Category Archives: Fort Scott

Fort Scott, Housing

Need Help? GNAT Is Taking Applications

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This property on South National Avenue was one of the projects that the Good Neighbor Action Team helped with. The house is owned by the Youth Activity Team, who is remodeling it as a fundraiser. GNAT has put in around 40 man hours on the project so far, Craig Campbell said.

For over a decade the Good Neighbor Action Team has been helping Fort Scottians with painting, helping rid yards of debris, building handicap ramps and other needed projects.

The team provides help for those who are not able to do the job themselves.

“A lot of times, people need a truck or chainsaw to get debris off their property,” Craig Campbell, a member of GNAT, said.

The volunteer group does all kinds of work, but GNAT doesn’t do roofs.

“We don’t put volunteers on roofs,” Campbell said. “There are grants available with no payback through USDA, also there are low-interest loans for different income levels and ages. We can put tradespeople together (for jobs like that), it requires expertise.”

“If people can’t provide materials or funds to help, we can help with that,” he said.

“Funds come from donations from social clubs, for example, Pioneer Kiwanis, who is a constant donor to our cause,” he said.

“When a group takes on a project,  a church, for example, will help fill in the funding gap on the project they are working on,” Campbell said.

“I need to work with churches,” Campbell said. “They are a good source for locating people who could use GNAT help.”

Additionally, churches are a reliable source for providing volunteer workers for projects.

“We get a lot of volunteers from churches,” he said.

The volunteers are asked to give three hours of work per project.

“We think in terms of a three-hour time slot (for the project),” Campbell said. “From 9 a.m. to noon on a Saturday. For a volunteer to do that is wonderful.”

GNAT has tried to handle the project workloads using the model of Habitat For Humanity, he said.

Work project recipients are asked to provide family and friends to assist GNAT workers.

“We bring five people, you bring five people,” Campbell said.

In addition,  proof of income is required with one of the following: income tax return, pays stubs from the last two paychecks, a Vision card or Healthwave card.

“We are getting started thinking about the season (for projects) which is from March to October,” he said. “There will be an emphasis on painting this year.”

Applications can be picked up at the Beacon, 525 E. Sixth; the Chamber of Commerce, 231 E. Wall, or city hall, 123 S. Main.

“You can return the application to the place you picked it up, or to Jara Martin at 824 S. Main,” Campbell said.

Completion of an application, doesn’t guarantee acceptance of a project request.

 

 

 

Fort Scott

Madison Toth Wins Oratorical Competition

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Madison Toth receives an award from Post Commander Carl Jower Saturday.

Congratulations to Madison Toth, winner of the Fort Scott Oratorical competition on Jan. 26. Madison received a $100 gift card and certificate of participation from American Legion Post 25  Commander Carl Jowers and will represent Post 25 at the District Oratorical competition in Olathe next month.

The volunteers who helped with the  American Legion Oratorical Competition. Not pictured is Skyler McDaniel.

 

Fort Scott, Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce

2019 SEK Day on the Hill Jan. 31

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2019 SEK Day on the Hill
Join us for breakfast and networking with Chambers across SEK, State Legislators, SEK Businesses, and State Officials
2019 SEK Day on the Hill is coming! Join us in Topeka, KS on Thursday, January 31st for breakfast and networking with Chambers across SEK, State Legislators, SEK businesses, and State Officials.
We will enjoy a great breakfast at The Celtic Fox (118 SW 8th Ave., #202), learn about the SEK legislative priorities, and hear from several of our area Legislators and State Officials on what to expect this Legislative Session.
Afterward, we’ll cross the street to the Capitol to meet with your individual legislators, attend the House and Senate Chamber sessions, or attend a Committee meeting. Our goal is to ensure that our region has a strong unified voice in Topeka!
Click hereto register for this event. The cost, which includes breakfast, is $10 for Chamber members, $15 for Non-Chamber members.
Also, plan to attend the free networking event at 7pm, Wednesday, January 30, at The Downtown Ramada Hotel (420 SE 6th Ave., Topeka). We have reserved a block of rooms for SEK Inc. The phone number is (785) 234-5400 if you would like to reserve a room for that night.
For more information, contact Trisha Purdon (Montgomery County Action Council) at
(620) 331-3830 or email: tpurdon@actioncouncil.com
Fort Scott

Oratorical Competition Jan. 26

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The Post 25 American Legion Oratorical Competition is Saturday, January 26 at 9 am. This year’s competition will be held at the First Southern Baptist Church at  1818 S. Main St.
The competition is open to the public. The winner of the Post 25 oratorical competition will compete against other 2nd District Post oratorical winners  on February 16 in Olathe.
 
