Tag Archives: featured

Business, Food, Fort Scott

Retail and Now Cafe at the Former Scottish Rite Temple

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Tracy and Kathy Dancer. Submitted photo.
Kathy Dancer, 49, and Tracy Dancer, 50, opened 110 South Main as a retail shop in the former Scottish Rite Temple in December and will be opening a cafe in the building this spring.
Retail
110 South Main Mercantile and Market  features decor, gifts, and food from Kansas and the Midwest, Kathy said.
“We have great products from Kansas City Canning Company, Kansas City Caramels, Prairie Fire Candles, Bombshell Beauty, Finding Home Farms, Thompson’s Homemade Decor, and about 30 other small business partners,” she said. ” Our market vendors include many local artisans and craft people who produce glass art, textiles, furniture, cutting boards, keepsake boxes, home decor, pens, notebooks, and decorative signs. We recently added a line of chocolates from Andre’s Chocolates and popcorn and fudge from Simply Delightful.”
“The retail store will be expanding this spring and summer to offer additional space for market vendors and artists who have high-quality handcrafted items,” she said.  Additional vendors and artists will be added as they expand the space.
Cafe
“We are also opening Cohn’s Cafe,” Kathy said.  The restaurant is named after Sidney Cohn and his wife, who had a cafe and coffee shop in this space from 1926-1948, she said. The restaurant space was used by the Freemasons council as a kitchen and dining space for several decades after that.
Before photo of the dining space below and the space when the carpet was removed, above. Submitted photos.

“The cafe will feature locally sourced ingredients and will have breakfast and lunch for dine-in or carry-out,” she said.  “We will source ingredients from local producers and will have a seasonally adjusted menu based on the availability of fresh, local vegetables, meats, and other ingredients.  Our menu will include quiches, crepes, soups, salads, sandwiches, and pies and desserts. We plan to have grab-and-go items available as well.”
View of the new dining space. Submitted photo.
“The cafe will be the cornerstone for additional planned improvements to the building,” Kathy said.  “We felt the cafe was a great way to share the building with the community while also supporting local artists, craftspeople, and food producers.  We are excited to showcase some of the great products available in our community in both the retail space and cafe.”
Electrical Issues
The Dancer’s hope to open this spring, but are having a problem with electric service to the building.
“We will have all of our spaces ready and equipment in place by the end of March but we are still waiting for additional electric service so we can proceed with our inspections and licensing,” she said.  “Unfortunately, there was extensive damage done to the electric service to the building while it was unoccupied prior to our purchase.”

“We have been working with our electrician to have adequate service reinstalled in the building but we are having to work around other utilities that were added in the alley,” Kathy said.  “As soon as we have enough electricity to operate the commercial kitchen equipment and modern HVAC, we will finish licensing and begin training staff.  We will announce opening dates on our social media pages, 110SouthMain and Cohn’sCafeonMain.

 Healthy Bourbon County Action Team (HBCAT)Grant
The Dancer’s received a restaurant /retail grant in the amount of $7,000 from HBCAT.
“We are very excited to be named as a recipient of the HBCAT grant in the restaurant category,” Kathy said.  “The grant will be used to help install the commercial kitchen for the cafe.  We have several pieces of used equipment including a sink, ovens, and a commercial refrigerator that need minor repairs and installation.  The balance of the funds will be used to acquire additional kitchen equipment including a commercial cook top, a commercial freezer, and a refrigerated table for salads and sandwiches.”
This is the prep kitchen where the HBCAT grant will be used for some of the equipment. Submitted photo.

 

Contact info

Entertainment, Fort Scott

Elevate Fort Scott: Bringing Entertainment Events To Town

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Brad Matkin. Submitted photo.

Elevate Fort Scott is one of several community “movers and shakers” groups that have have organized recently to improve the quality of life in the community.

“Besides our Elevate Fort Scott group there are several other groups that are making things happen and bringing great events to Fort Scott,” said Brad Matkin, one of the organizers of Elevate Fort Scott. “Advance Bourbon County, Fort Scott Forward, and others have been working very hard to bring in events and activities for our citizens and visitors to enjoy.”

“We are not only looking for a strong 2023 but are already planning some events for 2024 we feel everyone will enjoy and be excited about,” he said.

