The fall lineup of youth and family programming for the Fort Scott Public Library.
Submitted by
Valetta Cannon
Fort Scott Public Library
Youth Librarian & Assistant Director
Tuesdays at 10 a.m.: Storytime with Miss Val – Enjoy themed stories, songs, crafts, snacks, and playtime in the library’s event room. Our upcoming themes are: Camping on August 29, Grandparents on September 5, and Apples on September 12.
Wednesdays at 4:30 p.m.: 4th – 12th grade group meets for game nights, movie nights, crafts, book discussions, community service projects, and more. Snacks are always served. Our next event is Blanket Fort Movie Night on August 30.
Marvelous Monday Homeschool events are monthly on the 2nd Monday at 4 pm. Our first event of this school year will be our Back to Homeschool Party on September 11. Meet at the library to explore robotics, STEM, local history, writing, photography, web design, and much more. The library is seeking special guest speakers to cover various topics related to homeschooling. Interested? Email Miss Val at [email protected].
Coding Club: The 6th-12 grade group meets on the 1st & 3rd Thursday of the month at 4:30. The 3rd-5th grade group meets on the 2nd & 4th Thursday of the month at 4:30. The program is sponsored in part by Girls Who Code, and the library uses their curriculum and Club Funds program to help facilitate the meetings. Participants will learn basic elements of coding and explore robotics, enjoy snacks, and use a variety of technology to work on group projects.
Book Club for 4th – 12th grades:Meet Miss Val at Common Ground to discuss books, play bookish games, and enjoy free treats, courtesy of the FSMS VIP’s.
Star Wars Reads Day on October 23, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.: Celebrate all things Star Wars at the library. Snacks, games, books, crafts, movies, prizes, and activities are provided. All ages welcome.
Literacy Reward Programs:The library offers three literacy reward programs year-round: 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten for ages Birth to K; 500 Books Before Middle School for grades 1st to 5th; 100 Books Before Graduation for grades 6th to 12th. Prizes and milestones vary.
All library programs are free and open to the public. Find out more about the library’s programs and sign up at fortscott.mykansaslibrary.org.
Jackie Warren at the memorial , a labyrinth path, at Riverfront Park for her late husband, Allen Warren. Her husband was on the Riverfront Authority Board until his recent death. Jackie and Allen volunteered labor and equipment to help construct the park, according to Jerry Witt. Submitted photo.
The Belltown Trail in Riverfront Park continues to be popular, even though Fort Scott is under a heat advisory, according to Jerry Witt. “Many exercise enthusiasts continue to walk the trail under the shade of the tree lined path.”
“A lot of people use the park,” he said.
Witt is chairman of a board called the Riverfront Authority that has been improving the park on North National Avenue in Fort Scott since 2005.
There is a new addition to the park added this summer.
The Fort Scott Area Community Foundation awarded a $1,500 grant to construct a labyrinth path, according to Witt. A labyrinth concrete pad has been completed next to the west side of the half-mile Belltown Trail. A labyrinth is a complex and circuitous path that leads from a beginning point to a center.
“It was Allen Warren’s idea to construct a labyrinth path in Riverfront Park,” he said. “He met with his Methodist minister, Christopher Eshelman, and Riverfront staff to talk about the possibilities of this being placed in Riverfront Park. But before the final plans were in place, Allen passed away.”
For the many hours of volunteer labor and use of his tractor equipment donated to the park construction, Witt decided to go ahead with the project and dedicate the labyrinth to Allen’s memory.
“The 24 ft. by 24 ft. concrete pad structure can be used by citizens to walk it’s path for meditation or just as a playful path for exercise,” Witt said. ” A plaque to honor Allen will be placed by the structure.”
History of Riverfront Park
Members of Fort Scott Bourbon County Riverfront Authority discuss updates on construction projects at Riverfront Park in 2017. From left clockwise: Dan Magee, Bob Love, Allen Warren, Jerry Witt and Jeff Sweetser.
The park began as an outshoot of a town wide visioning event in 2005, when citizens wanted to develop the Marmaton River as an asset to the community.
“Dean Mann saw the vision of a riverfront park and he was the original chairman, until he retired several years ago,” Witt said.
