Clint Lawrence, owner of 4C Lawn Care, Fort Scott. Submitted photo.
Clint Lawrence started mowing lawns at age 15 for extra gas money during high school. He is a 2008 Fort Scott High School graduate and a Fort Scott Community College graduate.
Lawrence owns and operates 4C Lawn Care company.
“I offer all of your lawn needs, mowing, weed eating, edging, leaf and limb removal,” he said.
“Family means everything to me so I branded my company name after our family as all of our names begin with C,” he said. “My wife is Chelsea; son is Cole, 8 years old; and son, Chase, 7 years old.”
“After college, I joined the Fort Scott Fire Department,” he said. “Given the shift schedule, I always juggled multiple part-time jobs alongside running my business.”
“This year, I’ve decided to focus solely on expanding my business to spend more time with my wife and kids,” he said.
Clint Lawrence, owner of 4C Lawn Care. Submitted photo.
“With 13 years of experience, I’ve served a wide range of clients in various counties, including commercial, residential, city, and county entities,” he said. “After three previous years of a busy schedule, this year I’m looking to expand my client base.”
“My goal is to grow my business into a reputable company known for exceptional service,” Lawrence said. “I am fully insured and no job is too big or too small. Feel free to reach out to me by phone or text at 620-215-4045 or find me on Facebook at 4C Lawn Care”
Bailey Lyons greets volunteers for the downtown clean-up in front of her Lyons Realty Group office on East Wall. Submitted photo.
The Fort Scott community came out in large numbers for the common good this year, with approximately 160 volunteers to help with the downtown cleanup. The day was a perfect, sunny April day in Kansas, with temps in the upper 60s.
“The community morale and camaraderie among those who have been paired to work together is always wonderful to see,” Bailey Lyons, of the Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce Downtown Committee said. “People working towards a common good is a beautiful thing!”
Some of the volunteers are waiting for instructions. Submitted photo.
Lyons said that two months planning went into pulling off so many projects, with so many volunteers, all in one day.
The day of the clean-up is exhausting, rewarding and humbling at the same time, she said. “Everyone who volunteers has a different background and a different reason for being there, but they have one thing in common – a love for our community, and that always shines through on the day of the event.”
A team of volunteers cleaning the street. Submitted photo.
Workers teamed up to get debris and trash off the streets and out of the alleys. Submitted photos.
A group of Fort Scott Church of the Nazarene Youth, some city workers, and a representative from Walmart with her small daughter weeded the parking lot on National Avenue in the back of the Fort Scott Lofts Apartment buildings.
She said approximately 90 community members- individuals, families, businesses, and organizations- and 70 students from area schools volunteered.
Volunteers clean Main Street. Submitted photos.
“This year brought out the largest number of community volunteers of the clean-up events so far, with representatives from many local businesses, and organizations such as Southwind Extension District 4H Clubs, Fort Scott Nazarene Youth, Pride Club, Kiwanis, Bourbon County Garden Club, and Good Neighbor Action Team. The volunteers also included students from USD-234, USD-235, Fort Scott Community College, and St. Martin’s Academy,” she said. My One Stop provided the t-shirts for the event.
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Judy and Jerry Witt paint benches with a group at Skubitz Plaza. Submitted photo.
One driving down Main Street, National Avenue, Scott Avenue, Skubitz Plaza, and other downtown locations, could see people painting light poles, trash cans, picnic tables, and benches.
Clean-up work at Heritage Park at First and Main Street. Submitted photo.
There were clean-up teams at Skubitz Plaza, Heritage Park, The Splash Pad, the Gathering Square, the Chamber Visitor Center, the parking lot on National, and other downtown areas with people weeding, planting, and mulching.
Neice Products crafted the new sign at the just-finished Pavilion on North National Avenue, and Ron Hurd Constriction installed it.. Submitted photo.
“There were new signs put up for the Gathering Square Pavilion and Farmer’s Market,” she said.
A new sign at the Gathering Square on North National Avenue. Submitted photo.
She said this year there was a large focus on street and alley clean-up, as well.
Volunteers paint a light pole on Main Street. Submitted. photo.