“While talking to one of the current members, I told them I felt I wanted to get a group together that wanted to make Fort Scott a place to be and to put on events that would make us a destination place plus add more things for our citizens to do,” Brad Matkin, group member said. “Even though I am the one that thought of getting this group together it is the six other members that make Elevate Fort Scott successful, they do the leg work and put in the time to make these events a reality.”

The group is comprised of Cory Bryars, Kirk Sharp, Jackson Tough, Josh Jones, Diane Striler, Lindsay Madison, and Matkin.

They first met last year around November, he said.

“The purpose of this group is to come up with positive ways and events to help Fort Scott grow, to show visitors what Fort Scott has to offer, and to get citizens involved in the many great things Fort Scott has to offer,” he said. “We are not trying to reinvent the wheel with the events we are working on, just trying to build off the already great events Fort Scott has to offer”

“Our goal is to think of an idea, work to get it started, then hand it off to a charity organization to put it on and raise money for their cause,” Matkin said. “Our group is not generating any funding for the events and are not involved in that part of the event; we just want to help get more things going in our great town and help the charities raise money.”

Events in The Works

“This group has been working on a lot of different ideas that are still in the early stages, but I can tell you we have added a BBQ cook-off that will share Riverfront Park with the second annual Care to Share/Sharing Bucket Fall Festival and Blues Festival,” he said.

The Riverfront Park Pavilion had its ribbon cutting in May 2018. Riverfront Park is the sight of this years Care to Share Fall Festival and Blues Festival.

“We are also working on a newly named Christmas on the Bricks that will take place of Christmas in the Park that has been a yearly tradition for Fort Scott,” Matkin said. “Christmas on the Bricks will offer the opportunity for the uptown shops to bring out their holiday flare and stay open late for holiday shopping. We are looking at this event to flow along right with the Christmas Parade, Artificers Christmas Shoppe, and the Annual National Historic Site Candlelight Tour. Some of the things we have already planned is a movie night,  a Christmas concert, carolers, chili, and much more.”

 

“Some of the newest things this group has brought to life is a ‘Rock-N-Roll Karaoke’ which will allow people to sing with a real band,” he said. “This will be held at Memorial Hall on June 9th. ‘Almost Kiss’ will be at Memorial Hall on November 18th.  They are a cover band for the Legendary Rock band Kiss and is one of only six Kiss tribute bands that former Kiss star Gene Simmons endorses.”

 

 

Business, Fort Scott

Sami Rogers Starts Handmade Baby Clothing Business

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Sami Rogers. Submitted photos.

Sami Rogers, 21, started her business, The Baby Stitch, at the encouragement of her best friend, Chloe Mohn.

Submitted photos. A baby ensemble that Rogers made.

“I started with hairbows for my friend, Chloe, who had a baby,” Rogers said. “She suggested I start making bummies, a baby diaper cover. She said I had an eye for design.”

Submitted photo.

The only sewing she had been taught was in Fort Scott Middle School, “And it was a pillow,” she said.

She began looking on the internet.

“I got on Etsy and purchased patterns, and started on YouTube to learn the techniques of sewing,” she said.

For her business, she makes baby clothes, which include bummies, hairbows, bell bottom pants, leggings, shirts  and joggers.

“I only make baby and toddler clothing, up to size 3-4 Toddler,” she said. “Everything is handmade.”

Go to  her website to order: http://the-baby-stitch.myshopify.com

The Baby Stitch is also on Facebook and Instagram.

 

About Rogers

Rogers is a 2020 graduate of Fort Scott High School and attended Fort Scott Community College.

At age 19, while a freshman at FSCC, she started her business.

She is a recent recipient of the Healthy Bourbon County Action Team (HBCAT) grant for women, minorities or low income to start up a business, in the amount of $5,000.

“Dacia Clark was amazing to help you,” Rogers said.

Clark is Assistant Director of the Small Business Development Center at Pittsburg State University, with an office in the HBCAT office at 104 N National Ave, Fort Scott.

The HBCAT Phone is  (620) 215-2892

“They help with a business plan, expense projection,” she said.

Rogers had applied for a grant previously, but wasn’t accepted.

“I felt defeated,” she said. “I do run a business and the grant would help me, so I reached out again. They gave pointers  to improve the application.”

She applied again, and received the grant, which she plans to use on a serger sewing machine, fabric and specialty scissors to “help get the product out the door.”

Submitted photo.

