The dwarfs in their home in Wychwood. From left: Michaela Morrell, Kaiden Clary, Ana Rupprecht, Joanna Wuthrich, Khris Patel, Brayden Wilkerson
Area youth performed a ‘fractured fairy tale’ of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, entitled Snew White on Friday evening and Saturday afternoon at Fort Scott High School.
The play was a culmination of a Tiger Drama Performance Camp over the last two weeks, with FSHS Thespians assisting Drama Teacher Angela Bin in the production.
Twenty-four youth from six local schools pulled together an entertaining performance. In addition, during the camp, the students explored other types of arts and crafts, and created scenery props for the play.
The directors of Snew White were Brooklyn Lyons and Karina Kantilal. Set designer, Levi Bin; scenic artist, Mary Gladbach; choreographer, Mackenzie Peoples; sound designer, Addy Labbe; sound tech, Dominic Cannon; lighting designer, Alyx Brooks; lighting assistant Lexi Bailey; costume designer, Emmalee Bin; acting coaches, Sage Hill, Gabriel Graham, Kathelra Murray, Mesa Jones, and Jakob Slinkard.
The cast was Brayden Wilkerson, Kaiden Clary, Michaela Morrell, Kyla Korinek, Ana Rupprecht, Joanna Wuthrich, Khris Patel, Reagen Wells, Kodi Casper, Kinsley Davis, Lexi Hill, Avery Marsh, Katy Primm, Jada Malveaux, Keri Crisler, Remy Witt, Kaitlyn Leavell, Abby Wuthrich, Bryn Crisler, Caroline Barnes, Xavier Jeffrey, Cora Studyvin and Ben Davenport.
The evil queen, portrayed by Kinsley Davis, works on a plan to rid Wychwood of Snew White. UPS girl, middle, is Keri Crisle.The magic mirror, portrayed by Remy Witt, chats with the evil queen.The governor of Wychwood, Kaitlyn Leavell, and her assistants, Dean, portrayed by Caroline Barnes, and her assistant, portrayed by Xavier Jeffrey and Deluca, Abby Wuthrich and her assistant, portrayed by Bryn Crisler, deal with the politics of having an evil queen.Sigmond Freud, portrayed by Kodi Casper, counsels Rose Red portrayed by Regen Wells.Gerry, the insurance agent portrayed by Ben Davenport, chats with Snew White, portrayed by Cora Studyvin.
The magic mirror talks to Snew White.The queen gets advice. From left: Katy Primm, Jada Malveaux, Kinsley Davis, Lexi Hill, Avery Marsh
The cast sings Heigh Ho Hip Hop Mix.The cast bows following the last scene.Grandmother Cheryl Adamson looks on while Tuesday Glessner hands her cousin Avery Marsh flowers, following her performance.Cast members line up following the performance to greet the audience.From left: Kodi Casper, Bryn Crisler, Kaiden Clary.A wardrobe malfunction in the audience-greet-line brings Joanna Wuthrich to tears.Family members pose with actresses for a photo. From left: Lexi Hill, Mikki Hill, Regen Wells, Katy Primm, Shawn Hill.
Fort Scott High School Drama Teacher Angie Bin smiles for a photo with a cast member. From left: Shannon Hawpe, Bin, Xavier Jeffrey.Family and friends linger following the performance of Snew White at Fort Scott High School Friday evening.
Jason McReynolds releases water from a hydrant on 2nd Street Wednesday, which is part of the process of cleaning the water system. The flushing gets the chlorine into the system faster and farther, Scott Flater said.
The Marmaton River is the source of drinking water for almost all of Bourbon County, except for the most extreme western portion, which has a private reservoir.
Scott Flater is the superintendent of the City of Fort Scott Water Production Department, who is tasked with providing clean, safe water from the Marmaton River to all of Fort Scott and Consolidated Rural Water District # 2 residents.
“We make water for the city,” Flater said. “But our number one customer is Rural Water #2.”
