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Category Archives: Submitted
Friends of Fort Scott NHS Annual Meeting – Sept. 21
Friends members and the general public are invited to attend the Friends of Fort Scott National Historic Site Annual Meeting!
Monday, September 21, 2026
6 p.m.
At the home of Ronda & Rob Hassig
512 S. Judson St., Fort Scott
Evening Highlights
- Light refreshments
- Special program on Quantrill’s Raid
- Drawing for a reproduction U.S. 1847 Walker Colt Revolver
Revolver Fundraiser Drawing
Proceeds from the fundraiser will benefit Fort Scott National Historic Site.
Suggested donation:
• $15 or more for one ticket
• $40 or more for three tickets
Purchase tickets here!
*A small service fee applies to online purchases
You do not need to be present to win.
No donation is necessary to obtain a ticket.
To request one free ticket, mail a handwritten request to:
Friends of Fort Scott National Historic Site
P.O. Box 442
Fort Scott, KS 66701
*Limit one free ticket per household.
*Free tickets are limited, so requests should be mailed early.
Everyone is welcome to attend and learn more about the Friends of Fort Scott National Historic Site!
Friends of FSNHS Annual Meeting Set for Sept. 21
The public is invited to attend the 2026 Annual Meeting of the Friends of Fort Scott National Historic Site (FSNHS) being held Monday, September 21st at the Herbert House, 512 S Judson in Fort Scott, KS. The meeting begins at 6 pm with light appetizer refreshments. At 6:30 pm, a drawing for a replica 1847 Walker Colt revolver will be held followed by the general meeting. A twenty minute program “Quantrill’s Raid on Lawrence and Jacob Rote,” presented by Ronda Hassig, will follow the meeting.
Join us to learn about the Friends’ work on behalf of the National Historic Site and a little known Bleeding Kansas story in one of Fort Scott’s premier historic homes. Anyone (18 years or older) interested in participating in the drawing for the replica revolver can contact a FFSNHS board member or the Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce for a ticket prior to the meeting.
The Friends of Fort Scott National Historic Site is a non-profit organization established in partnership with the National Park Service to support and promote the preservation and interpretation of FSNHS.
VFW Post 1165 to Line Flags at National Cemetery Sept. 18
September 18 — is POW/MIA Recognition Day. VFW Post 1165, led by Commander Jerry Shead, will be lining flags at the entrance to the National Cemetery and throughout the cemetery beginning at 7:00 a.m., with flag retirement at 4:00 p.m.
The Fort Scott Community College (FSCC) softball team and three coaches will assist, along with a group from the Kansas Renewal Institute.
Sponsor PraiseFest 2026 at Gunn Park, Oct. 24
Bourbon County Core Community is seeking businesses, organizations, and community partners to help sponsor PraiseFest 2026, coming to Gunn Park on Saturday, October 24th.
This community event will feature an afternoon and evening filled with activities, food, vendors, inspiring speakers, testimonials, local artists, and live music featuring Tasha Layton.
All proceeds will benefit Bourbon County Core Community and its work to engage the community in helping lift local families out of poverty.
Sponsorship Opportunities
Praise Presenter | $5,000+
Stage recognition during the concert, promotional recognition, social media features, 12 VIP passes, premium booth location
Hope Builder | $2,500
Stage recognition during the concert, promotional recognition, social media features, 8 VIP passes, booth space
Impact Partner | $1,000
Stage recognition during the concert, promotional recognition, social media features, 6 general admission passes, logo on event banner
Community Partner | $500
Promotional recognition, social media features, 4 general admission passes, name on event banner
Mission Friend | $250
Social media recognition and 2 general admission passes
In-Kind Sponsorships Welcome
Businesses and organizations can also support PraiseFest by donating goods or services, including food, printing, equipment, lodging, transportation, marketing, and more. In-kind sponsors will receive recognition based on the value of their contribution.
Why Sponsor?
Your support helps Bourbon County Core Community provide hope, restoration, and practical help to families in need while connecting your business with thousands of local families and community members.
