Tag Archives: featured

The Lowell Milken Park. Submitted photo.

A telescope will be an added attraction at the Lowell Milken Center for Unsung Heroes at the corner of First and Wall Street in downtown Fort Scott.

“The telescope will be used to educate the community on… amazing unsung heroes of the stars,” Ronda Hassig, funding developer for the center, said.

Ronda Hassig. Taken from the Lowell Milken Center Facebook page.

Hassig wrote the $2,500 grant proposal for the telescope and carrying case and the Fort Scott Area Community Foundation awarded the grant last month.

“The telescope is remote and GPS controlled,” Hassig said. ” We had an astronomer from Nebraska stop by the center and we found out he is the director of the Stargazing Project in Nebraska! He is so excited for us, that he has agreed to come back down as soon as the telescope arrives and help us get used to using it. There’s a definite learning curve but he thinks we can handle it!”

“The telescope will be used in the Lowell Milken Park (adjacent to the center) for viewing of the moon and planets,” she said. “For deeper space, we are hoping to be able to use it at the Fort (Fort Scott National Historic Site) along with their telescope!”

“We hope to get both young and old excited about seeing the stars and the heavens so we will be having star parties here at the center in the Lowell Milken Park,” she said. “The parties will contain stargazing along with guest speakers and expert astronomers from all over the country. Everyone will be invited!”

“I think no matter how old you are, if you have ever looked through a telescope and seen the moon up close, or the actual rings of Saturn, you are hooked forever,” she said.

The telescope has been ordered and the center staff hope to have it sometime this week.

“Then I’ll get to start planning our first star party,” she said. ” I’ll be paying special attention to moonless nights and hopefully cloudless nights and we may get lucky and get to have a party in the next several months. It will be cold but if you’re bundled up you won’t care! There will be warm drinks and treats for everyone!”

“Stay tuned for dates and please plan to come enjoy our newest device at the Lowell Milken Center provided with the gracious funds of the Fort Scott Community Foundation,” she said.

“We are really trying to educate the community on all of the different unsung heroes here at the Lowell Milken Center, by having fun and having educational activities around those heroes,” she said.

Two of the astronomy heroes that are featured at the center are:

“Henrietta Swan Leavitt was born right after the Civil War and was educated at Oberlin and Radcliffe,” Hassig said. “She got excited about astronomy after taking a course on it. When she graduated she began volunteering at the Harvard College Observatory and after 14 years she was paid for her work at $.30 an hour. She was essentially 1 of 20 women computers. Through her work, Leavitt earned graduate credit towards her degree but never completed it. She did however make an amazing discovery – she figured out how to measure objects in space. This discovery led to the launching of the Hubble Telescope and more recently the Webb Telescope! As she aged, her health got worse and a bout with cancer caused her to lose her hearing. She died at age 53, but her dedication to astronomy has given us some of our most advanced knowledge about space!”

“Gene Shoemaker was the founder of astrogeology,” Hassig said. “The first person to determine the origin of the famous Barringer Meteor Crater in Arizona, the first director and creator of the Astrogeology Research Program of the U.S. Geological Survey in Flagstaff, Arizona, and along with David Levy discovered the Shoemaker-Levy Comet.

“Shoemaker worked for NASA preparing himself and the other astronauts to walk on the moon. Gene was to be the first geologist on the moon. But after all his hard work he was unable to go to the moon because he had Addison’s Disease. He commentated the moonwalk with CBS News anchorman Walter Cronkite during the live flights. Although he was horribly disappointed not to go, he kept looking for impact craters and space rocks. He searched for craters and rocks all over the world. He was looking for craters in Australia when he was tragically killed in a car accident. NASA wanted to honor this amazing scientist so they called his family and asked for some of his ashes. They put the ashes in a space probe and crashed it on the moon. Gene Shoemaker is the only human buried on the moon and just one of two buried in space.”

Bourbon County, Business, Fort Scott

Veteran Owned Veterinary Center: Russ Baxley

November 11, 2022 Loretta George Leave a comment

Dr. Russ Baxley purchased the Gorman Animal Hospital in March 2022.