Over two million gallons of water a day is processed and sent out to the city and the county, he said.
“Everything comes through this building,” Flater said. “We have a river intake on 5th and Short Streets.”
The rural water district then sells and distributes the water from Fort Scott to the small towns in Bourbon County.
The city’s water production employees are in the middle of a cleanout process. It’s called burn out/flushing, and it’s an annual event.
“The water is safe during the rest of the year or during this burnout (cleaning out), it’s safe,” Flater said. “We are sending it out to our family and our community. It’s the highest quality.”
The cleaning out of the system is a maintenance practice for the distribution system, Flater said.
They started July 16, and if all goes as planned the water cleaning process should be completed by the end of next week, Flater said.
“The burnout won’t reach outside of Fort Scott until today (July 20),” Flater said.
Flater commended a small town in Bourbon County for being far-thinking in their water supply.
Flater said Uniontown, in the western part of the county, has been “pro-active to rebuild their water infrastructure” in the last few years. “They’ve done a great job.”
This computer screen is set up in the office of the water treatment plant at Ninth and Burke streets and shows the outline of the water cleaning process, so the plant operators can see what is going on in the plant.Scott Flater shows the water samples that are tested: from left is water directly from the river, the middle is water that has been mixed with chemicals and the right is the water that has been fully processed and is ready to drink. This is so plant operators can do “right now” testing on the water, he said.Brandon Russell, one of four plant operators, does comparative water testing in the water treatment plant Thursday.The turquoise and blue pipe in the center of the photo is located in the lower level of the city’s water plant. The 24-inch pipe is where all the Marmaton River water is piped into the plant. It is then processed in a mixer with chemicals. The water is then transported to a settling basin. Following this step, chlorine is added to the water. It is then run through a filter and goes into a clear well from where the water proceeds to water towers then to the water distribution system.
The Beacon, a local helping agency, is seeking a new director.
Sue Emmons, who has been the director for approximately 18 months resigned a few weeks ago, for personal reasons, Carol MacArthur, Beacon Board member said.
The resignation is effective July 31.
The board is currently searching for a new director with a deadline for applications set for July 23.
“We are looking for someone who cares and who wants to work with people who are struggling,” MacArthur said.
For more information, or to apply contact MacArthur at [email protected] or 620-215-1505.
The position is for 20 hours per week, Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and pays approximately $11.50 per hour.
The Beacon ministry provides food and clothing to those struggling and in need, as well as occasional assistance with other basic needs; i.e., rent, utilities, and prescriptions, MacArthur said. It also refers individuals to other agencies who may help them with specific needs.
The job is perfect for a retiree, MacArthur said.
“A teacher would be a good fit,” she said. “We need someone who is organized, a good listener and a communicator. It’s managing the building and two other people who are paid, and representing The Beacon.”
Dr. Tim Crawford, the owner of Fort Scott Family Dental, 1115 S. Main, has a contract pending on his current building in preparation for the move of the dental office to Wall and Main streets.
In two to three months, Dr. Tim Crawford, a local dentist, hopes to be in the renovated building he has been working on this past year.
“We have no firm timeline,” Crawford said. “The end of summer or beginning of fall. We are super excited to see this come to fruition.”
The historic three-story building at the corner of Wall and Main streets, Fort Scott, known as the Marble Building; has at points in time been a theater, bank, retail store, tanning bed business and will be the dentist’s office when completed.
“You can still see the dome for the chandelier in the attic space,” referring to its’ grand past, Crawford said.
The lobby is being restored, including the stained glass windows, the rest will be new construction.
The top floor is six apartments that have recently been renovated, Crawford said.
“The middle level needs some remodeling,” Crawford said. MCM Restoration occupies most of the second floor.
The main floor of the building he purchased, where his office will be, is also the office of Crain Insurance on the Wall Street side.
The move from 1115 S. Main to the new location for the dentist office will increase the size of the office almost four times.
