Tri-Valley Developmental Services Horticultural Program is having a fundraiser this Saturday, Oct. 5 from 9 a.m. to noon at the greenhouse in the back of the TVDS Service building at 4305 Campbell Dr., Fort Scott.
” We use funds raised to improve and upgrade our Horticultural Program,” said Austin Bolinger the program’s horticulture specialist.
“We add to and upgrade our American Disability Act garden, buy new equipment, install new plants and trees, and take groups of individuals on outings to places such as botanical gardens.”
All photos are submitted by Bolinger.
The program will be selling mums, winter pansies, ornamental cabbage, pumpkins, and houseplants, he said.
The work on the plants in the program is a group effort, Bolinger said. “I lead most of the work for fundraising sales. Individuals who are interested in working in the horticultural program will help fill pots, and water, and assist at our sales, as well as growing plants for their homes.”
“We grow our plants from small plugs to full-grown plants over a few months. The gourds and pumpkins in the garden have been grown by individuals receiving services from Tri-Valley. Our amazing ADA garden is a therapy garden that we plant in the spring and enjoy through autumn and is fully taken care of by individuals we serve here at Tri-Valley with guidance from myself.”
Tri-Valley Developmental Services is located at 4305 Campbell Dr.
Congratulations to our Chamber member Fort Scott Broadcasting!
Fort Scott Broadcasting’s KMDO 1600 AM Celebrates 70 years on the air!
Join the station as they have special guests all week
October 7th-11th!
Tune in from 6 AM to 6 PM for wall-to-wall music, memories, and celebration as we commemorate 70 incredible years on the airwaves and 7 decades of music history together!
Special appearances from our former, DJs, and exclusive content and surprises all week long!
Click here for to visit their Facebook page for future events!
DATE
MUSIC
GUEST
Monday
10/7
Rock the 50’s
Pam Hutchison 8am
Tuesday
10/8
Groove with the 60’s
Charlene Keating, Becky Allen, & Kirby Ham
Wednesday
10/9
Dance to the 70’s
Gary & Ron Palmer
Thursday
10/10
Jam with the 80’s
Bob & Rick Russell
Friday
10/11
Relive the 90’s
Larry Gazaway 8am
A special thank you to our Chamber Champion members!
Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce | 231 E. Wall Street | Fort Scott, KS 66701 US
Sending on behalf of Chamber member Gordon Parks Museum…
Gordon Parks Museum invites you to take part in the 21st Annual Celebration
This weekend ~ October 3rd-5th!
Friday highlight this year!
The Celebration Dance Party featuring “The Full Flava Kings”
The Full Flava Kings, from Tulsa, Oklahoma, are one of the best party bands in the region. Come celebrate and dance the night away at The Liberty Theatre, 113 S. Main St.
The Tucker Family Band will present their ’24 Comeback Special at 7:00 p.m. on Saturday, October 12, held in the Fort Scott River Room, 3 W. Oak Street (upstairs with elevator access). Doors open at 6:15 p.m.
The TFB is comprised of Carolyn Tucker (keys and vocals) Fort Scott; daughter Mariam Tucker Self (lead vocals and saxophone) Peculiar, MO; son Aaron Tucker (drums and vocals) Asbury, MO; cousin Jessie Bergen (electric bass) Anderson, MO; and J Williams (lead guitar) Columbus, KS. Kitten Lagoon from Anderson, MO, is the sound engineer and emcee. There is no admission fee; tips are appreciated.
The Band is excited to come back “bigger and better” to the River Room. Carolyn Tucker explains, “’Bigger’ means we’re doing a two-part show this time with Elvis gospel in the first half, and then our favorite ‘70s Elvis songs for the second half. ‘Better’ means our sound equipment is new state-of-the-art and we’ve added stage lighting. We’re calling our show ‘24 Comeback Special after the televised ’68 Comeback Special that Elvis performed after he concluded his movies contract.”
