This is part of a series featuring the grant recipients of the Healthy Bourbon County Action Team’s Center For Economic Growth in their latest grant cycle.
The Heathly Bourbon County Action Team Grant Program is funded by the Patterson Family Foundation and is a collaborative effort through partnerships with the Kansas Small Business Development Center at Pittsburg State and Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce.
Carissa and Alex Bowman. Submitted photo.
Brickstreet Barbecue, owned by Carissa and Alex Bowman, has received a grant from the Healthy Bourbon County Action Team.
The Bowmans opened Brickstreet in May 2023.
“We wanted an opportunity to bring barbecue food to the community,” Carissa said. “We provide great barbecue. We employ about 40 people.”
Submitted photo. from left: Carissa Bowman (owner) Doug Willard (Pit-master) Alex Bowman (owner) and Hannah Beerbower ( general manager),
The restaurant is located at 3 W. Oak St. Fort Scott just off North National Avenue. Contact info 620-224-2425.
Hours are 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. everyday except Friday and Saturday, when they are open until 9 p.m.
“We will be using this grant money to help cover a portion of the cost of our smoker and kitchen equipment,” she said.
A recent menu at Brickstreet. Submitted photo.
Brickstreet BBQ is located at the corner of Oak Street and National Avenue on Fort Scott’s northside. The River Room Event Center is located on the second floor.
Jackie Warren at the memorial , a labyrinth path, at Riverfront Park for her late husband, Allen Warren. Her husband was on the Riverfront Authority Board until his recent death. Jackie and Allen volunteered labor and equipment to help construct the park, according to Jerry Witt. Submitted photo.
The Belltown Trail in Riverfront Park continues to be popular, even though Fort Scott is under a heat advisory, according to Jerry Witt. “Many exercise enthusiasts continue to walk the trail under the shade of the tree lined path.”
“A lot of people use the park,” he said.
Witt is chairman of a board called the Riverfront Authority that has been improving the park on North National Avenue in Fort Scott since 2005.
There is a new addition to the park added this summer.
The Fort Scott Area Community Foundation awarded a $1,500 grant to construct a labyrinth path, according to Witt. A labyrinth concrete pad has been completed next to the west side of the half-mile Belltown Trail. A labyrinth is a complex and circuitous path that leads from a beginning point to a center.
“It was Allen Warren’s idea to construct a labyrinth path in Riverfront Park,” he said. “He met with his Methodist minister, Christopher Eshelman, and Riverfront staff to talk about the possibilities of this being placed in Riverfront Park. But before the final plans were in place, Allen passed away.”
For the many hours of volunteer labor and use of his tractor equipment donated to the park construction, Witt decided to go ahead with the project and dedicate the labyrinth to Allen’s memory.
“The 24 ft. by 24 ft. concrete pad structure can be used by citizens to walk it’s path for meditation or just as a playful path for exercise,” Witt said. ” A plaque to honor Allen will be placed by the structure.”
History of Riverfront Park
Members of Fort Scott Bourbon County Riverfront Authority discuss updates on construction projects at Riverfront Park in 2017. From left clockwise: Dan Magee, Bob Love, Allen Warren, Jerry Witt and Jeff Sweetser.
The park began as an outshoot of a town wide visioning event in 2005, when citizens wanted to develop the Marmaton River as an asset to the community.
“Dean Mann saw the vision of a riverfront park and he was the original chairman, until he retired several years ago,” Witt said.
The Fort Scott Bourbon County Riverfront Authority was formed in April 2007, with approval from then Kansas Governor Sebelius.
Their mission was to purchase and develop land along the river to create a park and they also created a master plan.
“We had to have property owners buy in to the vision of the park,” Witt said. “Most donated land to the Riverfront Park.” That process took years.
The Belltown Trail information kiosk at Riverfront Park.
Since then the following has been put in the park: a lighted walkway, parking spaces, an observation deck at rivers edge, a pavilion and a loop drive on the south side of the river which goes under Hwy. 69.
Riverfront Park’s overlook structure in 2021.
Local artist Stephan Toal has beautified the inside of the underpass with historical murals.
Murals by Stephen Toal. Submitted photo.