“We are looking at over 5,000 square feet, and right now (at the current location) we have 1,300 to 1,400 square feet,” Crawford said.
Currently, Crawford has two receptionists, one hygienist, and two dental assistants, he said.
“We’ll probably have to add one more employee,” following the move to the new office, Crawford said.
JT Contracting, RL Construction and Peerless Products, all local businesses have been involved in the reno process, Crawford said.
Jayce Simons and Nick Leighty, with JT Contracting, Fort Scott, work on the masonry front door of the building at Wall and Main streets.An old dental chair sits next to a commercial vacuum cleaner in the lobby area of the new Fort Scott Family Dental office. The office is being renovated, including some original stained glass windows.The operating rooms are new construction in the new Fort Scott Family Dentist office, at Wall and Main streets.
Customers enter Nate’s Place Restaurant on July 6 for lunch. Tomorrow, Tuesday, July 17, it will be opening at a new hour, 8 a.m.
Nate’s Place eatery, 750 S. National, is located in the southern mansion of the Lyon’s Twin Mansions.
The food and ambiance of the place set it apart from other restaurants in Fort Scott and now it is getting locally grown products from area farms to use in its’ recipes.
Delivery is twice a week of seasonal veggies from the Ponderosa Farm owners, Chet and Linda Bower.
Vegetables that include tomato, zucchini, squash, green peppers, cucumber, and onions have been used as part of the eatery’s menu since spring.
Later in the season, they will receive sweet potatoes, as well.
“Our oven-gilled veggies are all fresh, locally sourced produce,” Shawn O’Brien, manager at Nate’s Place said.
“Our sandwiches are amazing with fresh tomato on it,” O’Brien said.
On July 6 they started using fresh farm eggs from Natalie Snyder’s Happy Hen Farm.
“An over-easy (fresh) egg is much more stable on the plate,” O’Brien said.
Shawn O’Brien, general manager of Nate’s Place Restaurant, shows a plate full of locally produced grilled veggies that are available at the restaurant.
Nate’s Place eatery, 750 S. National Avenue is a hub for Fort Scott Bike-Share initiative. Pictured are two of the 10 yellow bikes distributed throughout the city for public use, for free. They can be checked out by showing a drivers license.A poster at Nate’s Place depicting the Ritters, farmers who produce food products in the area. The poster was created by the Healthy Bourbon County Action Team along with Pathways Blue Cross/Blue Shield. It helps to publicize the “eat local” campaign.The menu of Nate’s Place.The lunch/dinner menu at Nate’s Place.
Jennifer Terrell, District Extension Agent 4-H Youth Development Southwind District – Erie Office, 620-244-3826.
County fairs are an integral part of life in rural America.
Bourbon County is no different.
Today, Saturday July 14 at 9 a.m. the Bourbon County Fair begins with the dog show at the fairgrounds on South Horton Street, across from Fort Scott Community College.
” In Bourbon County, the opportunities in 4-H are truly infinite,” Jennifer Terrell, K-State District 4-H Youth Development Agent, said. “Youth ages 7-18 are eligible to participate as full-fledged 4-H members. For those youth ages 5 and 6, there is a Cloverbud Program. Beyond being a member of the monthly community club, youth are encouraged to attend projects meetings, 4-H Camp, 4-H Days, the County Fair, and other State 4-H Events.”
The county fair is a good way to see the youth in our community put forth effort on projects and a good way to see if it is a fit for your family.
Today, July 14, the dog show was held at the Bourbon County Fairgrounds.
” At the Bourbon County Fair, 4-H members pre-enter to exhibit in the 4-H Division and other youth may participate in Open Class,” Terrell said. “Families considering being involved in 4-H are encouraged to visit the county fair to view all of the hard work.”
The following is a press release from Terrell and the poster of the events of the fair:
“It is county fair time across the State of Kansas! While you may attend the fair as a form of entertainment, 4-H’ers and their families know this is time to display the hard work put into their year-long project learning in the 4-H Program.