Renamed the Southeast Kansas Veterinary Center, it is located at 1251 240th St., Fort Scott.

The SEK Veteraninary Center is located at 1251 240th St., Fort Scott. Submitted photo.

Hours of operation are Monday – Thursday: 8 a.m.-5 p.m., Friday: 8 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, closed.

The phone number is (620) 223-1171

Dr. Baxley is a veterinarian and a veteran.

All together he has served in three wars, Baxley said.

“As a youngster, I was in the Air Force,” he said.

He started as a veterinarian in the U. S. Army in Afghanistan where he worked on dogs that detected explosives and narcotics.

He then left the army and returned to Kansas and worked for a mixed animal veterinarian.

A hankering for more adventures led him to Afghanistan, Iraq, Morocco and Egypt, as a contractor for the U.S. State Department, again working with detection dogs.

Returning to the U.S., he worked in Destin, Florida for a year and a half until the COVID 19 Pandemic restrictions made the job “undesirable,” he said.

Returning to Kansas, he traveled the state filling in at clinics for manpower shortages. It was then that he came to Fort Scott to the clinic he purchased in March 2022.

Dr. Baxley loves animals and the best part of his career is “returning a sick animal to health, seeing how happy the animal is and pleased the owner is.”

He is concerned about the misinformation for the care of animals that is on the internet and recommends that people look to information on academic or government sources.

The best source for veterinary advice is a veterinarian, he said.

In the industry there are new drugs coming for small animals that will help minimize pain and many new diagnostics for detecting and treating them.

For livestock, there have been new scientific studies for treating parasites, which helps decrease disease in cattle, while lowering production costs. “The hard part is getting people to change from old to new ways,” he said.

Coming in 2023, cattle producers won’t be able to buy common antibiotics over the counter.

“There is a paradigm shift coming to the livestock business in 2023,” Dr. Baxley said.

“They will need to get these (antibiotics) from a veterinarian, which requires a Veterinary-Client-Patient-Relationship,” he said. “This means that your vet has sufficient knowledge of a producers animals to make diagnosis.”

“I love helping people…save money and make money,” he said.

Kennel/Vet Assistant Needed

SEK Veterinary Center has an immediate opening for a Kennel/Vet Assistant. The position is part time- possibly more, if wanted/needed. Please apply in person at :

1251 240th St

Fort Scott, Ks 66701

Business, Food, Fort Scott

River Room Still Open For Business

November 10, 2022 Loretta George 2 Comments

Last week, Luther’s BBQ Restaurant at 3 W. Oak, closed.

The building’s second story business, the River Room Event Center, is getting a new phone number and will honor any reservations that were made, according to Al Niece, owner of the building.

“There were some reservations in place for some events (at the River Room), I am honoring them all,” Niece said. “The River Room is one of the largest event centers in the area.”

Niece is in the process of having a phone line set up for the River Room to redirect those interested in reserving the event center.

This story will be updated when the phone number is in place.

The owners of the restaurant business, David and Tina Lipe and Luther Salisberry opened the BBQ restaurant at the corner of Oak Street and National Avenue in December 2019.

“They were behind on rent,” Niece said. “Having to go through the (COVID 19) pandemic we were trying to work with them. After they got shut down by the government last week…We had to terminate their lease for non-payment.”

“I’m told the government shut them down for taxes,” Niece said.

KDOR Executed Tax Warrants and Seized Assets

On November 1, 2022, agents from the Kansas Department of Revenue (KDOR) accompanied by the Fort Scott Police Dept. and the Bourbon County Sheriff’s Dept. executed tax warrants and seized the assets of Luther’s BBQ LLC for nonpayment of Liquor Enforcement Taxes and Sales Taxes: totaling $38,783.96, according to a press release from the KDOR.

The warrants were filed in Bourbon County.
The types of assets seized include all known bank accounts, on-site cash, business inventory, as well as personal property belonging to the owner. The business was sealed closed with a public notice posted on the outside.

“Luther’s BBQ LLC has paid all outstanding judgements and assets have been released to the business,” according to an email from KDOR on November 9.