With the addition of the new mural across from the Chamber Office at 231 E. Wall, six downtown murals were completed during the last three years’ clean-up day efforts, she said.
The new mural was painted by from left: Kadra Nevitt, Hayden Travis, Bre Eden, Katie Hueston and Kate Freeman.
Bourbon County Garden Club members oversaw and worked with other volunteers to plant new flowers around the downtown area. Submitted photo.
“This was the third clean-up that the Downtown Committee has put on, and they have grown more each year,” Lyons said. “To date, the cleanups have brought together approximately 450 volunteers who volunteered about 1,350 working hours.”
” I think people have seen that many hands make light work, and it’s an opportunity to be involved in something positive, and people have jumped at the chance to help make a difference,” she said.
Volunteers clean up streets during the event. Submitted photo.
“As a spin-off of this event, I now regularly have volunteer groups reach out asking if I can pair them with a project that could use some extra hands,” Lyons said. “The clean-ups have put on display a variety of different groups that do good in our community, many projects that need continued efforts throughout the year, and a spirit of volunteerism. These three clean-up days have turned into much more than just a few hours on 3 singular days.”
Craig Campbell, Cathy Bishop, Bailey Lyons, Lindsay Madison, and John Crain were part of the committee facilitating the downtown clean-up. Not pictured is Kate Freeman and Katie Hueston who was still working on the mural. Submitted photo.
The downtown clean-up committee is comprised of Lyons,
John Crain, Cathy Bishop, Katie Hueston, Kate Freeman, Craig Campbell, and Lindsay Madison. It is led by the Chamber’s Downtown Division and Good Neighbor Action Team.
Lyons said the committee wants to express sincere gratitude to all the volunteers, businesses, and organizations that make this annual event possible.
For the past two years, a grant from the Elks Lodge primarily funds the clean-up, and one from the Good Neighbor Action Team. They also received a donation from the Bourbon County Arts Council to pay for the mural costs.
Volunteers were fed after the clean-up at the new Pavilion on North National Ave. Submitted photo.
“ The meal that was served to the volunteers at the conclusion of the event was a combined effort from some downtown restaurants Brickstreet BBQ, Sharky’s, Holmtown, Papa Don’s, and Common Ground – the hungry volunteers enjoyed the food after their hard work!” she said.
Local artists who spent several days in the production of this mural on Wall Street, across from the Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce office at 231 E. Wall Street. From left, Kadra Nevitt, Hayden Travis, Bre Eden, Katie Hueston, and Kate Freeman.
For their part, five local artists worked on a mural to beautify downtown Fort Scott, during the Fort Scott Clean-up Day on April 22.
The five artists began working on Friday, April 19, work continued until Monday evening.
“This specific mural was designed to not only showcase the Bourbon County landscape, but be a beautiful backdrop and photo op next to the new arch welcoming visitors into Downtown Fort Scott.,” Kate Freeman, a member of the Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce Downtown Division, said.
“It took about a month, to locate a space, talk to all parties involved, create a design, and execute a plan,” she said. “I would like to thank the Bourbon County Arts Council for donating funds to purchase paint and supplies for the mural.”
The three sections of the mural are from actual photos from Bourbon County. “I used these photos as references for the sketch,” Freeman said.
“We worked on the mural for four days,” she said. “Each of us worked off and on taking as much time as we could spare on the days scheduled. This is a list of painters: Kate Freeman, Katie Hueston,
Kadra Nevitt, Bre Eden, Hayden Travis, Macie Hueston and Kenlee Eden.
“It is always a great experience working with like-minded people who love doing their part to see Fort Scott flourish,” Freeman said. “It was wonderful to see what each artist brought to the table, you can definitely see a little bit of each person in the painting.”
The new Bourbon County landscape mural is located on Wall Street, across the street from the Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce office at 231 E. Wall and just at the base of the welcome arch.
Bre Eden is an art teacher at Winfield Scott Elementary School and Hayden Travis is an art teacher at Eugene Ware Elementary School in Fort Scott. Travis said the school district let them off their teaching duties to do this community service project.
