Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce Director Lindsay Madison takes a photo of Kate and Trent Freeman accepting an award from Kansas Tourism on December 9. Taken from the Chamber’s Facebook page.
Kansas Tourism Department Director Bridgett Jobe handed over two grants today in Fort Scott.
“You can see that Fort Scott is going through a renaissance,” Jobe told attendees at the Artificers reception for the award presentation.
The Artificers
Kate and Trent Freeman were awarded the $25,000 grant designed to help local businesses develop new attractions.
“They have had an instrumental role in rehabilitating our downtown area….with an innovative approach to enhance the beauty of this community for years to come,” Bourbon County Economic Development Director Rob Harrington said.
Jobe told reception attendees that the Freeman’s “passion for the community really came through.”
Lowell Milken Center for Unsung Heroes
Taken from the Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce Facebook page. Kansas Tourism presented the LMC with a check to expand attractions.
The Lowell Milken Center for Unsung Heroes also received a $6,300 check from Kansas Tourism Director Bridgett Jobe today.
The grant is to help expand attractions that draw tourists to the community.
The center will use the funds to create a new history panel on an unsung hero in Ukraine who saved 100’s of children from starvation in her Ukrainian town, said Ronda Hassig, spokesperson for LMC.
“The Lowell Milken Center is a treasure,” Jobe, said. “Coming here inspires me to be a better person. It inspires me that it’s here in Kansas.”
The Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce would like to thank all who attended or participated in the 2024 Parade held Thursday, December 5th in the Downtown Historic District.
The theme was “A Storybook Christmas” and many of the entries did an exceptional job of coordinating with the theme.
The parade was sponsored by Briggs of Fort Scott.
The panel of judges selected the following winners out of sixty entries:
1st place as USD234 Tiger Special Olympics
2 nd place as Tri-Valley Developmental Services, and
3rd place as Fort Scott FFA.
The contribution of many is what makes events like the Christmas parade successful.
The Chamber is sincerely appreciative of all who volunteered, announced, judged, and otherwise had a part in the parade.
Contact the Chamber for more information at 620-223-3566.
The Artificers at 8 N National Ave. is hosting an artist show tonight
December 6th from 5-9 pm, December 7th from 10am-9pm, and December 8th from noon-5 pm.
“We are so blessed to have returning artists that are with us every year as well as new artists that we invite because we love their art and want to offer unique gifts for purchase,” said Kate Freeman, part owner of the Artificers.
The list of Artists:
Trent Freeman (local) | Mixed Media Sculpture
Kate Freeman (local) | Clay Sculpture
Kate and Trent Freeman, from the Artificer Facebook page.
Erin Shevling (KC) | Functional Pottery
Erin Shelving. Submitted photo.
Darrell Williams (Nevada, MO)| Air Brush & Graphite
Diann Tucker, Wreaths Across Location Coordinator for Fort Scott National Cemetery has announced that this year’s goal has been met and a wreath will be provided for every site at the cemetery during the upcoming Wreaths Day ceremony.
Tucker extends her thanks to all who did fundraising and donations to make this possible. It is only through such generosity that we can accomplish this goal. She reminds us that if you did not get to support the 2024 fundraising campaign, they are already beginning to work on the 2025 goal. This is a year-long effort in to raise awareness and support to make this possible each year.
Saturday, December 14, the CFI Wreaths Across America semi-hauling wreaths for our soldiers depart to Fort Scott National Cemetery at 7:30 AM from the FSCC Harley Davidson School on 69 Highway north of Pittsburg, to arrive at the Fort Scott Cemetery about 8 AM.
The convoy from Pittsburg to Fort Scott will be led by the American Legion Riders Post 25. Motorcycles and personal vehicles are welcome to join the escort to Fort Scott. Boxes of wreaths will need to be off-loaded and distributed throughout the cemetery for laying after the ceremony. Volunteers will be needed to help unload the truck.
The Wreaths Across America ceremony will begin at 10 AM December 14 at Fort Scott
National Cemetery, with guest speaker Alan Drake, former U.S. Army. Immediately following the ceremony friends, family members and volunteers will be asked to present wreaths to each honored soldier resting at this cemetery site. Our mission emphasis continues to be Remember, Honor and Teach. Some limited golf cart transportation will be available to assist guests from parking areas to the ceremony location.
Please join us for this important event. We have the freedom to celebrate holidays and each day of our lives because of what our military has done and continues to do on our behalf each day.
City Hall Commission Room – 123 S. Main Street, Fort Scott, KS 66701
December 6, 2024 – 11:00 A.M.
Call to Order
Roll Call
Tim VanHoecke, Matthew Wells, Dyllon Olson, Kathryn Salsbury, Tracy Dancer
III. Pledge of Allegiance
Invocation
Approval of Agenda
Public Comment – Sign up required before the beginning of the meeting on register at the entrance of the Commission Room. Public Comments are for any topic not on the agenda and limited to five (5) minutes per person, at the Commission’s discretion.