KDOR’s policy and practice is to work with taxpayers in delinquent status to voluntarily enter into repayment agreements, according to the press release. It is only after these efforts and multiple failed collection attempts that the Department is forced to execute a tax warrant, utilizing such actions as bank levies, till taps, and ultimately asset seizure to ensure compliance with the law.

KDOR’s responsibility to recover delinquent taxes not only ensures fairness for individuals and business owners who do pay their taxes, but also ensures that money is lawfully collected to fund state and local programs on which Kansans depend, according to the press release. These programs include education, highways, public safety, and human services.

Customers, employees or others that may have items at the business may contact the agent assigned to
this case at 785-250-5084.

New Business Soon

Niece feels confident that the lower floor restaurant space will be leased soon, he said.

“We’ve been approached several times to see if we would entertain another restaurant,” Niece said. “We’ll get somebody else in there.”

To view the prior story on the opening of Luther’s:

Luther’s BBQ Opens

Bourbon County, Business, Fort Scott

Mill Creek Veterinary Clinic to Open January 2023

November 9, 2022 Loretta George Leave a comment

Dr. Amanda Brown-Goltra. Submitted photo.

Mill Creek Veterinary Clinic is set to open on January 16, 2023.

The building at 13th Street and National Avenue is owned Dr. Amanda Brown-Goltra, 33.

“Mill Creek Veterinary Clinic will be a mixed animal practice with a focus on medicine and wellness,” Brown-Goltra said. “We will be able to see small animals in the clinic and large animals on the (clients) farm.”

“Our hospital motto is ‘Where your family is our family too,'” she said. “We plan to do this by offering in-house/cutting edge diagnostics that are cost-effective, thorough examinations, and client education to encourage the best care plan for our patients. We will always strive to convey a ‘we appreciate you and your time’ attitude so that clients feel comfortable and heard during their clinic experience and seek us for future veterinary care.”

Brown-Goltra is a 2008 Fort Scott High School graduate with a bachelors degree from Kansas State University in 2013. She earned her doctorate from Kansas State University College of Veterinary Medicine in 2015.

She was highly involved in 4-H during her teen years and gives “a lot of credit to that program for getting me to where I am today.”

“I became a veterinarian to help people and their pets live their longest, healthiest life,” she said. ” As a child, I wanted to help every animal I possibly could and I failed a lot, which in turn encouraged a great passion in me to be able to help sick animals when I was older. As my career has continued, it has transformed into furthering education of owners to give their pet the best medical care.”

“I worked at Animal Care Center here in Fort Scott right after graduation for over five years and I worked at a busy, fast paced clinic in Webb City for two years after that,” she said. “I have over seven years combined as a veterinarian and almost 20 years in the veterinary field.”

For her, the best part of her job is “when I get to send home a healthy pet,” she said. “Puppies and kittens are cute and I enjoy cuddling them, but nothing brings me more joy than a pet being able to go home after being ill.”

“The biggest challenge I face is the money aspect and time aspect of my job,” she said. “First is the fact that money is required to keep my lights on and pay my staff, while I would love to be able to help for free, that is just not realistic. I do, however, understand everyone has a budget and I try to be very understanding and respectful of that budget. Time is the second challenge, I am a wife, mother, and daughter, and I have realized over the years that my family deserves my undivided attention and time, which means that for my best work life balance that will not allow for me to take after hours calls and be the best for my family.”

The clinic address is 6 E. 13th Street, Fort Scott, KS 66701

Contact info: 620-224-2840 (not taking calls yet) OR [email protected]

The hours of operation: Monday-Wednesday, Friday 8 a.m.-5 p.m.; Thursday 8 a.m. to noon, Saturday hours are to be determined “Our open date will be January 16, 2023,” she said. This follows her maternity leave to give birth to a new son.

She and her husband, Eric, have sons: “Gordon (almost 3 years old), Gideon (almost 1 year old), and Gannon will be born in December,” she said. Her Mom and Dad are Karen and Charlie Brown.

In the community, she is currently a mentor for students at Fort Scott High School.