Katie Hueston and Kadra Nevitt are semi-professional artists and Kate Freeman is one of the owners of the local art gallery, The Artificers, and is an artist.
Artists work on a mural on Wall Street during the 2024 Fort Scott Downtown Clean-up Day, The mural is across the street from the Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce at 231 E. Wall.
“This is my first year on the Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce Board, and part of the Downtown Division, along with John Crain, Bailey Lyons & Cathy Bishop,” she said.
Jody Love and Rachel Carpenter, Health Bourbon County Action Team (facing camera) helped with cutting the ribbon for the new arch.
The ribbon cutting for the new Welcome to Fort Scott downtown arch kicked off the Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce Downtown Clean-up project on April 22 at 3 p.m.
From left are Brad Matkin with grandson, Jody Love, Rachel Carpenter and Lindsay Madison. In the background is the new mural going up on East Wall in back of the Ellis Foundation building. The mural was a part of the Downtown Clean-up.
The new arch is near the Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce office at 231 E Wall.
Citizens gather for the ribbon-cutting ceremony of the new welcome arch in downtown Fort Scott.
The welcome arch was grant-funded, with a total cost of $150,000, Rachel Carpenter said in an interview.
Citizens line up for a group photo of the ribbon cutting in the middle of Wall Street beneath the new arch. Hwy.54 traffic (Wall Street) was diverted briefly for the event.
“The Chamber envisioned a downtown welcome sign,” she said. The HBCAT “Involved citizens throughout the process, with public forums, a survey, and was guided by a steering committee.”
Local tradesmen were used for the project when possible, “except for the steel component which was TL Steele of Burrton, KS,” Carpenter said.
The Patterson family and Pathways ended their grant period to the HBCAT with the finalization of this welcome arch project, Carpenter said.
The final stage of the arch project is side-column lighting and lighting of the sign letters, which HBCAT is seeking another grant to finish.
Virginia Barnes, director of Blue Health Initiative, Topeka, speaks to the group..
During the public ribbon cutting, there were several speakers: Chamber CEO Lindsay Madison, Fort Scott City Manager Brad Matkin, Jody Love and Rachel Carpenter with HBCAT and Blue Cross Blue Shield Pathways Director of the Blue Health Initiative, Virginia Barnes of Topeka.
Some of Common Ground Coffee Company’s employees from left to right: Sutton Shelden, Heidi Shrakes, Suzanne Griffin, Sam Burenheide, and Ellen Maher.
Suzanne Griffen, former owner of Twigs and Berries Catering, became a part of the Common Ground Coffee Co. team on March 25
as a baker.
Suzanne Griffin. Submitted photo.
“Suzanne will help keep our pastry cabinet full, along with doing any catering and special events,” according to Stacy Racy, a Common Ground volunteer. “We are excited to fill our calendar with fun events for our community.”
A creation of Griffin, cookie butter cake. I submitted photo.
“You’re welcome to contact Suzanne directly for any of your catering needs or contact Common Grounds at 620-223-2499, according to Racy. “We are excited to see what God has in store for Common Ground over the next year.”
A creation of Griffin, a circus animal cake. Submitted photo.
“I do not have any set hours, but find myself going in almost daily,” Griffin said. “We are combining each of our specialties to work together.”
A dessert by Griffin, ham and cheddar quiche. Submitted photo.
She said her beginning at the coffee shop is bad news/good news story.
She had been working in her catering business from home and wasn’t licensed to do so.
” I knew I was taking a risk, but I really just wanted to be home,” she said. ” I’ve always been a stay-at-home mom. On March 12th, we were served a notice to cease from the Kansas Department of Agriculture. It was disheartening because it was part of the income we relied upon. It was frustrating that whoever felt strong enough to report us, did so and anonymously. It was confusing because everyone who picked up food from me, knew I was working from my home kitchen and didn’t care.”
A chocolate dessert by Griffin., chocolate bundt cake with a shot of expresso. Submitted photo.
Some of her clients in that business were widows who didn’t want to go out to eat alone, families fighting cancer, older couples who didn’t want to cook for just two people, moms who worked and wanted home-cooked meals but were exhausted after working all day, according to Griffin.