Interested in becoming a sponsor? Contact Deana Betts:
785-488-8411
✉️ Dbetts@ycmstaff.org
PraiseFest 2026
Saturday, October 24th
Gunn Park, Fort Scott
Featuring Tasha Layton
Stage events begin at 3 p.m.
Main event at 6 p.m.
Festival Activities Include:
- Food trucks and vendors
- Guest speakers and testimonials
- Local artists
- Disc golf
- Cornhole tournament
- Fishing derby
- Tri-Yak-A-Thon
- Kiddie Zone
Pre-Register for PraiseFest Activities: Visit the PraiseFest event page for additional information and to pre-register for festival activities. Wristbands may also be purchased at the event ticket table.
Partner with Bourbon County Core Community and help make an eternal impact through PraiseFest 2026!
Visit the Core Community – Bourbon County Facebook Page for more information.
Labor Day Weekend at Fort Scott National Historic Site
Labors on the Frontier
Labor Day Weekend at Fort Scott
Fort Scott, Kan. – Saturday through Monday, September 5–7, 2026, Fort Scott National Historic Site will take you on an exploration of the labors and leisure on an 1840s frontier post. Saturday and Sunday from 9:30 a.m. until 1:30 p.m., enjoy a variety of living history demonstrations as you explore the labors on the fort. Monday will be Artillery demonstrations at 9, 10, and 11 a.m.
Visit with an officer’s wife practicing needlepoint, a laundress doing laundry, learn about caring for your horse from a Dragoon soldier, log hewing with an infantry soldier, and join ranger guided tours at 1:00 p.m. All programs are free and open to the public.
Fort Scott National Historic Site, a unit of the National Park Service, is open Friday through Tuesday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Park grounds are open daily from one-half hour before sunrise to one-half hour after sunset. For more information or to learn how to get involved, call 620-223-0310 or visit www.nps.gov/fosc.
Photo credit: NPS Photo
Fort Scott Welcomes Army Mounted Color Guard Aug. 29
Fort Scott, Kan. – Saturday, August 29, 2026, Fort Scott National Historic Site will host the Commanding General’s Mounted Color Guard (CGMCG) from Fort Riley, with activities from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Visitors of all ages are invited to witness living history as the Army quarters their horses in the Dragoon Stables, echoing practices from the 1840s and 1850s. Wagon and mule team rides will be available throughout the event.
The CGMCG preserves Fort Riley’s legacy, showcasing the discipline and tradition of America’s mounted forces. Soldiers and horses, outfitted in authentic uniforms and equipment, present polished displays of cavalry horsemanship and military tradition.
Fort Scott and Fort Riley share a historic connection: Fort Scott closed in 1853, the same year Fort Riley was established. Both posts played key roles in protecting travelers along the Oregon and Santa Fe Trails.
Fort Scott National Historic Site, a unit of the National Park Service, is open Friday through Tuesday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Park grounds are open daily from one-half hour before sunrise to one-half hour after sunset. For more information or to learn how to get involved, call 620-223-0310 or visit www.nps.gov/fosc.
Lowell Milken Center Awarded Kansas Kiwanis Foundation Grant
Lowell Milken Center for Unsung Heroes Awarded Kansas Kiwanis Foundation, Inc. Grant
Fort Scott, Kansas – The Lowell Milken Center for Unsung Heroes has been awarded a grant from the Kansas Kiwanis Foundation, Inc.
The project, titled “Bourbon County Social Service Magnets,” will consist of 500 4×6 magnets with up-to-date contact information for social services available in Bourbon County. These magnets can be extremely useful for single mothers and women with children seeking healthcare and mental healthcare, childcare, protection, food, clothing, lodging, and internet access. The Milken Center will distribute the magnets to police, sheriffs, Pete’s gas stations, grocery stores, coffee shops, libraries, beauty salons, and all social service contacts. The magnets will also be available for pickup at the Lowell Milken Center for Unsung Heroes at 1 South Main St., Fort Scott, Kansas.