Art, Business, Fort Scott

Artificers Gallery Opens For Christmas Art Show Dec. 2-4

November 8, 2022 Loretta George Leave a comment

Trent and Kate Freeman in front of their Artificers building at 8 N. National. Submitted photo

Kate and Trent Freeman, local artists who moved from Kansas City,

are in the final stretch of their renovation of the building they purchased, at 8 N. National Avenue. The name of their art business is the Artificers.

“We are so excited to finally give the community a sneak peek into The Artificers,” Kate said. “Our Christmas Art Show will be held at 8 North National Avenue. We are renovating and restoring the Hammon’s Real Estate building and after a few obstacles we are ready to host our 6th Annual Christmas Show in our new gallery.”

The art sale/ show will be open December 2, from 5-9 p.m., December 3, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., December 4, noon to 5.p.m

“We hope everyone coming for the Candlelight Tour at the Fort Scott National Historic Site will stop in and see us,” she said.

The Artificers have selected eight artists to set up and sell their artwork this year.

For Christmas, Trent and Kate create sculpture exclusively.

“Other artists will have pottery, copper jewelry, Airbrush and Graphite, and an illustrator and a photographer,” she said. “Our artists are true craftsmen, all their work is original and limited, or handmade made from raw materials.”

The artists include: Trent and Kate Freeman, sculpture; Erin Shevling, pottery; Tim Kienzel, copper jewelry; Darrell Williams, Airbrush/Graphite; Julie Snitker, illustrator; Andrea Latham, ceramics; and Maggie Brenner, photography.

“We started this show six years ago at our former studio in Kansas City as a way to give some of our artist friends an outlet to show and sell their artwork during the Christmas and holiday season,” she said. “We soon learned that our clients loved coming as much as we enjoyed showing off our latest creations.’

‘We have had wonderful support every year from friends, family and clients new and old,” Kate said. “Last year, with the setbacks of the building remodel, Jared Leek, owner of Front Door Realty, Crooner’s Restaurant and The Liberty Theater, was generous enough to provide us space in Front Door Realty and open up Crooner’s so we could continue with our tradition of this show. We will be forever grateful to them for their generosity.”

About the Artificers

The Artificers is a collection of artists and craftsmen.

They are a privately owned art gallery, and a teaching studio and working studio with two resident artists, Trent and Kate Freeman.

Trent and Kate each have their own studio in the building.

The Artificers will offer a space for professional artists to apply to display their work as well as the aspiring artist to take classes in many different mediums including but not limited to clay, airbrush, watercolor, acrylic, stained glass etc.

“We will be having regular Master Artist gallery openings as well as opportunities to learn from those artists,” Kate said. “We also have several community art events on the horizon that we would like to host or be involved in developing. We are so excited to be a positive force in Historic Downtown Fort Scott and look forward to inviting you into our new space.”

Their website

https://www.theartificers.com

Business, Fort Scott

Laree+Co: Started By A Mother’s Love

November 7, 2022 Loretta George 1 Comment

Laree + Co., a new children’s store in Fort Scott, began because of Alivia Kraft’s daughter.

“Lillian was diagnosed with Trisomy 18 at 27 weeks gestation but she did not let her diagnosis stop her,” Alivia said. “Despite being given a 5% chance of surviving to her first birthday, Lils overcame more than most people do in a lifetime and we were blessed with four breathtaking years with her.”

Trisomy 18 is a condition that causes severe developmental delays due to an extra chromosome 18, according to the Mayo Clinic website.

“She was the most beautiful, amazing, positive, and determined person I know,” her mother said. “To know her really was to love her. Lillian has inspired me to step out of my comfort zone and do something I’ve always dreamed of doing—starting a brand!”

“Because Trisomy 18 has impacted my life so much, part of my brand’s mission is to spread awareness by naming our items or collections after a medically complex warrior or angel (child),” Kraft said.

The business opened online in November 2018 and the storefront at 3 S. National Avenue, Fort Scott, opened in December 2020.

Laree + Co is located at the corner of Wall Street and National Avenue in Fort Scott. Submitted photo.

The business strives to produce beautiful, high quality clothes and more, for children of all abilities.