 

 

 

 

Bourbon County, Fort Scott National Historic Site, History, Kansas

Native American Program Series Starts March 18 at Fort Scott NHS

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Photo credit: Dr. Tia Edwards.

Fort Scott National Historic Site (FSNHS) personnel are collaborating to bring stories of  indigenous tribe’s histories to Bourbon County.

“We want to help share the stories of tribal partners, a lot of it is the Osage Tribe,” said Carl Brenner, program manager for interpretation and resource management at the Fort. “We are trying to tell the story with the background of everything that was here in Kansas, the Fort is just a part. It’s a bigger story than Kansas and the Fort. It’s the story of the growing pains of a nation.”

The first program, in a series the Fort is bringing to Fort Scott, is this Saturday.

The series of events will be of authors, historians, artisans, and Native American Tribal members, which will  continue through the fall of this year.

Colonialism and the Osage in Kansas

FSNHS is hosting historian and author, Dr. Tia Edwards, this Saturday, March 18 from 11 a.m. to noon in the theater of the infantry barracks.

“She will discuss how nineteenth century U.S. Indian policy functioned as settler colonialism, displacing Indigenous nations across the eastern United States, including the Osage who were expelled from their Missouri homelands and confined to a reservation in Kansas,” Brenner said.

Photo of this person
Dr. Tia Edwards from the Johnson County Community College website.

 

Dr. Edwards is a historian and director of the Kansas Studies Institute at Johnson County Community College, according to the press release.

Her book Osage Women and Empire was published by the University Press of Kansas in 2018. She is an officer in the Kansas Association of Historians (KAH) and the Kansas Association for Native American Education (KANAE).

She has collaborated on many projects including recording veterans’ oral histories, preserving the Quindaro ruins in Kansas City, KS and rematriating a sacred boulder in Lawrence to the Kaw Nation.

Indigenous Histories Series

The Fort is collaborating with local entities to bring the histories of indigenous peoples to Fort Scott. The Lowell Milken Center, Hedgehog INK bookstore and Fort Scott Community College is collaborating with the Fort for this series.

 

Speakers

The Lowell Milken Center will have Billy Mills, an Oglala Souix, on April 12.  Mills was a 1964 gold medal winner at the Tokyo Olympics, who inspired America with his win.

Billy Mills. Taken from the Olympics website.

To view his story:

https://olympics.com/en/athletes/billy-mills

 

 

On April 15, Isaias Mc Caffrey,  author of Last Stand at Rebel Creek: The Osage as Union Allies in Civil War Kansas will be at the Fort.

Isaias McCaffery, taken from the Humanities Kansas website.

 McCaffery is a professor of history at Independence Community College. His presentation explores the Osage tribe’s contributions to the Union Army cause in Kansas during the Civil War.

Ballet

Wahzhazhe, the name the Osage people call themselves, will perform a contemporary ballet that tells their history from pre-contact years to present day, according to https://www.osageballet.com/. This event will be July 21-22 at the Ellis Fine Arts Center at Fort Scott Community College.

Photo from the Wahzhazhe website.

“From the hand-painted scenery, to the original score , which features the use of traditional drums, to the exquisitely detailed costumes, the world of the Osage comes to life in vivid color, a mesmerizing blend of historical accuracy and raw emotional symbolism,” according to its website.

In addition to the ballet, there will be an exhibit of historic photos of the Osage people.

This event is partially funded by Humanities Kansas. Donations for this project are welcome to the Friends of the Fort Scott National Historic Site.

Fort Scott National Historic Site: Part of the National Park System.

The FSNHS exhibit areas and visitor center are open daily from 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.during the winter months, which ends March 31. Park grounds are open daily from a half hour before sunrise until a half hour after sunset.

To find out more or become involved in activities at the Fort, please contact the park at 620-223-0310 or visit our website at www.nps.gov/fosc.

 

 

Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas, Health Care

Expansion of Services, Hours at CHC Start April 17 At New Facility

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The CHC Fort Scott buildilng at 2322 S. Main.

The Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas  Ft. Scott Clinic opened in January 2019 to fill the primary care gap when Mercy Hospital closed in December 2018, after over 100 years in the community.

On April 17, the new facility at 2322 S. Main will be open to the public, following the move from the former Mercy Hospital building at 401 Woodland Hills.