The Fort Scott Garden Club has planted and maintained a flower garden on the south side, with the Fort Scott Fire Department watering it. The City of Fort Scott put in a facility in the southwest part of the trail for people to fill their water bottles.
“The city has plans to build a walkway from the north side of the bridge to the Bell Town Trail, probably this fall,” Witt said.
Paul Ballou, who works for the city helps maintain the park and does “a great job,” Witt said.
The park has been used for weddings, business meetings on nice days, car shows and many other events..
“There will be a festival in the park on Sept. 30,” Witt said. “It will be all day and feature Bluegass music and a car show.”
To reserve the pavilion, one must call the city offices at 223-0550.
Members of the Riverfront Authority at the ribbon cutting of the pavilion in 2018. From left Allen Warren, Arnold Schofield, Danny Magee, Jerry Witt, Dean Mann and Betty Boyko.
Current members of the Riverfront Authority board: Penny Barnes, Dan Magee, Bob Love, Arnold Schofield, Jeff Sweetser and Witt. Mann remains an ex-officio member, and Kate Sweetser is a part of the group as well, Witt said.
This is part of a series featuring the new teachers at Fort Scott’s School District.
There are 20 new teachers this year.
Karen Self. Submitted photo.
Karen Self, 56, is a new English teacher at Fort Scott High School.
“As a child we had a basement that had a chalkboard and desks that we purchased from the three-room grade school that had closed its doors in our rural neighborhood,” she said. “Mrs. Green…. my 5th grade teacher, let me choose anything I wanted from the pile of going-to-be-thrown-away textbooks. I took those books home and devoured them. I played teacher…for hours at a time, reading and exploring these old textbooks and trying to get my siblings to play along. Today, I am taking that next step into my childhood dream.
Creating an atmosphere of safety and peace when chaos abounds, like so many incredible educators did for me throughout my school years, is a passion for me.”
“I have substituted in USD 234 in the last few years, but most of my experience comes from raising, nurturing and advocating for my children,” Self said. “I also volunteered as a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) for children in foster care for 6 years.”
For her education she attended Missouri Southern State University, University of Missouri-Kansas City, Butler County Community College, and finished her secondary education degree taking night classes at Newman University, Wichita.
She has 10 children ranging from 16-35 years of age and 6 grandchildren, 6 months to 13 years of age.
In her spare time she loves to read and write, among other interests.
“I am fascinated by British TV, British accents and London,” she said. “For the last decade I have explored writing and hope to one day write a book about the beautiful life lived by my lovely daughter, P.J., who succumbed to the ravages of muscular dystrophy and left this earth in 2011. My favorite pastime of all time is spending time with my children and grandchildren.”
“I love that moment when the look of confusion or frustration on a student’s face is replaced with the ‘aha’ delight of catching the inspiration of learning something for the first time,” she said.
Julie Forkner, is a new Fort Scott Preschool Interventionist.
She earned a BS in Elementary Education and Early Childhood and has taught for 38 years.
“I enjoy small children and building relationships with families and helping shape the future and making a positive difference in kid’s life’s!” she said. She also enjoys getting to know other teachers, too.
A challenge for her will be starting in a new district and a new environment and learning how things work, she said.
She has two children: a daughter, Mandy married to Steven, is a Kindergarten teacher in Exeter, MO. She has two grandchildren: Kaylor, 5-years-old and Kruz, 1 1/2. Her son Austin is a professional motocross racer in Murrieta CA. and will get married in October to Rylee.
In her spare time she enjoys spending time with her grandkids, traveling, watching her son race.
The Healthy Bourbon County Action Team is located at 104 No. National Avenue.
In recent months, a coalition headquartered in Fort Scott has been working to address transportation needs for all Bourbon County, including rural residents.
A service to meet these needs will start August 28 and is called BB-Go Transportation.
“BB-Go Transportation is an affordable option, $1 donation is suggested, but not required,” Rachel Carpenter, the lead in the Local Health Equity Team (LHEAT), said. That entity is under the Healthy Bourbon County Action Team umbrella, whose office is at 104 N. National Avenue.
Rachel Carpenter is the lead for the Local Health Equity Action Team. Submitted photo.
“There is no restrictions on riders,” Scott Christiansen, Transportation Director at Southeast Kansas Community Action Program, said. “This is tax payer funded so there are no age or income restrictions.”
