For Immediate Release
October 10, 2024
Submitted By: Lindsay Madison
Phone: (620) 223-3566
Email: [email protected]
HALLOWEEN PARADE
The Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce announces this year’s Halloween Parade will
be held Saturday, October 26th at 11:00 a.m. in Downtown Fort Scott.
Prior to the parade, starting at 10:00 a.m., there will be special activities including
pictures with a spooktacular backdrop at the City Scales building on North Main and face
painting by Fort Scott High School Thespians.
The parade trick-or-treats merchants along Main Street, starting at La Hacienda, south to
2nd Street, crossing the street then heading north back to Skubitz Plaza. Any businesses
or organizations in the community not located along Main Street are also welcome to set
up a table on the sidewalk providing treats, coupons, or other handouts for kids. Children
are encouraged to bring a sack or bag to collect treats along the parade route.
Following the parade, a free slice of pizza sponsored by Papa Don’s and a drink will be
served to kids in costumes.
The Chamber is currently seeking sponsors and donations for the event. Contact the
Chamber for more information at 620-223-3566.
Category Archives: Fort Scott
Military Vehicle Preservation Group Convoy Visits Fort Scott On Oct. 13-14
The community will see a unique group of vehicles in Fort Scott on October 13 and 14.
The 2024 Military Vehicle Preservation Association Convoy is coming through on its way to Louisiana from Minnesota.
The group was started in the 1970s by “a crazy group of people who started collecting vehicles,” said Charles Toney, convoy planner with responsibility of Fort Scott to New Orleans for the group. They are now in 100 countries around the world.
“The Military Vehicle Preservation Association is an international group of thousands of folks who purchase, rebuild and maintain ground-based military vehicles or transportation equipment,” he said. “MVPA.org. I believe 1974 was when it started.”
“The purpose is to preserve history and educate the public. I drive and maintain three vehicles because I enjoy the challenges and am a retired educator.”
City of Fort Scott Public Relations and Tourism Director, Jackson Tough said “We truly enjoy hosting groups like the Military Vehicle Preservation Association Convoy! Everyone wins when groups like this come through Fort Scott. We offer them a variety of accommodations, restaurants, and attractions and they offer our community an opportunity to see some very interesting military vehicles that we don’t often get to see.”
“There’s a lot of behind-the-scenes prep,” Jackson said. “We’ve been working on coordinating this for about a year and I’m glad the convoy is almost here. I hope folks join us at the National Historic Site and the VFW to experience these incredible vehicles and the patriots that pilot them.”
Where One Can View The Vehicles
The convoy of approximately 27 military vehicles will be on display at the Fort Scott National Historic Site (199 Old Fort Blvd.) from noon -2 PM while they tour the fort and historic downtown district on Sunday, October 13, according to a press release from Fort Scott’s Tourism Department.
The drivers and passengers will stay overnight in Fort Scott and be hosted for breakfast by the local Veterans of Foreign Wars, VFW Post #1165, on Monday, October 14. The post is located at 1745 S. National. The convoy vehicles will be on display again Monday morning at the VFW from 7:30 -10 A.M.
Afterward, they will travel through the Fort Scott National Cemetery as they depart for the next leg of the journey to Pittsburg, Kansas and points south, according to the press release.
The convoy will retrace the historic 1918 Jefferson Highway route from the Minnesota-Canadian border to New Orleans, Louisiana, traversing 2,500 miles. The group will travel through Minnesota, Iowa, Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, and Louisiana.
Vehicles, the oldest of which is from the 1940s, include Humvees, Jeeps and a Half, MRAP, Willys, MRZR, Tac-Ops, RSOV, and others.
The Route
The Jefferson Highway was built in the 1910s as part of the national auto trail system, an informal network of marked routes that existed in the United States and Canada. Named for President Thomas Jefferson and inspired by the east–west Lincoln Highway, the Jefferson Highway was nicknamed the “Palm to Pine Highway” for the varying types of trees found at either end.
For more information and to follow the convoy: www.facebook.com/MVPAConvoy.
U.S. 54 railroad crossing to close at Fort Scott On October 14-16 For Repairs
On Monday, Oct. 14, the BNSF Railway will close and begin repairs on the U.S. 54 railroad crossing at Fort Scott (see map). The crossing is expected to close to traffic from around 7 a.m. Monday until 5 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 16, weather permitting.
