Workers were doing demolition on the building located at 9 S. National Avenue Wednesday, known as the old Tribune building.
Michael Barnard and members of the Yoder family were”gutting” down to the floor and wall, Barnard said.
The crew was hired by Walker Construction and Demolition, Barnard said.
Jennifer LaRoche is the owner of the building, since early 2017.
In a later interview, LaRoche said the demolition is part of the “cleaning up” of the historic building at Wall Street and National Avenue, “so we can see what we got”.
“We still have lots of ideas,” for the building, she said.
DeAnn Welch started the Adopt-A-Greyhound program eight years ago at Fort Scott Coummunity College because of a need she perceived.
In her job as FSCC Student Success Center Director and Tutoring and Testing Administrator see saw students coming to college from other distant states.
“They come here not knowing anyone,” Welch said. ” Some even come here on a one way bus ticket in hopes of playing football and getting away from a life that they could have ended up dead. It is a sad situation.”
She had an idea.
“I thought, why not place these kids with local families who can give them that home away from home,” she said.
“The families can have this student over for dinner, go to their games if they are athletes, and simply be a support system.”
The program has had many success stories, she said.
“Some families still keep in touch with their student and even travel to see their games when they advance to the next level. It truly has developed many lifelong friendships,” Welch said.
For more information, contact Welch at 620-223-2700, ext. 4300 or [email protected]
FULL TIME- O’REILLY AUTOMOTIVE
O’Reilly’s is seeking applications for a Store Counter Sales position. Must have excellent customer service skills. Automotive parts, equipment or systems knowledge. Available for flexible work schedule. ASE certification preferred. 2207 S Main St., Fort Scott
With the staggering prevalence of cancer in the United States, it’s likely every person personally knows of someone who has been diagnosed with the disease. According to the National Cancer Institute, an estimated 1,685,210 new cases of cancer were diagnosed in the U.S. in 2016.
More importantly, each case represents a life: a mother, father, sister, brother, friend or neighbor.
That’s where eighth-grade students from Mrs. Michelle Brittain‘s English class at Fort Scott Middle School decided to step in and take on a project which spreads a message of hope to patients at the Mercy Cancer Care Unit of Hope.
The students created sentimental hand-crafted notes on either cards, posters, or even in one case inside origami figures. The messages are displayed in the treatment area for patients, family members and caregiver to read.
“It is humbling to be included in this student-driven project that focuses on encouraging our cancer patients,” said Susan Wood, RN, Mercy Cancer Care Unit of Hope. “When I saw what the kids had created, it gave me goosebumps and brought a tear to my eye.”
The idea for the class project came after the class read a short story by Terry Brooks titled “Imaginary Friends” about a young man who was fighting leukemia. Additionally, all eighth graders recently traveled to the Coterie Theater for Project Art.
“On behalf of our patients, I want to extend a huge thank you to Mrs. Brittan and her students for this extremely kind gesture,” Wood added.
Mercy Hospital Fort Scott is an acute care hospital with 46 licensed beds, offering comprehensive medical, surgical, OB/GYN, pediatric, home care and hospice services. Inpatient care is provided with 24/7 physician coverage. In 2017, Mercy Hospital Fort Scott received The Leapfrog Group’s prestigious A rating. Mercy Clinic Fort Scott is located on hospital grounds as well as Mercy rural health clinics in Arma and Pleasanton.
Mercy, named one of the top five large U.S. health systems in 2017 and 2016 by Truven, an IBM Watson Health company, serves millions annually. Mercy includes more than 40 acute care and specialty (heart, children’s, orthopedic and rehab) hospitals, 800 physician practices and outpatient facilities, 44,000 co-workers and 2,100 Mercy Clinic physicians in Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri, and Oklahoma. Mercy also has clinics, outpatient services and outreach ministries in Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas. In addition, Mercy’s IT division, Mercy Technology Services, supply chain organization, ROI, and Mercy Virtual commercially serve providers and patients in more than 20 states coast to coast.
Community members are invited to a Legislative Update Coffee hosted by the Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce.
The event will take place on Saturday, March 3, 2018, from 9 to 10:30 a.m. at Catherine’s Café on the lower level of Mercy Hospital.
State legislators Senators Richard Hilderbrand and Caryn Tyson and Representatives Trevor Jacobs and Adam Lusker will give an update on the current session as well as address any issues or questions presented from the audience.
If you have a particular item you would like to have addressed and plan to attend, you may email the Chamber at [email protected] by 5 p.m. Thursday, March 1.
The general public is invited and encouraged to attend this Legislative Update on Saturday, March 3.
Coffee, juice and light breakfast refreshments will be served. The event is being sponsored by the City of Fort Scott, Landmark Bank, McDonald’s and Mercy Hospital.
For more information please contact the Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce at (620) 223-3566 or email [email protected].
Fort Scott Community College hosts the 37th Annual Spring Rodeo on March 9-11.