“All these musicians have been playing or singing since they were youngsters,” concert-series organizer Ralph Carlson said. “So when all their experience, talent, and camaraderie unites together, the band is really tight. The fun they have on stage is contagious. You won’t want to miss this free energy-packed show.”
The venue fee is sponsored by the following local businesses: Diehl Banwart Bolton CPAs PA, Cheney Witt Funeral Chapel, and Varia Quality Resale Clothing Shop. The concert is sanctioned by the Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce and promoted by Carlson.
Sending on behalf of Chamber member Gordon Parks Museum…
Gordon Parks Museum invites you to take part in the 21st Annual Celebration
This weekend ~ October 3rd-5th!
The Celebration kicks off with the Chamber Coffee hosted by the Gordon Parks Museum, Thursday, October 3rd, 8am ~ everyone welcome!
The 21st Annual event will include photo exhibits, poetry contest/exhibit, sign and mural display, films, a special Gordon Parks themed trolley tour & more!
Friday will feature the Celebration Dance Party with “Full Flava Kings”, see below for more details.
Saturday will feature the Celebration Tribute Dinner with the presentation of the Choice of Weapons Awards along with the presentation of the Learning Tree Award to Arnold Schofield and the late Daryl Roller.
The Choice of Weapons Conversation, Premier Screening of the documentary I Needed Paris and the free Lunch and Learn events on Thursday, Friday and Saturday.
Tickets are available at the Gordon Parks Museum, online at gordonparkcenter.org, or call 620-223-2700 ext. 5850
Click here for the Gordon Parks Museum website and a list of detailed events.
Click here to download a printable copy of the schedule of events linked below.
A highlight this year is the “Celebration Dance Party” featuring The Full Flava Kings at the Liberty Theatre. The Full Flava Kings from Tulsa, Oklahoma are one of the best party bands in the region.
A special thank you to our Chamber Champion members!
Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce | 231 E. Wall Street | Fort Scott, KS 66701 US
Jerry Witt near a marker for the new Riverfront Trail.
A new walk/bike trail should be completed by early 2025 in Riverfront Park.
The Overlook Trail will be 1,722 feet long, and eight feet wide, and follow the curves of the Marmaton River on the south side of the park, said Jerry Witt, Fort Scott Bourbon County Riverfront Authority Chairman.
It is being funded by a $92,000 grant from Kansas Wildlife and Parks and the Riverfront Authority adding $75,000.
The survey stakes are in place for the proposed trail,and the land was surveyed by Agricultural Engineering Associates, Uniontown.
The entrance to the Riverfront Park’s south side, south of the orange bridge that crosses the Marmaton River. The stakes are in place to mark the new trail from this starting point.
The concrete path contractor will be Marbery Concrete Inc., Fort Scott.
Following the curve of the Marmaton River around to the Hwy. 69 bridge, it will include a concrete ramp for the wooden observation deck, for handicap accessibility, he said. The deck, called an overlook, gives an unobstructed view of the river.
The river overlook deck will have a concrete ramp added to make it more handicap-accessible.
The grant proposal process started in 2021 and a grant was 11submitted in 2022. The grant was awarded in 2023 and will be completed in 2025, he said.
History of the Riverfront Park
Riverfront Park is covered with tall deciduous trees that provide shade to walkers along the Belltown Trail.
The Riverfront Park came out of a 2005 town-wide visioning meeting that gave ideas for the future of the city.
One of the visions that came out of this meeting was the formation of a committee to clean up the unused area around the Marmaton River on the north edge of Fort Scott.
In 2007, then Kansas Governor Kathleen Sebelius, authorized a board, called the Fort Scott Bourbon County Riverfront Authority to secure the needed land for a new park.
From 2007 to 2010 the board secured all the properties needed.
“Most donated the land,” Witt said. “Once the land was secured, we were able to develop the land.”