To view details of the move:

More Space & Services In One Location For CHC Starting April 17: Other Tenants Staying

With the move to a new facility,  residents have services not previously offered, including expanded clinic hours, expanded Walk-In Care, expanded pharmacy, telehealth and behavioral health services, according to a press release from CHC.

Benefits of the the new services at the new facility:

A Larger More Efficient Medical Clinic

The new location expands to 36 exam rooms including, telehealth, according to the press release.

It features updated furnishings and efficient design to save steps for both patients and the staff.

There is an integrated model of care with a wide array of enabling services including behavioral health via telemedicine, patient navigation, and care management.

The medical staff include Dr. Sarah Bradshaw, Dr. Holly Gault, Dr. Pankaj Gugnani, MD, and Dr. Maxwell Self. Advanced Nurse Practitioners include Amanda Stice, Kayla Tinsley and Whitney Dickerson.

 

Specialty Care offered within the clinic:

Diabetic Care: APRN Becky French-diabetic care and education.  

Pulmonology:  Paden Shaffer APRN-pulmonology  and sleep disorders/CPAP management.

Pain Management and Infectious Disease: Dr. Julie Stewart. 

Wound Care:  Dr. Michael Nagle. Todd Carl, APRN

Freeman Orthopedic clinic:  Greg King, FNP

 

A Larger Walk-In Care Clinic

The new Walk-In Care service features a larger waiting area, more privacy and expands to eight exam rooms. There were three at the prior one. Hours of operation are 7 AM- 7 PM every day.

 

Expanded Imaging Services

Advanced diagnostic imaging equipment is under one roof including digital x-ray, ultrasound, mammography, bone density, and a newly purchased 64-slice Computerized Tomography (CT) scanner.

 The CT is an important addition to the clinic  providing a detailed look at what is happening inside of the patient’s body, according to the press release.

“In an urgent situation, having CT locally is important so patients can be scanned quickly to rapidly assess their condition,” according to the press release. “CT scans can often be difficult to access and quite expensive for patients. Having CT in-house makes these scans accessible and affordable. For patients receiving discounted charges through the sliding scale program for uninsured and underinsured patients, the cost of a CT scan can be as low as $50 including the physician’s read.”

Expanded Pharmacy

Apothecare Pharmacy is a subsidiary of CHC/SEK, and is now open to the public providing a full range of prescriptions, according to the press release. “The Apothecare staff include Kelsey Burford, PharmD, Cetra Horton, PharmD, Adam Malone, PharmD, Blake Martin, PharmD, Julie Pellett, PharmD, and Darin Treiber, PharmD. They work directly with the medical staff to ensure patients get the medications they need, affordably, quickly, and safely.”

Apothecare pharmacy is open 7 AM-7 PM, seven days a week, with a convenient drive-through pick-up window and to-your-door delivery within 15 miles. Apothecare accepts most insurance plans Medicare, Medicaid and private commercial plans.

Laboratory 

Outpatients requiring laboratory services will find the new space and expanded  7AM-7 PM Monday-Saturday hours more convenient.  “We want patients to be able to stop in for a quick lab draw and be on their way,” said Baily Davis, CHC/SEK Fort Scott Practice Manager.

 

Wellness Center.

“CHC/SEK has long recognized that ‘health’ and ‘wellness’ go hand in hand,” according to the press release. They will continue to cultivate a culture of health and wellness for both patients and staff.

The center features cardio and strength equipment and is staffed by Physical Therapist and Pelvic Health Physical Therapist, Jessie McGown, DPT; Registered Dietitian, Patrick James, RD; and Chiropractor, Dr. Dave Miller, DC.

There are individualized treatment plans for each patient to best meet their health and wellness goals, which includes teaching and supporting healthy eating habits, improving overall strength and mobility, and  pain management, according to the press release.

 

Teaching Opportunities  

“Since its beginning, CHC/SEK has focused on education,” according to the press release. “To have a thriving… community, rural America needs to train and retain future healthcare workers to replace the retiring workforce, and meet increasing healthcare needs.”

“The new clinic will allow space to collaborate with teaching institutions for students to train alongside staff. CHC/SEK supervises approximately 250 students (medical, dental, pharmacy, nursing, behavioral health, etc.) per year, and has an accredited family practice residence program with Kansas University for training and retaining rural physicians.  

 

Group Therapies

Expanded meeting space will allow group therapies for addiction treatment, diabetic education, tobacco cessation, and SNAP-ED classes to offer to patients and the community.

