Kathryn Harrington, 38, was selected to be the new Fort Scott City Commissioner at the June 1 special commission meeting.
Fort Scott City Hall.
Seven people sent letters of interest to the commission: Cheryl Adamson, Chuck Begulia, John Coon, Harrington, Nicolas Philpot, Dean Striler and Robert Uhler, according to the City of Fort Scott Facebook page.
Harrington will be filling the vacancy of Kevin Allen, who resigned last month.
Her hometown is Clarence, MO.
Harrington earned a degree in healthcare administration from the University of Phoenix.
She has had a career in health care for 18 years and is currently the director of Country Place Senior Living, Fort Scott.
She is married to Rob Harrington and they have four children.
Her community involvement is with Community Christian Church and volunteering at Bourbon County Regional Economic Development, Inc.
Harrington is passionate about health care and wants the city to look at the issues that surround it more closely, she said in an interview with fortscott.biz.
She said she wanted to “Step up to make a difference.”
To view the special commission meeting on YouTube:
A Chicken Mary’s chicken dinner will be for sale downtown.
“You can purchase tickets for the chicken dinner for $8 at the Chamber of Commerce Office, 231 E. Wall,” Shawn O’Brien, chairman of the Good Ol’Days Stearing Committee, said. “The dinner includes a two-piece chicken, German potato salad, creamy slaw, bread, and water.”
Friday Night Free Music Concert
A live music concert by the Diamond Empire Band will be a 7 p.m. Friday at Heritage Park Pavilion at First and Main Street.
“Bring your lawn chairs and come enjoy live music!” O’Brien said.
Saturday Activities
“Saturday we have lots of free activities for kids and adults,” he said. “Tye die t-shirts have been donated by Key Industries for the first 300 people, starting at 9AM until gone. They will be located at 2nd and Main.”
Free bounce houses are available again this year, located in the parking lot east of Oak Street and National Ave. Face paint is not allowed on the inflatables, so plan accordingly.
“We are always excited to see the large turnout for these,” he said.
There is a car and bike show this year at the Riverfront Park on North National Avenue.
“We are excited that Old 54 Cycle has teamed up to offer this amazing car and bike show,” O’Brien said.
New this year is a Care to Share Children’s Cove.
“They will be located on Skubitz Plaza and have lots of kids activities for $5. They will be open 10 AM – 2 PM (Saturday). We are excited for their new fundraising efforts. We look forward to them coming to the Good Ol’ Days.”
Care to Share Children’s Cove has a $5 wristband entry which includes one free ticket for a cotton candy.
There will be a ring toss, bean bag toss, duck pond, sack race and more for children ages 5th grade and younger.
The stearing committee is comprised of O’Brien -Chairman, Kayla Hall – Secretary, Melissa Wise – Treasurer, Charlotte Thompson – Logistics, Cheryl VanHoecke – Vendor relations, Tim VanHoecke, Shay Clements, Angel Wilson, and Carl Brenner – Fort Representative.
“We have tons of fun activities planned, come down and celebrate 41-derful years! Located downtown Fort Scott, starts at 3rd and Main and runs north to the Fort (Fort Scott National Historic Site) and west to National Avenue.”
History of the Event
Good Ol’ Days began as a festival when founding member Anne Emerson arrived in the community from the eastern U.S., over four decades ago.
“She had been to a street festival and was excited to bring the same type to Fort Scott,” O’Brien said. “The first year they had activities all over Fort Scott, such as the pool, the stadium, Gunn Park, and many more places. They realized that they were stretched out too far and made it the downtown street festival.”
“We stick to the same ideas with a main event each year, Blane Howard is the main event this year,” he said. “Of course we have crafts, food, family, friends and tons of fun every year!!!”
Suzanne Griffin had opened her home to feed over 30 high school students on Wednesday evenings before the COVID-19 Pandemic started, which she calls a supper club.
Submitted photos.
The stay-at-home mom of six children had been told she was a good cook and mentioned the idea of a supper club to friends.
In April 2022 Griffin began her business of making homemade, pre-assembled meals to sell.
The name of her business is Twigs & Berries, and the meals are made in her home at 1211 S. Judson. She makes family-style meals ready to pick up, take home, bake and enjoy.