New in 2023: the majority of Laree+ Co collection have been hand illustrated and are exclusive to the business.

Alivia Kraft, owner of Laree + Co, located at 13 S. National Avenue. Submitted photos.

“10% of our profit will be put into the Lillian Rose Foundation, where care packages will be provided to medically complex infants and children, bereavement gifts to angel mamas, and making donations to hospitals close to our hearts,” Kraft said.

The store currently has seven employees.

Shop online at www.lareeandco.com

Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas, Mercy Hospital

CHC Move Delayed Until February 2023

November 4, 2022 Loretta George 1 Comment

Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas at Fort Scott is pushing forward the opening date for their new facility.

They moved into the former Fort Scott Mercy Hospital in February 2019 and will move into the former Price Chopper building in February 2023 as plans now stand.

The Price Chopper building, 2322 S. Main.

“Due to delays in receiving some materials, including most of the doors and pieces of the heating/cooling system, and some unanticipated design changes, it now appears that CHC/SEK’s opening of our new facility in the former Price Chopper building will be delayed until sometime to February 2023,” CEO Krista Postai said.

“We will be combining both the main clinic and Walk-In Care Clinic into the same facility along with our pharmacy, complete with drive-through window,” she said. “We are especially excited about the installation of a new CT scanner in this facility along with 3-D mammography, conventional x-ray, ultrasound and bone density testing equipment making it one of the best-equipped health centers in the country.”

“Once fully relocated, we do expect to sell our Walk-In Care building, which is being listed with a local realtor,” Postai said. “Proceeds from the sale of this building will be directed toward the cost of renovating the new clinic.”

Mercy Hospital Fort Scott closed in December 2018.

To view information on the transition of Mercy Clinics to CHC view:

CHC/SEK Finalizes Plans for Transition of Mercy Clinics

New Staff

Meanwhile new additions are being added to the CHC staff.

“Recruitment for an additional psychiatric provider in Ft. Scott is also underway, with plans to also add therapy and addiction treatment services once the new clinic opens,” she said.

“We were pleased to welcome Dr. Frank Miller, a well-known and respected chiropractor, to CHC/SEK,” she said.

Dr. Miller was owner of Back to Health Chiropractic in Ft. Scott and in making the move, Dr Miller said, “With the collaboration of other medical disciplines, I believe I will be able to serve my patients with a higher quality of care. The mission of CHC/SEK is right in line with my own and I also believe that I will be able to serve a larger segment of the community than I could in private practice.”

“Toward that end, our new facility will have an expanded area for Wellness Services including Dr. Miller’s practice,” Postai said. “He is now accepting appointments at our Main Clinic; former patients are most welcome.”

“Also joining us in Ft. Scott in our Walk-In clinic is APRN Michael McNellis,” she said. “Originally from Overland Park she received her BSN from MidAmerica Nazarene University and her MSN from Rockhurst University.”

Transportation Services

“Effective November 1, CHC/SEK assumed responsibility for Ascension/Via Christi’s Care Van service,” Postai said. “We’re spending the first few weeks getting familiar with their vehicles and new scheduling software we acquired and will be expanding the service – which is transitioning to state-supported public transportation. This means it will take riders other places besides medical facilities. Starting in Crawford County, it will be available in both Bourbon and Cherokee counties as soon as our additional vehicles become available. We will publicize its availability through the media including our Facebook page once we expand.”

New Clinic In Garnett

Also, November 1, CHC opened a new clinic in Garnett, Kansas. Dr. Ross Kimball MD, former owner of Pheasant Ridge Family Medicine in Garnett, transitioned his practice over to CHC/SEK full-time this week.

Bourbon County, History

Leon Perry: God Led Him Through the Fire

November 3, 2022 Loretta George 5 Comments

A seven-year-old boy and his family were traveling through Fort Scott in 1952, when a fire in the motel they were staying in killed his parents and baby brother.

His whole life people have been telling Leon Perry, 78, he should write a book about his life.

In March 2021 he published it.

His story is one of a terrible tragedy that turned into a life full of random acts of kindness given to him that he feels are miracles from God.

