The new Fisher Park parking lot at 7th and Main streets will be located on the northwest corner and will accommodate 25 regular size parking spaces and 1-2 handicapped accessible spaces.
Frank Adamson started seeing the need for improvements of Fisher Park, when his daughter, Hunter, starting playing softball there, three years ago.
Eventually, others joined him in the pursuit to improve the park and today they are awaiting engineering specifications of the first step, making more parking spaces at the park located at 7th and Main.
The Fisher Park Project group received a grant this last month from a local industry, the Timken Company, in the amount of $5,200 for the purpose of helping offset engineering fees
Agricultural Engineering Associates, Uniontown, is currently working on those specifications.
Once received, the specifications will help with the process of getting more grants to fund future park improvement projects, according to Adamson.
In addition to the parking lot, also envisioned in the project are concrete pads for wheelchair accessibility, more bleachers for viewing games, tearing down an unused tower that obstructs sight for viewers, and reconfiguring of the south ball diamond to make it regulation size.
Adamson points to where the concrete pad for wheelchair accessibility is envisioned. In the middle of the picture is the unused green tower which will be demolished. The tower obstructs the view for fans of softball.More bleachers behind home plate are planned in this spot.Adamson stands in the spot that will be the home plate, once the south ballpark is reconfigured to make it regulation size.Adamson stands in the vacant lot at 7th and Main streets across from Fisher Park that will be the new parking lot for 25 vehicles and 1-2 handicapped accessible vehicles.
More parking spaces are first on the list for improvement at Fisher Park.
Twenty-five standard parking spaces and one or two van accessible spaces will be provided in an off-street lot across Main Street from the ballpark.
Those serving on the Fisher Park Project board are Adamson, Josh Jones, Bill Michaud, Tom Robertson and Rhonda Dunn.
For more information, see the Fisher Park Project Facebook page or contact Adamson at the Courtland Hotel & Spa at 620-223-0098
The concession stand currently has wheelchair accessibility and faces the south ballpark.Looking east towards the north ballpark in Fisher Park from the vantage point of the proposed parking lot.
Tri Valley’s Executive Director Tim Cunningham shows off the new logo of the organization at Thursday’s Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce weekly coffee.
Tri-Valley Developmental Services, a local provider of social services to people with intellectual or developmental disabilities, has begun a new marketing plan.
“We don’t tell enough of all the good things we do,” Executive Director Tim Cunningham told the Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce weekly coffee attendees Thursday morning.
“A lot of people don’t know we are a one-stop shop for services they could need,” he continued. ” A lot of people don’t know we strive to make people as independent as possible. A lot of people move people, we keep them in their hometown.”
Cunningham said TVDS started in 1974 and has been in Fort Scott since 1977.
They currently serve 53 individuals at the facility at 4305 Campbell Drive in Fort Scott’s Industrial Park.
Cunningham introduced Barb McCord who is the horticulture therapist at the facility, which houses a greenhouse.
McCord told the attendees there will be no auction fundraiser this year because it happens every other year and this is an off year, but she will be having a one day sale of plants in May.
Additionally, plants raised in the greenhouse were offered as a gift, one per person, when the attendees departed the coffee social.
TVDS Horticulture Therapist Barb McCord speaks to the Chamber coffee attendees. Behind her are the give-away plants offered to each person who came to the coffee, either a tomato or a marigold plant. The plants are from the greenhouse at the facility.
Cunningham said the annual Cruise Nite in Chanute has a goal to raise $25,000 this year, to provide homes for people with disabilities.
Deb Needleman, a Chamber member, leads the announcement segment of the weekly coffee.
The Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors are Greg Motley, chairman; Needleman, past chairman; Gina Shelton, finance chair; Geoff Southwell, chairman-elect business, and resource division Chair; Alysia Johnston, workforce development division chair; David Lipe, grassroots division chair.
Angelyka and her dad, Daniel Simonds, pick up Easter eggs in the preschool section of the Kiwanis Easter Egg hunt March 24.Fort Scott Kiwanis members hide eggs in plain view at Gunn Park for the smallest egg hunters.
Fort Scott Kiwanis members annually hide candy and prize-filled plastic Easter eggs in Gunn Park for the enjoyment of area children.