“The donations offsets what KDOT reimburses us for the service,” Christiansen said.
BB-GO Transportation will service anyone in Bourbon County on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays during the operation hours of 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
The LHEAT partnered with Southeast Kansas Community Action Program, Inc. to expand their transportation program to Bourbon County.
A photo of a SEK-CAP bus taken from the SEK-CAP website.
To schedule a ride, call 620-724-6350.
The rides are are a first come, first served basis.
To have the best selection of times, schedule 1 to 7 days in advance.
Same-day rides given are based on availability.
BB-GO Transportation will be wheelchair accessible.
Drivers will be certified with the Kansas Department of Transportation and will meet all training and safety requirements.
The funding is through federal, state and local funds.
“The Federal Transit Administration and Kansas Department of Transportation 5311 Grant supplies 70% of the operating costs, and 30% comes from local matching funds from the Local Healthy Equity Action Team (LHEAT) grant through Kansas University Medical Center’s Communities Organizing to Promote Equity program, Peerless Products, Southeast Kansas Mental Health Center, and Community Christian Church,” she said.
Jody Hoener is the Southeast Kansas Regional Community Lead for LHEAT.
“The Healthy Bourbon County Action Team’s coalition Local Health Equity Action Team has been developing both upstream and downstream approaches to address the Social Determinants of Health (SDOH) in Bourbon County,” Carpenter said.
This service adds options for those without a car.
“Currently, there is only one option for public transportation in the county that services the City of Fort Scott,” Carpenter said.
The cost of this transportation service can hinder people from social activities, medical appointments, jobs, dining and education, she said.
After 38 years in the Uniontown School District, Tracy Smith, will serve as part-time West Bourbon Elementary School principal for this school year.
“I have been in education for 44 years and retired twice, but now one more year,” he said.
Smith is teaming with Anita Lightcup in principal duty-sharing.
“I’ll be on duty Monday, Tuesday and alternating Wednesdays,” he said. “Anita will be alternating Wednesday, Thursday and, Friday.”
Smith earned a Bachelor of Science from Ottawa University and a
Masters in Administration, from Pittsburg State University.
For him the greatest part of the job “is mentoring, helping and developing kids, teens, children in general to become good, productive members of our communities.”
“In comparison to ‘what it was like’ when I was a kid, or even a beginning teacher…it is a much different society….It is imperative that we create a loving, supportive environment where positive growth can happen. So, being aware of every child’s needs as they come into my building is my #1 priority, and then, I problem solve.”
Vance Eden is the Superintendent of the school district. Robert Onelio is the new principal at Uniontown Jr/Sr High School.
Tracy and Kathy Dancer purchased the Scottish Rite Temple at the Bourbon County Tax Sale in January 2022.
The former Scottish Rite Temple at 110 S. Main is being repurposed by Tracy and Kathy Dancer.Tracy and Kathy Dancer in the entrance to 110 S. Main, now called Mercantile and Market and Cohn’s Cafe.
Since the purchase of the historic building in downtown Fort Scott, the Dancers opened a Mercantile and Market at 110 S. Main in February 2023 and in the next few weeks will be opening a cafe in an adjoining room.
“The shop is called Mercantile and Market and Cohn’s Cafe,” Kathy said. “It was run from 1926 to 1948 by Sidney Cohn and his wife as a cafe, in the exact space.” The cafe is adjacent, south, to the mercantile.
For many years, the space was used for fundraisers for Kiwanis and Rotary Clubs.
This week, they will have a reservation only preview, no walk-in patrons, from August 22-26.
The grand opening to the rest of the public is September 1.
Kathy Dancer in the Cohn’s Cafe, at 110 S. Main.
The preview this week is to train new staff.
“This will be to train new staff on the menu,” she said. “To give our staff a chance to adjust things before we open. This is practice so when we do our grand opening, we will be prepared.”
There are 10 employees, not counting Tracy and Kathy.
The business phone number is 620-418-6209.
Hours are 8 a.m to 2 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday, with cafe table service.
From 2-6 p.m. (during the mercantile hours)one can order take-away food and drinks.
On Sunday the cafe will be open from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.
“Customers will be able to call or text for reservations,” Kathy said. “We will also accept call-in orders for grab-and-go from the cooler.
