Scott Community College in 2016.
“I have always been one of those people who doodled in their notebooks,” Qualls said. ” During the summer, I would change my handwriting, and then practice it over and over again until it became muscle memory just because I thought it was fun.”
Some of Qualls creations. Submitted photos.
Her first job using her penchant for drawing was for a friend.
“My first hand-lettering job was for a friend, Kristian Brennon’s, wedding,” she said. “After that, I got married and ended up making all of the signs, wedding party gifts, bouquets, programs, and centerpieces for my own wedding.”
“I honestly didn’t plan on pursuing it until my husband, family, and friends began encouraging me to,” Qualls said.
In January 2019, another young entrepreneur, Delynn Abati. asked her to make a cake topper for a customer of hers. She is a local Fort Scott baker.
“Then she asked me to make a couple more,” she said. ” One day, she asked me if I had a business name so that she could tag my page in it. That’s when I finally decided to go for it.”
Eight months later, the business has grown “beyond my wildest expectations,” she said.
Some of Qualls creations. Submitted photos.
“I used to dream about having my own business one day, and now it’s a reality. I am so thankful for all of the support and encouragement I have received from my people on this wild journey of mine. I would list them out, but there really are so many important people that helped me create Hazel Bee Ink.”
Qualls has no employees, “but my husband, friends, and family have helped me out tremendously!”
Qualls is expanding her business to retail.
“I recently started selling products at a store in Pittsburg named Sonder & Co. and it has been such a blast,” she said. ” If you haven’t heard of them, I would highly recommend looking them up. I have started looking into opening an Etsy store and I will hopefully be setting up booths at some craft shows and festivals in 2020!”
Her family consists of her husband, Levi Qualls and their pup, Hazel.
Her extended family include her parents-Travis and Tina Schilling,
 grandparents-Dale and Donna Schilling, Ed and Ladonna Cox and her in-laws, Rex and Michelle Qualls.
A portrait of her dog, Hazel. Submitted.

Qualls was recommended by  Kasey Eaton.

 

“She did a cake topper for my daughters graduation cake,”  said  Eaton.  “She is very talented and artistic.”

 

Contact info: hazelbeeink@gmail.com
Check out Qualls Facebook page to see more of her creations.

Halloween Parade Tomorrow at 10:30 a.m. Oct. 26

Join us this Saturday!
Halloween Parade
Parade Starts 11am
Special Activities 10:30am
Spooktacular Photo Backdrop
Facepainting by FSHS Thespians
Fun Music by Hull Experience
Free Hot Dog Lunch to Kids in Costume
Following the Parade
The Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce
announces this year’s Halloween Parade will be held Saturday, October 26th, 2019 at
11:00 a.m. in Downtown Fort Scott.
Prior to the parade, starting at 10:30 a.m., there will be special activities including pictures with a spooktacular backdrop at the City Scales building on North Main, facepainting by Fort Scott High School thespians, and fun music by local DJ,
The Hull Experience.
The parade trick-or-treats merchants along Main Street, starting at La Hacienda, south to 2nd Street, crossing the street then heading north back to Skubitz Plaza.
Any businesses or organizations in the community, not located along Main Street, are welcome to set up a table on the sidewalk also providing treats, coupons, or other handouts for kids.
Children are encouraged to bring a sack or bag to collect treats along the parade route.
Following the parade, a free hot dog lunch will be served to kids in costumes.
Special thanks to donors 5 Corners Mini Mart, Bids & Dibs, The Hull Experience, FSHS PRIDE & Thespians, Walgreens, and all participating organizations and merchants offering treats.
The Chamber would also like to recognize the parade committee Darcy Smith, Chair, Crystal Mason, Vonnie Rickerson, and Angela Simon.
For more information contact the Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce at 620-223-3566.

Adopt-A-Child and Elk Christmas Basket Sign Up Nov. 5-7, 12

The Beacon announces the Adopt-A-Child and Elk Christmas Baskets sign up it Nov. 5, 6, 7 from 9:30 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. at the Beacon, 525 E. 6th St. Ft. Scott, Ks.

 

Also, Tuesday, November 12, 2019, from 5 p.m. to 6:15 p.m.

 

Bring your Beacon Card to sign up.

 

If you don’t have a Beacon Card

*We will need Picture ID for all adults in the household.

*Social Security card for all in household

*Proof of Bourbon Co. residency

*Proof of Income

* If you receive any service from DCF must sign a release for verification

 

Submitted by

Gary Murrell, Director

Contact for more information: 620-223-6869

Submit Questions by Oct. 28 to Chamber of Commerce For Candidate Forum

Join us for the
General Election Candidate Forum
This Tuesday, October 29th
We want your questions!
Submit your questions for the candidates to the Chamber by 8am, Monday, October 28th.
Click here to email questions.
Or, drop off in person to the
Chamber, 231 E. Wall St.
Candidates invited to this forum include:
* Fort Scott City Commission
There are 6 candidates for 3 positions,
constituents may vote for 3 or less.
Candidates include:
Harold (Pete) Allen
Kevin (Skitch) Allen
Cindy Bartelsmeyer
Josh Jones
Deb McCoy
Lindsey Watts
* USD-234 Board of Education
Candidates include:
Position 1: James Wood
Position 2 (Vote for 1):
Danny Brown
Michelle Hudiburg
Position 3:
Kellye Barrows
At Large (Vote for 1):
Lynette Jackson
Bill Michaud
* Fort Scott Community College
Board of Trustees
There are 5 candidates for 3 positions,
constituents may vote for 3 or less.
Candidates include:
David Elliott
Kirk Hart
Michael Hoyt
Curtis Lear
Robert Nelson
This Candidate Forum is co-hosted by:
Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce
&
Young Professionals League
of Bourbon County