The Easter egg hunt is planned for the weekend before Easter, according to Kiwanis President Scott Flater.
Gunn Park is divided into varying age groups of children and then the eggs are “hidden” in that area, which is marked by a sign.
Prior to the hunt, the Easter bunny makes rounds to see the children.
The Easter bunny, this year portrayed by Carmen Flater, gets a little help from her husband Scott before appearing to the children.The “calm before the storm”, when Kiwanis members hide the eggs in Gunn Park.
Following are the family members with preschool children around the perimeter of the area marked off. They are waiting for the 11 a.m. signal to begin the hunt.
Phil Gorman, Fort Scott Kiwanis Treasurer gives the crowd instructions before the egg hunt begins.Fort Scott Firemen Alex Schafer and Dale Bolinger wait for the 11 a.m. time for them to signal the beginning of the hunt by sounding the truck’s loud horn.In the preschool area of the Easter egg hunt, parents and children take off following the sounding of the horn by the Fort Scott Fire Department truck.
The hunt was over in approximately five minutes.
Fort Scott Kiwanis have several community outreaches, in addition to the Easter egg hunt.
The philanthropic group also serves a pancake feed on Shrove Tuesday, and a golf tournament in April, all to benefit the youth of the community, Flater said.
Kiwanis is a global organization dedicated to change the world, one child, one community at a time, he said.
With money raised, they help the Court Appointed Special Advocates, and help the local school district, USD 234 with the backpack initiative, the indigent fund, and scholarships for Fort Scott High School seniors, he said.
In addition, the organization has helped rebuild the “fairy house” and the entrance archway at Gunn Park and planted 1000s of trees in the city of Fort Scott throughout the years, he said.
Board members of Fort Scott Kiwanis are Flater, president; Dale Johnson, secretary; Phil Gorman, treasurer; Mike Cheney, vice-president of programs; Gerald Hart, Bob Eckles, Mark McCoy and John Townsend.
Denise and Bobby Duncan are opening their residence located at 102 S. National Ave., to the public this evening at 6 p.m. to answer questions and concerns about their recent closure of the Beaux Art Center.
“We are hoping to have documents ready….there has been a lot of misinformation,” Denise Duncan said.
The event is “especially for people in the historic district,” Duncan said. “And people that rent historic buildings.”
Both she and husband, Bobby will be there, she said.
The Duncan’s have had several discussions about the building with city officials that have been unsatisfactory, she said.
Denise Duncan contends that because their residence is a historic building, a code footprint is not needed. Additionally, they contend that the code footprint provided to the city is incorrect, she said.
“The code footprint regulation, K.A.R. 22-1-7, defines minimum features… for an objective evaluation by uniform application of state law using minimum resources. It also makes the code footprint available to assist local fire and building officials (to) view new construction and changes in use,” according to http://firemarshal.ks.gov/division/prevention/plans-review-code-footprint.
“The State Fire Marshall verified that it (their building) is on the state historic register,” she said. “Since it is on the historic register they are giving the city power to make waivers, exceptions, and variances on such matters.”
The City of Fort Scott hired Zingre and Associates P.A. to make the code footprint.
“Zingre’s code footprint is full of errors,” Duncan said.
Among Zingre’s biggest concerns is lack of proper egress width for stairways and doors based on the calculated occupant load of the building and how this load would spread out among the building’s two exits, according to his letter to the city, which was provided by Duncan.
Egress is an exit, according to the dictionary.
The Duncan’s will explain these contentions and others this evening at the meeting they are hosting.