“Working with our local Kiwanis Club for the first time has given us the opportunity to help those in crisis get the help they need quickly. So many of our unsung heroes at the Lowell Milken Center are women and this is a perfect way to honor them!” said Norm Conard, Executive Director of the LMC of Unsung Heroes.
The project is expected to be completed by the end of this summer.
About the Lowell Milken Center for Unsung Heroes: The LMC is a non-profit 501(c)(3) that works with students and educators within a range of diverse academic disciplines to develop projects focused on unsung heroes. Our mission is to share those projects and the stories of these unsung heroes with our community through our museum at the Center. The LMC is located at 1 South Main St., Fort Scott, KS 66701.
About the Kansas Kiwanis Foundation: The Kansas Kiwanis Foundation was founded in 1963 and is a charitable corporation organized under the laws of the State of Kansas. The foundation supports Kiwanis Club and District activities as well as individual Kansans from all over the state. They sponsor scholarships and community projects – “Only by each of us giving are we able to make a difference.”
Support Fort Scott Tiger Football: QB Club Kickoff Dinner Aug. 21
ONCE A TIGER, ALWAYS A TIGER.
The Fort Scott Tigers Quarterback Club is rallying Tiger fans, alumni, families, and local businesses to help support the Fort Scott High School football program!
Every dollar raised stays right here in Fort Scott and goes directly toward supporting the players with equipment, camps, team meals, and other needs not covered by the school budget.
GET IN THE GAME
BECOME A MEMBER | $25/year
Receive season insight and program updates directly from Coach Stark, plus access to club apparel.
KICKOFF DINNER | $55
Friday, August 21 at 6 p.m.
Sharky’s Outdoor Bar
Includes buffet dinner, cash bar, silent auction and a full year of Quarterback Club membership!
Must be 21+. Ticket sales end August 19.
CORPORATE SPONSOR | $100/year
Includes membership benefits, plus your business logo featured on the Quarterback Club Facebook page throughout the season.
❤️ WANT TO DO EVEN MORE?
Gifts of any amount are welcome!
Pay quickly through Venmo at @fsqbclub and include your name, email, and cell number in the payment note so the club can send your receipt and add you to program updates.
Prefer to pay by check? Make checks payable to Fort Scott Quarterback Club and mail to:
1254 240th St.
Fort Scott, KS 66701
Questions? Email FSQBCLUB@gmail.com
GO BIG RED!!!
Thank you,
Matt Harris, President
Jordan Witt, VP / Treasurer
FSHS Head Coach Johnathan Stark
Fort Scott Tigers Quarterback Club
Click HERE for the Fort Scott Tigers Quarterback Club Facebook Page!
Get the Scoop on Senior Living — Aug. 24 Ice Cream Social
Have you ever wondered what life is really like in a senior living community? Here’s your chance to find out in a fun, relaxed setting!
Join Fort Scott Presbyterian Village for Get the Scoop on Senior Living, an ice cream social where you’ll enjoy delicious treats while visiting with residents and staff who will share their personal experiences and answer your questions about community living.
August 24th
4:00 – 6:00 pm
Fort Scott Presbyterian Village
2401 S. Horton St.
Whether you’re exploring senior living options for yourself or a loved one, this is a wonderful opportunity to meet the people who call Presbyterian Village home and learn what makes their community so special.
- Ice cream and conversation
- Meet residents and staff
- Learn about life in the community
- Open to residents, families, and prospective residents
Please RSVP by August 17:
Angela Carpenter: 620-223-5550
Come enjoy a sweet treat while getting the inside scoop on senior living!
A special thank you to Lu’s Ice Cream for their help and support in making this event possible. They have been wonderful to work with, and we truly appreciate their collaboration!
BCCT Performs Willy Wonka TYA Aug. 7–8 at FSHS
Bourbon County Community Theatre (BCCT) performs Roald Dahl’s Willy Wonka (TYA – Theatre for Young Audiences), the organization’s first ever musical.