“It felt like we were doing more than feeding,” she said. “We were helping fill a gap, building friendships, caring in a way I know how. I really didn’t know what I would do next. Take a job? But I didn’t want to be gone all day. We have two kids homeschooling. Convert the house next door? But then we have additional overhead also.”
” The very next day, Stacy Racy and Heidi Shrakes (the manager)from Common Ground and I chatted,” she said.
“We attend church together at Fort Scott Church of the Nazarene which owns Common Ground and our hearts for the coffee shop align to have a place of ministry and outreach by way of serving our customers and providing a peaceful and encouraging environment to others to gather, study, hang out. For me, to hug as many necks as possible in a day. To put prayers on the prayer wall, to serve delicious food.”
She prays daily for the prayer requests left on the wall in the coffee shop and , “for our foods to stretch, for the calendar to fill up with activites, that God will meet each of our customer’s needs and they will feel loved as they come and go.”
A Griffin charcuterie tray. Submitted photo.
Hours the shop is open: Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. – 7 p.m., and Saturday from 8 a.m. – 4 p.m.
The shop serves coffee, teas, lemonade, drinks, smoothies, and dozens of different syrups which makes the flavor options unlimited, she said.
“You could try something different every day,” she said. “We also have amazing cookies, breakfast sandwiches, wraps, salad, chicken salad, and a mixture of pastries and desserts.”
There are approximately nine employees.
“There are also several that completely volunteer their time,” Griffin said.
Shawn Vincent will start as the new City of Uniontown Clerk on April 29.
Vincent, 50, lives near Uniontown and operates a small cow/calf farm.
He graduated from high school in Manhattan, KS, and is currently working on a bachelor’s degree.
Vincent said he has 23 years of military experience (retired) with over 10 years in human resources. and over three years as a liaison with the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
He was a motor grader operator for Bourbon County for over two years, before that.
He has three children Joshua, Allison (“A.J.”) and Arwin (who passed away in 2018), and has lived in Bourbon County for seven years.
“I am retired military and have enjoyed the peace of living in the country, I moved here from Austin, TX,” he said.
The transition to a new clerk.
Sally Johnson is retiring as Uniontown’s City Clerk.
Sally Johnson, who has been the clerk for 11 years will be training Vincent full-time until the week of May 20, then will continue training part-time “and do other things that have been put on the back burner until the end of the year,” she said.
The city clerk position is complex, she said.
“Per the League of Kansas Municipalities City Officials Manual: The city clerk’s list of responsibilities can also vary dramatically from city to city. In most cities, city clerks are expected to administer records management, assist the governing body in complying with the Kansas Open Meetings Act, assist the city’s records custodian with complying with the Kansa Open Records Act, provide the official correspondence for the city, provide an accurate and complete account of the city’s financial position, and act as a public relations officer on behalf of the City.”
Johnson said there are more duties: “K.S.A. 13-518 established the following as the duties of the city clerk in cities of the first class: attend all meetings of the council; keep a record of the proceedings; record all official acts of the clerk and attest them when necessary; keep and preserve the official records of the city; keep and preserve the corporate seal of the city; keep and preserve all public records, papers, and documents not belonging to any other office; administer oaths; and keep a correct account of the financial affairs of the city treasurer.”
“We are a city of the third class, so as city clerk here you do all of the above and utility clerk, court clerk, human resources, public information officer, oversee animal control and custodial employees, and anything else that is deemed necessary,” she said.
Johnson was hired May 14, 2013 and this will be her retirement as city clerk, she said.
“I am not retiring completely,” she said. ” I will continue working part-time somewhere. I plan on getting my substitute teacher certificate and work when I want and enjoy time off when I don’t want to work.”
Since the pandemic, many people have been looking at a lifestyle that includes purchasing local products and growing their food, or at the least, knowing nearby local producers.
The fourth annual Shead Farm Homestead Festival event will happen on May 18, southeast of Fort Scott. This educational and family-fun event has attempted to help those people.
Photo opportunities will be available at the festival. Submitted photo.
Homesteading is moving towards food security by means of producing one’s own animals and gardens.