Denise Duncan shows how the Zingre calculation was incorrect in the measurement of the front door to the Beaux Arts Centre. Zingre did not measure the door, merely assumed it was the standard 32 inches, she said. This measurement error cuts the number of people allowed at one time in the building, which drastically affects their business, she said.The measurement of the front door is 42 inches, which would allow more people to be in the building at the same time. Duncan contends Zingre did not measure the door while at her residence to design the code footprint.Denise Duncan looks at the code footprint document designed by Zingre and Associates P.A. This stairway on the south side of the building is not listed as an exit in the footprint.This is the west staircase which leads down to the main level from the upper level and is not shown as an exit on the code footprint.This window is the exit that the code footprint shows as the only exit on this floor which has three staircases that lead down, Duncan said. It is a window on the main level of the building.This is the first page of a three-page letter that accompanied the code footprint design sent to the city in January 2018 by Zingre and Associates, P.A, provided by Duncan. The fourth paragraph states the biggest concern of the architects.The second page of the letter from Zingre and Associates P.A. to the City of Fort Scott. Listed are other points that need to be addressed by the Duncan’s in regard to their building.The third page from Zingre to the city.Following is the code footprint produced by Zingre and Associates P.A. for the city, dated Jan. 17, 2018.This is the lower level of the Beaux Art Center as shown in the code footprint.The main level of the Beaux Arts Centre.The upper level of the Beaux Arts Centre. This level has three stairway exits that are not designated as exits on the code footprint, a point of contention with the Duncans. The small triangle at the bottom of the design, notes the only exit listed on this floor, a window.The code footprint legend of the Beaux Arts Centres.A letter from Fort Scott Community Development Director Rhonda Dunn, which stated that a copy of the completed plan was sent to the state fire marshal. Denise Duncan said they should have had the report to look over and discuss with the city before it was sent.This is Duncan’s response to Dunn’s letter, saying there were many error and omissions in the code footprint. The letter tells the city of Duncan’s intent to close the business, the Beaux Arts Centre.Page 2 of the Duncan letter to the city.Denise Duncan highlighted the parts of this Kansas Municipality and Code Officials Brochure, which lists groups of buildings that must provide a code footprint. She contends that none of these apply to the Duncan building.
The board of the Friends of the Fort Scott National Historic Site face the camera following the weekly Chamber Coffee Thursday. Front from left is Vonnie Rickerson, Marlene Braker, back from left is Martha Scott, Reed Hartford, and Kelley Collins. Not pictured is Joyce Gobl, Matt Wells, Katie Wells and Shaylynn Clements.
Members of Friends of Fort Scott National Historic Site hosted the weekly Chamber Coffee Thursday to highlight their organization.
FFSNHS President Reed Hartford told the coffee attendees that they are a non-profit, separate from the historic site.
The organization can raise funds and spend money on advertising, two actions that the historic site cannot do, Hartford said.
In 2009 the group began to support activities of the site.
Some of their accomplishments are: promoting FSNHS as one of the wonders of Kansas, providing a community Fourth of July ice cream social, providing lunch for new citizens following the naturalization ceremony, and providing refreshments at the end of candlelight tours.
Since 2010 the FFSNHS group has sponsored a Friends Fest as a fundraiser.
This year it is this Saturday, March 31 from 6 to 9 p.m. at Liberty Theater, 113 S. Main.
Tickets are $35 and can be purchased the Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce, 231 E. Wall.
The group is bringing reenactor Randy Otto as Sir Winston Churchill.
Randy Otto as Sir Winston Churchill. Churchill was a primary character in many major events of British history in the 20th century.
For more information, contact Martha Scott, 620-224-9924.
The sponsors of the event are City State Bank, Union State Bank, Landmark Bank and Jim and Connie Banwart.
The following is a gallery of coffee attendees interacting prior to the announcement segment of the event.
At each coffee, members give a donation to the Chamber of $1 and tell about an event coming up in the community. The group that hosts the coffee gets extra time to tell about their business or organization.
Maria Whitson plays with her children Asher, Judah, and Malachi in Gunn Park last week.
The thought of a classroom without walls intrigued Maria Whitson.
Whitson, from Garland, first found out about an organization called Tinkergarten when a friend from Kansas City referred her saying she would be a good leader.
“When I went to their website, I lit up,” Whitson said. ” Being outdoors with a group of parents and children. Playing and educating, growing together, all of it caught my attention.”
Founded in 2012, Tinkergarten is a nationwide play-based, outdoor learning class designed for children ages 18 months to 8 years, and their parents.
According to recent statistics, children’s free play time is declining, and it’s diminishing the chances to develop critical life skills, she said.
Free spring trial classes will be offered at 10 a.m. March 29 and 31 at Gunn Park.
Then classes will be held each Thursday, April 12 through May 31
from 10 a.m. to 11:15 a.m.