“We are going into our third month and serve between 80-100 orders each Wednesday night,” she said. “Customers place orders ahead of time online through a form, or message me and then pick up curbside.”
Each meal includes a main dish, two side dishes and a dessert.
“We also offer mason jar salads, frozen entrees, full side desserts and once a month a breakfast pickup,” she said. “We have been so blessed to offer meals that are delicious, affordable and family-friendly. It was an answer to prayer to provide for our family at the same time to be a blessing to others.”
A pond hopping bass tournament will start at 6 a.m. this Saturday, May 28 at Union Station Convenience Store on Hwy. 3 just west of Uniontown. There will also be a beer garden, food and live music throughout that day.
The event is a fundraiser to supply Christmas presents for children in Bourbon County in honor of a local service man.
Butch Hall. Submitted photo.
Butch Hall was a 2000 graduate of Uniontown High School who was killed in Kabul, Afghanistan in 2004.
“Butch loved fishing and this is a way for his friends and family to honor him this Memorial Day weekend,” said event organizer Sara Roufs.
“All money made from this event will go to purchase Christmas gifts for local kids in need through the Bourbon County Angels, all in Butch’s honor,” Roufs said.
Registration will be at 6 a.m. at Union Station, with weigh-in at 3 p.m.
The entry fee is $20 person, with a limit of three people per team. There is a 50 percent payback, and a $5 big bass pot.
Fish must be alive at weigh-in.
“Union Station is the main sponsor for the event,” Roufs said. “We also have contributions from K&K Auto, BN Hunting, Don’s Spirits & Wines and Perry’s Pork Rinds.”
Timber Hills. Submitted graphics.
Timber Hills Lake Ranch is donating a weekend cabin stay for our raffle.
“Registrants for the fishing tournament will have a chance to win a knife donated by Ryan Demott with Turkey Forge,” she said.
They will be selling pulled pork sandwiches for lunch, with pork purchased locally through Bronson Locker.
“We will also have baked beans, coleslaw, and Marsha’s Deli potato salad. BBQ dinners will go on sale at noon,” Roufs said. “Union Station will be hosting a beer garden throughout the day.”
“At 3 p.m., we will draw for the raffle prizes and have the weigh-in for the bass tournament,” she said. “Bourbon Boy Bait Co. will handle the weigh-in for the tournament.”
At 4 p.m. there will be live music from the Bourbon County Revival.
All money made from this event will go to purchase Christmas gifts for local kids in need through the Bourbon County Angels, all in Butch’s honor.
“Friends and family of Butch donated trophies for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place, as well as one for the biggest bass,” Roufs said.
Extra cars on the east side of Union Station let passers-by know of the farmer’s market on May 19.
On Thursday evenings at Union Station Convenience Store near Uniontown, you might notice more cars than usual.
A farmers market started May 5 there, just west of Uniontown on Hwy. 3. It meets every Thursday from 4-8 p.m. but may expand a day in the future if the community responds.
Vendors set up for customers at the farmers market near Uniontown.
“Union Station is allowing vendors to set up on the east side of the convenience store parking lot, in the trees,” Schotze Griffiths, store manager said.
Currently, there are four vendors who have set up, but “I have more people coming when their garden starts to produce,” Griffiths said. “This is an opportunity to buy fresh food locally.”
There is no cost to the vendor, and anyone that would like to set up a table, may.
“It’s a work in progress,” she said. “So don’t give up on us. If it is real hot in the summer it might get sparse, but it will be here as long as people want to come. There might be less vendors this week because of prior commitments.”
Saturday mornings are a possibility in the future she said.
“Especially when we have rodeos that come,” Griffiths said.
Union Station is directly across the street from the Uniontown Rodeo Grounds on Hwy. 3.
Current Vendors
The four vendors currently coming are MMM Flavor Shop, Prairie Rose Farmstead, 9 Acre Farm and Mama Mary.
Addi Foster tells of her wares to a customer on May 19.
MMM Flavor Shop is owned by Addi Foster and her sister, Emelia Whiteaker, who are selling spices. Addi’s daughter, Mayla also has crafts, eggs, peacock feathers and poultry grown on the family farm to sell. The mother-daughter duo are part of Foster Dairy, from the Hiattville area. Contact info is 620.224.8442 or 620.224.9411.
Dale and Lisa Griffiths set up a vendor booth for their wares on May 19.
