Category Archives: Fort Scott
Ward Kraft Offers Careers, Not Just a Job to Their Employees
Jude Ward and Harold Kraft had a vision in 1972 of opening a company that would allow people a chance to grow financially and career-wise.
Mr. Ward and Mr. Kraft started up a printing company that would not only outperform the competition but would help create more opportunities for people who wanted a career and not just a job. Now over 45 years later, that “legacy” continues as Ward Kraft still stands at the top of the list when it comes to employers in Fort Scott, Kansas.
Ward Kraft employs 340 people.
That thirty-five percent of their current workforce has been employed at the company for ten years or more shows that Ward Kraft is a place that a person can call a career and not just a job.
What started out as a forms company in the early seventies has evolved into a company that specializes in forms, labels, plastics, and specialty products; working out of three divisions at their campus in Fort Scott.
Competitive wages (with wages ranging from $10.40 to $22.00 depending on the work area and skill level), good benefits, stability, advancement opportunities, and a good working environment are a just a few of the reasons the employees at WK have made the company their working home for so many years.
Dee Covey, who has been with the company for over 12 years says, “I have been blessed to have an awesome job. I work with great people who believe in teamwork and a boss who is very understanding and always listens to me”.
When asked about Ward Kraft and the longevity of their members, President of Manufacturing Phil Quick (a 28-year member) said, “I feel we keep good members at WK because of the work environment, and family atmosphere. Our managers and members care about doing the right thing for the customer, and the team. Attitude and effort are the main ingredients for being successful at WK.”
During the company’s annual Christmas dinner, service awards were handed out to members that were celebrating 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, and 40 years of service.
Celebrating 5 years: JoAnn Dugan, Ashley Farmer, Daniel Gauthier, Bryan Hughes, Brad Matkin, Mike Pyle, Richard Racer, Wayne Racy, Cindy Schroeder, Scott Smith, Chris Thurston, and Jay VanBuskirk.
Celebrating 10 years: Roberta Anderson, Ryan Kraft, Thom McCreedy, and Reva Dent
Celebrating 15 years: Ken Ash, Lisa Hull, Matt McClellan, Ben Morrell, Bob Piotrowski, Dana Ruhl, Jeanette Sisseck, Joshua Smith, Steve Williams, and Teresa Zimmerman.
Celebrating 20 years: David Budd, Sara Griffith, Michelle Heaton, Twila Milburn, Carey Mooney, and Randy Thurston
Celebrating 25 years: Billy Cowen, Steve Denton, Billy Hill, Bill Meech, and David Zimmerman
Celebrating 30 years: Mark Christy, Melinda Collins, Jesse Crum, Ray Mauck, and Joy Wiltse
Celebrating 35 years Gary Bosley, Danny Harper, Dennis Harper, and Roger Kraft
Celebrating 40 years: Patty Gauthier and Jerry Parsons
Celebrating the retirements of Jimmy Tucker (31 years of service), Danny Harper (35 years) and Joy Wiltse (30 years).
Ward Kraft, Inc. is part of the WK Holding Company which also includes local companies FS Munitions, KW Cattle Co., ReproLogix, 4 State Sanitation and Recycling, and Christian Learning Center.
Ward Kraft will hold a job fair on April 10th at the Empress Event Center, located at 7 North Main, from 10 am to 2 pm and will be looking for people who want to be part of their team.
Positions that are available are production members, sales personnel, and office staff to name a few. WK staff will be present to talk to prospective members about these opportunities and to answer any question you may have about the company.
Ward Kraft management believes the employees have made the last 45 plus years possible and successful and are still committed to hiring the “Person Not the Position”.
USD 234 Hires New Superintendent, Ted Hessong
Ted Hessong, currently superintendent of USD 456, was hired Tuesday evening by the USD 234 Board of Education. He will begin June 2, 2018, and was hired on a two-year contract as the new superintendent in Fort Scott’s school system.
The following is a FortScott.Biz interview with Hessong.
What motivated you to get into education?
“My mom was a teacher at Fort Scott Middle School, which was a great example of what a teacher should be. I was also active in sports and I wanted to be a basketball coach since 7th grade.”
Education?
” I graduated from Fort Scott High School and earned an Associates Degree from Fort Scott Community College. I got my Bachelor’s Degree in Science Education from Pittsburg State University. I also received my Master’s in Building Leadership and District Certification from PSU.”
Experience?
” My first two years in education I was a science teacher and coach at Pleasanton Junior/Senior High School in Pleasanton, Kansas. I then accepted a position at Frontenac Junior High and High School teaching science and coaching, where I did my student teaching. I spent 17 years at Frontenac School district, where I went from a teacher to assistant principal for the 6th-12th-grade building. I then became the first junior high principal at Frontenac because we separated the junior high from the high school. The last five years at Frontenac I was the high school principal following the retirement of one of my mentors, Joe Martin. The past two school years I have been the superintendent at Marais des Cygnes Valley School District, which is composed of the communities of Melvern, Quenemo, and Olivet in Kansas.”