In a 5-part class each week Whitson will facilitate an expert-designed play scenario, allowing children of various ages and needs to explore, problem solve, communicate, collaborate, and create together, according to the Tinkergarten.com website. Parents and caregivers learn, too, and share insights into a child’s development.
To register go to Tinkergarten.com.
The cost is $140 per studentfor 8 sessions. An installment plan is available. There is a 30% discount for each additional sibling.
Some benefits of Tinkergarten provided by Whitson are:
● Spending time outdoors provides children with a wide range of health benefits including social and emotional well-being. Research shows that time outdoors supports improved relationship skills, and reduces stress, anger, and aggression.
80 percent of brain development occurs before the age of five. Children build foundational skills in their first five years that will affect the rest of their learning and life.
In today’s fast-paced, technology-driven world, parents need to balance the screen time with outdoor time to raise healthy, well-adjusted kids.
“I’m bringing this incredible early-childhood education program to Fort Scott, to help children develop critical capabilities such as self-reliance, creativity, persistence and problem-solving skills, all proven benefits of play-based, outdoor learning, ” she said.
“I became a leader because I want to get my children outdoors more and be intentional about creating learning experiences with them. The opportunity for me to lead a Tinkergarten class was exactly the motivation and training that I was looking for. I am thrilled that I get to not only have that opportunity for my children and myself but also for other families. I am so excited to be in a classroom without walls.”
Community members are served during the Knights of Columbus Fish Fry on March 16.
The Knights of Columbus Fish Fry organizers have been offering fish during Lent for approximately 25 years at St. Mary’s Catholic Church.
This Friday, March 23 is the last evening for the fish fry in 2018.
The fish fry is an observance of Lent in the Catholic Church.
Lent is the period preceding Easter that in the Christian Church is devoted to fasting, abstinence, and penitence in commemoration of Christ’s fasting in the wilderness, according to an online dictionary. It runs from Ash Wednesday to Holy Saturday and so includes forty weekdays.
“Catholics adhere to no meat on Fridays, as abstaining from meat is a part of Lent,” Mark McCoy, Knights of Columbus member said. “Christ gave his life for us, we are making a small gift back to Him.”
The proceeds from the fish fry go to helping agencies in Fort Scott such as the Beacon, Mother to Mother Ministry and Birthline, McCoy said. “A percentage goes to other helping agencies.”
“We have a great time doing it,” McCoy said. “And there is good food, fun, and fellowship.”
The women of the church bake desserts for the event.
“A lot of people get their dessert first,” McCoy said.
The Kennedy Gym at St. Mary’s Catholic Church was full of people Friday, March 16 for the Lenten Fish Fry.Men from the Catholic Church serve fish, potatoes, spaghetti, green beans, coleslaw and grilled cheese sandwiches for the community Lenten dinner each Friday evening before Easter. Women of the church provide desserts. Pictured from left Paul Milks, Larry Martin and Jim Bambick who served March 16.
The “Old Spoiled Brat building” on East Wall will be getting a new purpose.
The Hole in the Wall Liquor Store is moving.
The store, currently at 13 W. Oak will be moving to 124 E. Wall soon.
“Hopefully we will be able to start work in the next month,” Jody Hoener who along with husband Roy own the liquor store. ” We meet with our contractor this week to get our timeline nailed down.”
They have hired Hofer and Hofer of Humboldt to do the work of renovating what is known locally as the “Old Spoiled Brat Building” at the corner of Wall and Scott streets.
“Mike Hofer is a great contractor and an upstanding individual,” Hoener said. “I look forward to working with him and his crew.’
On March 6 Hoener was on the Fort Scott City Commission Agenda for consideration of bids and Community Development Block Grant approval for renovation of the property at 124 E. Wall.
Susan Galemore, a grant administrator for Southeast Kansas Regional Planning Commission, informed the Commission that this project was recently rebid a second time, according to the city minutes.
The second round of bids produced three bids, with the low bid from Hofer and Hofer in the amount of $150,084. This amount is still about $50,000 over the projected budget for the project as the grant amount is $95,000, according to the city minutes.
City Finance Director Jon Garrison prepared a spreadsheet reflecting the grant in the amount of $95,000, the City of Fort Scott contribution of $30,000, and the Economic Development Grant in the amount of $3,000. The Hoener’s contribution is $49,759. The total project is $177,759, according to the minutes.