And the first part of his story includes many familiar places in Bourbon County.

In 1952 Leon was moving with his family from Parsons, Kansas because their farm had experienced a severe flood and the family had lost all their belongings.

The family of five, the two parents and three brothers, stopped in Fort Scott.

“The Salvation Army got us a motel in Belltown,” he said. “That night… a propane gas explosion blew the roof off of the cabin. The (Fort Scott) police department came to rescue us. We lost my step-father, mother and baby brother. I have no recollection of the event, but the chief of police said ‘you wouldn’t have been burned so bad if you hadn’t gone back in to get your brother’. My half-brother Ernie and I were taken to Mercy Hospital.”

“I had severe burns on my face, shoulder, arms and hands,” Perry said. “My brother wasn’t burned as bad. The Mercy people told me I about died a couple of times.”

He had numerous surgeries from that time until he was 15 years old.

They were placed Goodlander Home, an orphanage on the old Fort Scott site, and remained there until he was 10 years old.

The orphanage was a good experience.

“It was a good experience,” he said. “Even though they were difficult times. I was in the hospital a lot and also to Children’s Mercy in Kansas City several times for skin grafts.”

Over and over, Perry has experienced miracles he said.

Leon was blind and heard a doctor tell a nurse that he wouldn’t see again, and even though he had skin grafts around his eyes, he could see perfectly in a few months.

Eventually he and his brother were adopted by a local farm couple, Ancel and Marguerite Perry, in Bourbon County, near Devon.

This was another miracle.

The couple, who weren’t young, had a large ranch and had no other children, he said. They were instrumental in his physical and emotional recovery from the trauma of the fire.

After moving to the farm he began to regain strength and overcome some of his handicaps.

“She was a wonderful cook… I was undernourished even though under a doctors care,” he said.

As he strengthened, he began to help on the farm with chores: milking cows, driving a tractor, herding cattle.

“I showed cattle at the county fair,” he said. “I loved it all.”

He had been in the hospital so much he was behind in schooling, which was in Berlin Elementary School, and then the Mapleton Elementary School.

Marguerite helped Leon with his assignments.

“Everytime I said ‘I can’t’, she said ‘You will,'” he said. “It made the difference.” It was a turning point in his life, he said. Her determination showed Leon he COULD learn and helped him believe in himself.

His adoptive parents were supportive of him being involved in extra activities outside of farm and school, which included 4-H projects and showing cattle.

“I had to come out of my shell and become more active,” he said.

He attended Uniontown High School and went on to become an FFA state officer, graduating with the class of 1963. He then went on to Fort Scott Junior College and was StuCo President, and on the honor roll. He was also on the honor roll at Pittsburg State University that he later attended.

Perry went on to get four college degrees and was a teacher, coach, athletic director, assistant principal and principal.

Perry became a believer in God, and said his faith has allowed him to see the miracles in his life.

“There is always people willing to help…and you can look forward to the future…with faith,” he said. “Always look for the miracles of God in your life.”

Perry and his wife, Carol have two grown children, LeAnn Perry and Ty Perry and one grandson.

Funds from the book entitled God Led Through the Fire and Filled My Life With Miracles, will go to their church youth organization. They attend the First United Methodist Church, Monett.

To purchase a book, email: [email protected] or mail $10 per book to Leon Perry, 8 Appleblossom Lane, Monett, MO 65708.

Fort Scott, Jobs

Dale Wiley: A Handyman

November 2, 2022 Loretta George 4 Comments

One of the 18 sewing machines that Marie Wiley has in her husbands shop.

Dale Wiley loved to tinker.

“He was handy and clever,” said his wife of 60 years said. “And he was pretty talented.”

For over 23 years, Dale served on the Fort Scott Fire Department as a firefighter. But in his spare time, he began repairing sewing machines. Marie Wiley, his wife is a talented seamstress, who worked at Country Cupboard for several decades.

Before working at Country Cupboard, Marie worked for Helen Carson, owner of Helen’s Fabric, and Helen asked Dale to repair sewing machines.

“He went to Bernina School in K.C. and also to training in Las Vegas for training,” Marie said. At first he repaired only Bernina’s, but began to tinker with other brands.