Please come and support your Post and the students who have spent considerable time and effort preparing for this competition.
Business, Fort Scott

City State Bank Reno Completed

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City State Bank, 202 Scott Avenue, has an updated look. Submitted photo.

A business that has been in downtown Fort Scott for over 60  years has received an update in the form of a remodel.

The original City State Bank downtown building was constructed in 1957.

It needed an update, said John Hill, president and CEO of the bank.

“The new drive-thru and ATM allow us to better serve our customers who drive larger vehicles.,” Hill said. “The remodel reflects the type of service we are trying to give our existing and new customers in Fort Scott. It also shows our commitment to downtown.”

There will be a Chamber of Commerce ribbon cutting and grand reopening on Feb. 7 at 5 p.m.

The bank is located at 202 Scott Avenue.

“The inside is completely remodeled with a new layout that includes new flooring, teller desk, furniture, lighting and décor,” Hill said.

Submitted photo. The interior of City State Bank, January 2019.

The outside facelift includes new stone, stucco, drive-thru canopy, a new island ATM, sidewalks and lighting.

The backside of City State Bank following renovation.

The remodel started in August 2018 and was completed by January 2019.

LaForge and Budd Construction Company, Inc of Parsons, Kansas was the general contractor.

In addition, “We used many local vendors and contractors,” working of the project, Hill said.

The bank can be reached at 223-2419 for the downtown branch, or 223-1600 at the 1012 Hwy. 69 branch.

 

 

Business, Fort Scott, Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce

Chamber Coffee at Sharkey’s Jan. 24

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WEEKLY CHAMBER COFFEE REMINDER
Join us for Chamber Coffee
 
Hosted by:

Sharky’s Pub & Grub
 
Location:

16 N. National Ave., Fort Scott
Thursday, January 24, 2019


Click here for Sharky’s Facebook page.


Chamber members and guests are encouraged to attend for networking, community announcements, and to learn about the hosting business or organization.
Members may pay $1 to make an announcement about an upcoming event, special/sale/discount, or news of any kind.
Upcoming Coffees:
January 31 – Southwind Extension District
February 7 – City State Bank
February 14 – Visage Skin Care
February 21 – Cancer Center of Kansas
Business, Fort Scott

Dollar General Will Undergo Big Remodel, Reopen Feb. 14

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Dollar General, at 2001 S. Main in Fort Scott, will be closing at 5 p.m. on Sunday, February 10 for an interior remodel of the store.

“We will be closed from Monday through Wednesday, then reopen on Thursday, Feb. 14 at 8 a.m.,” LaDonna Sandstoe, the store manager said.

The remodel will expand the freezers and coolers, and add new cash registers and new items, she said.

“It’s a good time with Price Chopper (grocery store) closing,” Sandstsoe said. “The whole back wall will be freezers and coolers. That is expanding. The store will be able to hold more perishables.”

The freezer and cooler section will be expanded in the upcoming Dollar General remodel.

In an effort to reduce inventory, since January 13, the store has been having a clearance sale, she said.

“We are having 50 percent off on all apparel,” Sandstoe said.

Following the remodel, the store will not carry apparel, she noted.

In addition to clothing,  there are 50- percent -off- sales for all kitchen, bath and laundry accessories, ladies wallets, and baby items, she said.

“Currently, there are six employees at the store, and I’m looking to hire a few more,” Sandstoe said.

The stores hours are 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. seven days a week.

The phone number is 620-223-4136.

 

Business, Fort Scott

Stutesman’s Realty presents Five Open Homes for Viewing Jan. 26

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Winter Blast Tour 2019
Stutesman’s Realty presents 5 Open Homesfor Viewing
Stutesman’s Action Realty presents:
Winter Blast Tour, Saturday, January 26th from 12:30pm – 2:30pm:
Please stop by these 5 beautiful homes and enjoy refreshments as you tour these homes and bring an item to donate for the Fort Scott High School Clothes Closet and Pantry.
Open Home Addresses:
  • 1005 S. Burke
  • 11 Golfview
  • 1315 Marblecrest Dr.
  • 502 Fairway
  • 863 195th St.
For more information, contact Stutesman’s Action Realty at (833) 286-8400 or visit their website by clicking here.
Entertainment, Fort Scott

