Category Archives: Fort Scott

Fort Scott, Gordon Parks Museum

Freedom’s Frontier NHA grant awarded to The Gordon Parks Museum

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Gordon Parks. Submitted photo.

The Gordon Parks Museum received $1,000 in grant funding from Freedom’s Frontier National Heritage Area. The award will help with the museum’s technology and interactive display expansion for the purchase of a large 65-inch monitor display and mobile cart.

This purchase will help us to expand the museum, through the use of this monitor to provide slide shows of Gordon’s photographs, interviews, related films and videos along with other artist works that are inspired by Gordon’s remarkable career to fight against racism, poverty and discrimination.

The monitor will also be used as an additional monitor display for viewing, during presentations and events. This monitor can also provide promotional signage for future events and information for the museum.

“We are thrilled to be an award recipient of the Freedom’s Frontier NHA grant,” said Gordon Parks Museum Executive Director, Kirk Sharp.” We are excited to have this display installed, so to better enhance the visitor’s experience in our museum and for events.”

The goal to have the monitor and mobile cart installed and available for visitor’s use is August 1, 2024.

For more information about The Gordon Parks Museum visit gordonparkscenter.org

 

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Freedom’s Frontier National Heritage Area (FFNHA) is a federally funded nonprofit organization and affiliate of the National Park Service dedicated to building awareness of the struggle for freedom along the Missouri-Kansas border. Established by Congress in 2006, its nationally significant themes are the settlement of the frontier, the Missouri-Kansas Border War and Civil War, and the enduring struggle for freedom. These diverse, interwoven, and nationally important stories grew from a unique physical and cultural landscape. FFNHA inspires respect for multiple perspectives and empowers residents to preserve and share these stories. We achieve our goals through interpretation, preservation, conservation, and education for all residents and visitors.

Fort Scott, Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce

Chamber Coffee at Varia Resale Clothing on June 20

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Join us for Chamber Coffee!

Thursday, June 20th, 8am
Hosted by Varia Resale Clothing

114 E. 23rd
Varia Resale Clothing is located at 114 E. 23rd Street behind Taco Bell.

* Varia offers a wide variety of men’s, women’s, and children’s clothing in all sizes.

*Varia stock name brands with nothing over $11.50 while offering monthly sales and promotions!

Thank you Robin Kendrick for being a Chamber Member!

Join us for coffee, juice, light refreshments and door prizes this Thursday at Varia Resale Clothing!

Click here to check out Varia Resale Clothing’s Facebook!

Contact the Chamber of Commerce at (620) 223-3566 for more information.
Thank you to our Chamber Champion members

shown below…
Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce

231 E. Wall St., Fort Scott, KS 66701

620-223-3566

fortscott.com
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Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce | 231 E. Wall Street | Fort Scott, KS 66701 US
Fort Scott, Fort Scott Police Department

Arson Suspected on New Playground at Third Street Park

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On June 15th at approximately 6:30 pm Officers with the Fort Scott Police Department observed smoke coming from the area of the playground located near 3rd and Wilson. Officers observed a piece of playground equipment fully engulfed in flames and requested the Fort Scott Fire Department respond to the scene. This incident is being investigated as an arson. There are no suspects currently. The playground equipment is valued at $1000.

 

Submitted by

Chief Jason Pickert

Fort Scott Police Department

Fort Scott, Government

Kathryn Salsbury Is The New Fort Scott City Commissioner

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Kathryn Salsbury. Submitted photo.
Kathryn Salsbury, 54, is the new Fort Scott City Commissioner selected to fill Melissa Guns spot.
“I think that this town that I love so much, our town, is at a crossroads,” she said. “We need to find a path forward that honors our history, makes the best use of our resources, fosters economic stability, and secures necessary resources such as healthcare.
Strategic adaptation and purposeful preservation. There are a lot of moving parts and variables to most decisions, with a degree of impact to many of us.”
“We have a lot of great people in place now,” Salsbury said. “I hope that my education and work experience prove helpful in ensuring Fort Scott thrives.”
Salsbury attended Washburn School of Law and earned a Juris Doctorate, a Bachelor’s Degree in English and Justice Studies from Pittsburg State University, an associate degree and CNA certificate from Fort Scott Community College, became a certified paralegal from Johnson County Community College and studied business at Missouri Baptist University.
Her career has been in the following areas: Director of Risk Management, Multi-line claims manager, Licensed Casualty Adjuster, retail management, stockbroker, ordinance interpretation and tracking for California municipalities.
She has been involved in the Rotary Club, Mt. Carmel Fund Board of Directors, and various USD234 events,  she said.