“Sometimes he would spend a couple of hours and sometimes a couple of weeks on a machine,” she said. “Sometimes he had to make machine parts. It had to be done right or he wasn’t going to do it.”

When Dale died on August 23, 2022, there remained 18 sewing machines in his shop that people had given him and he took on to repair.

A Brother Sewing Machine that Dale repaired.

“It was just a hobby for him to tinker around with,” she said.

Besides Bernina machines in the Wiley garage there are Singer, including two antiques, Brother, J.C. Penney, Montgomery Wards, Sears Kenmore, and Husquana Brands, along with two Singers for leather work and two sergers. A serger trims the seam and encloses the seam allowance or edge of the fabric, inside a thread casing, all in one step, according to thesprucecrafts.com.

“He repaired no computerized sewing machines, just the heavier old ones with no nylon gears,” Marie said.

One of the sewing machines that sews on leather.

Marie also has eight sewing machines in her sewing room in the house and continues to create cloth heirlooms for her family.

As with her husband, small appliance repair options are dying.

“Small appliance repair is a dying art,” Marie said. “Everything is made to be thrown away when it doesn’t work.”

For more information about the machines, contact Marie at 620.215.2014.

Bourbon County, Fort Scott, Health Care

Neffs Make a Lasting Impact With Donation

November 1, 2022 Loretta George 1 Comment

John and Pat Neff lived in Fort Scott decades ago, but were impacted by the Sisters of Mercy and decided to give back to the community.

“I was told that John grew up in the area and then they lived here early in their marriage…and adopted two children from Mercy Hospital,” Carla Farmer, Fort Scott Area Community Foundation (FSACF) member said. “Pat reached out in the 1990s and wanted to give back to the local Sisters of Mercy, who helped them adopt two children. That’s the basis of them wanting to give back to the community. This was a couple that was touched by our community decades ago. This was where they raised there children.”

“The Neff’s created an annuity that paid them until they passed away,” FSACF Chairman Craig Campbell said.

John Valentine Neff and Patricia Renfro Neff were married 69 years until his death, according to Pat’s Neff’s obituary. Pat died in July 2022.

Upon her death the annuity money went to the Mercy foundation, and now to the FSACF for distribution into the community for future health care funds.

“When Mercy Hospital closed their doors in Fort Scott (in December 2018), the foundation voted to stay intact in order to be able to accept the Neff’s gift following the death of Mrs. Neff,” Jared Leek, president of the Fort Scott Mercy Hospital Foundation Board said. “We voted for the board to go from a 12-16 member board to a board comprised of just three members; Jared Leek, President, Bryan Holt, Treasurer, and Darcy Smith, Secretary. The three board members setup an account with the Fort Scott Area Community Foundation for health care needs in Bourbon County.”

“As of September 30, 2022, the account with the FSACF was valued at $243,985.41,” Leek said. “At the Chamber After Hours (on Oct. 26, 2022) hosted by FSACF, the board presented a check in the amount of $299,446.17 which included the Neff gift and the remainder of our checking account.”

“On that date, the total in the FSACF account for health care needs would be valued at $543,431.58,” Leek said. “Obviously, accounts invested fluctuate with the market.”

Leek said the Mercy foundation board will be dissolving at the end of this year.

Fort Scott, Schools, Youth

FSHS Band Receives Superior Rating in Neewolah Parade

October 31, 2022 Loretta George 3 Comments

The Fort Scott Band earned a 1-rating this past weekend, marching in the Neewollah Parade in Independence, KS.

“Thirty-four students were in the parade,” Justin Robinson, FSHS Band Director said. “And two middle school students were carrying the banner.

” The scale is 1-5, with top indicating a superior rating, ” he said. They will receive a plaque for this rating.

FSHS Band participated in the Neewollah Grand Parade on Saturday, October 29th. “This is the first parade, we will plan on doing the Fort Scott Christmas Parade”(on Dec. 1), he said.

“There were a total of 32 bands that participated in the parade this year and a total of 123 entries in the parade, Robinson said.