Traffic should follow the signed detour on Fort Scott city streets. The detour has an 11-foot driving lane width restriction and a vehicle length limit of 80 feet. Persons with questions may contact Priscilla Petersen at (620) 902-6433.
Thespian Tea Party This Saturday For Local Youth
The Fort Scott High School Thespians are hosting their 7th Annual Royal-Tea and Friends Party this Saturday, October 12 from 10 a.m. to noon at the FSHS Commons area and Courtyard.
“This is an annual fundraiser for the FSHS Thespian Troupe,” said teacher Angela Bin. “Many students play their chosen character throughout high school and some pass their character on to an underclassman when they graduate.”
The thespian students provide a snack, activity or craft and dress as their chosen character.
“We also have costumes that the children who attend can dress up in if they choose to,” Bin said.
In this land of make-believe children can join their favorite princesses and princes, queens and kings and other members of the royal court.
They are invited to take photos with favorite characters as they make crafts, have treats and play games.
Over 30 FSHS Thespians will be dressed in character and lead the event.
New this year is the inclusion of superheroes, villains and other cartoon characters.
Attendees are encouraged to come in costume as well.
Tickets for this special event are $5 per child and must be accompanied by an adult. Tickets may be purchased online in advance at fortscotthighschool.ludus.com or at the door.
Featured characters are the stars of the FSHS Fall Musical – Frozen Jr.
They include Junie Fisher as Elsa, Chris Newman as Anna, Theodore Bowman as Olaf, and Mykael Lewis as Kristoff.
FSHS performs Frozen Jr. on Nov. 12 and 14 at 7 p.m. and on Nov. 16 at 2 and 7 p.m.
For more information, please see the Fort Scott High School Thespians Facebook page or contact Angie Bin at [email protected] or 620-719-9622.
Scammers Are Active in Bourbon County
Scammers have figured out countless ways to get people to part with their money.
In some phone scams, they act friendly and helpful. In others, they threaten or try to scare you. They’ll do what it takes to get your money or your personal information to commit identity theft, according to the Federal Trade Commission https://consumer.ftc.gov/articles/phone-scams#howtorecognize
There have been some scammers working in Bourbon County.
On Monday, October 7, Southeast Kansas Multi-County Health Department Administrator Becky Johnson posted this on the agency’s Facebook page:
“If you or your business have been contacted by Promotional Specialties International requesting donations on behalf of the SEK Multi-County Health Department or Bourbon County Health Department, please be aware that this is not a legitimate request. They have falsely claimed that we are seeking sponsorships for t-shirts, which is not the case.
“This group has previously engaged in similar activities, successfully obtaining funds from several businesses under the pretense of supporting our local health department. We strongly advise against making any donations to this organization. Numerous complaints are noted in the Better Business Bureau for the same issues in other states.”
Patty Simpson, Executive Director of Fort Scott Housing Authority posted on her Facebook page yesterday:
“I received a call yesterday from a similar organization wanting donations to sponsor for the Uniontown School District. I told them we were a government entity and were not allowed to do such. Then she asked me if I knew of any other business that would be willing to donate. “
After being notified of the phone solicitation for his district, USD 235 Superintendent Vance Eden a few hours later posted on the Uniontown Public Schools USD 235 Facebook page:
“SCAM ALERT! If you receive a call from someone that you don’t know who is soliciting donations on behalf of USD 235, please do not give them funds. We were made aware of a call center trying to do this. Please know that they are not acting on our behalf nor providing us with any monies that they collect. Please share this information with those who may need it.”
The following is from the website https://consumer.ftc.gov/articles/phone-scams#howtorecognize
How To Stop Calls From Scammers
Hang up
Even if it’s not a scammer calling, when a company is calling you illegally, it’s not a company you want to do business with. When you get a robocall, don’t press any numbers to let you speak to a live operator or remove you from their call list. Instead, it might lead to more robocalls.
Consider call blocking or call labeling
Scammers don’t care if you’re on the National Do Not Call Registry. That’s why call blocking is your best defense against unwanted calls. Which type of call-blocking or call-labeling technology you use will depend on the phone — whether it’s a cell phone, a traditional landline, or a home phone that makes calls over the internet (VoIP). See what services your phone carrier offers and look online for expert reviews. For cell phones, also check out the reviews for different call-blocking apps in your app store. Learn more about blocking unwanted calls.