The Fort Scott Bourbon County Riverfront Authority was formed in April 2007, with approval from then Kansas Governor Sebelius.
Their mission was to purchase and develop land along the river to create a park and they also created a master plan.
“We had to have property owners buy in to the vision of the park,” Witt said. “Most donated land to the Riverfront Park.” That process took years.
The Belltown Trail information kiosk at Riverfront Park.
Since then the following has been put in the park: a lighted walkway, parking spaces, an observation deck at rivers edge, a pavilion and a loop drive on the south side of the river which goes under Hwy. 69.
Riverfront Park’s overlook structure in 2021.
Local artist Stephan Toal has beautified the inside of the underpass with historical murals.
Murals by Stephen Toal. Submitted photo.
The Fort Scott Garden Club has planted and maintained a flower garden on the south side, with the Fort Scott Fire Department watering it. The City of Fort Scott put in a facility in the southwest part of the trail for people to fill their water bottles.
“The city has plans to build a walkway from the north side of the bridge to the Bell Town Trail, probably this fall,” Witt said.
Paul Ballou, who works for the city helps maintain the park and does “a great job,” Witt said.
The park has been used for weddings, business meetings on nice days, car shows and many other events..
“There will be a festival in the park on Sept. 30,” Witt said. “It will be all day and feature Bluegass music and a car show.”
To reserve the pavilion, one must call the city offices at 223-0550.
Members of the Riverfront Authority at the ribbon cutting of the pavilion in 2018. From left Allen Warren, Arnold Schofield, Danny Magee, Jerry Witt, Dean Mann and Betty Boyko.
Current members of the Riverfront Authority board: Penny Barnes, Dan Magee, Bob Love, Arnold Schofield, Jeff Sweetser and Witt. Mann remains an ex-officio member, and Kate Sweetser is a part of the group as well, Witt said.
Congratulations to Fort Scott High School Senior Katelyn Dancer on being named a 2023 College Board National Recognition Program Awardee!
Katelyn earned this academic honor because of her GPA of 3.5 or higher and outstanding performance on the PSAT/NMSQT, PSAT 10, and/or AP Exams. She is being recognized as part of the National Rural/Small Town Recognition Program. Award winners are given the opportunity to include this academic honor on their college applications, and many colleges intentionally recruit awardees through College Board’s Student Search Service.
Congratulations Katelyn and keep up the good work!
This is part of a series featuring the new teachers at Fort Scott’s School District.
There are 20 new teachers this year.
Karen Self. Submitted photo.
Karen Self, 56, is a new English teacher at Fort Scott High School.
“As a child we had a basement that had a chalkboard and desks that we purchased from the three-room grade school that had closed its doors in our rural neighborhood,” she said. “Mrs. Green…. my 5th grade teacher, let me choose anything I wanted from the pile of going-to-be-thrown-away textbooks. I took those books home and devoured them. I played teacher…for hours at a time, reading and exploring these old textbooks and trying to get my siblings to play along. Today, I am taking that next step into my childhood dream.
Creating an atmosphere of safety and peace when chaos abounds, like so many incredible educators did for me throughout my school years, is a passion for me.”
“I have substituted in USD 234 in the last few years, but most of my experience comes from raising, nurturing and advocating for my children,” Self said. “I also volunteered as a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) for children in foster care for 6 years.”
For her education she attended Missouri Southern State University, University of Missouri-Kansas City, Butler County Community College, and finished her secondary education degree taking night classes at Newman University, Wichita.
She has 10 children ranging from 16-35 years of age and 6 grandchildren, 6 months to 13 years of age.
In her spare time she loves to read and write, among other interests.
“I am fascinated by British TV, British accents and London,” she said. “For the last decade I have explored writing and hope to one day write a book about the beautiful life lived by my lovely daughter, P.J., who succumbed to the ravages of muscular dystrophy and left this earth in 2011. My favorite pastime of all time is spending time with my children and grandchildren.”
“I love that moment when the look of confusion or frustration on a student’s face is replaced with the ‘aha’ delight of catching the inspiration of learning something for the first time,” she said.
Julie Forkner, is a new Fort Scott Preschool Interventionist.
She earned a BS in Elementary Education and Early Childhood and has taught for 38 years.