Family?
“I have three children.”
What interested you in the position in Fort Scott?
“Fort Scott has tremendous respect throughout the state of Kansas as a top-notch district. I thought it would be a good opportunity for me to return to my hometown to lead the district that really gave me my start in education.”
What do you feel you bring to the district?
“I feel my leadership experiences have prepared me to lead Fort Scott in a variety of areas to provide the best opportunities for the students of Fort Scott to experience success.”
What assets do you see in USD 234?
” The biggest asset Fort Scott has to offer is the teachers, staff, and students at Fort Scott. All these groups are what make Fort Scott an excellent school district.”
Any concerns?
“No concerns at this time.”
Any interests besides education, hobbies?
“My biggest interest is spending time with my family and friends. I also enjoy sports, playing golf and mowing.”
Design Review For 202 State Street is April 12
The Design Review Board will meet on Thursday, April 12th, 2018 at 4:00 p.m. at the City Hall Commission Meeting room at 123 S. Main Street, Fort Scott, Kansas. This meeting will be held to discuss a Certificate of Appropriateness for alterations to the building at 202 State Street and any other matters that may come before the Board. This meeting is open to the public.
Low Water Pressure Possible Saturday, South of 21st Street
The City of Fort Scott will be updating some water distribution piping at the College Booster Pump Station on April 7th, 2018 – Saturday morning from 12 a.m. to 8 a.m.
Customers that live south of 21st Street may experience low water pressure during this time. For questions or concerns, please contact Michael Mix, Public Utility Director at 620-215-6319.
We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.
The Fort Scott Police Department Daily Report April 2-5
The Fort Scott Police Department daily report can best be viewed on a computer.
The FSPD is located at 1604 S. National, Fort Scott, KS 66701, phone 620-223-1700.
Click below, then click on the image to enlarge:
Fort Scott Events Schedule April 6-8
Fresh Coffee Online And Other Fort Scott Progressions
Don’t want to wait in line for your custom coffee?
At the Downtown Quarterly Meet and Greet at Common Ground Coffee Co. Tuesday morning, MacKenna Robinson said the coffee shop is beginning to offer online ordering.
“Online ordering is now at Common Grounds and in April, we are giving five-percent off (each order),” Robinson, assistant manager of the shop said.
To order go to https://squareup.com/store/common-grounds
Robinson also told the group that the coffee shop has been approved for a Blue Cross Blue Shield of Kansas Pathways to a Healthy Kansas grant, through the Healthy Bourbon County Action Team.
The grant will allow the coffee shop to purchase more equipment to serve fresh salads, Vicki Waldron, the manager said in a later interview.
Robinson said the coffee shop will also be a part of a meeting to make a directory of food producers and local restaurants. The meeting’s purpose is to form collaborations to get fresh locally produced foods to restaurant tables. The Buy and Eat, Meet and Greet event will start at 5:30 p.m. May 3 at Memorial Hall.
To learn more about the May 3 event see the Healthy Bourbon County Action Team Facebook page.
To learn more about the grantor, BCBSKS, click here:
https://www.bcbsks.com/pathways/
Other upcoming local events announced at the meeting:
- The 2nd Story Festival of Arts and Ideas is scheduled for April 27-29 around venues in Fort Scott. It includes workshops, improv comedy performances and a festival finale event and fundraiser Saturday evening. For more information: https://www.2ndstoryartfestival.com Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Lindsay Madison asked the group to attend the 2- 3:30 p.m. Saturday event titled “Creative Placemaking: Building the Artist Community in Fort Scott” by Marc Wilson at the Empress Event Center, 7 N. Main in downtown Fort Scott.
- There will be free outdoor movies offered at a location to be announced by Larry Gazaway, the city’s tourism manager. The movies are The Incredibles, May 25; Cars 3, June 22; Star Wars Night, July 20 and The Princess Bride, August 17.
- Art walks by the Bourbon County Arts Council will be from 5-8 p.m. at the Liberty Theater patio, on May 18, June 15, July 27 and Sept. 14.
- Smallville Crossfit is having a “Murph Challenge” on Memorial Day and Fort Games on June 23. See their Facebook page for more information.
- The Good Ol Days Festival is May 31 – June 2 this year. The theme is “The Great Outdoors.” The parade is at 6 p.m. June 1 and there will be Friday night shopping again this year downtown.
- There is a new website for tourism: www.visitfortscott.com/
- Free tourism trolley tickets are available, businesses are encouraged to add coupons to the ticket envelope to advertise. Contact Gazaway at the tourism office, 231 E. Wall.
- The Presbyterian Church will have a Sunday Serve Clean Up/Projects Day April 29 at 8:45 a.m.
- The Fort Scott National Historic Site Civil War Encampment is April 21-22.
- KOMB is hosting the 7th Annual Home, Sport, Farm, Garden Show at Arnold Arena at Fort Scott Community College April 13 -14. There will be 56 inside booths and more outside. Call 620-223-4500 for more information. Children’s activities will also be available.