“My family has been in Fort Scott since the early 1950s,” she said. “My grandparents, and their parents, moved here from Wisconsin. My grandparents owned Floyd’s Donuts for around 40 years. I returned to Fort Scott after earning my law degree to continue raising my four boys.”
Downtown Fort Scott, looking north on Main Street. City Hall is on the right.
Business, Fort Scott

Tri-Valley Holds Award Ceremony

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Austin Bolinger, Horticultural Therapist, Barbara McCord, recipient of the Winfred Jent Award, and Richard Longfellow.

 

On May Day, Friday, May 1st, Tri-Valley Developmental Services held their 2024 Award Ceremony celebrating achievements from individuals and community support in Allen, Bourbon, Chautauqua, Elk, Greenwood, Neosho, Wilson, and Woodson Counties.  The ceremony took place at 1 pm at the Central Park Pavilion in Chanute.  Awards were presented to the following:

 

Employer of the Year – Sonic Drive-In of Chanute and Niece Products of Fort Scott

Achievement Award – Ben Lewis, Matt Ornstein, and Gay Purdy

Ed Bideau Advocacy Award – Nikki Jacobs

Masterson Family Award – James Hogan

Friends of Tri-Valley Foundation Visionary Award – Max McReynolds

Winfred Jent Award – Barbara McCord

Lifetime Achievement Award – Knights of Columbus Council 1046 – Chanute

Employee of the Year Award – Roxann Maloney

 

Refreshments were served following the ceremony.

Business, Food, Fort Scott

New Restaurant Opens in July

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The Bowman family is opening another restaurant, west of their Brickstreet BBQ and calling it Outpost 13 West.

The facade of the new Southwestern-grill restaurant Outpost 13  West.

They opened Brickstreet BBQ in May 2023 and the restaurant has become popular with residents.

To view the story of that opening: Brickstreet BBQ Opens

The Bowman family now owns three restaurants in the historic downtown Fort Scott area.

“We love food!” Carissa Bowman said.  “AND it’s another opportunity to continue to grow our community through restoring a historic downtown building and generating more jobs.”

Carissa, Alex, Cindy, and John Bowman are the owners of Outpost 13 West. Carissa and Alex own Brickstreet BBQ.

Carissa and Alex Bowman, submitted photo.

“John and Cindy own Nu Grille (across the street from Brickstreet),” Carissa said. “They are Alex’s parents; my in-laws. Alex manages Nu Grille currently.”

Cindy and John Bowman. Submitted photo.

The new restaurant will feature Southwestern cuisine.

“You can build your own taco, burrito, bowl, salad or nacho,” Carissa said.

They plan to open the new venture at the end of July, she said.

The building is currenlty being remodeled by the Bowman family.
City permits are posted on the windows of Outpost 13 West.

The new restaurant is at 13 W. Oak St.

Special Recognition of the Brickstreet Restaurant

Brickstreet BBQ is located at the corner of Oak Street and National Avenue on Fort Scott’s northside.  The new Outpost 13 West is to the left, behind Brickstreet in this photo. The River Room Event Center is located on the second floor.

Brickstreet has been chosen to be featured on America’s Best Restaurants Roadshow:   https://americasbestrestaurants.com/

” We’re being featured in one of their episodes,” Carissa said. “Filming will take place on July 1st.”
“We hope this builds relationships with the public and surrounding areas to bring people not only to our business but Fort Scott as a whole,” she said. “We want to continue to create a positive image of Brickstreet so we can build our brand and keep growing!”
Fort Scott, Government

Learn About Appraised Values and Property Tax: Chamber Lunch and Learn

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Join us!

Chamber Lunch & Learn

Wednesday, June 26th, from 11:45 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Empress Event Center, 7 N. Main St.

The Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce will host a Lunch & Learn on Appraised Values & Property Tax with Guest Speaker Matt Quick, Bourbon County Appraiser

Brickstreet BBQ box lunches are available by pre-order for $10 with choice of sandwich: pulled pork, smoked chicken or grilled chicken, and sides included will be cole slaw and chips – lunches need to be pre-ordered by 6/24 at 12pm.

Those planning to attend may RSVP here. (lunch orders being accepted online thru noon, Monday the 24th.)

Event will be from 11:45am to 1pm.

11:45am-12pm will be people arriving, getting their lunches.

Presentation will start at 12pm followed by Q&A.

Moderator will be:

Chamber Board Member Colleen Quick of Labconco

SPONSORS FOR THIS EVENT:

Bourbon County Cars and Labconco

 

This event is being organized by the Chamber Board Division of Business Resource & Workforce Development, Colleen Quick, Chair, Chris Barnes, Katie Casper, Sandra Davis, and Lewis Dunkeson.

Contact the Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce at 620-223-3566 for more information or visit fortscott.com.
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620-223-3566
Business, Fort Scott, Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce

Downtown Quarterly Meet and Greet July 9 At Cohn’s Cafe

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Quarterly Downtown Meet & Greet scheduled for July 9th!

The Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce announces a Downtown Meet & Greet will be held Tuesday, July 9th from 8:30-9:30 a.m. at Cohn’s Cafe,

110 South Main .

These informal, quarterly meetings are hosted by the Chamber for downtown business owners, representatives, and community members to network and share ideas on events, promotion and anything related to downtown.

Coffee, juice, and light refreshments will be served.
Thank you to our Chamber Champion members below!
Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce | 231 E. Wall Street | Fort Scott, KS 66701 US
Fort Scott, Government

Agenda of the FS City Commission for June 18

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NOTICE OF AND AGENDA FOR REGULAR

MEETING OF FORT SCOTT CITY COMMISSION

City Hall Commission Room – 123 S. Main Street, Fort Scott, KS 66701

June 18, 2024 – 6:00 P.M.

 

  1.     Call to Order
  2.     Roll Call

Tim VanHoecke,   Matthew Wells,    Dyllon Olson,   Kathryn Salsbury,  Tracy Dancer

III.       Pledge of Allegiance

  1. Invocation
  2. Approval of Agenda
  3. Consent Agenda
  4. Approval of Appropriation Ordinance 1362-A – Expense Approval Report – Payment Dates – May 29, 2024 – June 11, 2024 – $525,425.91
  5. Approval of Minutes for June 4, 2024
  6. Request to Pay – Emery Sapp & Sons, Inc. – Application No. 3 – Fort Scott Municipal Airport – Amount Due – $244,783.75
  7. Request to Pay – KDOT – Project No. 06 KA-6898-01– Design Contracts –Amount Due – $103,405.87
  8. May Financials

 

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.

  1. Haylea Hardy – Temporary Park Closure for Wedding – Riverfront Park – October 11, 2024, at 8:00AM until October 12, 2024, at 10:00PM
  2. Jackson Tough – Tourism Update
  3. Robert Harrington/Bourbon County REDI

– RHID – Denny Davis land

– RHID- Downtown

 

 

 

 

 

 

  1. New Business

            Action Items:

  1. Consideration to purchase 2-Hose, 2-Pump Diesel Suction Pump – will replace old pump – $17,325.99 – Coffman
  2. Consideration of Estimate of Preliminary Engineering Fee – Project No. 06 KA-6898-01 – Earles Engineering & Inspections – Survey, Road Plans, Specs and Estimates – US-54 (Barbee to Caldwell – Phase II Estimates to be combined with Phase I – $118,488.77 – J. Dickman
  3. Consideration to Purchase a Greens Mower – Jacobsen GP400 – $19,000.00 – D. Fowler
  4. Approval of Ordinance No. 3764 – Disband the Golf Course Advisory Board and Repeal Ordinance No. 3604, Ordinance No. 3397 and Ordinance No. 3395.
  5. Approval of Ordinance No. 3765 – Disband the Lake Fort Scott Advisory Board and Repeal Ordinance No. 3566 and Ordinance No. 3550.
  6. Approval of Ordinance No. 3766 – Disband the Airport Advisory Board and Repeal Ordinance No. 3496 and Ordinance No. 3207.
  7. Consideration of Ordinance No. 3767 – An Ordinance Establishing the Farmers Market Policy, Located at the Fort Scott Downtown Pavilion, Otherwise Known as the Gathering Square Pavilion.
  8. Consideration of Requests for Proposals for Memorial Hall façade repairs
  9. Consideration of Demolition Bids – 314 S. Eddy
  10. Consideration of Demolition Bids – 306 S. Lowman
  11. Consideration of Demolition Bids – 1801 E. Wall
  12. Consideration to Approve Permits for the Sale of Fireworks: Jakes Fireworks at 2221 S. Main; Belino Fireworks at 2400 S. Main
  13. Consideration of Letter of Interest – Land Bank Vacancy

 

 

  1. Reports and Comments
  2. City Manager Comments
  3.  Engineering Comments
  4.   Commissioners Comments
  5.  City Attorney Comments

 

 

  1. Executive Session

 

XII.     Adjourn

Bourbon County, Fort Scott, Health Care

New 10 Patient Hospital with Emergency Department Will Open in 2025 in Fort Scott

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Paula Baker and Renee Denton of Freeman Health Systems visit with Bourbon County Commissioner Clifton Beth at the press conference on June 13.

The former Fort Scott Mercy Hospital will be used once again for hospital operations.

Today, Paula Baker, CEO of Freeman Health System announced that they will be operating 10 in-patient hospital beds at the site and will open an emergency department as well.

Paula Baker speaks to the press and the crowd that showed up to hear an announcement about health care in the county today.

“If treated in the E.R., you will be treated right here (in the hospital section),” she told a crowd that gathered at the former hospital.

There will also be an outpatient lab, radiology, CAT scans available to the public, and an on-site pharmacy.

There will be six bays in the emergency department and 365-day coverage, 24 hours a day.

A licensed physician and emergency-trained staff will be employed,  which will total approximately 70 employees, according to Renee Denton, Chief Operating Officer at Freeman Neosho Hospital, who is helping in this project.

Baker said they have to be licensed by the State of Kansas and that process is long and complex, but they hope to be open by April 1, 2025.

There will be clear separation between Freeman’s hospital bed unit and the Kansas Renewal Institute which also operates in the former Mercy Hospital building, Denton said. Freeman will use the former birthing wing of the hospital.

Baker said they have been working with local city and county entities to make this happen and Bourbon County Commissioner Clifton Beth spoke to the crowd as well as Baker.

She commended Beth and County Commissioner Jim Harris.

“They have worked to get this together and they care,” she said.

Clifton Beth speaks to the crowd at the former Mercy Hospital Emergency Department on June 13.

Beth said the process to reopen a hospital began about five years ago and thanked the sales tax committee that recently spearheaded a May 20234 vote that will produce some money for the project. In addition, he thanked the voters for supporting the tax.

Also helping in the process were present and former county commissioners, Fort Scott City Commissioners,  health agencies, the Bourbon County E.M.S., and Kansas Renewal Institute personnel, Beth said.

“We have been in communication with Kansas on the licensure entities, they have committed to help us expedite the licensure,” Denton said.

 

 

 

 

Entertainment, Fort Scott

A Long-Standing Neighborhood Tradition: 42nd Annual Burke Street 4th of July Parade

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Submitted photo.

 Come One, Come All, Let Freedom Ring!  It is once again time to celebrate U.S.A.’s 248th Independence Day with a neighborhood parade on Fort Scott’s “Tower Hill,” better known as Burke Street on the Fourth of July.

Submitted photo. Burke Street 4th of July Parade.

Following patriotic songs by “Kids on Burke” led by two of the parade founders:  Jill Gorman and Susan Foster; the parade will depart at 10:00 AM from Tenth and Burke going south around the Marblecrest Triangle and returning north to the point of origin.  Cheering spectators, who are encouraged to bring lawn chairs and dress in red, white, and blue, will line the parade route with family and friends.