 

2022 CHC Service to the Community

Last year,  the clinic saw more than 60,000 patients, including medical, behavioral health, wellness and support services.

During 2022, staff provided more than 1,700 mammograms, Apothecare Pharmacy filled more than 70,000 prescriptions and the clinic provided more than 4,500 COVID-19 tests and administered more than 8,000 immunizations.

Help For Uninsured, Underinsured

CHC/SEK offers a sliding scale discount for uninsured and underinsured patients  based on the household’s annual income and the number of individuals living in the household. All patients seeking care at CHC/SEK are eligible to receive services regardless of income or ability to pay.

Sliding fee discounts and financial assistance is available to eligible patients.

 

 

 

Bourbon County, Business, Food

Fresh Produce Pre-Order Sales Began This Month In Bronson

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In most small towns, fresh produce nearby is hard to come by, unless you grow your own.
Thaddeus and Kelly Perry have started a service that allows people to order fresh fruits and veggies ahead of time, then pick up at their Bronson store, Perry’s Pork Rinds and General Store.
Kelly and Thaddeus Perry, owners of Perry’s Pork Rinds. Submitted photo.
The store is located on Hwy. 54 that goes through the town, east to west. Bronson is in the rural western part of Bourbon County.
 The box of produce will typically cost $15 and have a variety of approximately 15 lbs. of fresh fruits and veggies,  with prices subject to change based on the cost of food.
Depending on what fruit and vegetables are  in season and what their pricing is, will decide what is in the boxes, Kelly Perry said.
For the next distribution of fresh veggies and fruits, today, March 13,
is the deadline for a March 17 pick-up order.
“This is something that is not only smart for our business to attract more foot traffic into the door, but also valuable for the community to not have to travel to get fresh produce,” Kelly said. “This fits in line exactly with what Thaddeus and I have always said, we will invest back into our community locally.”
Perry’s Produce is a Bourbon County community program designed to make affordable bundles of fresh produce regularly available in their town and the surrounding area.
“This saves residents time and money shopping while helping them eat healthier,” Kelly said.
This Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS)Pathways to a Healthy Kansas Initiative works with a program coordinator, in this case,  The Healthy Bourbon County Action Team (HBCAT), located in Fort Scott.
“(BCBS)Pathways to a Healthy Kansas Initiative works with  24 communities across the state of Kansas,”HBCAT President and CEO Jody Hoener said. The HBCAT and the Perry’s  worked together on ways to improve health in the community by awarding the Perry’s  a $20,000 grant for a five year commitment to the food program for rural citizens.

“The Healthy Bourbon County Action Team has worked since 2016 to build up and support local food systems,”  Hoener said. “We are thrilled to have Perry’s Produce as a partner in our efforts to increase access to healthier food options.”

With the  funds, they are purchasing grocery shelves that will have a larger capacity to hold even more groceries, pet supplies, home goods, toiletries and more so families do not have to travel into “town” to get something they need, saving them time and money, Perry said.
Shelving for produce distribution and storage, scales, and a printer/date labeler for the fresh grab-and-go salads, sandwiches and deli items, will all be purchased as a direct result of this grant.
The Perry’s, HBCAT and Pathways started researching a program, KSTATE’s Simply Produce program, around eight months ago via zoom calls and emails and in-person meetings.
The first distribution date of the produce was March 3.
“We distributed 61 bundles to members of the community,” Kelly said.  “There was a clerical error at the produce company and we ended up having to improvise, so some folks got double on certain items to still fulfill our end of the deal versus them not getting a bundle at all. There will be learning curves and this is new, so we are working hard to combat all of those curves.”
This is the  15 pounds of produce that was distributed in bags to those who pre-ordered for March 3 delivery. Submitted photo.
“We’ll try to source locally as much as possible for this program,” Kelly said.  “Some models are based on weight, others base off a set number of items in their bundles and we will work with this over the next few months to see what works best and gives shoppers the most bang for their buck.  Inside each bundle will also be a recipe card provided by K-State Southwest Extension District Snap Education.”
The bundles are currently being placed in reusable grocery bags provided by K-State Southwest Extension Snap Ed. Division, she said.
The produce bag. Submitted photo.
The  pre-paid bundles can be picked up over the next five years on the 1st and 3rd Friday of the month from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. during open store hours.
The bundles are $15 each, plus tax.
“ALL bundles are pre-ordered and pre-pay unless you’re an EBT/SNAP user,” Kelly said.
 “Due to regulations by the U.S. Department of Agriculture EBT/SNAP users cannot prepay for food. EBT/SNAP users can come in or call in and place their orders and pay on pick up days,” she said.
“Each buyer will get a receipt with their pick up date written at the top and we will print a second copy for the store and have the customer write their name and number on the receipt,” she said
“If you have not picked up your receipt by 2 p.m. we will call or text the number for a reminder,” she said. “When you arrive in the store, you will sign the book showing you came to pick up your order.”
Those that wish to purchase online:
Ascension Via Christi, Bourbon County, Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas, Health Care, Legacy Health Foundation