The development since then: lighted trails, a pavilion with lights, the river overlook deck, benches, and bike repair stations, all with the help of the community and local organizations.
The bicycle repair station is one of several around the park, donated by the Rotary Club.
The overlook had to be moved to higher ground on the south side of the Marmaton River, following a flood that partially destroyed it.
The Riverfront Park has daily walkers, businesses and schools use it, Boy Scouts have camped there, and weddings and other events, including last weekend’s FortFest have large gatherings there.
FortFest 2024 is a blues music festival that benefits Care to Share, a local helping organization.
Paul Ballou, the retired Fort Scott Fire Department Chief, is the park caretaker, and Witt said he does a good job.
The flower garden and in the back, the underpass with mural art.
The Bourbon County Garden Club maintains the flowers in the circle in the south part of the park and local artist Stephan Toal has created mural art in the 69 Hwy. underpass area.
The Fort Scott Bourbon County Riverfront Authority is comprised of Witt, Bob Love, Arnold Schofield, Penny Barnes, Dean Mann, Danny Magee, Jeff and Kate Sweetser.
The Riverfront Park is one of several in the City of Fort Scott, as shown on this sign at the park.A historical marker in the south Riverfront Park is about the Fort Scott floods in this area.
This Friday, October 4, the Linda Simons & Friends Band will be performing at the Pavilion in downtown Fort Scott.
The group will cover a variety of 70’s-era pop tunes, jazz standards and jazzy gospel.
The band is based in Mound City. Linda Simons, vocalist, is backed by her band, including Suzanne Thompson on piano, her husband Gary Thompson on bass guitar, and Steve Thompson on drums and harmonica.
Gary and Suzanne have performed at the Pavilion with the Hemphill Family Band and as the Gary Thompson Trio.
The event will begin at 7:00 PM and the public is invited to attend
Care to Share President Teresa Davenport and Vice President Cory Byers, speak about the community-helping organization on the first night of the event, September 27, 2024.
FortFest 2024 is a blues music festival that benefits Care to Share, a local helping organization.Bring lawn chairs to sit and listen to the blues music.
City Hall Commission Room – 123 S. Main Street, Fort Scott, KS 66701
October 1, 2024 – 6:00 P.M.
Call to Order
Roll Call
Tim VanHoecke, Matthew Wells, Dyllon Olson, Kathryn Salsbury, Tracy Dancer
III. Pledge of Allegiance
Invocation
Approval of Agenda
Consent Agenda
Approval of Appropriation Ordinance 1369-A – Expense Approval Report – Payment Dates of September 11, 2024 – September 24, 2024 – $449,830.43
Approval of Minutes for September 3, 2024, September 9, 2024, September 17, 2024, and September 24, 2024.
Request to Pay – Heck & Wicker, Inc. – Project No. 24-414 – Horton St. & 6th Improvements – Application for Payment No. 3 – $60,439.46
VII. Public Comment – Sign up required before the beginning of the meeting on register at the entrance of the Commission Room. Public Comments are for any topic not on the agenda and limited to five (5) minutes per person, at the Commission’s discretion.
VIII. Appearances – Must be scheduled with the City Clerk at least (1) week prior to the meeting you wish to address the Commission. You will be scheduled on the agenda to speak on your topic.
Scott Flater/Water Utilities Director – ADM Update
Unfinished Business
Status of Building at 118 E. Wall – Requested documents from owner due per September 24, 2024, Special City Commission meeting.