” (City Manager) Dave Martin and Jon Garrison at the City have made this project smooth and have been involved since inception,” Hoener said. “We all have the same goal to move our city and it’s economic growth forward. It’s amazing what can happen when everyone is working towards that same vision.”
The Hoener’s will also be adding housing opportunities to the community.
“Our plan is to move Hole in the Wall Liquor to the new building with apartments in the upstairs,” she said. ” In the back, the empty lot is ours too, we will create a patio space for tasting events.”
“We do not own the building at the location we are at now and wanted to make an investment in our community,” Hoener said. “This building (on Wall Street) is an eyesore to the gateway of our downtown and has been for half a decade. It needed to be fixed and what better way than to use our resources and business to work towards our downtown revitalization. (It’s a)Great location. ”
Bartelsmeyer’s loft apartment, pictured from the front, is above the Tribune Newspaper at 22-22 1/2 N. Main.
John Bartelsmeyer appeared before the Fort Scott Design Review Board Thursday to get approval for renovation of the alley side of he and his wife, Cindy’s loft apartment at 22-22 1/2 N. Main.
The City of Fort Scott Design Review Board met and approved alterations to John and Cindy Bartelsmeyer’s loft apartment. From left clockwise: City Clerk Diane Clay, John Bartelsmeyer, members of the board-Darren Crays, Shane Walker, Peggy Cummings and City Economic Development Director Rachel Pruitt. Not pictured are board members Arnold Schofield and Rick Zingre.
The board approved the certificate of appropriateness for the alteration of the Bartlesmeyer property, which is in the historic downtown Fort Scott district.
The function of the Design Review Board is to review requests for Certificate of Appropriateness in the historic district of downtown Fort Scott. They meet on an “as needed” basis.
The Bartelsmeyers will add a garage on the first floor, and add a bedroom, entryway, and deck to the second floor. Concrete block walls will be on the north and south side of the addition. The garage door will be dark grey steel, as will the trim around the window and door, with a light gray wall siding.
“We’d like to start (the addition) within a month,” Bartelsmeyer told the board at the meeting Thursday. “We’ve been working on this building for three years.”
The approval of the addition will be finalized at the March 20 Fort Scott City Commission meeting, City Clerk Diane Clay told Bartelsmeyer.
The future renovation depiction of the John and Cindy Bartelsmeyer loft apartment, from the alley behind. Zingre & Associates, PA of Fort Scott are the architects.
The Fort Scott Farmers Market group met at Presbyterian Village Thursday evening to plan for the 2018 season which starts the first weekend in May.
The Fort Scott Farmers Market group met Thursday evening to review 2017 and look to this season possibilities.
The market sets up stalls in front of the Fort Scott National Historic Site at the north end of Main Street starting in May on Saturday mornings from 8 a.m. until noon and Tuesday evenings from 4-6 p.m.
It continues until October.
Market stall fees are $5 per day and there is a $5 application fee to reserve a vendor space. Or there is a discounted fee of $4 per day if pre-paid in the amount of $108 for the 27-week market space.
A new president of the market was elected, Stacey Atkins.
Beverly Brown was re-elected as treasurer.
Stacy Atkins, left, was elected the new president of Fort Scott Farmers Market. Beverly Brown was re-elected treasurer.
Atkins was the secretary in 2017 and that position is still open.
Linda Bower, the president of Fort Scott Farmers Market for two years, leads her last meeting March 15. New officers were elected and plans were made for the 2018 season.
In 2017 the group facilitated:
Breakfast on the Bricks, where customers can purchase a breakfast on Saturday mornings while attending the market.
Several demonstrations of interest to the community, such as CPR and rain barrels.
Tuesday evening strawberry shortcakes social.
Once a month raffle drawing, starting in June, with market vendors contributing goods for the prize.
The Third Saturday Marketplace, working in collaboration with the City of Fort Scott, the market moved to historic downtown on Main Street once a month.
Special music that entertains while customers stroll through the market.
Children’s activities.
The group is looking for honey producers, at the request of community members.
Group member Vickie Shead said she has some honey but production has been difficult with the drift of herbicides that have helped to decimate her bee population.