“I enjoy small children and building relationships with families and helping shape the future and making a positive difference in kid’s life’s!” she said. She also enjoys getting to know other teachers, too.
A challenge for her will be starting in a new district and a new environment and learning how things work, she said.
She has two children: a daughter, Mandy married to Steven, is a Kindergarten teacher in Exeter, MO. She has two grandchildren: Kaylor, 5-years-old and Kruz, 1 1/2. Her son Austin is a professional motocross racer in Murrieta CA. and will get married in October to Rylee.
In her spare time she enjoys spending time with her grandkids, traveling, watching her son race.
Fort Scott, Kan. Aug.24, 2023 – An Arts and Culture grant through the Community Foundation of
Southeast Kansas helped support the 20th Annual Gordon Parks Celebration. The annual celebration
will be held October 5 -7, 2023 in Fort Scott, Kansas.
“We are very thankful to be part of this grant. This is our 20th year of the Annual Gordon Parks
Celebration and we are excited to celebrate the upcoming three days full of wonderful events
with everyone. The celebration is a great way to honor Gordon Parks legacy.” said Kirk Sharp,
Executive Director of the Gordon Parks Museum. “
The celebration is in honor Fort Scott native Gordon Parks, noted photographer, writer, musician, and
filmmaker. The celebration will feature several events to include presentations, special events, tours,
music performance, barbeque and a celebration tribute dinner for the presentation of The Choice of
Weapons Award established in Parks’ honor to be given annually at the celebration. The schedule of
events is available at the Gordon Parks Museum or online at gordonparkscenter.org and on our
facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/fsccGPmuseum/. This event is for everyone and open to
the public.
The Community Foundation of Southeast Kansas hosts individual charitable funds created by donors
who have a passion for giving back to their community. Grants from these funds assist people
throughout Southeast Kansas and beyond. Call the Foundation at 620-231-8897 with questions about
the Community Foundation. www.southeastkansas.org.
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The City of Fort Scott is currently seeking to fill vacancies on the following advisory boards:
1 position for the Land Bank Board of Trustees
2 positions for the Streets Advisory Board
1 position for the Parks Advisory Board
The functions of the Fort Scott Advisory Board Committees are to provide suggestions to the City Manager and City Commission regarding the specific areas as indicated: Land Bank, Streets and Parks within the City of Fort Scott.
All boards and commissions of Fort Scott serve on a volunteer basis and are not compensated.
If you have a desire to serve on this board, please submit a Letter of Interest to the City Clerk, Lisa Lewis, 123 S. Main, Fort Scott, Kansas 66701 or [email protected]. The names and letters will be submitted for consideration first to the advisory board and then to the City Commission.
Congratulations to the Fort Scott High School Performing Arts Program on being named a Finalist for the KSHSAA Performing Arts School of Excellence Award for the 2022-23 school year!
A total of 18 Kansas High Schools will receive recognition by the Kansas State High School Activities Association for outstanding performing arts programs. Schools were selected from a committee formed from the following associations: Kansas Music Educators Association (KMEA), Kansas Speech Communication Association (KSCA), and the Kansas Thespians (Theater). Schools selected were chosen for scoring exceptionally high in Debate, Speech, Music, and Theater during the 2022-23 school year.
DeSoto High School was selected as the Award winner. Fort Scott High School was named a finalist along with Lansing, Lawrence-Free State, Pittsburg, Shawnee Mission South, and Sterling. Schools commended include Emporia, Maize, McPherson, Blue Valley West, Paola, Pretty Prairie, Rock Creek, Bishop Miege, Sylvan-Lucas, Washburn Rural, and Wichita Collegiate.
Special congratulations to our FSHS Performing Arts coaches and sponsors:
Band – Justin Robinson
Choir – Whitley Chesney
Orchestra – Carson Felt
Debate/Forensics – Tyler Slinkard
Theater/Drama – Angie Bin
Fort Scott High School was named a finalist for this award one previous time, following the 2018-19 school. We were also on the commended list for the 2020-21 school year.
Congratulations again to our sponsors and all of our students involved in these programs! Outstanding job!
The Healthy Bourbon County Action Team is located at 104 No. National Avenue.