Consideration of Approval of Certificate of Substantial Completion – Project No. 22-031B – Fort Scott Pavilion – Sprouls Construction, Inc. – Tabled from September 17, 2024
Request to Pay – Sprouls Construction, Inc. – Project No. 22-031B – Fort Scott Pavilion – Payment Application No. 5 – $8,075.00 – Tabled from September 17, 2024
Request to Pay – Sprouls Construction, Inc. – Project No. 22-031B – Fort Scott Pavilion – Payment Application No. 6 FINAL (Retainage) – $10,397.85 – Tabled from September 17, 2024
New Business
Public Hearing:
Consideration of Submission of Application on behalf of the City of Fort Scott to the Kansas Department of Commerce for a CDBG Grant under the Community Centers & Parks Category for improvements at Memorial Hall – M. Wyatt
Action Items:
Consideration to Approve Renewal of the Downtown Historic District and Riverfront Park Common Consumption Area Permit (existing Ordinance No. 3756) – annual permit expires November 21, 2024– L. Lewis
For anyone who loves learning history and acting, an opportunity is being offered.
You can be a part of the local theatre’s group production of historical vignettes in beautiful Riverside Park in October.
This Wednesday, October 2, there will be auditions from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. at Fort Scott High School auditorium for the upcoming
Bourbon County Community Theatre “Voices From The Grave”.
Voices From the Grave is a guided tour around Riverside Park on Fort Scott’s North National Avenue, across the orange bridge.
The tour consists of acted scenes and monologues based on real historical events from the Fort Scott area.
“The Bourbon County Community Theatre came up with the idea after seeing tours like it in Nevada and Eureka Springs,” said Regen Wells, who will be directing the vignettes. “Anyone over the age of 14 who is interested is more than welcome!”
Regen Wells. Submitted photo.
“I am the director for Voices From the Grave,” Regen said. “I directed four children’s plays at Fort Scott High School.”
“The BCCT was created a little over a year ago with the intent of bringing community theatre back to Fort Scott,” Wells said. “Not too long ago we had a community theatre program. Many communities near us have very successful programs with many members! The joy of performing should not be something that only those enrolled in Fort Scott High School or Fort Scott Community College can access! Prior to the creation of BCCT the only opportunities open to actors in our area would be to travel to places like Pittsburg or Nevada to join their community theatre groups.”
“Any endeavor from the BBCT is about furthering the reach of theatre in our community! We hope to provide the community of not just Fort Scott but also the greater Bourbon County area with opportunities to be active and involved participants in the arts! Activities like this also contribute to commerce and engagement. However, largely it is about fostering an outlet for creativity in our community. This particular project also provides a look into some interesting local history.”
The mission of BCCT is to bring education, community, and culture to Southeast Kansas through theater.
In addition to Regen Wells, the board consists of Angela Bin, Matthew Wells, Katie Wells, Mark Bergmann, Barbra Woodward, Sandra Abati, and Danette Popp. Regen is the daughter of Matthew and Katie Wells.
More information will be provided on the group’s Facebook page.
About the Production
“Voices From The Grave” will be presented to the public at Riverfront Park on October 26 from 6 to 9 p.m.
There will be 45-minute guided tours with ghostly stories from Fort Scott’s past.
Cost is Adults, $10, Youth, $7. Children under 14 must be accompanied by an adult.
Tickets can be purchased at bcct.ludus.com or the Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce.
Fort Scott, Kan. September. 27, 2024 – Kokayi Ampah, Art Evans and Fred Watkins will be the recipients of the “Gordon Parks Choice of Weapons Award” at the annual celebration on October 3rd -5th, 2024 in Fort Scott, Kansas. The celebration is in honor Fort Scott native Gordon Parks, noted photographer, writer, musician, and filmmaker.
The Choice of Weapons Award was established in Parks’ honor to be given annually at the celebration.
This event is for everyone and open to the public. Please reserve tickets early by Wed, Oct 2, 2024 for all the reserved events. The 21st Annual Gordon Parks Celebration this year will have a wide range of great events and activities for all to enjoy. The Celebration kicks off on Thursday, Oct 3 with a chamber coffee at the Gordon Parks Museum and ends with a Tribute Celebration Dinner at The River Room in Fort Scott, Kansas on Saturday, Oct 5, 2024.
For more information or to purchase tickets, contact the museum by phone at (620) 223-2700, ext. 5850, or by email at [email protected]..