The band works approximately fours hours a week on playing their musical instruments and marching.

“We meet 45 minutes a day,” he said. “We go to the auxiliary gym if it’s raining. But we go out and hit the streets of Fort Scott when we can.”

The band also plays all the high school home games.

This is Justin Robinson’s second year as the band director.

Justin Robison and wife Angela Robinson, who helps out with the drumline. Submitted photo.

Business, Fort Scott

Hedgehog INK Bookstore Celebrates Four Years

October 27, 2022 Loretta George 3 Comments

Hedgehog INk bookstore is located at 16 S. Main.

Jan Hedges, owner of Hedghog INK, opened the bookstore in October 2018, with her husband Dick, at 16 S. Main.

“Both Dick and I loved books,” Jan said. “Anytime we traveled we always went to a bookstore. I thought it would be neat to work in one. We had a lot of books at home we needed to do something with.”

“Dick was very supportive of Fort Scott and was sad to see the downtown with hardly any businesses,” she said. “We started talking and, well, instead of someone else doing something, maybe we needed to do something.”

“We started looking at storefronts downtown,” she said. “I talked with the city staff and found that Jared Leek was looking for someone to rent this building.”

“Dick and I had both retired three times, and then we opened this bookstore,” Jan said. “We took the leap.”

And so the business venture began in October 2018.

Jan and Dick Hedges, owners of Hedgehog.INK, stand in front of the store when it opened in October 2018.

Dick Hedges, was a co-owner of Hedgehog.INK, and the unofficial greeter to the store until his death this year.

“Dick died March 11, 2022,” Jan said. “He was the official greeter.”

The Business Has Grown

In the four years since opening, Jan has doubled the size of the store, finding space to rent behind 14 S. Main and a doorway entry to the space opened up.

“The added space we call the Great Room, we rent out, after hours to local groups,” she said. “PEO, the Garden Club, a magazine club have used the space.”

In this space also is a mezzanine type area.

“The reading loft is good for small groups,” she said. “High school, college kids study there, moms and their children sometimes go to read books.”

Coffee and tea are available for free, for those who want to sit a spell.

Employees

Currently there are four part-time employees at Hedgehog INK.

Sheryl Bloomfield has worked at the store since its opening and her specialty is decorating the windows at the front of the store.

Lynn Pallaske is in charge of their social media marketing.

Rylan Mason is a high school student and Casey Lewis was a customer who was “here all the time, so we asked her if she’d help us out.”

They all do the work of the store, processing donated books, shelving, working as cashier, etc.

People can call to see if the store has a certain book in stock.

“If we don’t have a book, we can try to order for people,” she said.

Book Offerings

Children’s books and history books are the store’s best sellers.

Lynn Pallaske, left and Jan Hedges stand in front of the mural that directs children to a reading room just for them.

There is a section for local authors in all genres.

Hedgehog INK has a local authors section.

The list of local authors: Cathy Werling, Evelyn Kalvelage, Carol Russell, Sally Freeman Jadlow, Joyce Love, Rick Mayhew, Bourbon County Historical Preservation Association Books, Ann Miesner, Martie Wells-Smith, Jane Tucker, Mary Barbara McKay, Gerri Hilger, Kay Large, J. Speer, Rogena McPherson, Nanette Holloway, R.J. Thesman, Sally Smith, Barbara Ramsey, Marvin Ramsey, George Proctor and Ann Joyner.

“We have Writers Wednesday, a group that meets from 1 to 3 p.m. every week and recently hosted a writers seminar,” Jan said.

Story time at the store is starting again after a hiatus because of the COVID 19 Pandemic.

“It’s the first Saturday of each month in the reading loft area,” she said.

Fort Scott has been so generous in donating books to the book store, that during November and December they are not accepting donations.

They have over 30,000 books.

Other Products Are For Sale

In addition, the store sells local products such as goat milk lotions and lavender products, handmade handbags, photo cards, arts and crafts materials, games and puzzles, journals, chocolates and more.

Hours are Monday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. They are open by appointment at other times.

Contact the store at 620.670.2752 or [email protected].

Fort Scott Biz