Larry and Vickie Shead and their extended family have provided people with an event where people can gather tips on gardening, homesteading, grafting fruit trees, beekeeping, orchard care, and soap-making, and many others.
Vickie and Larry Shead, 2020, from her Facebook page.
This year over 50 vendors related to homesteading, along with family activities are scheduled.
Besides new vendors and activities, there will be a speakers’ tent where people can listen to a question and answer time on various homestead topics.
“A chapel is provided for those who may need prayer or just want some Biblical insight,” Vickie said.
Over 150 volunteers have been working to create a memorable time, on Saturday, May 18, from 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. Tickets are $5.00 each or $25.00 for a family of five or more.
“There will be good old fashion and exciting, memory-making events that young and old will not want to miss,” Vickie said. “There are plenty of places to sit down and relax for a good visit with old friends and neighbors while watching the exciting activities taking place.”
Historical demonstrations to view: blacksmithing, broom making, butter making, wooden spoon making, leather working, rock wall building, and a weaver who demonstrates on an 1864 old barn wood loom, as well as showing how to spin. There will be a Model T Ford and a Model A Ford for viewing with early 1900s music playing on a Victrola nearby.
Educational vendors will share information on growing microgreens, making butter, washing clothes without electricity, creating with macrame, making goat milk soap, milking a cow, making jams and jellies, and creating pictures with pastels. One can also learn about making pottery, sourdough bread, and how to harvest maple syrup. And many beautiful quilts will be on display, she said.
“Children can enjoy the Children’s Center’s huge tent full of new, fun, educational, and exciting activities,” Vickie said. “The little children can gather bugs in their bag and turn them in for a prize. Face painting and a Story Station give a moment of rest for children. New this year will be a huge sand pile with treasures to find. New, also a Kids’ Corner Store with many farm and educational toys.”
An Animal Arena displays donkeys, goats, dogs, cows, sheep, and a pig. Poultry will be roaming the area with peacocks, chickens, guineas, ducks, turkeys, and quail. Children and adults can learn the techniques of roping along with other fun animal activities, and additionally, there will be kittens, rabbits, and quail.
The Food Court has expanded to include pulled pork sandwiches, as well as the festival’s famous Walking Tacos, she said. Snacks are in abundance with kettle corn and homemade potato chips, cotton candy, and bakery bargains. Snack Shack items are dried candy fruits, and many other snacks.
“A variety of refreshing drinks will be available such as hot and cold coffees, cocoa; lemonade, and homemade refreshing root beer,” she said.
“Hope to see you all for this wonderful family and friend’s event,” she said.
An aerial view of the Shead Farm Homestead Festival. Submitted photo.
The powerline was near the Taco Bell restaurant in Fort Scott.
Seventy-two customers and many townspeople were affected by a power outage that started with a downed power line in Fort Scott on April 16, according to customer service at Evergy, the electrical utility.
The power is fully restored to Fort Scott from yesterday’s outage which happened about 12:15 p.m., according to Fort Scott City Manager Brad Matkin.
The wind blew down a power pole on the north side of Landmark Bank across from McDonald’s Restaurant at the corner of Hwy. 69 and 23rd Street, according to Matkin.
Helping with the problem were the Fort Scott Police Department, Fort Scott Fire Department, and Evergy, the utility company, he said.
The estimated restoration time was delayed because of strong winds, the Evergy Customer Servicewoman said.
Typically outages don’t last more than a few hours, but when there are several outages around the state, they could take longer, she said.
Hwy. 69 was shut down and 23rd Street going eastbound was closed, according to the Fort Scott Fire Department Facebook page, yesterday,
U.S. 69 was for a time closed to through traffic between K-7 and U.S. 54 at Fort Scott, according to a Kansas Department of Transportation Facebook page. KDOT was flagging motorists through the scene
William Billings has been mowing yards since he was a child growing up, and started with a push mower as a kid.
Now he has a truck, trailer, and a zero-turn mower, with chainsaws and weed eaters to tackle any job.
Will’s Gutter Service provides weed eater service. Submitted photo.