This action-packed rodeo will take place in the indoor Arnold Arena. The rodeo will feature 25 Kansas and Oklahoma 2-year and 4-year colleges competing for a variety of titles.
These athletes work hard, not only in the classroom but in the arena!
So get on out to Fort Scott Community College and watch them at work.
Friday, March 9 will kick off at 7:30 p.m., followed by Saturday, March 10 at 1 pm and 7:30 pm, and then finishing on Sunday, March 11 at 1 pm.
Admission is $8 for adults, $5 for FSCC students (with I.D.) $3 for children 6 to 12 and children 5 and under are free.
For more information, please contact Jaice Cross or Chad Cross at 620.223.2700 ext. 7030.
The Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce announces a Ribbon Cutting Ceremony to celebrate the grand opening of Quality Mechanics & Sound, LLC. – Opening at 501 S. National.
Quality Mechanics & Sound, owned by Lisa Thurston, Alan Ornstein, and Erin Thurston will offer a variety of services such as vehicle repair and maintenance, installation of car audio systems, keyless entry, remote start, and auto detailing.
Their business also includes Midwest Interlock, ignition interlock, and home monitoring services.
All Chamber members and their guests are encouraged to attend.
The event will take place on Thursday, March 1 from 12 pm to 2 pm with the ribbon cutting starting at 12:15 pm.
Attendees will be invited to stay following the ceremony for a cookout and drawings and to learn more about the business and the services they to offer.
Riverfront Park Pavilion is almost ready for public use.
“We have to plant grass and landscape,” Jerry Witt, chairman of the Fort Scott Bourbon County Riverfront Authority (FSBCRA), said.
The FSBCRA envisions the pavilion will be used for family gatherings or public concerts or meetings, according to Witt.
There will be a grand opening this spring for the pavilion.
“We’re gearing towards a ribbon cutting following a Chamber of Commerce Coffee on May 17 at 8:45 a.m.,” Witt said.
“That evening at 6 p.m. there will be hot dogs, watermelon, and desserts,” he said. “Then a free country music concert at 6:30 p.m. Jason Richison, Kinley Rice and Rick Cook and the Seminole Band will be here.”
The $38,000 pavilion was funded by a matching grant where 80 percent was provided by a Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks grant, and the FSBCRA paying 20 percent through local fundraising, Witt said.
Schenkel Contracting, Fort Scott, constructed the building purchased from Lester Building Systems of Minnesota, starting in early fall.
The 30 by 50 by 12-foot wooden frame, with commercial scissor trusses, a steel roof and gable ends, has electricity and lights.
The pavilion is located east of the parking area just inside Riverfront Park in the Belltown Trail area, north of the Marmaton River.
The next project of the FSBCRA is an overlook structure, Witt said.
“We will be building an overlook at the convergence of Mill Creek and the Marmaton River,” Witt said. “It will be a five-sided structure with some seating. It’s for educational and recreational purposes.”
Each side of the overlook will be 14 feet and it will be 24 feet across.
There will be a 40 foot American Disabilities Act compliant boardwalk leading to the overlook.
“The Westar Green Team is supplying the lumber and milling, the Riverfront Authority will supply labor,” Witt said.
Construction will begin in late spring or early summer, he said, with the contractor to yet be determined.
The FSBCRA is getting preliminary costs for possible lighting options in the park, Witt said.
In addition, the board is submitting a grant application for playground equipment, he said.
“It will be rustic logs and nature-type things for the kids,” Witt said.
The FSBCRA is regrouping for a historic bridge relocation to the park.
“We are looking at further grants,” Witt said. “We rejected the low bid because it was higher than the engineer thought it should be. The engineer thought it should $750,000, the low bid was $1.2 million, so we are starting over.”
The FSBCRA meets monthly.
For more information, contact Witt at 620-215-4817.
The old trailer park property that was on South Horton Street will see some revitalization in the future.
Tuesday the property at 1907 S. Horton, north of Community Christian Church, was rezoned.
“Along Horton, there will be a small shopping center service, a strip mall, for residents and (Fort Scott Community College) students,” Rhonda Dunn, Community Development Director for the City of Fort Scott said.
Along Huntington St. on the east side of the Horton parcel of land, there will be apartments or duplexes built, she said.
Patrick Wood and Jake Gross, with Two Dogs Barking Real Estate, are the owners of the property and have cleared it for development.
The business also owns Garrison Apartments at 1729 S. Horton and will be building similar apartments or duplexes at the site.
“They will be a higher end finish for young professionals,” Dunn said of the proposed apartments.
“The key is, it will not be mobile homes there,” Dunn said. “I keep strict regulations on mobile homes to make sure it’s the best quality we can get. The mobile homes in our town are ‘grandfathered in’. No one needs to worry I am going to get their mobile home.”
The house and outbuildings currently on the site will be sold and removed, she said.