Dancing With Our Stars Feb. 9

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9th Annual Dancing With Our Stars 2019 – Totally 80’s Edition
Tickets on Sale Now!!
Save the Date for Rotary’s
2019 Dancing With Our Stars ~
TOTALLY 80’S EDITION!
Join us on Saturday, February 9th at 7pm for the
9th Annual Event, at the Danny & Willa Ellis Family Fine Arts Center, 2108 S. Horton St.
Dancing entries of 2-9 participants each (couples, trios, teams, etc.) select a song of their choice to reflect the 80’s theme, select a charity they wish to dance for, and compete by raising the most dollars for their charity prior to the event and during intermission of the event when attendees vote for their favorite dance entry by voting with their dollars. The winning team will take home a trophy and a cash prize for their charity of choice. Additional awards include most entertaining and best technical performance.
Tickets are $15 for VIP seats and $10 for General Admission. All seats are reserved. Purchase your tickets now at the Chamber of Commerce,
231 E. Wall St.
For more information, contact Janet Braun at
(620) 224-6856 or email: jbraun@classic.net
Fort Scott, Health Care

Fort Scott’s Cancer Center to Close Jan. 31

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Cancer Center of Kansas, located in Mercy Hospital Clinic, Jan. 21..

In connection with the closure of Mercy Hospital at the end of 2018, the Cancer Center of Kansas, which was located in the hospital clinic is closing.

The last day of operation for the center in Fort Scott is Jan. 31.

The center is offering the same service in Chanute and Parsons for its patients, said Dr. Yoosaf Abraham, Chief Operating Officer for Cancer Center of Kansas, Wichita.

The reason for the closure?

“We can not provide services to our patients, without ancillary services,” Abraham said.

Services such as  a labratory and surgeons are no longer available at Fort Scott, Abraham said.

Dr. Phu Truong and Dr. Nassim Nbbout, the current doctors in the Fort Scott Cancer Center of Kansas, can be seen at the Chanute and Parsons Cancer Center of Kansas facilities, he said.

The two nurses currently employed at the Cancer Center in Fort Scott are employees of Mercy Hospital, Abraham said.

“This will affect many in our community,” said Karen Endicott-Coyan. ” I currently take weekly chemo treatments at the center…this is extremely disheartening. I take chemo weekly with no end in sight, as there is no cure for my disease.”

 

Business, Entertainment, Fort Scott

Young Adult Fantasy Author to Speak at FSHS and Hedgehog.INK

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ELANA MUGDAN, FIVE-STAR INDIE AUTHOR, TO APPEAR AT

FORT SCOTT’S NEW BOOKSTORE, HEDGEHOG.INK

~ BOOK SIGNING and AUTHOR TALK ~

ELANA A. MUGDAN’s debut novel, DRAGON SPEAKER, was released in North America on October 15, 2018.

At 4:00 PM on Friday, January 25, 2019 Ms. Mugdan will appear at Fort Scott’s new bookstore, Hedgehog.INK, at 16 S. Main Street. She will be hosting an Author Talk with a Q&A session, and signing copies of her book.

Dragon Speaker is the first in a cycle of five novels in Mugdan’s Shadow War Saga. The series is in the popular Young Adult Fantasy genre. After having been published in 2016 by Pen Works Media in England, the book was accepted as an outstanding independent work by DartFrog Books, a leading sponsor of indie authors and booksellers.

Dragon Speaker is one of a select group of novels placed in 50 brick-and-mortar stores across the nation that have partnered with DartFrog Books to showcase and promote exceptional talent. Chanticleer Book Reviews raves: “High fantasy that hits all the marks … fantasy — adventure — coming of age. It’s all here in Elana Mugdan’s Dragon Speaker!” Reader’s Favorite adds: “A fresh premise to the classic dragon theme.”

Everyone knows this story: an unlikely young hero is chosen by divine providence to save the world from a terrible evil. Except Keriya Nameless is crippled, without the power to wield magic in a world where everyone else can. The god who chose her is a mysterious dragon with a knack for exploiting loopholes in the rules of the Allentrian universe. Oh — and that terrible evil the world needs to be saved from? Maybe it’s not quite as evil as everyone says.

Mugdan is an award-winning filmmaker and screenwriter. In 2010 she wrote, directed, and produced her first professional feature-length film, Director’s Cut. It was an official selection at fourteen film festivals in the U.S. and abroad, earning widespread acclaim and winning major awards at four of them, including the Indie Spirit Special Recognition Award at the prestigious Boston International Film Festival in April, 2011. The picture received distribution by Digital Magic Entertainment in 2012 under the title Let’s Make a Movie.

Mugdan is a New York City native who lives a quiet but eccentric life with her pet snake, Medusa. She brings an authentic air to her book signing events and readings by appearing in full Allentrian costume, and encourages attendees to come dressed in their own favorite costumes as well.

Earlier the same day, Mugdan will be speaking to students at Fort Scott High School. She will talk about writing as a career, and discussing today’s publishing industry. She will describe the challenges and rewards of a creative life.