Don’t trust your caller ID
Scammers can make any name or number show up on your caller ID. That’s called spoofing. So even if it looks like it’s a government agency like the Social Security Administration calling, or like the call is from a local number, it could be a scammer calling from anywhere in the world.
Learn more about unwanted calls and what to do about them at ftc.gov/calls.
View the authentic historical artifacts from the Isreal, Middle East, and Asia Minor on Oct. 25-27
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| First Southern Baptist Church invites everyone of all ages!
October 25-27th
The Enduring Word Travel Museum Teaching the History and Significance of the Bible Non-denominational Exhibit & Programs View the authentic historical artifacts dating back to 5000 years from the Holy Land, Middle East, and Asia Minor. Ancient Torahs, Bibles, manuscripts, and pottery. Plus, a working replica of the Gutenberg press. Like used to print the first-ever Bible. |
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| See the chart below for event times or click here for a printable copy: |
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| A special thank you to our Chamber Champion members! |
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2024 Early Childhood Trunk-or-Treat Organizer Invites Resource Providers/Community Partners
On behalf of the USD 234 School District, we would like to invite you to the 2024 Early Childhood Trunk-or-Treat. This year’s event will be held on Wednesday, October 30 from 4:30-6:00 PM at the Fort Scott Preschool Center Gym. All children ages birth through six years old and their families are invited to attend. Last year, school staff and community partners were able to connect with 205 children and their families at our Trunk-or-Treat.
If you are a family resource provider or a community partner, we invite you to attend and set up a table from which children can trick-or-treat. Agencies typically pass out snacks, candy, trinkets, small prizes, etc. During this time, you may also provide brochures, resources, and/or helpful information related to your program. Our goal is to inform families about the resources available in our community.
If you plan to attend our event, please fill out the form below by Friday, October 18th so we can have a table reserved for your organization.
Early Childhood Trunk-or-Treat
Nick Johnson, FSPC Principal
(620) 223-8965
Murder and Mayhem at the Fort: Special Halloween Candle Lantern Tours
Fort Scott, Kan. – Thursday, October 31, 2024, join Fort Scott National Historic Site for a special candle lantern walk through the Murder and Mayhem at the Fort. Tour leaders, from the 1840s-1860s, will share some of the lesser told tragedies and macabre events that were far too common in Fort Scott’s 19th century. These four special Halloween lantern tours will start every 30 minutes beginning at 6:30 pm. Tours are free and open to the public however space is limited and required reservations will open Friday, October 18, at 8:30 am.
Those with reservations, please arrive 10 minutes early to allow time to park and get oriented. Participants are advised to please dress for the weather and conditions, as the entire tour will be outside and on sidewalks.
Fort Scott National Historic Site’s, a unit of the National Park Service, exhibit areas and visitor center are open Friday through Tuesday from 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. The park grounds are open daily from a half hour before sunrise until a half hour after sunset. To find out more or become involved in activities at the Fort, please contact the park at 620-223-0310 or visit our website at www.nps.gov/fosc.
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Credit Photo as: NPS Photo
Name Change For Mortgage Business at 1 E. Wall Street
Open Mortgage has a new name: Guild Mortgage
The business, located downtown at 1 E. Wall Street, started with Guild Mortgage on June 17, 2024.
“We wanted more opportunities to help more clients,” said David Vonfeldt, branch manager. “With us moving to Guild Mortgage we are able to offer more loan programs to assist more clients. The company itself has been in business for over 63 years and is ranked in the top 10 for mortgage companies.”
The services the business offers the community are home loans, Home Equity Line of Credit HELOC loans, bridge Loans, refinancing.
“Bridge loans are short-term loans using your home’s equity to put money down on a new home before selling your current home,” he said.
To Buy A House
The process of getting a mortgage is complex, Vonfeldt said.
Here is a flyer for new home buyers wanting to know the process: #3204155_Homebuying Process_Flyer_C
“The information needed to start the process is name, date of birth, two-year residence history, two-year work history, income, and assets. Most of all this information is entered into the loan application and then the appropriate documents are provided to prove the entered information.”
“Interest rates change every day and for me to quote an actual rate I would need to have an actual application for a mortgage. I can tell you that we are very competitive on interest rates and that they are starting to come down,” he said.
