Category Archives: Fort Scott

Bourbon County, Fort Scott, History

Wreaths Across America in Two Locations in Bourbon County in 2023

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National Cemetery, Fort Scott.

Two Bourbon County cemeteries will be a part of Wreaths Across America, a national program to honor U.S. Military Veterans with wreaths on their graves.

According to its website, the mission of Wreaths Across America (WAA) is to remember the fallen, honor those who serve, and teach the next generation the value of freedom. Volunteers work year-round to share this mission and inspire others to join.
Submitted graphic.
Diann Tucker is the WAA Location Coordinator for Fort Scott National Cemetery.
Tucker said for the last five years, there have been enough funds raised to place wreaths on all the veteran’s graves at the national cemetery.
A submitted graphic from Tucker telling of the speaker and the agenda for the ceremony.
“About 6,800 wreaths will be placed on December 16,” she said. “The ceremony starts at 10 a.m., immediately followed by the laying of the wreaths.”
“A youth group will be driving golf carts to pick up and take them back to their cars,” she said.
The Wreaths Across America transport truck will arrive from Columbia Falls, Maine, at 8 a.m. driven by a veteran.
“We can always use volunteers to off-load from the truck,” Tucker said.
Fundraising for the project is all year round.
“At $17 a wreath and 6,800 graves, it is $115,600 (in funds raised) this year,” Tucker said.
For more information contact Tucker at 620-224-7054 or 620-223-6700.
Uniontown Ruritan Club has initiated a project this year to place wreaths on the veterans in the Uniontown Cemetery.
“We began discussing this in the summer and a couple of months ago decided to move forward with it,” Mary Pemberton, spokesperson for the club said. “It is headed up by Mark Warren, Larry and Judy Jurgensen and myself.”
“Wreaths Across America started in 1992 in Arlington Cemetery and expanded from there,” Pemberton said. “Local cemeteries can participate as well. Funding is from donations and volunteers do the ceremony and lay the wreaths.”
The Uniontown ceremony will be on December 15 at 1:30 p.m.
“Schools gets out early that day and several students will help lay the wreaths,” Pemberton said. “The Uniontown High School band and choir will perform. Mark Warren will be the speaker.”
The names of the veterans will be read as the wreaths are laid.
“The public is invited and encouraged to attend,” Pemberton said.
“If any relative of a veteran in Uniontown Cemetery would like to lay the wreath on their vet’s grave they just need to let us know before to that.”
For more information contact Pemberton at 620-224-9654.
Church news, Fort Scott

Construction on New Catholic Church and Rectory Has Started

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The architect’s rendition of the future Mary Queen of Angels Catholic Church. Submitted graphic.

The area south and west of  St. Mary’s Catholic School is a hub of construction.

The August 2022 lightning-strike fire at Mary Queen of Angels Catholic Church destroyed the structure.

“Fr. Yancey Burgess, the pastor, said the destruction was too great to repair the old church,”  according to a news article in https://catholicdioceseofwichita.org/new-church-planned-for-fort-scott/. “The engineers have said it would be cost prohibitive to try to rebuild it because the church would lose its ‘grandfather’ status and would have to meet modern building codes.”

Simpson Construction Services, Wichita, is the general contractor for the new church building and has two employees on site, Howard Thome, superintendent, and Tyler Fox, field engineer.

The new church site is located at 702 Eddy, in approximately the same spot as the old one.

Fox said there are approximately 26 sub-contractors from start to finish on the project.

Construction began in November 2023.

“The church will be a little over 7,000 square feet,” Fox said. “The owner occupancy is expected to be November 2024.”

 

On December 5, R2 Concrete Construction, Fort Scott, was pouring the footings.

The gate to the construction site of the new Mary Queen of Angels Catholic Church.

“We had to go down to bedrock,” Thome said. “We put in a lean concrete to bring it up to bedding. The footing is on top, so should be stable.”

“We should pour the slab in the next couple of weeks,” Fox said. “Then start erecting steel in late January.”

The project is being funded partly through insurance because the church was struck by lightning in August 2022, according to Bo Casper, a church member and also a sub-contractor on the rectory building.

Above 95 percent of the original stained glass windows was saved from the fire/water damage and will be reinstalled in the new church, according to Mark McCoy, who is on the parish building committee.

It is also being funded by a capital campaign that the church parish is doing, McCoy said.