While visiting the county fair, it is hard to miss the different colored ribbons or stickers placed on the exhibits.
Have you ever wondered why there are different colors and how that came about? Well, I am going to share with you the judging process.
In 4-H most judging involves the Danish System of judging. In this system, the judges do not judge one person’s work by comparing it to another’s. The evaluation is made against a standard.
A judge looks to see whether requirements are met. Exhibits are placed into four ribbon groups.
The best ribbon placing is purple which means the project is outstanding on all standards.
Blue means it exceeds the minimum standard and may have minor flaws where improvements can be made.
The ribbon placing that meets all minimum standards and may show visible signs of needed improvements is red.
And projects failing to meet minimum standards receive a white.
One advantage of this system is that everyone whose work fulfills minimum qualifications can receive a ribbon. If all entries are judged to be excellent, all receive blue ribbons.
The purpose of using the Danish System is to give every 4-H member the recognition deserved for the work that was done. It also helps young people recognize the need to improve their skills and to “make the best better.”
So, how did that ribbon placing come about you might be asking?
You should know that having one’s accomplishments evaluated can be motivating and educational for 4-H’ers.
When judges critique their work or performance, it serves as a guide to further improvement. The judging process is probably more valuable than the award or recognition. To plan, practice, and present a finished product is to “learn by doing.” To graciously accept constructive criticism of one’s work is a real life experience. 4-H’ers learn quickly that judging results reflect a personal opinion, and that evaluation will vary among judges.
There are three different types of evaluation in 4-H.
The first is conference or interview. This is where the judge will interview the participant as he/she evaluates the product against a set of standards. The purpose of this is to determine what the 4-H’er learned in completing the project. Comments are provided verbally mostly, but can also be found written on a score sheet.
Another way 4-H’ers are evaluated with their projects is performance judging. The judge evaluates how a 4-H’er accomplishes a task or a goal in progress. The judge looks for skills being used, as well as evaluating the end result. This type of event enables the 4-H’er and the judge to see how the performance directly effects the end product. Comments are often provided verbally and also in writing on a score sheet.
And the final type of evaluation is project judging. The judge evaluates the finished products against a set of standards without the member present. The focus is the quality of the project itself and not the learning process. Comments are provided to the participant in writing, usually on a score sheet.
As you have read, there is a lot to know and understand with the judging process of projects in 4-H. It is not something taken lightly.
I encourage you to visit your local county fair this year to view all of the exhibits and pay close attention to those 4-H exhibits. And maybe for fun evaluate the exhibits and see what placings you would give.
For more information on 4-H Youth Development, give me a call at 620-244-3826 or email at [email protected].”
Local farm produce is being purchased for menu items, some new equipment has been purchased to better serve the public and a change of location is on the horizon for Common Grounds Coffee Company, 116 S. Main.
Two ministries of the Fort Scott Church of the Nazarene are collaborating to bring area food that is produced locally to the public.
One part of the collaboration is Common Grounds, which is a ministry of the Nazarene church.
Stuffed green peppers, roasted zucchini, squash, and corn, along with tomato soup are on the menu of Common Grounds, using local produce.
Vicki Waldron tests the stuffed peppers to see if they are done.
These produce used for the menus are straight from a garden produced by AgPathway, which is another ministry of the local Nazarene Church. This ministry involves mentoring interested people in vegetable gardening.
David Goodyear, the coordinator of AgPathways, a ministry of the Fort Scott Church of the Nazarene, is featured on a poster in Common Grounds Coffee Company. Healthy Bourbon County Action Team also provided a grant to AgPathways Ministry to lay the groundwork for a garden that allows people to learn how to garden.
In addition to AgPathway deliveries of local vegetables, Vicki Waldron, manager of Common Grounds, purchases food from the Fort Scott Farmers Market.
“This spring I started buying local produce from the local farmers market: potatoes for potato salad and onions,” Waldron said.
Motivating this change was the Healthy Bourbon County Action Team through a Pathways to a Healthy Kansas grant.