“We are the number one U.S. Department of Agriculture lender in the country which gives us the ability to give great interest rates and favorable terms. A USDA loan is a no-money-down loan for low to moderate-income families and is a very popular loan in rural areas, which makes it a great option for the residents of Ft. Scott.”
For more information call +1 (620) 268-2945.
David Vonfeldt – Branch Manager
Joe’ Fritter – Loan Officer
Monica Creighton – Originating Loan Officer/Assistant 
Downtown Quarterly Meet and Greet Tomorrow at 8:30 a.m.
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Promotional Specialties International Donation Requests Are Not Legitimate
Notice from Becky Johnson, SEK Multi-County Health Department Administrator/ Local Health Officer:
If you or your business have been contacted by Promotional Specialties International requesting donations on behalf of the SEK Multi-County Health Department or “Bourbon County Health Department”, please be aware that this is not a legitimate request. They have falsely claimed that we are seeking sponsorships for t-shirts, which is not the case. This group has previously engaged in similar activities, successfully obtaining funds from several businesses under the pretense of supporting our local health department. We strongly advise against making any donations to this organization.
Numerous complaints are noted in the Better Business Bureau for the same issues in other states.
Thank you!
Lisa Dillon: New FS Housing and Community Development Coordinator
Lisa Dillon started as the new City of Fort Scott Housing and Community Development Coordinator on September 23.
Her wages will be split over a couple of different funds including economic development, FS City Manager Brad Matkin said.
“I graduated from high school in 1986 and later attended Fort Scott Community College. I have gained valuable insights into community development and social issues with prior employment and volunteering ventures with different communities through the years,” Dillon said.
She has experience in real estate, residential lending, and community programs that assisted families.
The following was provided by Matkin about the roles that Dillon and her department head, Mary Wyatt, play.
Planning, Housing, and Business Development Department
The Planning, Housing, and Business Development Department plays a vital role in shaping the future growth and sustainability of a community. It focuses on urban planning, housing initiatives, and business development strategies, ensuring they are integrated to create a vibrant and resilient community. This includes planning, implementing, and evaluating programs that foster economic growth, improve public infrastructure, enhance housing options, and strengthen community ties.
Director of Planning, Housing, and Business Development: Mary Wyatt
- Oversee the Housing and Community Development Coordinator, Tourism and Public Relations Coordinator, Codes Department, and Woodland Hills Golf Course.
- Work closely with the Kansas Department of Commerce on promoting Fort Scott to entice businesses to come to our community.
- Ensure the City of Fort Scott is competitive regionally attracting prospective companies to the City.
- Work with the area Chamber of Commerce to strengthen relationships with existing businesses.
- In partnership with the Chamber of Commerce and local realtors, develops, and maintains a comprehensive inventory of available buildings and sites in the community.
- Provide education to possible new businesses for grants, funding, and locations.
- Report to the commission quarterly on findings, wins, and expectations of the Planning, Housing, and Business Development Department.
- Develop short- and long-range economic development plans.
- Lead efforts to attract new businesses to the City of Fort Scott or Bourbon County.
- Develop incentive programs to encourage business investment in the community.
- Represent the City of Fort Scott at regional and national economic development conferences and trade shows.
- Study and monitor the up-to-date market statistics and demographics for existing businesses, labor shed, and market data for businesses interested in relocating or locating in Fort Scott.
Housing and Community Development Manager: Lisa Dillon
- City liaison for the City of Fort Scott Land Bank
- Educate investors on housing incentives
- Legislative liaison working with Kansas League of Municipalities to influence state and federal legislation.
- Develop, implement, and manage housing and community development programs.
- Oversee the administration of grants and funding for housing and community development projects.
- Ensure that all housing and development projects comply with local, state, and federal regulations.
- Collaborate with the Codes Department to provide support and assistance
- Prepare and submit required reports and documentation to regulatory bodies.
- Continued education in housing, codes, and community development regulations.
- Identify and secure funding sources for housing and community development
- Report quarterly on housing developments and community activities to the City Commission
- Help the Director of Planning, Housing, and Business Development with incentive programs to encourage business investment in the community.
- Promote the development of affordable housing and improve existing housing stock with the assistance of the Codes department.
- Work with the City of Fort Scott’s bond counselor to promote and execute the city’s RHID program.
- Foster a collaborative and innovative work environment
Her office is located at City Hall, 123 S. Main Street Fort Scott, and her phone number is 620.223.0550.