The church will be ADA-accessible with a zero-entry to the church.

The cost of the church rebuild is approximately $6.5 million, McCoy said.

The banner on the outside fence of the construction site.

To view a prior story about the fire:

Fire at Fort Scott’s Catholic Church Causes Extensive Damage

The church was built in 1872, according to https://www.mqaftscott.com/history/

“The church was one of those founded by Italian-born Fr. Paul M. Ponziglione who helped establish many churches after he arrived in 1851 at the Osage Mission in Kansas” according to the article https://catholicdioceseofwichita.org/new-church-planned-for-fort-scott/“Because of the Fort Scott fire, St. Francis Church in St. Paul is now the oldest church in the diocese.”

Church Rectory

Looking east from the new church rectory at 720 Holbrook to the construction site of the church. St. Mary’s Catholic School is to the left in the photo.

Casper Enterprises, a local company, was working on the church rectory, at 720 Holbrook, west of the new church building on December 5.

The Catholic Rectory of Mary Queen of Angels Catholic Church is being framed. The location is 720 Holbrook.

Bo Casper said the crew started the framing in November (2023 )of the 1,634 square foot home the church’s priest will live in. It will have three bedrooms, two baths, a large garage and a saferoom.

The rectory should be completed by the end of February 2024 “If the weather cooperates,” Casper said.

The lot where the rectory is being built belonged to the church.

The rectory was torn down and the site moved “because the church was totaled and had to be ADA compliant and needed more parking spaces,” Casper said. “We had to gain footage and tear down the rectory. It was just as old as the church. Bats were coming in through the chimney area. It was a three-story high brick building.”

The new rectory will have a brick facade and regular siding on the rear and sides of the building, Casper said.

The concrete has been poured at the rectory, and the three-man crew is currently framing, which will be done by the end of the week, Casper said.

Bo Casper left, and Frank Casper work on framing the rectory.

The cost of the rectory is approximately $325,000, McCoy said.

 

Entertainment, Food, Fort Scott

The Inaugural Christmas on the Bricks: An Enjoyable Weekend

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Diane Striler, chairperson of the Elevate Christmas on the Bricks Festival, enjoys a ride with her husband, Dean,  in one of the horse-drawn carriages in historic Downtown Fort Scott, taken from her Facebook page.

Diane Striler said she is overwhelmed by the positive feedback she has received from the community about the Christmas on the Bricks Festival this past weekend.

Striler was the Elevate Fort Scott Christmas Chairman who facilitated the first annual event.

First Ever Christmas on the Bricks: Something For Everyone

“While planning this event, my goal was to have a variety of activities available throughout the weekend so everyone could find something they would enjoy doing,” she said. “I wasn’t sure how things would fall into place, but was just hoping that people would show up and have a good time.”

“The best part for me is hearing that businesses profited, the community had fun, people traveled to attend the event, our downtown looks beautiful and people are already talking about next year,” she said.

There were some challenges to creating the event.

“Any time you plan something like this, you will run into some challenges,” she said.

Even though the weather was cold and damp, “People still showed up,” she said. “As for other challenges, I did a lot of praying and things just seemed to fall into place.”

” Lindsay Madison…was my main sidekick in this and I couldn’t have done this without her,” Striler said.

“We are compiling a list of people we want to thank, and we don’t want to miss anyone who supported us,” she said. “We’ll be publishing the list once we have that complete.”

The committee is planning a wrap-up meeting at the Chamber office this Friday from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m.

“We welcome feedback from those involved,” she said. “We’ll use this info to tweak next year’s event to make it even better!”

Next year Christmas on the Bricks will be Dec 6- 8th, staying consistent with the first weekend in December.

Fort Scott, Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce

Chamber Coffee Hosted by Compassionate Ministries on December 7

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ANNOUNCING THIS WEEK’S
CHAMBER COFFEE
Join us for Chamber Coffee hosted by

Fort Scott

Compassionate Ministries

Thursday, December 7th

8am

26 N. Main

The Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce invites members and guests to a Chamber Coffee this Thursday, December 7th at 8 a.m. hosted by Fort Scott Compassionate Ministries, located at 26 N. Main St. Coffee, juice, and light refreshments will be served.