Customers will be able to pick up these orders until 5:45 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday.”
The cafe will use locally sourced ingredients to make fresh breakfast and lunch dishes: quiche, crepes, bakery items, salad, soup, sandwiches, and other featured meals, plus drinks.
The meats, eggs, and veggies are lined up from local suppliers and the menu will be adjusted based on seasonal availability, she said.
The current Cohn’s Cafe menu.
On the horizon for the cafe are syrups made from local orchards and additionally a tea service.
Kathy will be starting a tea pot collection to begin a tea service in the cafe. Here are some of her antique tea pots on display in the cafe.
“It will be a pot of tea that comes with scones, biscuits, and tea sandwiches,” she said. “We will be starting a tea pot collection for our tea service.”
People will pay for the meal in the mercantile section, much like a Cracker Barrel Restaurant.
Following a conversation with a downtown resident, the cafe will be selling milk, eggs and bread from a cooler she purchased.
This cooler was purchased to sell milk, eggs and bread, at the request of a downtown resident.
This is part of a series featuring the grant recipients of the Healthy Bourbon County Action Team’s Center For Economic Growth in their latest grant cycle.
The Heathly Bourbon County Action Team Grant Program is funded by the Patterson Family Foundation and is a collaborative effort through partnerships with the Kansas Small Business Development Center at Pittsburg State and Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce.
The Healthy Bourbon County Action Team located at 104 N. National.
This grant cycle, they awarded grants to nine area businesses.
The grant award ceremony is August 23 from noon to 1 p.m. at the HBCAT office, 104 N. National.
This is part of a series featuring young entrepreneurs in our community.
Following the first set of stories on young entrepreneurs in our community, an anonymous donor wrote fortscott.biz that he wanted to grant each one of the featured youth with $50.
If you know of a child, under 18 years of age, that is creating products or providing services to sell to the public, please send their name and phone number to [email protected]
Fortscott.biz wants to encourage the youth who are learning business by doing it.
Devlin Cole.
Devlin Cole, 15, started a leather works business about a year ago, called DRC Leatherworks.
He hand stamps and hand cuts leather to make bookmarks, rings, bracelets, key rings.
His grandmother, Vicki Waldron, owner of ViCon, a sewing business, and he both got interested at the same time, and he works out of her shop on Maple Road, rural Fort Scott. His sister, Mackenna, has encouraged him in his business, he said.
“I started sewing when young,” Cole said. “I like hands-on personalizing and being a craftsman on something that is personal.”
He is currently creating a stock pile of leather work articles for the Children’s Business Fair on September 30.
“I used (his leather) bookmarks at school, when reading and friends noticed and ordered a few,” he said.
At a recent band event, some of his friends helped Cole select a name for his business and he has been working on pricing, business logo and a business email.
Submitted graphic.
Belts are $10, keychains and pendants are $5, bookmarks are $7, rings are $3, and bracelets are $4.
“That is the prices I have thought of at the current moment not 100% sure on the belts due to leather costs but the rest is pretty set in stone,” he said.
At a recent Children’s Business Fair workshop, he developed a busniness plan and got all his ideas on paper, he said. Next was cash flow and payment options.
He will be selling, along with other young enrepreneurs, at the Fort Scott Farmers Market on September 30.
This is part of a series featuring young entrepreneurs in our community.
Following the first set of stories on young entrepreneurs in our community, an anonymous donor wrote fortscott.biz that he wanted to grant each one of the featured youth with $50.
If you know of a child, under 18 years of age, that is creating products or providing services to sell to the public, please send their name and phone number to [email protected]
Fortscott.biz wants to encourage the youth who are learning business by doing it.
Benjamin Shead. Submitted photo.
Benjamin Shead,13, has an online tutoring business.
“Some classes I have guided other students in are geometry, Latin, sixth grade math, formal logic, algebra 1 and 2,” he said.
“Most of my clients contact me through Facebook,” Benjamin said. “I also take students when my sister’s (Katy Shead) schedule is too busy.”
“I started tutoring when my sister’s schedule was getting packed with students,” he said. “This showed me that I enjoyed helping other people in their educational trouble areas.”