A poster inside Common Grounds telling of the Healthy Bourbon County Action Team grant participation.
The HBCAT grant helped Common Grounds to purchase a refrigerated appliance that helps keep food cold and easily accessible.
“All we had before was a refrigerator,” Waldron said. “We kept opening it and couldn’t keep it cool enough.”
Additionally, the grant helped purchase a blender.
“A more environmentally friendly, quieter blender,” Waldron said.
Vicki Waldron makes sandwiches using the refrigerated topper appliance purchased with a grant from the Healthy Bourbon County Action Team. She said a food processor was also purchased with this grant.
Another big change for Common Grounds: a move to a different location in the near future.
“We are looking at, tentatively, to be in the new place by the first of the year,” Waldron said.
The new space will be on Wall Street and National Avenue, the former Fort Scott Tribune office.
Jennifer LaRoche is the owner of the building and is also on the Common Grounds board at the Nazarene Church.
The site of the Common Grounds Coffee Company, the former Fort Scott Tribune office building on Wall Street.
Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce Director Lindsay Madison leads the discussions of downtown activities.
The Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce Quarterly Downtown Meet and Greet gathered Tuesday morning at Papa Don’s Restaurant.
The purpose of the quarterly gathering is to network and share ideas on events, promotions and anything related to downtown.
Downtown businesses and other community members tell about upcoming events and changes. The next meeting will be in October.
Following are the highlights of the meeting:
FS Economic Director Rachel Pruitt said the Union Block Building renovation project is progressing, in addition, there are plans for the Stout Building coming down to become a parking lot. The Union project, when completed, will provide 40 apartments and some business spaces.
Union Building, First and Main streets, Fort Scott.
Stout Building, National Avenue and First Street.
The Buffalo Grill will have a grand opening for the River Room event center located on its second floor, Saturday, Aug. 11. The event is a week before school starts. Jared Leek is the manager of the business.
The Buffalo Grill was purchased in May 2018 by Al Niece.
Jared Leek purchased the storefronts at 14 and 16 S. Main, which will be an office for Front Door Realty, owned by Leek, and a new bookstore, Hedgehog Inc., to open in October by Dick and Jan Hedges.
14 S. Main and 16 S. Main are now owned by Jared Leek.
Repurposing of 14 S. Main has begun.
The City of Fort Scott has spent reserve money on development of businesses, City Manager Dave Martin said, adding “We can no longer do that.” Martin also stated he “feels good about the budget next year.
July 12 there will be an FS Planning Commission meeting to discuss the current city codes that don’t allow living areas on the first floor of commercially zoned buildings. It is open to the public.
There will be downtown outdoor movies, facilitated by Larry Gazaway on 1) July 20-Star Wars Night- people are invited to wear costumes of favorite Star War characters; 2) and August 17-Despicable Me.
A music group, The Whiskey Raccoons, will be at the LibertyTheater, hosted by the Bourbon County Arts Council, Saturday, July 14.
Musician Ben Grace will perform at the Boiler Room Brewhaus on July 20.
Two art strolls by the Bourbon County Arts Council are offered on 1) July 27-which also includes a wine stroll and concert by Blane Howard and 2) September 14.
The Pioneer Harvest Fiesta Parade is Oct. 18; the Fiesta is Oct. 19-21 at the fairgrounds.
Fort Scott Holiday Open Houses are November 8 and December 13.
Fort Scott Veterans Weekend Celebration is November 10-11. There will be a ball at the Fort Scott National Historic Site.
The FS Halloween parade is Saturday, Oct. 27.
The FS Christmas parade is December 4.
The Homes for the Holiday Tours and Fort Scott National Historic Site’s Candlelight Tour will be Dec. 7-9.
Horse-drawn carriage rides will be offered Saturday, Dec. 15, starting at Cheney-Witt Funeral Chapel.