Performances are at 7 p.m. on Aug. 7 and at 2 and 7 p.m. on Aug. 8 at the Fort Scott High School Auditorium, 1005 S. Main.
“The delicious adventures experienced by Charlie Bucket on his visit to Willy Wonka’s mysterious chocolate factory light up the stage in this captivating adaptation of Roald Dahl’s fantastical tale. Featuring the enchanting songs from the 1971 film starring Gene Wilder, and new songs by Leslie Bricusse and Anthony Newley, Roald Dahl’s Willy Wonka TYA is a scrumdidilyumptious musical guaranteed to delight everyone’s sweet tooth,” according to Music Theatre International.
Over twenty adults and children from Fort Scott and Nevada portray Dahl’s iconic characters.
The show is directed by Angie Bin with musical direction by Taylor Jones, choreography by Abby Stepps, and stage management by Christina King. Chris Griffetts is designing the sets, sound design is by Tyler Slinkard, and lighting is by Sage Hill. Mark Bergmann is assisting with projections and Danette Popp is assisting with stage management.
“This production of Willy Wonka is a kind of milestone for me, as it is my 60th production as a Director,” Bin said. “Working with all of these other extremely talented adults to design a magical show is such a joy.”
“It has been an incredible experience to be part of the creative team,” said Stepps. “Working alongside such talented children, teens, and adults has been truly inspiring. The energy, imagination, and dedication everyone has brought to this production is a reminder that when a community comes together through the arts, the possibilities are truly endless.”
“Willy Wonka has been such an amazing learning experience for me, especially since I’m one year away from earning my Speech/Theatre Education degree,” King said. “Having the opportunity to fine tune my technical skills has been incredibly enriching. I hope our community welcomes us with open arms and connects with our story about the power of telling the truth and doing the right thing, even when it’s hard.”
The production is sponsored by Bourbon County Cars, After Effect Salon, Nevada AT&T, Museum of Creativity, Hedgehog Books, Marsha’s Deli, The Artificers, Riggs Chiropractic, Animal Care Center, Flowers by Leanna, and Liberty Savings. Hedgehog Books is giving away a copy of Dahl’s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory at each performance.
Special Golden Tickets are hidden at Hedgehog Books, Marsha’s Deli, After Effect Salon, Flowers by Leanna, The Artificers, and the Museum of Creativity. Those who find a Golden Ticket at these businesses win a free ticket to the show.
Tickets are $10 for adults and $8 for children. All seating is reserved seating through bcct.ludus.com or tickets can be purchased at the door. Doors open 30 minutes prior to showtime.
Roald Dahl’s Willy Wonka TYA is adapted for the stage by Leslie Bricusse and Timothy Allen Mcdonald. It is presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International (MTI). All authorized performance materials are also supplied by MTI, www.mtishows.com.
Contact: Angie Bin, 620-719-9622, angela.bin@usd234.org
Mary Anning Exhibition Closes July 11 at Lowell Milken Center
FINAL WEEK! The Mary Anning Exhibition Closes Saturday
Time is running out! This Saturday, July 11, is your last opportunity to experience our special summer exhibition honoring Unsung Hero Mary Anning, the pioneering fossil hunter whose discoveries helped change our understanding of prehistoric life.
Hours:
Monday–Friday
10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Saturday
10:00 AM – 4:00 PM
(Final Day)
Lowell Milken Center for Unsung Heroes
1 S. Main | Fort Scott
FREE Admission
Whether you’re bringing the kids, entertaining out-of-town guests, or simply looking for something unique to do this week, don’t miss this engaging exhibition featuring:
- Fossils and life-sized dinosaur replicas
- Dinosaur teeth, claws, and hands-on displays
- The inspiring story of Mary Anning and her groundbreaking discoveries
Questions: 620-223-1312
Don’t wait until it’s too late. Make plans to visit this week before this special exhibition comes to a close!
Visit the Lowell Milken Center for Unsung Heroes Facebook Page