Allen Schellack is the Director/Chaplain at Fort Scott Compassionate Ministries.  The Ministry Center is sponsored locally by Fort Scott Church of the Nazarene and a designated Salvation Army Disaster Relief and Services Extension Unit for Bourbon County. Their vision is to see every individual and family living successfully and interdependently within a caring community. Fort Scott Compassionate Ministries oversees the local Salvation Army efforts of bell ringing during the holidays to bring donations right back here to Bourbon County. They are still seeking bell ringers to volunteer this season. If you are interested, you can find their contact info. on our website fortscott.com or their Facebook page.

 

Contact the Chamber of Commerce at (620) 223-3566 for more information.

 

Click here for their Facebook Page!

We hope to see you there!
Thank you to our Chamber Champion members
shown below!
FORT SCOTT AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
620-223-3566
Facebook  Twitter
Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce | 231 E. Wall Street, Fort Scott, KS 66701
Fort Scott, Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce

Deadline for Community Christmas Lighting Contest is Tomorrow, Dec. 5

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Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce

announces Christmas Light Contest sponsored by Niece Products!

The Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce encourages businesses, residents, and neighborhoods to “Deck the fort” and make the community merry and bright for the holidays.

Niece Products is sponsoring the Christmas Light Contest with cash prizes for the winners including:

Residential : 1st/$100, 2nd/$75, 3rd/$50

Top Business: $100

Top Neighborhood: $100

Other contest details:

  • Lights should be in place by Dec. 5th and judging will take place between the 11th and 13th.
  • Properties within a 1 mile radius of city limits will be considers for contest
  • Those wanting to ensure their property or someone else’s judged should call or email the Chamber with their address, name, and phone number
  • Lighting and decorations must be visible from street view.

The Chamber encourages everyone to get in the spirit with lights this season. For more information contact the Chamber at 620.223.3566 or by email at [email protected].
Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce | 231 E. Wall Street, Fort Scott, KS 66701
Entertainment, Fort Scott, Fort Scott National Historic Site, History

FSNHS Candlelight Tour: A History Immersion

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Jessica Nielsen leads a group to each historical vignette at Fort Scott National Historic Site on December 2, 2023.

The 42nd Annual Fort Scott National Historic Site Candlelight Tour, December 1 and 2 was entitled Glowing Heartbeats of History.

The vignettes of local history focused on the physical, mental, emotional, social, and spiritual health of the soldiers and local townspeople.

The temperatures in the 40s and damp weather did not stop people from attending the tour this year.

1,000 candle lanterns illuminated the site with a peaceful ambiance and reenactors helped bring 1860s history alive at the fort.

During the tour, participants were immersed in ways people have historically been provided the opportunity to be well, despite their circumstances, according to a press release from the fort.

The Fort Scott High School Drama Club wrote the scene at the hospital tent for the tour, the other vignettes were written by the FSNHS staff, Carl Brenner, Program Manager for Interpretation and Resource Management said.

 

About the Fort

From November 1-March 31, Fort Scott National Historic Site, a unit of the National Park Service, will be open for its winter hours of operation.

The site exhibit areas and visitor center are open daily from 8:30 am-4:30 pm.

The park grounds are open daily from ½ hour before sunrise until ½ hour after sunset.

For more information about Fort Scott National Historic Site programs or to become involved in the candlelight tour, or other activities, please contact the park at 620-223-0310 or visit our website at www.nps.gov/fosc.

From left, Dwayne Gentleman, Dee Young, Skip Thomas, and Jan Elder converse about life in the community in the 1860s. Submitted by Carl Brenner/NPS. This vignette was at the Officers’ Quarters No. 2 and was a discussion of the budding romance of John Little and Sene Campbell and the growth of the town amidst conflict. Photo credit: Carl Brenner/NPS.

 

The fort’s well is in the center of the Fort Scott National Historic Site compound.
From left to right, Cassie Edson, Susan Anderson, and Chris Morgan depict hospital treatment of injury and disease during the Civil War.
Left to right, Justin Hall, Chris Schafer, and Amanda Clark are a group of performers called the Homes Brigade Minstrels, who portrayed the benefits of music during the Civil War. The trio led the group in singing a few Christmas carols.
From left, Luke Leighsing and Matthew Wells tell of the health of the horses and survival needs for patrolling the overland trails. Photo credit: Carl Brenner/NPS.