VII. Unfinished Business
Consideration of Contractor’s Application for Payment No. 5-REV – Heck & Wicker, Inc. – Project No. 24-414 (Concrete and Dirt Work) $140,130.12
The new ice skating rink at the Gathering Pavilion on North National Avenue on December 4.
The new synthetic ice skating rink will open on Friday, December 6, from 4 to 9 p.m. on North National Avenue at the Gathering Pavilion.
The rink is a new event offered for Christmas on the Bricks Festival, and the rink will be open five weekends through the first weekend of January, according to the Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce website.
Hours on Saturday, December 7 will be from 12 pm-9 pm and on
Sunday, December 8 from 12 pm-4 pm
Starting next week, the rink will be open on Thursdays as well.
Admission is anticipated to be $5/skater.
People will sign waivers, skates will be for adults and children and also assistive devices will be available.
“Please be patient with us, this is all new,” Striler said about the skating rink procedures prior to skating.
Thanks to those in the community who came together to bring this project from dream to reality, according to the Chamber of Commerce website. The rink was totally paid for by donations.
Robert Coon’s A1Towing moved the rink room to the pavilion on Dec. 4.
The rink room will be the skate storage area for the skate rental and for paying for skating.
Brock Coon helps clean off the rink in preparation for the opening. Brock is the son of Robert Coon whose business, A1Towing, helped moved the rink room to the Gathering Pavilion on North National Avenue.The list of those helping with the rink setup. Submitted photo.
The rink project had delivery and setup help through help from the following: Matthew Wells and the Great Expectations Restoration crew, Kevin Allen, Craig Campbell, Robert Coon, Jeremy Dare, Frank Halsey, Jeff Allen Electric, Scott King, Rob Pfohl, Mitch Quick, Jared Weaver, The Bourbon County Sheriff’s Office for surveillance, The Fort Scott Public Library for the mobile hot spot, Heidrick’s True Value for the squeegees, Shawn Pytlowany for lighting. The skating rink room was constructed by the Fort Scott High School Career and Technical Education whose instructor is Jason Johnson.
The Annual Christmas Parade Is This Evening, Dec. 5
Fort Scott High School Band entertained the crowd at the Christmas parade from a past year.
To kick off the festival weekend is the annual Christmas Parade. The following is the list of almost 60 participants who are scheduled to be in the parade.
The lineup begins at Wall and National, in front of the radio station going north.
Park entries as close as possible to the west curb when lining up.
The entry number should be placed on the right/passenger side of your entry. Numbers can be picked up until 5 p.m. at the Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce at 231 E. Wall. If not picked up then, one can pick up at the radio station at Wall and National Avenue.
Entry participants are asked to pause briefly at the Heritage Pavilion at First and Main Street so the judges can announce your submitted remarks to tell of your business/organization/ entity.
Volunteers Still Needed
Diane Striler, the leader of the festival project, said volunteers are still needed for Saturday night for a few venues from 8 to 10 p.m.
Drivers will pick up prepared meals Buck Run Community Center and deliver to individuals on a designated route within Fort Scott City limits.
Please Contact Roz Scarborough for more information:
phone: 620-251-7313
All Volunteers must complete the background check application and return ASAP before being assigned a route. You can pick up an application at the K-STATE Research and Extension Office at 210 S. National, Fort Scott, KS.
Fort Scott Fire Department personnel wanted to get involved in their community at Christmas time.
Assistant Chief Mike Miles said the firefighters saw other departments in the region do a toy drive for the community and decided last year to organize one.
The toy drive will be from 5 to 8:30 p.m. on Wednesday, December 11 in front of the fire station.
“We wanted to get involved,” he said. “I’d seen it done elsewhere. We also do a boot drive in front of the department at 1604 S. National from 5 to 8:30 p.m. for monetary donations which will raise funds to buy gift cards for older children.”
“We will direct people with toys through the bay where they can leave their toys and go onto Judson Street then,” he said.
“We lower the bucket (on the fire truck) and people can drop toys in.”
Bicycle donations for ages 4-12 are needed.
The Beacon, a local helping agency and the local Elks Lodge will be the recipients of the toys that will be distributed to children.
About the Beacon
The Beacon Food Pantry in Fort Scott, KS, is dedicated to alleviating food insecurity by offering essential food assistance to households in need. Our mission is to ensure that individuals and families have access to nutritious food, supporting their health and well-being during challenging times, according to its website.
About the Elks
The Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks of the U.S.A. is a Fraternal Organization whose mission is to:
To inculcate the principles of Charity, Justice, Brotherly Love and Fidelity; to recognize a belief in God; to promote the welfare and enhance the happiness of its Members; to quicken the spirit of American patriotism; to cultivate good fellowship; to perpetuate itself as a fraternal organization, and to provide for its government, the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks of the United States of America will serve the people and communities through benevolent programs, demonstrating that Elks Care and Elks Share, according to its website.