Post-parade refreshments will be served and ALL ARE WELCOME to the corner of Ninth and Burke.   Neighbors and friends-of-the-parade donate the cookies and drinks are provided by this year’s hosts Matthew and Lisa Cady.

Burke Street 4th of July Parade. Submitted photo.

A severe storm or lightning cancels the parade and there are no large vehicles allowed due to the many children participating in the festivities.

Parade questions can be answered by Margaret Humphrey 620-223-0388 –- 620-224-7388 or Theresa Bahr 620-215-2889.

 

 

Fort Scott, Schools

New Fort Scott School Administrators: Gilmore and Johnson

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Nicole Gilmore. Submitted photo.
Nicole Gilmore. 31, is the new Winfield Scott Elementary School Assistant Principal in Fort Scott.

Gilmore earned Building Principal Certification from Pittsburg State University in 2023, Master of Social Work from the University of Washington-Seattle in 2016, and Bachelor of Social Work and Bachelor of General Studies in Political Science from the University of Kansas in 2015.

For the past six years, she has been a School Social Worker with the SEK Interlocal #637 at The Learning Center in Girard, KS, which is a day school program across 13 school districts in Southeast Kansas for K-12 students with significant emotional and behavioral disabilities.
“I additionally have experience as an Adjunct Instructor through the University of Kansas School of Social Welfare for the past four years and as the Colorguard Instructor at Pittsburg High School for seven years.”
“Previously, I have had clinical experience in child welfare and medical settings, along with working internationally in schools with the Peace Corps in Thailand,” she said. “I have had administrative experience in nonprofits through tasks such as quality assurance, planning and public policy, grant writing, and data analysis.”

She will start her duties on  August 1.

“I have been actively working with Mr. Garzone, the new principal of Winfield Scott, as well as teachers in the building already! I was fortunate enough to attend the Missouri School-Wide Positive Behavioral Supports Conference in Osage Beach this summer (June 3-5) and we are excited to start implementing some of the ideas that we learned while attending!”

“As an assistant principal, I will support the principal and co-lead in all academic programming.
” I will assist in overseeing daily activities, committees, meetings, and school operations,” she said. “I will work collaboratively in the planning of school needs, alongside students, families, staff, and community stakeholders.”
“The best part of being in education is building relationships with students, staff, and families,” she said. “I love to see students grow and develop over time, with the knowledge and skills that they’ve learned while at school, and that we can do it because we work in partnership with each other. I’m excited to work with the K-2 students, specifically, because that is often where they start to develop a hate or love relationship with the school, and the staff at Winfield Scott has a huge role in that! I believe that we have fantastic teachers in the Winfield Scott building, who will foster that love of learning, and I’ll be here to help augment and magnify all the great things they do every single day!”
“Some challenges include having limited resources and funding, as well as the ever-growing need for additional personnel,” she said. “There is a teacher shortage across the United States today, not just isolated to Fort Scott, but there is a significant need to not only attract but focus on retaining and growing our teachers here. Additionally, with the increase in behavioral and emotional challenges, our teachers and support staff need help in navigating appropriate ways to respond and how to work with community partners such as SEKMHC (Southeast Kansas Mental Health Center) to implement quality wraparound services that meet the needs of the student and their family.”
Her  email is [email protected]
Jeff Johnson. Submitted photo.
Jeff Johnson, 34, is the new assistant principal
at  Fort Scott High School.

 

At Pittsburg State University he earned a Bachelor of Science in Education in 2013 and majored in Biology. Also from
Pittsburg State, he earned a Master of Science in Educational Leadership in 2018.

Johnson has worked 11 years at Pittsburg High School as a science teacher, coach (football and basketball), and administrator and was an assistant principal for the last four years at Pittsburg High School.

He officially starts on August 1.
Johnson’s duties are safety and security for staff and students, student and staff supervision, instructional leadership, student support services, student discipline, and extracurricular activities.
What is the best part of being in education for you?
“It is working alongside amazing educators and the opportunity to positively impact students’ lives and help them reach their full potential.”
What are some challenges?
“Some challenges include meeting diverse student needs and finding solutions for staffing needs.”

“I am a proud graduate of USD 234 and I am excited to be a Tiger again! ” he said.

Contact info: [email protected]