Category Archives: Fort Scott

Old Tribune Building Being Gutted

Michael Barnard, working for Walker Construction and Demolition, points to the brick sections on the building at Wall Street and National Avenue, that will be converted back to the original storefronts, he said.

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.

A member of the Yoder family works on the demolition of the building at 9 S. National Avenue that most recently housed the Fort Scott Community College Cosmetology School. The school was a section of the Tribune building.

 

Host Families Needed For Students

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]

 

CHAMBER TO HOST LEGISLATIVE UPDATE COFFEE March 3

 Lindsay Madison, Executive Director Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce

 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].

Grand Opening For Quality Mechanics & Sound March 1

The Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce, 231 E. Wall.

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 Nearly Ready For The Public

Schenkel Construction workers constructed the pavilion at Riverfront Park starting in fall 2017. It is nearly complete.

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.

Members of Fort Scott Bourbon County Riverfront Authority discuss updates on construction projects at Riverfront Park at the Carriage House in September. Clockwise from left: Danny Magee, Bob Love, Allen Warren, Jerry Witt and Jeff Sweetser. Not pictured are Betty Boyko, Dean Mann, Arnold Scholfield, Penny Barnes and Dave Martin and Brian Leaders, who are ex-officio members.

“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.

For a previous story on the FSBCRA, click here:

Riverfront Park Pavilion Work Has Begun

Riverfront Park Pavillion Coming Spring 2018

 

Small Shopping Center Coming To South Horton Street

The new apartment complex will be located on Huntington Street, to the east of the Horton Street parcel of land.

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.

Rhonda Dunn,  Community Development Director with the City of Fort Scott.

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.

The Garrison Apartments on South Horton Street. The new complexes will be similar, according to Fort Scott Community Development Director Rhonda Dunn.

“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.

The house and outbuildings to be removed. The small shopping center will be located here.