He has over 15 years of experience mowing and worked for LACO Seamless Gutters for four years as a gutter specialist until the company shut down, he said.
Billings started Will’s Gutter Service last year in Fort Scott.
“The services I provide for the community are mowing yards, gutter cleanouts, gutter inspections and maintenance, tree trimming, leaf and debris clean up,” he said.
William Billings, the owner of Will’s Gutter Service, mows a yard. Submitted photo.
To contact Billings call 620-418-3491.
Billings started the business last year to make extra money for his family, he said.
He is a Turner High School graduate from K.C., Kansas.
William Billings is the owner of Will’s Gutter Service and has four years of experience in gutter clean-outs, inspections, and maintenance. Submitted photo.
Submitted photo of last year’s Rumble on the Bricks car show.
Rumble on The Bricks is a local car show organized by Fort Scott residents, Austin Alfaro and Dakota Rusk.
“We present ourselves as a car community but this is for anybody who wants to come out and have a good time, see friends, and promote small businesses/ideas,” Rusk said. “All vehicles are welcome, bring whatever you’ve got, just come hang out.”
Their first car shows were in 2023 and one is scheduled for April 21 at Riverfront Park, north of the orange-colored bridge on North National Avenue. The event starts at noon and will last about three hours, Rusk said.
Dakota Rusk with his son at the car show in 2023. Submitted photo.
“This is a family-friendly event, food trucks are welcome to come,” he said. “We’ve had Over Yonder BBQ bring some amazing food last year.”
Last year’s Rumble on the Bricks car show. Submitted photo.
They hope to bring the community together and give people something to do, once a month when the weather is nice, Rusk said.
Austin Alfaro, submitted photo.
“My main goal is to bring the community together and have fun,” he said. “This is a car show, just for fun.”
Admission is free.
A motorcycle was part of the show in 2023. Submitted photo.
Kelly Perry answered a job ad from the Healthy Bourbon County Action Team posting in October, 2023 for a local food fellow position.
“I was so excited and quickly applied and in January was interviewed by Amanda Lindahl, Local Food System Program Coordinator with Kansas State, and Rachel Carpenter with HBCAT,” she said. ” I love food, small business, and local so this was right up my alley. The duties were pretty vast for an 18-week program that is brand new across the state…and I landed this awesome opportunity!”
“As part of my job duties, I am required to hold an educational workshop,” she said. “I wanted to focus on food labeling at the farmers market. I know our local Fort Scott Farmers Market is growing like crazy, pun intended. I figured it would be a great topic for people to learn what the state requires at pop-up shops, festivals, bake sales, and farmers’ markets. I also wanted to cover the proper food licenses required by the state.”
“The main reason for this is that I receive about three calls, texts, or messages a week asking food-related questions from everyday people who own, run, or are thinking of starting a business full-time, part-time, or occasionally,” she said.
Kelly and her husband Thadeus Perry own Perry’s Pork Rinds and Country Store in Bronson.
“People know me and know I’m willing to help if I can,” she said. “Sometimes people get intimidated or scared of the inspectors or do not know who to contact to ask the questions so that leads them to me. I, for one, have had to attend countless seminars, online Zoom meetings, and hours of reading to learn about my family’s business Perry’s Pork Rinds, and our food laws and regulations.”
“I remember having the state Inspector show up at our front door needing to look over our home-based business back in 2018,” Perry said. “I remember the federal meat inspector showing up as well, due to the product we make being a meat product. I cried each time someone would flash their badge at the front door and I’d panic. After years of visits, and our yearly renewal inspections I came to realize food inspection, safety, and visits were not intimidating or anything to be scared of.”
“They had a job to do and if we were doing something wrong they would answer questions and tell us what to do to fix it and be in compliance,” she said. ” It’s in the state’s best interest to HAVE business in operation and to generate revenue. They want the businesses but they also have standards and regulations to help keep us all safe, both the consumer as well as the producer.”
“I figured a food license discussion would help so many who were just unsure, curious or didn’t know where to start,” she said.
The workshop is FREE to anyone from any part of the state, from 6-8 p.m. at the HBCAT offices, 104 N. National Avenue on Monday, April 15.