Traditional offerings of this market are veggies, fruit, eggs, crafts, jellies/jams, baked goods, herbs, live plants, nuts, and pottery.
This year Fort Scott Kiwanis has offered to do Breakfast on the Bricks the first Saturday in May, according to Mickie Kraft, a group member.
Group member Ronnie Brown told about the Bourbon County Food Alliance that he is a part of.
“They were talking about how they could help us, possibly furnishing entertainment, breakfast, public relations, and help with the business part,” Brown said. “They want to see this farmers market extended.”
Brown also mentioned Project 17, which is a regional economic development and community engagement initiative in the southeast region of the state, according to a K-State website.
“Bob Marshall helped initiate it,” Brown said. Marshall was a Kansas Senator from 2009 to 2013.
“Local food is a by-word now,” Brown said. “There is a lot to look forward to, a lot of enthusiasm.”
Newly elected President Stacey Atkins told the group about a program through a Pathways Grant that is seeking input from local food producers.
“On May 3, a Buy and Sell-Meet and Greet will be at 5:30 p.m. at Memorial Hall,” Atkins said. “This meeting will be to bridge the divide between local gardeners and retail food sellers.”
The Bourbon County Inter-Agency Coalition from left to right: Tisha Miller, Rhonda Hoener, DeAnn Welch, Bob Eckles, Sue Emmons, Shana McClure, Doug Altic, Billie Jo Drake. Submitted photo.
A local helping agency provides both a need and a want.
The Bourbon County Inter-Agency Coalition provides rent/utility bill assistance and additionally, family passes to the Fort Scott Municipal Swimming pool in the summer, with help from United Way of Bourbon County.
FortScott.Biz is featuring each agency that was granted funding through United Way.
The contact person is Billie Jo Drake, her phone number is 620-223-5946 and email address is bjducktracks @gmail.com
What service do you provide for our community?
“We have two programs: rent and utility bill assistance and the family pool pass project.”
When are you open?
“We have no office or office hours. People who are in need of assistance make their requests through the Beacon (Phone, 620-223-6869 · Address. 525 E 6th St; Fort Scott, Kansas 66701.) Pool pass applications can be obtained at Buck Run Community Center Phone, (620-223-0386 · Address. 735 Scott Ave; Fort Scott, Kansas 66701) in the spring.”
What percentage of your budget is the United Way grant?
“It varies depending on other grants and donations, but this year it will be about 20 percent.”
Who are the board members?
Doug Altic, Bob Eckles, Sue Emmons, Shana McClure, Tisha Miller, DeAnn Welch, and Billie Jo Drake.
Craw-Kan Telephone Cooperative, Girard, is extending its’ “Fiber to the Home” network into the city limits of Fort Scott.
“We will be offering ultra-fast fiber optic internet up to 1 gigabit, high definition cable TV services, and phone service to residences and businesses,” said Zach Adams, Manager of Marketing and Customer Service of Craw-Kan Telephone Cooperative.
“We will be providing better, faster, more reliable services using the latest technology at extremely competitive prices,” Adams said. “We will not require residential contracts and do not charge equipment rental fees or installation fees on new customers.”
Internet pricing starts at $50 per month and cable TV packages as low as $39 per month, Adams said.
For current pricing and packages see the business website www.ckt.net
“We are already hooking up customers in select areas and taking orders in Country Club Hills and along Indian Road and West 23rd Street,” Adam said. “Keep an eye on your mailbox for notification of availability in your area!”
Craw-Kan is hoping to expand its customer base and the size of its network footprint, he said.
The current plan is to finish the main trunk line loop through the city and begin building in some neighborhoods along the way.
“Later this year we plan to begin building in the historic downtown district and industrial parks,” Adams said. “Next year we plan to announce a larger scale expansion that will reach a large number of residents.”
” We have served a large portion of rural Bourbon county for a long time,” Adams said. ” This is an extension into the city limits.”
The fiber is 100 percent buried, so there is no weather interference, Adams said. ” It is optic (light) rather than electrical so there is no electrical interference. It is a dedicated link, so no sharing with other users. It provides the most bandwidth available into the home – no speed restrictions based on distance. It is low maintenance and highly reliable – nearly 99.95% uptime. “
For more information, contact Craw-Kan Telephone Cooperative at 620-724-8235