- The Lowell Milken Center for Unsung Heroes is collaborating with Fort Scott National Historic Site to bring “Mother” Mary Bickerdyke to area fifth-grade students.
- There will be a woman’s luncheon April 25 at the Ellis Fine Arts Center at Fort Scott Community College. Vendor booth rental is $6. For more information contact Juley McDaniel at 620-223-2700 Ext. 5201.
- An interactive story time at the library will start soon, contact K-State Extension Agent Joy Miller for more information.
- Gary Palmer said he will be starting a retail printing business within the next 30 days. He will offer a discount to not-for-profit groups.
- The townwide yard sale will be May 11-12.
- In a recent conversation with Kansas Governor Jeff Colyer, City Manager Dave Martin said Colyer indicated the completion of the Hwy. 69 is a priority project. Martin also mentioned the positive movements in town: the Boiler Room Brewhaus expansion, the Liberty Theater building rehabilitation, the Hole in the Wall Liquor Store project, the Fort Scott Family Dental move to downtown, Bartelsmeyer’s renovating a downtown loft, progress on the old La Hacienda building, Arby’s Restaurant coming to the old Kentucky Fried Chicken facility, and the Fisher Park Project. Martin gave his cell phone number if anyone has questions: 620-644-2498.
- The Third Saturday Marketplace in collaboration with Fort Scott Farmer’s Market needs volunteers to oversee the event once a month, said Lindsay Madison.
- There will be a meeting at 4 p.m. Thursday, May 3 at the Empress Event Center, downtown, for senior citizens interested in senior housing options. Pat Wood will host the event, which includes drinks and hors d’oeuvres.
The meet and greet is hosted by the Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce the first Tuesday in January, April, July, and October each year.
Liberty Theater Gets A Facelift
MidContinental Restoration Co, Inc. workers on Tuesday morning prep the face of the Liberty Theater, 113 S. Main, for painting.
Foreman Ronnie Coulter, Bronson, is pictured on the ground while Foreman Jonas Greenway, Bronson is on the SkyJack which lifts him to do the work.
Coulter said they have replaced plaster and wood, re-anchored plastered details and then will paint this week if weather permits.
Liberty Theater Owner Jared Leek said he is giving the theater a facelift in preparation for the event season fast approaching.
Weddings and other special events are a part of the services the theater provides.
The Southpaw Preachers will perform next Saturday, April 14 from 8:30 to 11:30 p.m. at the Liberty, according to Liberty Theater’s Facebook page.
This band draws their inspiration from hard-hitting funk, soul, R&B, and rock. Southpaw blends both original music and covers.
Contact Jared Leek for more information by calling (620) 224-9787.
Leek also owns Crooner’s Lounge next door at 117 S. Main.
Crooner’s is open from 5 to 9 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday with happy hour from 5-6 p.m.
Chamber of Commerce Job Of The Day
JOB OF THE DAY – FULL-TIME FACILITY MANAGER – ADVANTAGE METALS RECYCLING
Advantage Metals Recycling is seeking applicants for the position of FACILITY MANAGER. Qualifications include bachelor’s degree in a business discipline, along with a minimum of 2 years’ experience in a business environment required; OR 5 years’ operations, heavy industrial or manufacturing experience with demonstrated leadership ability and understanding of business. Job requirements include creating a “Safety First” culture in each facility, the ability to lead teams, and the ability to represent the organization in local community and political matters. Apply online today! http://ow.ly/G3Qu30jhcMv
Fisher Park Project Moving Forward
Frank Adamson started seeing the need for improvements of Fisher Park, when his daughter, Hunter, starting playing softball there, three years ago.
Eventually, others joined him in the pursuit to improve the park and today they are awaiting engineering specifications of the first step, making more parking spaces at the park located at 7th and Main.
The Fisher Park Project group received a grant this last month from a local industry, the Timken Company, in the amount of $5,200 for the purpose of helping offset engineering fees
Agricultural Engineering Associates, Uniontown, is currently working on those specifications.
Once received, the specifications will help with the process of getting more grants to fund future park improvement projects, according to Adamson.
In addition to the parking lot, also envisioned in the project are concrete pads for wheelchair accessibility, more bleachers for viewing games, tearing down an unused tower that obstructs sight for viewers, and reconfiguring of the south ball diamond to make it regulation size.
More parking spaces are first on the list for improvement at Fisher Park.
Twenty-five standard parking spaces and one or two van accessible spaces will be provided in an off-street lot across Main Street from the ballpark.
Those serving on the Fisher Park Project board are Adamson, Josh Jones, Bill Michaud, Tom Robertson and Rhonda Dunn.
For more information, see the Fisher Park Project Facebook page or contact Adamson at the Courtland Hotel & Spa at 620-223-0098
The Fort Scott Police Department Daily Report April 1
The Fort Scott Police Department daily reports can best be viewed on a computer. The FSPD is located at 1604 S. National and can be reached at 620-223-1700
To view click here, then click on the image to enlarge it.