Becky Snelson provides nurse massage therapy from Suite 202 of the Shiney Studios, 123 National Avenue and is offering a massage special of $10 off any service in July, she said. She can be contacted at 913-424-8863.
Art In the Yard, a new artists event, is September 15 at Bobbi Kemna’s, 1366 215th Street, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Over 20 artists are scheduled to present their wares, Kemna said. She is on Facebook.
Gary Palmer can make coupons for businesses to include in trolley tickets envelopes for tourists.
The downtown directory sign, on the north end of Main Street, is $100 per year, renewable in July and is available for promoting a business.
The Bike-Share Program is providing 10 yellow bikes for residents and visitors for free. Several bikes are located at the Chamber office, 213 E. Wall; Fort Scott Community College-2108 S. Horton; Nate’s Place Restaurant-750 S. National; Peerless Products, 2403 S. Main. Participants must sign a waiver and show a drivers license. If under 18 years old, a parent must be present when the waiver is signed.
The Timken Foundation has $55,000 in grants to give away to non-profits according to Lindsay Madison, Chamber director. Grants are given in arts and culture, civic and community, education, health and hospitals, human services and recreation categories.
A new ranger has been hired and will be at the Fort Scott National Historic Site (FSNHS) on July 27. His name is Carl Brenner.
FSNHS offers Trail Blazer Camps each summer for youth 9-13 years old.
July 31 there will be a candidate forum at the Fort Scott High School auditorium. Questions should be submitted to the Chamber before the forum.
Craw-Kan Telephone Cooperative is constructing fiber optics in Fort Scott and plans to connect in the fall. Craw-Kan will be hosting the Chamber coffee on August 9 and needs to partner with a Chamber member to use their space that morning, since the business does not have an office in the city.
There were 100 riders who participated in the Marmaton Massacre Mountain Bike Race at Gunn Park over the weekend. Promotion is needed to promote the bike/hike trails as a year-round activity, Chad Cosens said.
Riverfront Park is beginning construction of an overlook of the Marmaton River and Mill Creek, to be completed this fall.
Gary Palmer offers printing services for flyers, posters, coupons, etc., with a designer on staff.
Smallville Crossfit is offering a lifting competition in the fall.
On July 6, Joe Pauly opened his Tropical Joe’s Hawaiian Shaved Ice business in the parking lot of Family Video on South National Avenue.
“I started the company for two reasons,” Pauly told FortScott.Biz. “I loved shaved ice, it’s so good and such a fun business where you get to put smiles on faces. And reason two is I have six children, the oldest being 11. My hope is that someday this will be their summer job to teach them about work, business, communication and how to serve people.”
Pauly lives in Pittsburg and wanted to open his first store there.
“However, there is already an established shaved ice business there and my supplier said ‘Why not Fort Scott?’,” Pauly said. “He had a shaved ice business there for years, Tad’s Shaved Ice, and said it was a great town that supported the business.”
Pauly listened to the advice and went to where the demand was.
“It’s been great,” he said. “The people of Fort Scott love their shaved ice and I am glad to be able to bring it back to them.”
Joe’s Tropical Ice employee, Mariam Mix, waits on a customer Monday afternoon.
Many people have thanked him for putting the business in Fort Scott.
“Some said they had been driving to Nevada and Pittsburg for shaved ice,” Pauly said.
Customers purchase some shaved ice Monday afternoon.
Pauly plans to remain open through September, he estimated.
The business is open seven days a week from 2 to 10 p.m. and is located at the corner of 18th Street and National Avenue in the Family Video parking lot.
The many flavors of Tropical Joe’s Hawaiian Shaved Ice.More flavors and the pricing of the product.
Frank Halsey, the mountain bike race organizer, puts a medal on a finalist Saturday evening at Gunn Park.
Although Kansas does not have mountains, it does have some pretty hills in Gunn Park that were used to test the skills of mountain bikers this past weekend.
The 5th Annual Marmaton Massacre Mountain Bike Race and Kansas Mountain Bike Championship were completed in Gunn Park July 7-8.