“I tutor so that I can revisit material that I enjoyed learning but am no longer being taught,” he said. “Tutoring gives me the ability to experience a class again, this time on a deeper level, the level of teaching the material. I also enjoy finding new ways to explain a concept and tutoring gives me a purpose for the exploration of these ways.”
“One subject I really enjoy tutoring is Formal Logic,” Benjamin said. “It is awesome to learn how to explain proofs by comparing them to a hidden treasure or something else that the student understands better than proofs.”
“While it is a lot better for kids to be tutored, if they need it, across the school year, I sometimes help kids in last-minute cramming sessions for math and logic finals,” he said. “These sessions provide a last-minute review, and it gives kids confidence to try their best on this last assignment.”
Benjamin lives just outside the Fort Scott city limits with his sister, Katy and parents Mark and Haley Shead.
Benjamin Shead works on collatz conjecture. Submitted photo.
Benjamin submitted this photo of him working on a math problem called a collatz conjecture.
Here is his explanation of collatz conjecture:
“The collatz conjecture is a theory about mathematics which is believed to be true but no one has been able to prove yet,” Benjamin said. “It states that if any odd whole number is plugged into the formula (3n+1)/2, if any even number is divided by two, and every number is plugged back into one of these formulas, a formula will eventually reach one.”
August 15 from 6 to 7:30 p.m. is the Fort Scott High School Open House at 1005 S Main St, Fort Scott.
School starts on August 18
Nicolas Woods. Submitted photo.
Nicholas Woods, 25, is a new history teacher at Fort Scott High School, teaching world, American, and local history.
He graduated from Pittsburg State University and did his student teaching at Carl Junction. This is his first year teaching.
“My past teachers motivated me to be a teacher,” he said. “I liked school, but at times I struggled with learning. I want to be there for the students that struggled like I did. I believe I bring a different perspective that students can appreciate and learn from.”
“The best thing about teaching for me so far is seeing a student who was struggling succeed,” he said. “That could be as little as a student passing a test or as big as boosting their grade by two letters. You should always celebrate success.”
“I would say one of the biggest challenges in teaching for me is connecting with students,” he said. “I feel I connect with students/people easily, but as a teacher you are not going to reach every student. There will be students that don’t like your class or even you for that matter and no matter how hard you try you won’t change their mind. The best thing I can do is give all students the tools and guidance they need to succeed and hope for the best.”
Woods hometown is Fort Scott, and he is a 2016 high school graduate.
His uncle Donald Woods was a custodian for the high school for many years and owned a moving business and late aunt Joyce Woods was a grade school teacher at Winfield Scott for many years, he said.
Woods hobbies include golfing, fishing , and playing basketball.
Caleb Hendricks. Submitted photo.
Caleb Hendricks, 27, is a new Winfield Scott Physical Education Teacher and Fort Scott Middle School Assistant Girls Basketball Coach.
He has six years experience in education, with three years as a certified teacher.
He earned his bachelors degree from Fort Hays State University and his hometown is Sterling.
“Growing up some of the most rewarding experiences I had were as a camp counselor, coach, and youth group leader,” he said. “Working with kids and seeing their growth and accomplishment in different areas has always given me a sense of purpose.”
“The relationships that I have made with both students and staff over the years is definitely the best part of being in education. That’s really what it’s always been all about for me. Being in a position that allows me to coach and connect with kids in that element has always been a very important thing for me as well.”
A challenge for him is growing and adapting to how kids and the world are changing, he said.
“Finding new ways to connect and relate with kids can be challenging at times for sure,” he said. “Having worked with both elementary and middle and high school ages, though, I feel like that has helped me better understand where kids are coming from and the different challenges they face. Then I feel like I’m in a better position to support them the best I can.”
He is married to Sarah Hendricks, who is a 4th Grade Teacher at Eugene Ware Elementary School and they have a 4 month-old son, Braxton.
His hobbies include football, Fantasy Football, golf, coaching, basketball, home improvement projects.
This is a part of a series of new teachers in Uniontown’s School District.
The district’s open house is August 15 from 4 to 6 p.m.
The first day of class for students is August 16.
Tyler Ericson. Submitted photo.
Tyler Ericson will teach 4th grade at West Bourbon Elementary, in Uniontown starting this school year.