 

Entertainment, Fort Scott, Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce

2023 Christmas Parade Winners

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The Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce would like to thank all who attended or participated in the 2023 Christmas Parade held Thursday, November 30th in the Downtown Historic District.

The theme was “A Candy Land Christmas” and many of the entries did an exceptional job of coordinating with the theme.

 

The parade was sponsored by Briggs of Fort Scott.

The panel of judges selected the following winners out of fifty-four entries:  1st place as Extrusions, Inc., 2nd place as Fort Scott FFA, and 3rd place as Carhelp/Washateria.

 

The contribution of many is what makes events like the Christmas parade successful.  The Chamber is sincerely appreciative of all who volunteered, announced, judged, and otherwise had a part in the parade.

 

Contact the Chamber for more information at 620-223-3566.

 

Fort Scott

Grief Share: Support in the Journey

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The welcome page of the first session of Grief Share journal workbook. Submitted.

A first session to introduce people who are grieving loss is offered to the community on December 5 from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at St. Mary’s Catholic School, 705 S. Holbrook in room 203.

“This first December session will have hot teas, hot cocoa, and a sack lunch provided and participants will be given a helpful journal workbook to support their journey,” said Laura Meeks, the group’s facilitator.

Grief Share is built around three components: a 30-minute video, small group discussion, and a personal workbook,” Meeks said. “Grief Share provides a comforting place with others who are also on this path.”

“All are welcome,” she said. “It is non-denominational.”

Please pre-register to Meeks at 740.317.6379 or email at [email protected].

Bourbon County, Fort Scott, Government, Schools

Second Bourbon County Farm Classroom Planned

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Leadership at Fort Scott USD234 is partnering with Pittsburg-based nonprofit organization, Community GreenFarms (CGF), to bring an innovative farm classroom to the district.

The farm classroom projects being established by the nonprofit are located inside converted shipping containers outfitted with state-of-the-art hydroponic growing systems. Each unit is capable of producing nearly 500 heads of leafy greens per week, all
year round.

Once at the school, Agriculture and other teachers oversee students who manage the farm from seed to harvest, the majority of which is taken directly to the cafeteria and served in school meals. Schools may also choose to sell produce to restaurants or at farmers’ markets, donate it to nonprofits, or even send it home with
students for families to eat.

CGF was recently awarded a $1,000,000 grant from the Kansas Department of Children and Families to accelerate
their statewide farm-to-school program, the goal of which is to improve the health and habits of high school students at seven Southeast Kansas schools while teaching them new skills. The counties of focus are Allen, Anderson, Bourbon, Labette, Linn, Montgomery, and Wilson. While each of these schools will have the cost of their farm classroom covered by the grant, projects in other counties were funded differently.

In Cherokee, Crawford, and Neosho counties, the nonprofit established farm classrooms through a grassroots fundraising
a campaign similar to the one planned for Fort Scott.

This is the second such project planned for Bourbon County, as Uniontown USD235 is being provided one through a grant opportunity. While both schools applied to be the recipient of the grant-funded farm classroom, Uniontown was ultimately the school district selected by CGF.

The leadership at Fort Scott still wanted to bring one to their district and have been in discussion with the nonprofit on how to get that accomplished.

The funds for the project will be raised through a community-wide fundraising effort and the writing of grants.

According to the nonprofit’s Executive Director, Matt O’Malley, the project has the potential to have an incredible impact on students and their schools. “Students who help run these farms get unique experiences that may lead to career paths in agriculture, education, nutrition, business management, or food services.

Not only that, but these farms produce a significant amount of fresh food for schools, in some cases completely eliminating the school’s
need to purchase sub-par lettuce from outside sources. The student-grown food is then introduced to the lunchroom which can change the eating habits and health of entire student populations.”

Uniontown’s farm classroom was delivered last week and is expected to be online in February. The fundraising campaign to bring the farm classroom to Fort Scott will begin immediately, hoping that theirs could be up and running by the spring semester.