Friday and Saturday evenings a night ride through the park was offered by organizers, Gunn Park Trails Volunteers, who work on maintaining the trails year- round.
Saturday morning two competitions took place: the Maramaton Massacre Mountain Bike Race and the Kansas Mountain Bike Championship. Racers won in their age divisions with the youngest race for children eight years old and younger, which took place in the evening.
Dinner was provided participants courtesy of Healthy Bourbon County Action Team through the Pathways To a Healthy Kansas Initiative and the food was provided by Sharkey’s Pub and Grub.
The trials riding demonstration Ryan Braxton and Ed Schilling entertained the attendees. Trials riding skills are bike handling skills developed over obstacles.
The skills demo was followed by a performance from Paul Fowler and Lezlee Herd of En Power and Light music group, with the background of Gunn Parks Second Lake.
Sunday morning following a church service, a ride for youth 15-18 years old was won by Fort Scottian Brian Griffin.
Winners of both the Marmaton Massacre Race and the Kansas Championship Race are shown in the gallery below:
Winners of the Marmaton Massacre 2018 Bike Race: from left Brendan Harshman, Cedar Point, KS-third; Jake Yackle, Spokane, WA-first; Nye Yackle, Spokane, WA-second.
Marmaton Massacre – Women’s Marathon 3rd Place – Larissa Rice 1st Place – Julie Higgins – Lee’s Summit, MO 2nd Place – Cindy Gerszke – Wichita, KS
Kansas State Championship – Women’s Marathon · 3rd Place – Carmen Hatch – Overland Park, KS · 1st Place – Cindy Gerszke – Wichita, KS · 2nd Place – Cathy Reidy – Topeka, KS
Brendan Harshman, Cedar Point, was the winner of Kansas Championship for age group 20-29 years old.
Ethan Forsberg, Winchester, was the Kansas Championship Winner in the 30-39 year old division.
From left: 40-49 age men’s Kansas Championship winners: Greg Schoeder, Fort Scott-third;Chris Yates, Overland Park (not picutured) andTim Hatch, 2nd..
From left: Danny Noble, Oskaloosa-3rd; Roger Williams, Lawrence-1st; Lyle Reidy, Topeka, 3rd.
Kid’s Race Winners – 8 and Under, from left: · 3rd Place – Easton Halsey – Fort Scott, KS, · 1st Place – Memphis Halsey – Frontenac, KS;· 2nd Place – Gavin Cramb – Wichita, KS. Kid’s Race Winners – 9 – 10 Years Old, from left:· 3rd Place – Audrey Walker – Fort Scott, KS· 1st Place – Jacee Mattox – Moran, KS · 2nd Place – Lillian Jackson – Fort Scott, KSFrank Halsey, event organizer, hugs his grandson, Memphis Halsey, Frontenac, following a first place win in the kids’ under eight-years-old mountain bike race.Attendees visit as they watch Ryan Braxton, Bentonville, Ark. perform a demonstration of trials riding.Ed Schilling, St. Joe, Mo. demos trials riding on a Fort Scott Bike-Share Bike brought to the park by the Healthy Bourbon County Action Team. The bike was for attendees to try out. The bike-share bikes are located around Fort Scott for public use. Schilling encouraged biking as a lifetime sport.The kid’s mountain bike race was in the evening of July 7 at Gunn Park.Jody Hoener, Healthy Bourbon County Action Team, tells the crowd of the purpose of the team. HBCAT provided the meal for the riders and brought a bike-share bike to the event to have attendees try out. Greg Schroeder, left, the announcer, listens and Lezlee Herd and Paul Fowler, husband and wife performers with the En Power and Light wait to sing following the announcements.Families appeared to relax and enjoy the evening entertainment of En Power and Light at Gunn Park, on July 7.
In June, the Fort Scott City Commission approved a Kansas Department of Transportation grant in the amount of $109,600 for the Automated Weather Observation Station upgrades at the airport with the city match of $12,118.