“The thing I love about teaching is…relationships with each of my students,” she said. “How they can come to me about anything, and they will not be judged… whether it be in or outside of school. I love seeing children learn, but most importantly having fun and being engaged while doing it.”
“A challenge for me would be change,” she said. “…starting over from a whole new school district, a new grade, and new colleagues can be overwhelming. Teaching primary and now about to teach 4th grade, it will definitely be different, but in a good way. I am excited to see what West Bourbon has in store for me!”
She said she looks forward to taking part in school community activities that plan to make community members feel welcomed, respected, trusted, heard, and needed, to help promote student success.
Ericson hales from a big family in Kansas City and Oklahoma, she said. In addition, she and husband, Ethan, have two sons, Julian and Jamison, and one daughter Journee.
Ericson earned her A.A in Elementary Education, at Labette Community College and a B.S. in Elementary Education from Pittsburg State University.
She taught second grade at Winfield Scott Elementary last school year; first grade at Winfield Scott from February 2022 to May 2022; and was a special education paraprofessional at Uniontown High School from January 2018 to May 2019.
She was substitute teacher certified by the Kansas Department of Education from August 2019 to May 2020.
Ericson worked in Early Childhood Centers in the Kansas City Metropolitan Area from the age of 15 to 24.
Christal Martin. Submitted photo.
Christal Martin will teach high school science in grades 10-12.
She received a bachelors in science degree with an emphasis in nursing in 2008 from Pittsburg State University, and is currently finishing a master’s degree in secondary education from Western Governor’s University.
She has worked as a Uniontown Junior High At-Risk Aide for the past three years.
For Martin, the best thing about working with children is “Building connections with students, and watching them academically succeed,” she said.
A challenge this year will be learning to navigate through everything as a new teacher, she said.
She is married to husband, Seth, and they have two sons, Caden and Casen.
Aug 14 from 5:30 to 7 p.m. is the monthly board of education meeting at 424 S. Main, Fort Scott.
August 15 from 6 to 7:30 p.m. is the Fort Scott High School Open House at 1005 S Main St, Fort Scott.
School starts in the district on August 18.
Torrie Singmaster. Submitted photo.
Torrie Singmaster, 27, is a new 6th grade math teacher at Fort Scott Middle School.
She earned her Bachelor of Arts in elementary education from Ottawa University and will graduate with a Master of Arts in Education with a focus in Curriculum and Instruction in May of 2024 from Ottawa University.
“I taught first grade at Winfield Scott Elementary for two years and one year at Humboldt Elementary School in fifth grade, she said.
“My favorite part of being a teacher is being able to watch students transform not only academically but personally as well,” Singmaster said. “I take pride in knowing that I can make a difference in the lives of my students.”
“After I became a mom, I wanted a career that would allow me to have more time with my kids,” she said. “I started subbing at the elementary school and immediately knew that education is the path I was supposed to take. I always enjoyed school growing up and that was due to the fact I had really amazing teachers along the way. I want to help students see their self-worth and be a safe place for all of my students to grow into the best versions of themselves.”
“The hardest part about being in education has been trying to figure out where I am the most successful as an educator,’ she said. “This will be the third different grade I have taught in my four years as a teacher. I was a para at the middle school for two years before getting my own classroom. I am beyond excited for the opportunity to transition to middle school and start this next journey in my career.”
She grew up in Fort Scott and she and husband Dakota, have two sons: William will be in first grade and Tyson will be starting preschool.
In their free time , they enjoy golfing, playing cornhole, and driving RC cars and she also enjoys painting and doing projects.
Brennen Feeback. Submitted photo.
Brennen Feeback, 22, is a new special education teacher at Fort Scott High School.
“Growing up, I saw that the influence teachers could have on students’ lives, and I wanted to be someone that invested into these awesome students,” he said. “With my area of teaching, I think it is going to be really awesome to help each individual student find their different ways of success.”
“The biggest challenge that I will be facing is that this is my first year, but the group (of educators)that I am going to be working with is very experienced and willing to help me,” he said.
Feeback graduated from Baker University this past May.
He grew up in Chanute, Kansas, but went to high school in Spring Hill. He just recently married his wife, Allisyn.
In his spare time he likes watching “any sort of Missouri Tiger athletic activity, and doing any sort of activity that is outdoors,” he said.