For more information, visit the nonprofit’s Facebook page or website at
www.CommunityGreenFarms.org.
Matt O’Malley / picture attached /
Executive Director
Community Green Farms
c) 620-249-6353, o) 620-404-2812
[email protected]

Fort Scott, Jobs

Ashley Heathman Is the New Assistant Director at the Beacon

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Ashley Heathman. Submitted photo.
Ashley Heathman, 32, started her new job as assistant director at The Beacon in May 2023.
“The Beacon is a not-for-profit food bank that helps families and individuals facing food insecurity, ” she said. “We also do some financial assistance to help pay utilities and certain necessities.”
“I answer the phones, process The Beacon applications, and help our members find other resources,” she said. “Along with day-to-day activities to keep The Beacon running smoothly.”
She and Beacon Director David Gillen are the only employees of the helping organization.
“The best thing about my career is being able to help families in need and seeing the relief on their faces when they realize you care!”  Healthman said. “The most challenging aspect of this position is not being able to do more to help in certain situations, but we do the best we can!”
Heathman is currently in the process of getting an associate’s degree at Fort Scott Community College for business management.
“I have worked in health care most of my life which really prepared me for this position, as opposite as they are, you need a big heart to fulfill the duties in both career paths.”
Business, Entertainment, Fort Scott, Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce

Museum of Creativity Candy Land Adventure on December 2

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Sending on behalf of Chamber Member

The Museum of Creativity…..

Rural Development Grant to help team help small businesses succeed

Come to the Museum of Creativity to experience our 1st annual Candy Land Adventure. Guests of all ages will experience the wonder of playing the classic board game using themselves as the game piece. Players will trudge through the Chocolate Swamp and fight their way through Licorice Lagoon. This will mostly involve walking although there will be opportunities to crawl through Gumdrop Pass, slide in Gramma Nuts Peanut Brittle House, craft a candy cane bracelet or ornament in Peppermint Forrest and other side adventures if they choose to wander off colored path that goes around such things. (Teaser photos below)

All players will make it to the finish line with a cake walk inside Candy Castle where everyone will be a winner with a treat of their own. Cakes, cupcakes and cookies are being supplied by contestants in our decorating contest so they will be gorgeous and delicious!

https://www.facebook.com/share/To1cDmi9b5pKY6u1/?mibextid=9VsGKo

Saturday, December 2nd from 10am – 4pm

$5.00/ person

Buy your tickets here:

museum-of-creativity-institute.ticketleap.com/candyland-adventure/

(If you can’t make it that day, consider sponsoring family, friends or a random adventurer or ask for a proxy to adventure in your place and you can make arrangements to pick up your prize.)

Museum of Creativity

102 S. National Ave

Fort Scott, KS 66701

209-204-9743

[email protected]

If you enjoy decorating cakes, cupcakes or cookies and want to enter the CREATIVE CHRISTMAS CAKE & COOKIE CONTEST to contribute to this event, find more information here:

https://www.facebook.com/share/dRdqRvX7biD1Es4k/?mibextid=9VsGKo

Then contact us to sign up as a contestant.

This special event is in conjunction with the Downtown Fort Scott Christmas on the Bricks. Find out more about other events going on here:

https://facebook.com/events/s/christmas-on-the-bricks/1625123707976601/

Disclaimer: We are not yet handicap accessible. We will be happy to assist you into the building. Contact 209-204-9743 to arrange assistance.
Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce | 231 E. Wall Street, Fort Scott, KS 66701
Fort Scott, Schools, Youth

FSHS Thespians Direct Children’s Production of ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas 

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FSHS Thespians Direct Children’s Production of ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas 

 

The Fort Scott High School Thespians present their children’s theatre production of ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas by Kathryn Schultz Miller.

 

Performances are at 7 p.m. on Dec. 8 and 9 at the FSHS Auditorium. Doors open 30 minutes prior to showtime.

 

The mini-musical is based on the traditional Christmas poem by Clement C. Moore with a modern take including Izzy the Christmas mouse played by Theodore Bowman, Rosie the red-nosed reindeer played by Mary Racer, and other holiday favorite characters such as reindeer, elves, and even the Abominable Snowman. Audience members will get to join in the fun throughout the performance. Cast members include fifty local children in 1st-8th grades.

 

‘Twas the Night Before Christmas’ is produced by FSHS Theatre Director Angie Bin with assistance from Levi Bin. Direction and design is by the FSHS Thespians. Junior Cooper George serves as Director with junior Mykael Lewis assisting. Junior Alyssa Popp is the Stage Manager.

 

Tickets are all reserved seating and are $6 from fortscotthighschool.ludus.com or at the door. Seating is limited.

 

# # #

 

Contact: Angie Bin, 620-719-9622, [email protected]