Fort Scott Economic Development Director Rachel Pruitt, along with Fort Scott Airport Director Kenny Howard informed the commission that the city received this and another grant from K.D.O.T.
Howard stated that the A.W.O.S. upgrade is badly needed at the Airport as the current system is about 19 years old, according to the meeting minutes.
“The A.W.O.S. is the on-field reporter of weather, visibility, etc.,” Howard said.
Fort Scott Airport Office.
The other grant received from K.D.O.T. is for lighting the runway, Howard said.
The PAPI (Precision Approach Path Indicators) and REIL (Runway End Identifier Lights) Grant from KDOT is for runway lighting at the airport in the amount of $177,462. The city match for the grant is $19,718.
The commission discussed the airport 2,100-foot runway extension and how this lighting would be affected, according to the minutes.
Kenny stated that the grant can be delayed if the runway extension occurs within the next two years.
“We are waiting for more grant money for the extension,” Howard said.”The design for the runway extension is not completed yet.”
Pruitt stated that she is applying for another grant for the extension July.
The office and pilots lounge of the Fort Scott Airport.
The New Wave Broadband antenna sits atop the water tower at Ninth and Burke streets, as viewed from the pickleball court.
Collaborations between business and government create opportunities for workers to be able to computer work from home in rural areas.
New Wave Broadband, LaHarpe, is one of those businesses.
New Wave Broadband has collaborated with the City of Fort Scott and Consolidated Rural Water District #2 to put broadband antennas on top of water towers to transmit from.
That allows employees to work from home, on their computer.
There is a New Wave antenna on towers four miles west of Fort Scott and also eight miles west at Redfield; east of Fort Scott on 260th and Kansas roads; and there is one coming to a rural area knows as Porterville, southwest of Fort Scott.
In town, there are New Wave antennas on top of towers south of the hospital, at the water treatment plant at Ninth and Burke streets, and at the middle school.
Mercy Hospital gets internet provided from the same company that New Wave does and “We share a communications closet,” David Lee said. “We have separate equipment.”
New Wave Broadband has its beginnings in the La Harpe Telephone Company, according to its’ website http://newwavebb.com
Joyce and Harry Lee, the owners, raised their family in La Harpe, and the family still operates the company today.
La Harpe Telephone was one of the owners of Kansas Cellular, which was sold in 1999 to Alltel.
Today, they are one of the 29 owners of Kansas Fiber Network, a communication system that delivers broadband connectivity to rural Kansas.
“Some people can work from home now, that couldn’t,” David Lee, son of Harry and Joyce Lee, said.
David Lee negotiates contracts and does installations for the business and “everything in between,” he said.
Lucretia Simpson, Marie Guss, and Jillian McAdams are some New Wave customers who work from home on computers, 8-12 hours a day, from a rural location.
Simpson and McAdams live just south of the Fort Scott city limits, Guss lives east of Fort Scott.
Simpson had a satellite set-up prior to New Wave, two years ago.
“After you used it so much, the company slowed it down,” she said.
Now she can work all day and still have data available to enjoy movies with her family, Simpson said.
Simpson paid for a wireless router.
“Our phone, tv, tablets are wireless, except my computer for work. It’s plugged in,” she said.
Guss switched companies “because it was accessible and they have faster internet speeds than where we had.” she said. “We were looking for download speeds so I could produce more at my job.”
The prior company would lose their signal frequently and take one to four hours to get it corrected, she said.
“I would have to work later in the day when the internet came back up,” Guss said.
Since signing onto New Wave in October 2017, the internet has not been working twice “and two hours at the most.” she said.
“David Lee is very good to respond and give an estimated time when it will be back up.”
McAdams moved to her current location about a year ago and tried another company. Weather conditions caused the internet go down, she said.
She then purchased a router from New Wave.
“We hard wired it into my computer and the phones are connected wirelessly,” McAdams said.
“New Wave has the best customer service I’ve ever had,” she said.