9 Acre Farm is owned by Dale and Lisa Griffiths, Bronson, and sells fresh eggs, pickled items and candles at their booth. They will bring produce later as it starts producing on their farm. Interested parties can watch them on YouTube. For more information contact them at 620.215.3101.
Jessi Hall displays her wares with a customer on May 19.
Prairie Rose Farmstead is owned by Sage and Jessi Hall, Uniontown.They offer goat milk products including soap, lotion, salve and lip balm. In addition they sell raw milk, pastured poultry and grass fed beef. Contact them at 316.821.0309 or [email protected].
Mary Ridge sells homemade food items at her booth, Mama Mary.
Mama Mary, Mary Ridge of the Zenia area, sells pies, take and bake meals and canned goods. Her homemade food items are also sold at the Bronson Locker in Bronson. Her contact info: 620.939.4977.
Destry Brown, 59, is the new superintendent of schools for USD 234, Fort Scott.
He believes he is coming full circle in his life in returning to USD 234 after 38 years in education.
“The funny thing to me is that I began school as a kindergartner in Fulton, KS which was part of USD # 234,” Brown said. “Now, I am back in the USD # 234 School District. I guess one could say that I have come full circle.”
“I graduated from Fort Scott High School, attended Fort Scott Community College for two years and graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education from Pittsburg State University,” he said. “I also received a Master’s Degree in Building Administration along with additional coursework to complete the licensure requirements to be a superintendent.”
He began his teaching career teaching elementary school in Mound City, where he taught grades 1, 2, 3, 4, and 6, and taught there for 11 years.
Brown was then the elementary principal for two years in Wilson, KS.
“From there, I was the principal at Alcott Elementary School in Chanute, for five years before moving to the assistant superintendent position for four years. My first superintendent position was in Frontenac, where I remained for three years. Then, for the next nine years, I was the superintendent in Pittsburg. I then moved to Clinton, MO where I have been for the last four years.”
Brown begins officially in Fort Scott on July 1st.
“I will probably be in and out of the district throughout the month of June as I work toward a smooth transition,” he said.
USD 234 Board of Education Building, 424 S. Main
Background
“I grew up on a farm between Fort Scott and Fulton,” he said. “We moved to Fort Scott when I was in middle school.”
His wife, Joan, works for Community National Bank and they have three boys between the two of them.
“We also have six wonderful grandkids!,” he said.
Brown has many ties to Bourbon County.
“My parents are Donnie and Georgia Brown.” he said. “Dad farms in northern Bourbon County and Mom owns and operates Sunshine Boutique in downtown Fort Scott. My sister, Ginger Nance, is the Director at Presbyterian Village.”
In his spare time he attends events in the school district and community, he said.
“In Clinton, I am involved in the Optimist Club and serve as the Treasurer,” he said. “I am also a Rotary and Elks Club member. I serve on the Henry County Health Board. I am involved with Olde Glory Days, a week long 4th of July celebration, Main Street Clinton, and the Emergency Planning Commission. I serve as a Big Brother in Big Brothers and Big Sisters and I mentor a student through the Juvenile Justice program. I coordinated and help with community food distributions. Joan and I attend the Clinton Methodist Church. As you can see, we spend most of our spare time serving our community and especially the children/families in our community.”
” I also love to cook and I am an avid student of leadership,” Brown said.
Brown has been inspired by many.
“As a young teenager, our neighbor, Tom Davis was the Recreation Director in Fort Scott,” he said. “He asked me to coach a tee ball team one year and I found that I really enjoyed working with kids. I volunteered on the playground at Winfield Scott Elementary during my lunch hour in high school. I also had some amazing teachers who had a tremendous influence on my desire to be a teacher including: Welcome Van Sickle, Margaret Titus, Elaine Wimberly, Maxine Kinney, Alice Miller, Tom Davis, Bill Sailors, Lily Kober, Gary Wimmer, Warren Jones, Steve Wolf, Gary Key, Lucille James, Marcel Norman. I am sorry for this long list. But, these people along with many others like Dick Hedges and George Hudiberg encouraged and inspired me along the way. All of these people had a way of teaching and leading that broke average. They always pushed me to work hard and to love and serve people. They displayed a joy for teaching and leading and drew me into the field of education.”
