Category Archives: Fort Scott

CHAMBER COFFEE TO BE HOSTED BY SONIC DRIVE-IN

 

The weekly Chamber Coffee organized by the Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce for Thursday, July 21 will be hosted by Sonic Drive-In, 1705 S. National Ave. at 8 a.m.

Chamber members and guests are invited to attend for networking, refreshments, and to learn about products, services, or new offerings of the host business or organization. Members may make an announcement about their business, organization, or the community by donating one dollar towards the Chamber.

More information may be obtained by contacting the Chamber at 620-223-3566, emailing [email protected], or visiting fortscott.com.

 

Fort Scott Walmart Reduces Hours

Walmart Fort Scott, 2500 S. Main.

Fort Scott’s Walmart, 2500 S. Main, is no longer open 24-hours a day.

As of June 2, the store is closed from 1 a.m. to 6 a.m., according to an assistant manager at the store.

“We’re continually looking at how we can best serve our customers,” according to a statement sent to fortscott.biz. ” Based on a recent review of shopping patterns at our Fort Scott store, we are adjusting hours and reallocating resources to better serve our customers during peak shopping hours.”

Police Seeks Public’s Help In Robbery At Briggs

 

Fort Scott Police are seeking public assistance in details of a robbery of five late model cars in the early morning of Sunday, June 17.

At 4:30 a.m. June 17, 2018, FSPD officers received information on a possible crime in progress at Briggs Automall of Fort Scott, 1819 S. Main, according to a press release from the FSPD.

After arriving, officers discovered several new vehicles were leaving the convenience store across from Briggs Automall. The officers attempted to stop the cars, which were northbound on Hwy. 69.

A high-speed pursuit began.

Officers ended the pursuit a few miles north of Fort Scott.

“Our officers discontinue pursuit when in their estimation, it is dangerous,” FSPD Captain Shaun West said.

Officers returned to Briggs Automall, where it was discovered the building was broken into. Briggs personnel were notified and requested to the scene. The personnel then confirmed that five new vehicles were missing from the dealership.

According to Captain West, the vehicles stolen were:

  1.   2018 black Ford Mustang GT Coup
  2.   2017 red Mustang Eco Boost Coup
  3.   2018 gray Jeep Grand Cherokee
  4.   2018 red Dodge Challenger SXT
  5.   2018 gray Dodge Challenger GT

Law enforcement agencies were notified in Bourbon, Linn, Miami, and Johnson counties, which lead to the recovery of two vehicles in Miami County and three vehicles in Johnson County.

At this time one suspect is in custody in Johnson County.

This is an ongoing investigation and law enforcement is seeking aid from the public in connection with the case.

If anyone has information, contact the FSPD at 620-223-1700.

All suspects are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

 

 

Holiday Fun: Burke Street Independence Day Parade

In this 2011 photo, Margaret Humphrey is at the left with grandson, Elliott Norman; daughter, Kristen Humphrey Norman; husband, Merle, and grand-daughter, Violet. In front are grandchildren Leo and Meg Norman.

The 36th Annual Burke Street Parade is July 4th on the city’s west side, near Gunn Park.

The event is pretty disorganized, said Margaret Doherty Humphrey, but lots of fun. The Humphreys live at 1024 S. Burke.

The parade starts with patriotic singing led by Phil Hammonds, Jill Gorman, and Susan Foster.

“We started the singing after 9-11 (the terrorist bombings in New York), Humphrey said.

People wear patriotic attire, kids decorate their bikes, scooters or buggies and line up at 10th and Burke streets at 10 a.m.

There is no parking on Burke Street between 10th and 12th streets during the time of the event.

The public is invited to sit or stand on the curbs lining the street during the parade.

And people are invited to don a patriotic outfit and join in the fun.

“Frank Halsey will line them up at 10th and Burke,” Humphrey said.

Frank and his wife, Deb are hosting the cookie social following the short parade at 1222 Burke Street. People may donate cookies for the social the day before the parade, to the Halseys home.

“Every year someone (on Burke Street) hosts the cookies and drinks,” Humphrey said.

“Please no big vehicles and watch for children who are all over the place,” Humphrey said. “It’s very disorganized, they go up and down and back and forth.”

For more information call Margaret Humphrey 223-0388 or Theresa Bahr 223-1582.

“Or Barbara Albright, the official distributor of information,” Humphrey said.

“Severe storms or lightning cancels the parade…but we conquered the rain last year,” Humphrey said.

First Ever Local Lavender Festival June 16

Betsy Reichard points to one of the varieties of lavender grown on her farm, The Lavender Patch, 22376 Locust Rd.

Lavender has been a sensory, culinary and decorative herb for thousands of years.

But for Betsy and Davin Reichard, an idea to grow it spawned approximatley ten years ago when they first visited a lavender farm.

They had purchased a property in 2008.

The Reichard’s talked the idea over with family members, and in 2009 did research on the subject and visited other lavender farms, Betsy said

In 2010 the Reichard’s planted their first plants in the ground, half of which died.

Experimenting they planted 800 plants in 2012, 300 of which were mounded, which is planting the lavender in hills.

“The 300 that were mounded, died,” she said.

In 2013 they planted 1000 plants in a different spot and “they all died,” Reichard said.

The Reichard’s enlisted the help of Kansas State University, who told them this loss was due to weather conditions.

The Tri-Valley Developmental Services Horticulture Therapy Program propagates the lavender for the Reichards.

In 2014 they moved to a different pasture.

“It’s been a heck-of-a-lot more work than we imagined,” she said.

But finally, success in 2014.

That year they started making lavender products: lotions, soaps, bath salts, sachets, and spritzes.

“It takes lavender three years to mature, and it’s very labor intensive,” she said. “It’s a Mediterranean plant.”

“People have said lavender is a natural antiseptic, some say it’s a natural flea and tick repellant,” Reichard said of the products made on the farm.

The Reichards children: Jacob, Andrew, Joseph and wife, Tori, Rebecah and Aaron Houser and Levi, have helped through the years with the farm, as have other family and friends, Betsy said.

“For so many years we’ve had many troubles, so it’s finally good to see results,” Betsy said.

In their other lives, Betsy is a teacher in Nevada, Missouri, and Davin is a comptroller at SEKAN Printing Company, she said.

The Lavender Patch Festival

This Saturday is the first lavender festival that the Reichard’s are hosting at their Lavender Patch Farm at 2376 Locust, just east of Fort Scott.

The Lavender Patch Festival is from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and costs $5 admission. Children under five years old are free.

Parking will be at 2396 Locust, with signs to designate.

“Bring a lawn chair and comfortable walking shoes, this is a working farm,” Betsy said.

There will be tours, demonstrations, vendors, games, and live music by Bob (Pavey) Lovett and Red Letter Edition playing throughout the day.

You can pick your own bundle of lavender from several varieties for $5, or purchase a lavender plant for $7.

They have converted their garage into a gift shop and will be selling their lavender products.

Lunch will be sold with some lavender recipes featured.

Martha Scott will demonstrate how to make lavender wands and presentations will be by Reichard on lavender products, how to plant lavender, and how to make lavender wreaths.

Vendors will be Bobbie Kemna, featuring her pottery; Black Dog Farms featuring their honey;   and Jean Strader spinning wool.

Bourbon County Conservation will give a presentation on wildlife pollinators at the festival.

“It will be a relaxing day so come out with family and friends, listen to some wonderful music, enjoy the craftsmanship of our vendors, smell and touch the lavender,” Betsy said.

The Reichard’s can be contacted at 620-223-1364, www.lavenderpatchfarm.com, [email protected] or on Facebook, The Lavender Patch.