In recent months, a coalition headquartered in Fort Scott has been working to address transportation needs for all Bourbon County, including rural residents.
A service to meet these needs will start August 28 and is called BB-Go Transportation.
“BB-Go Transportation is an affordable option, $1 donation is suggested, but not required,” Rachel Carpenter, the lead in the Local Health Equity Team (LHEAT), said. That entity is under the Healthy Bourbon County Action Team umbrella, whose office is at 104 N. National Avenue.
Rachel Carpenter is the lead for the Local Health Equity Action Team. Submitted photo.
“There is no restrictions on riders,” Scott Christiansen, Transportation Director at Southeast Kansas Community Action Program, said. “This is tax payer funded so there are no age or income restrictions.”
“The donations offsets what KDOT reimburses us for the service,” Christiansen said.
BB-GO Transportation will service anyone in Bourbon County on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays during the operation hours of 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
The LHEAT partnered with Southeast Kansas Community Action Program, Inc. to expand their transportation program to Bourbon County.
A photo of a SEK-CAP bus taken from the SEK-CAP website.
To schedule a ride, call 620-724-6350.
The rides are are a first come, first served basis.
To have the best selection of times, schedule 1 to 7 days in advance.
Same-day rides given are based on availability.
BB-GO Transportation will be wheelchair accessible.
Drivers will be certified with the Kansas Department of Transportation and will meet all training and safety requirements.
The funding is through federal, state and local funds.
“The Federal Transit Administration and Kansas Department of Transportation 5311 Grant supplies 70% of the operating costs, and 30% comes from local matching funds from the Local Healthy Equity Action Team (LHEAT) grant through Kansas University Medical Center’s Communities Organizing to Promote Equity program, Peerless Products, Southeast Kansas Mental Health Center, and Community Christian Church,” she said.
Jody Hoener is the Southeast Kansas Regional Community Lead for LHEAT.
“The Healthy Bourbon County Action Team’s coalition Local Health Equity Action Team has been developing both upstream and downstream approaches to address the Social Determinants of Health (SDOH) in Bourbon County,” Carpenter said.
This service adds options for those without a car.
“Currently, there is only one option for public transportation in the county that services the City of Fort Scott,” Carpenter said.
The cost of this transportation service can hinder people from social activities, medical appointments, jobs, dining and education, she said.
The Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce invites members and guests to the Chamber Coffee and Ribbon Cutting Thursday, August 24th at 8am hosted by Structure by Margo located at 19 S National Ave. Coffee, juice, and light refreshments will be served in addition to a door prize drawing.
Structure by Margo is a full-service salon that consists of Owner/operator and stylist Margo Davis, stylist Lucas Runyon, stylist Jordyn Huff, stylist/nail technician Apachelynn Severance, and esthetician Avery Dorsey. They offer cuts (barbering included), color, chemical, shampoos, waxing, skin care, special occasions etc. Structure not only aims to provide exceptional professional services to the Fort Scott Community, but also wants to help recent cosmetology graduates find a salon home.
Chamber members and guests are invited to Chamber Coffee events each Thursday at 8 a.m. to network, make announcements, hear about happenings in the community as well as learn about the host business or organization.
Gordon Parks Museum is located on the campus of Fort Scott Community College.
Fort Scott, Kansas – The Gordon Parks Museum in Fort Scott, Kansas will host “Learning from
Gordon Parks,” a presentation and discussion by Ann Dean on Thursday, October 5 at
12:00p.m. at The Danny and Willa Ellis Family Fine Arts Center at 2108 S. Horton St.
Members of the community are invited to attend the free program. Contact the Gordon Parks Museum at
620-223-2700 ext. 5850 for more information. The program is made possible by Humanities Kansas.
This presentation and discussion are part of the 20th Annual Gordon Parks Celebration that will take place in Fort Scott, Kansas on October 5 -7, 2023. This is also a Lunch and Learn Event.
The presentation by Ann Dean is free to attend, but the lunches are only available by pre-purchase for $10 each by Wednesday, October 4, 2023.
African American author, photographer, and filmmaker Gordon Parks was well known for his documentation of American life and culture.