The greatest challenge he faces coming to Fort Scott is to learn about the Fort Scott system and the people who work here, and making up for lost time during the COVID 19 Pandemic, he said.
“Now that we are past the pandemic, the challenge will be to help our students to recover the loss of learning that has occurred,” Brown said. “More importantly, we will need to figure out ways to address the social and emotional issues that have presented themselves during the pandemic. Although we learned a lot about different ways to educate our kids and different ways to do business during this time, our challenge will be to blend the old with the new in ways that best meet the needs of every student.”
“I am so excited to be able to return to my hometown,” Brown said. “The things that people will be able to count on from me are: 1) I am about doing our very best for kids. 2) I will encourage and support our staff. 3) My door is always open to people to stop by with concerns, encouragement, or just to talk. 4) I will be honest and transparent about the workings of the district. 5) I will always support and positively represent the Red and the White. Go Tigers!!!!”
Rechelle, Joshua and Julie McClellan. Submitted photo.
Main Street Gallery & Gifts has a new name to rebrand because of additions to the store, located at 23 S. Main in downtown Fort Scott’s historic district.
Since April, it is now called Main Street Vintage and Co.
“We have been wanting to re-brand for sometime now, and we finally made a decision,” said Josh McClellan,one of the owners.
Submitted graphic.
The owners remain the same: Julie McClellan and her son, Josh, and daughter in-law Rechelle.
The family started their store in Oct. 2000.
Since Oct. 2019,Rechelle has been working full time and since then, “We have done a total transformation,” Josh said. “We now have more than 60 vendors.”
“We wanted to reflect our store with a new and improved name.” he said. “We needed something more upscale. We offer several boutique vendors and we have numerous furniture artists. We offer more products also, from DIY chalk paint, to decoupage papers and stencils by Jami Ray Vintage, and transfers, stamps, and molds by Iron Orchid Designs.”
Decoupage papers are now available at the store. Submitted photos.
“We have people that have never been to the store and they come in and say ‘Wow, it’s beautiful here!’ We wanted to show that in our name.”
“We changed our name at the end of April 2022 on all of our social media platforms,” Josh said. “Julie and I have been working on the name change with several vendors for sometime now,” Josh said. “We are proud of all of our accomplishments and wanted to show the public.”
Vance Eden, 37, is the new associate superintendent of schools for USD 235, Uniontown.
Following completion of his education programming, he will assume the title of superintendent.
Process
“As I still haven’t completed my programming at this point, for the next year Mr. (Bret)Howard will work on a consultation basis to help with any needs that I may have,” Eden said.
Howard is the current superintendent who ends his tenure from the district on June 30.
“This provision is necessary under the current leadership license that I have,” Eden said. “Once I complete the coursework and receive the Kansas Department of Education licensure credential next spring, my title would then transition to superintendent.”
“We have tried to be open and transparent about this process,”he said. “I had sent a letter to parents when I was hired that explained this information, but understand that many in the community would not have received such communication.”
“I will officially assume the role July 1st,” he said. “But I have been working in transition over the course of the past 6-8 weeks to make plans for the coming school year.”
His office will be located inside Uniontown Junior High/High School building.
Uniontown Junior/Senioer High School.
Education
Eden received his Bachelor’s of Education in Elementary Education and a Master’s in Educational Leader from Pittsburg State University.
“I’m currently working on a Specialist in Education Degree with a Major in Advanced Studies in Leadership from Pittsburg State that will be completed in the Spring of 2023,” he said.
Experience
Just out of college Eden taught math at Webb City Middle School before transitioning to be the assistant principal of that same building.
“I then served as a Title I Reading and Math Interventionist at West Bourbon for three years before assuming the role of the principal for the past four years,” he said.
Ms. Tema Gilion will become the WBE principal in the next school year.
Background
Eden was raised in Bourbon County on the Eden family farm that is located on Hwy. 54 near Bethel Church, and attended Uniontown schools from kindergarten through 12th grade.
His family is made up of “my amazing wife, Rachel, and two great kids, Scout and Rhuey,” he said.
Scout, Vance, Rachel and Rhuey Eden. Submitted photo.
In their leisure time, the Edens can be found outdoors.
“Our family enjoys all kinds out outdoor activities,” he said. “Riding dirt bikes and spending time on the lake would top the list for this summer.”