“We ask that you register so we can make sure to have enough handouts and packets created,” she said.
“We are so fortunate to have From the Land of Kansas’s very own Robyn Dolby attend and present a slide show and answer questions,” Perry said. “We will also have the K-State Local Food System Program Coordinator Amanda Lindahl coming to discuss the Local Food Fellow Program as well.”
Robin Dolby, From the Land of Kansas Marketing Coordinator, Kansas Dept. of Agriculture. Submitted photo.
Amanda Lindahl from her LinkedIn page.
“My goal with this Local Food Fellow position and HBCAT goal is to provide knowledge, access to resources, and networking,” she said. “We can then grow as producers, growers, suppliers, and a community! HBCAT always has the saying Stronger Together and it is just that simple.”
Mercy Hospital Fort Scott signed an agreement with Ascension Via Christi to provide equipment and furnishings for emergency room services in 2019. Ascension Via Christi ceased operating the E.R. in 2023.
The Ascension Via Christi Emergency Department ceased operations in December 2023 in Fort Scott, and since then many in the community have been seeking solutions.
The Bourbon County Commission recently proposed a community vote to see if they will support a one-quarter sales tax to help fund an emergency department. That vote will be on May 14.
On April 11 about 75 people attended the meeting facilitated by a newly formed group called Citizens For An ER. It was held at the Fort Scott Community College Ellis Center.
Members of the group are Jamie Armstrong, Craig Campbell, Lynda Foster, Charles Gentry, Mark McCoy, Randy Nichols, and Doug Ropp.
Dr. Nichols listed some of the reasons the community needs an ER and the importance to the community.
Charles Gentry then explained the ballot proposal, explaining that the additional sales tax would add 25 cents for every $100 spent, so a $10 meal would cost 2.5 cents more. The tax would start on October 1 and run for 5 years. Voters could choose to terminate it before those 5 years are complete, he said.
Approximately 75 people attended the meeting at Fort Scott Community College’s Ellis Center on Thursday night.
Mr. Gentry said there are three ways an emergency department can be set up:
As part of a hospital.
As a remote operation for another hospital that is within 35 miles.
As part of a rural emergency hospital (REH).
Charles Gentry speaks to the audience about the sales tax measure on the ballot. From left are Craig Campbell, Doug Ropp, Randy Nichols, and Gentry. Mark McCoy was the moderator. Armstrong and Foster were absent.
If the county cannot establish an emergency department within those 5 years, the funds could be used for emergency medical services or for property tax reduction, Gentry said.
Mr. Gentry clarified that the group presenting was supporting an emergency room. They weren’t supporting a sales tax other than a means to the end of creating an emergency room. He made it clear that their job was not done once a vote occurred. They intended to monitor, report, and hold the county accountable for spending the money to achieve the goal of an ER.
He said that this sales tax does not guarantee they will be able to bring an E.R. to Fort Scott, but he was confident that without this, Fort Scott would not get an E.R.
Craig Campell spoke about the Rural Emergency Hospital Act, which was passed to help make rural hospitals sustainable. Currently, Fort Scott does not qualify for REH status because the hospital was closed before the cut-off date in the act, but there are some bills to extend the date to make Fort Scott eligible. The REH designation would allow the rural hospital to bill at 105% and would also be subsidized by several hundred thousand dollars per month.
In the first quarter of 2023, there were 128 out-of-town transfers from the Fort Scott Ascension Via Christ Emergency Department E.R. Without a local E.R., the first quarter of 2024 saw 292 transfers by EMS.
Since the only entities that could run an E.R. in Fort Scott are existing hospitals, there is less risk of the money being spent on something like $1,000,000 that was paid to Noble Health.
The donation agreement with Legacy Health Foundation stipulates that maintaining ownership of the hospital building requires maintaining the property, making it available for non-profits, and developing an acute care hospital on that site. If they do not do those things, the building returns to the county. Three years remain on the agreement.
The next community discussion will be at Uniontown on Wednesday, April 24, at 6:30 p.m. in the City Hall Meeting Room.
401 Woodland Hills Blvd. The emergency department is located on the south side of this campus.