Born in Fort Scott, Kansas in 1912, he is one of the
most esteemed image makers of all time. In this presentation, photographer Ann Dean discusses the impact and inspiration found in Parks’s books: The Learning Tree, A Choice of
Weapons, and Half Past Autumn.
These books help illustrate Parks’s mother’s teachings centered in love, dignity, and hard work, and provide a starting point to talk about his struggles, choices, and triumphs – all great life lessons for those searching to find their way in this complicated world.
Ann Dean is an artist and freelance photographer who teaches photography classes at the Lawrence Art Center.
“Learning from Gordon Parks” is part of Humanities Kansas’s Speakers Bureau and “21st Century Civics,” a collection of resources that invite Kansans to participate in community
discussions and learn more about the history of American democracy and the shared responsibilities of citizenship. “21st Century Civics” is made possible with support from “A More
Perfect Union: America at 250,” an initiative of the National Endowment for the Humanities.
For more information about “Learning from Gordon Parks” in Fort Scott, Kansas contact the
Gordon Parks Museum at 620-223-2700 ext. 5850 or visit gordonparkscenter.org.
About Humanities Kansas
Humanities Kansas is an independent nonprofit leading a movement of ideas to empower the
people of Kansas to strengthen their communities and our democracy. Since 1972, our
pioneering programming, grants, and partnerships have documented and shared stories to
spark conversations and generate insights. Together with our partners and supporters, we
inspire all Kansans to draw on history, literature, ethics, and culture to enrich their lives and
serve the communities and state we all proudly call home. Visit humanitieskansas.org.
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Tracy and Kathy Dancer purchased the Scottish Rite Temple at the Bourbon County Tax Sale in January 2022.
The former Scottish Rite Temple at 110 S. Main is being repurposed by Tracy and Kathy Dancer.Tracy and Kathy Dancer in the entrance to 110 S. Main, now called Mercantile and Market and Cohn’s Cafe.
Since the purchase of the historic building in downtown Fort Scott, the Dancers opened a Mercantile and Market at 110 S. Main in February 2023 and in the next few weeks will be opening a cafe in an adjoining room.
“The shop is called Mercantile and Market and Cohn’s Cafe,” Kathy said. “It was run from 1926 to 1948 by Sidney Cohn and his wife as a cafe, in the exact space.” The cafe is adjacent, south, to the mercantile.
For many years, the space was used for fundraisers for Kiwanis and Rotary Clubs.
This week, they will have a reservation only preview, no walk-in patrons, from August 22-26.
The grand opening to the rest of the public is September 1.
Kathy Dancer in the Cohn’s Cafe, at 110 S. Main.
The preview this week is to train new staff.
“This will be to train new staff on the menu,” she said. “To give our staff a chance to adjust things before we open. This is practice so when we do our grand opening, we will be prepared.”
There are 10 employees, not counting Tracy and Kathy.
The business phone number is 620-418-6209.
Hours are 8 a.m to 2 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday, with cafe table service.
From 2-6 p.m. (during the mercantile hours)one can order take-away food and drinks.
On Sunday the cafe will be open from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.
“Customers will be able to call or text for reservations,” Kathy said. “We will also accept call-in orders for grab-and-go from the cooler.
Customers will be able to pick up these orders until 5:45 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday.”
The cafe will use locally sourced ingredients to make fresh breakfast and lunch dishes: quiche, crepes, bakery items, salad, soup, sandwiches, and other featured meals, plus drinks.
The meats, eggs, and veggies are lined up from local suppliers and the menu will be adjusted based on seasonal availability, she said.
The current Cohn’s Cafe menu.
On the horizon for the cafe are syrups made from local orchards and additionally a tea service.
Kathy will be starting a tea pot collection to begin a tea service in the cafe. Here are some of her antique tea pots on display in the cafe.
“It will be a pot of tea that comes with scones, biscuits, and tea sandwiches,” she said. “We will be starting a tea pot collection for our tea service.”
People will pay for the meal in the mercantile section, much like a Cracker Barrel Restaurant.
Following a conversation with a downtown resident, the cafe will be selling milk, eggs and bread from a cooler she purchased.
This cooler was purchased to sell milk, eggs and bread, at the request of a downtown resident.