While in college, Eden changed careers to enter education.
“While in college pursuing a different major, the idea of becoming an elementary teacher really started to intrigue me,” he said. “I had always enjoyed kids and seemed to have a pretty natural rapport with them. Once I made the switch in majors, things seemed to fall into place pretty naturally.”
Many people inspired him to pursue education.
“I’ve been impacted by too many people to list just one,” he said. From my supportive parents and extended family, to remarkable teachers, to current friends and co-workers.”
The best part of being an educator for Eden is giving students the tools they need to pursue their passions.
There are a few challenges in education.
“Kids don’t all start from the same place,” Eden said. “They haven’t all had the same support, opportunities, and care. Schools have to find a balance in supporting social, emotional, and academic needs so that by the time they leave us as 18 year-olds they are ready to thrive in adulthood.”
Third Street Park is just east of Hwy. 69 past the railroad overpass on the south side of the street. This is a view from Wilson Street looking up the hill.
This Saturday residents of the east side of Fort Scott are invited to give input on what they would like to improve at the park on east Third Street.
The park is a city block that is sided by Third Street on the north, Hill Street on the east, Fourth Street on the south and Wilson Street on the west. It is a tree shaded area, one half of which is on a hill, one half is a ball diamond.
“This is the second public forum for the East Side Creative Placemaking project called Stronger Together: Building Up Our Communities,” Rachel Carpenter, Program Director for Healthy Bourbon County Action Team said. “At our last public forum we were able to pick out common themes that will build up our community. Some of the themes were access to food, more events on the east side and park improvements.”
The event is to focus on park improvements.
“We received the Patterson Family Foundation Grant of $560,000 and there is $70,000 for this project,” Carpenter said. ” We want east side residents to be engaged in the decision making.”
The timeline for construction to be done at Third Street Park is October 2023, she said..
The basketball court is in the foreground and some of the play equipment and pavilion is seen in the background.
“At this public forum we will engage the east side residents and ask what improvements they would like to see at Third Street Park,” she said. “Some examples would be upgrading playground equipment or fixing up the basketball court.”
The southwest corner of the park can be seen at Wilson and 4th Street.
“It is really up to them what on what we should prioritize,” Carpenter said.
The southeast corner of the park is seen at Hill and Fourth Street.
The event will be tomorrow Saturday May 21 from 9 to 11 a.m. at Third Street Park.
“We will be serving breakfast burritos and giving away a cooler and $40 gas vouchers to 5 Corners Convenience Store!,” she said.
From in the middle of the park, looking down on the ball diamond at Third Street Park.
Kevin K. Allen resigned his position as Fort Scott City Commissioner on April 17, at the Fort Scott City Commission meeting.
Allen stated the reason he is resigning: he is in the process of moving into his home at 507 Brown Street on the city’s east side, which is just outside the city limits.
Kevin Allen has served on the commission for two years and as mayor for five months, he said.
The current commissioners are Josh Jones, Tim Van Hoecke, Shane Walker and Matthew Wells.
He gave his opinion on the commission’s accomplishments in the last two years:
The city meetings are now recorded on YouTube for transparency and accountability to the citizens.
There are no time limits now when a citizen wants to speak to the commission at the meeting.
The streets department is now 10 employees, up from four, and has a budget of $1 million, up from $200,000.
The county and city governments are sharing services, which saves the taxpayers money.
Sunday liquor sales were approved, to gain tax revenue.
Several stop signs were removed, that were not needed.
Unused properties in Fort Scott and Lake Fort Scott were sold, and money put towards amenities at the lake.
A Land Bank was created.
A local city attorney was hired, replacing a Kansas City area one, saving the city $150,000 a year.
The city government now buys local services and insurance.
The commission has “focused more on infrastructure” and is “fixing up parks.”
“It’s been a great pleasure to serve as commissioner,” Allen said. “It’s time for me to mount up and ride.”
The commissioners expressed appreciation for Allen’s service.
In an interview on April 18 with Josh Jones, who is the president of the commission, said he assumes the commission will interview the candidates for the vacant position and if there are an abundance of letters of interest, they will narrow it down, then interview.
The following is a press release from the City of Fort Scott:
“Persons interested in applying to fill the position vacated by Commissioner Kevin Allen are asked to submit a letter of interest to: City Clerk, Diane Clay at 123 S. Main, Fort Scott, Kansas 66701 or by email at [email protected]. Letters of interest must be received by the City Clerk by 12:00 p.m. on Tuesday, May 31st, 2022. Only individuals who reside in the City limits of Fort Scott are eligible to apply. Once the appointment has been made, it will become effective at the next scheduled City Commission meeting and the term will expire in December of 2023.
Any additional information or questions may be obtained by contacting Diane Clay, City Clerk at 620-223-0550.”
A later phone call from Fort Scott City Attorney Bob Farmer stated the state law that requires residency within the city limits can be found in the Kansas Government Handbook, page 27, regarding qualifications.
The Greyhound Lodge on North National Avenue, near the intersection of Hwy. 54 and Hwy. 69.
Fort Scott Community College’s Greyhound Lodge, the former Red Ram Motel on North National Avenue, is getting further renovation.
The school purchased the motel in 2018, at a cost of $270,000, for more off-campus housing.
“The Lodge is needing repairs, especially to the restrooms and the area that houses the kitchen, laundry, and student gathering area,” FSCC President Alysia Johnston said. “We also need to replace the doors to the rooms.”
Fort Scott Community College President Alysia Johnston.
“Elite Construction Services was awarded the bid as the lone bidder and will repair the bathrooms and replace the doors,” Tom Havron, vice president of student affairs at the college, said.
Tom Havron is the FSCC Vice President of Student Affairs. Submitted photos.
The bid was for $43,310, according to the April 18 minutes of the board meeting.
At this off-campus housing, a total of 44 students, both males and females, can live there.
Greyhound Lodge is on the north side of town, near the intersection of Hwy. 54 and Hwy. 69. The FSCC main campus is on the south side of town, at 2108 S. Horton.
“Students moved out of the Mercy building at the beginning of the spring semester, as soon as the Garrison Hall apartments were ready to occupy,” Havron said. “We will not plan to house students out at the building moving forward. Our lease with Mercy was a month-to-month agreement which ended March 31, 2022.”
Garrison Hall is located at 18th and Horton Street, just across from the college campus.
“The Garrison Apartments are designated as a female-only residence living,” Havron said.
The college administration is making provisions of extra rooms for a COVID 19 surge, should there be one, as they have in the past during the pandemic.
“With the purchase of Garrison with federal monies, we still plan to hold space for quarantine/isolation for students in FSCC housing,” Havron said. “The main reason we purchased Garrison was to increase our space for housing to allow for quarantine/isolation rooms.”
Fort Scott Community College letter jackets are the first memorabilia to be placed in the Greyhound Football Legacy Center, 11 N. Main.
Supporters of football at Fort Scott Community College have filed for non-profit status from the State of Kansas and are in the process of setting up a Greyhound Football Legacy Center, Inc.
They have a board of directors, and set up by-laws.
“We just started the process of a 501 3c status,” Jack Milligan, president of the group, said. “We’ve hired an accountant firm.”
“We are setting up alumni chapters throughout Kansas and other states,” he said.
“We don’t have members, we have teammates,” Milligan said. “There is a lot of energy for it.”
“We are affiliated with the Fort Scott Community College Alumni Facebook page,” he said.
They have joined the Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce, because the group wants “to be a part of the community,” Milligan said.
They have also rented 11 N. Main from Eddie Townley for a Greyhound Football Legacy Center, which will be a gathering place for the group.
11 N. Main.
Milligan is president of the organization, Doug Ropp is vice president; Jerry Witt is vice-president at large; directors are Steve Bowers, Jim Barrows, Jim Chapman, Matt Glades, Kevin Gundy and Steve Williams.
“We have a great network of business experience and success on the board and will use that to regain the football program and many other things in the community,” Milligan said.
“We will staff the center with volunteers, local and otherwise,” he said.
The center will house old football uniforms and trophies, along with computers and furniture. Currently there is a large conference table and chairs in the building.
The group plans to launch into the community during Good Ol Days, the annual homecoming event of Fort Scott on June 3-4.
The group is hopeful of bringing football back to the community college, following the recent closing of the program.
“The FSCC Board of Trustees unanimously voted to end the historic Greyhound Football program in November 2021,” according the group’s website.
The group’s goal is to bring it back for the 2023 season.