More Space & Services In One Location For CHC Starting April 17: Other Tenants Staying

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Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas in Fort Scott is making plans to move from the former Mercy Hospital building at 401 Woodland Hills, to the former Price Chopper building at 2322 S. Main during the weekend of April 14.

The CHC Fort Scott buildilng at 2322 S. Main.

“It’s going to be a beautiful facility,” said CHC’s Director of Communication and Marketing Robert Poole. “And we have a great crew.”

“The new 43,000-square foot plus facility provides more room to offer more services,” said Baily Davis, CHC/SEK Fort Scott Practice Manager. “And, for the first time, walk-in care, primary care, and our pharmacy will all be in one easy-to-find location with more convenient parking,” she said.

“The move is being coordinated to minimize interruptions of patient care and is being staged in three phases,” according to information from Poole.

On Friday April 14, the Woodland Hills clinic will close at 1 PM.

Apothecare Pharmacy at Woodland Hills will follow, and be closed Saturday, April 15 as staff prepare.

On Sunday, April 16, CHC/SEK Walk-In Care on National Street will close at 1 PM as they relocate to the new facility.

All services will be re-open on Monday, April 17 at 2322 S. Main St. including primary care, walk-in care, behavioral health care, pharmacy and specialty services, which will all be in one location from that point on.

Hours of operation at the new site:

Primary Care is  8 AM-6 PM- Monday through Thursday, and 8 AM-5 PM Friday.

Walk-In Care is from 7 AM- 7 PM, Monday-Sunday

Apothecare Pharmacy 7 AM- 7 PM, Monday-Sunday

 

“Many of the CHC/SEK staff are your friends and neighbors in the community,” according to the information provided by Poole. “101 of the 124 of the Fort Scott clinic employees live in Fort Scott or Bourbon County. The health center believes in investing in its employees with good jobs, education, growth opportunities and progressive benefits. The starting entry-level wage at CHC/SEK begins at $15 per hour, more than twice the federal minimum wage.”

Part two of this story will be published next week, detailing the new services.

Mercy Building: Other Tenants

Ascension Via Christi Emergency Department

The emergency room will continue services to the county in the same location on the south side of the Mercy building.

“The move will not affect our operations and the Ascension Via Christi Emergency Department in Fort Scott will continue to provide care as normal,” according to AVC Marketing and Communications Specialist Reagan Rosenhamer.

Legacy Health

The following is from Troy Schell, chairman of the Legacy Health Foundation, Glendora, CA. when asked for an update  on the foundation plans since receiving ownership of the Mercy Hospital building on Nov. 17, 2022.

“Legacy Health has devoted significant efforts to collaborating with both Ascension and USD 234 in order to develop and sustain crucial services within the community,” Schell said. “Furthermore, our organization is actively pursuing the establishment of new specialty clinics, including those specializing in cardiology and urology, in addition to partnering with Freeman Orthopedics to extend their established presence within the community.”

“As we move forward with our initiative, we eagerly anticipate engaging with key figures in the business and government sectors to ensure that the available resources are utilized optimally to provide the essential services required for the growth of the community and the region,” he said. “Additionally, we remain committed to supporting local non-profit organizations and community groups by providing necessary resources to support the most vulnerable individuals in the community.”

To learn more:

Bourbon County Takes Ownership of Former Mercy Hospital Building

View the Bourbon County/ Legacy Health Foundation Agreement

I Am Rehab, Diamonds in the Rough

Because I Am Rehab, a physical therapy business and gym, and Diamonds in the Rough Beauty Salon are not affiliated with CHC, they will remain in the lower level of the former Mercy Hospital and continue business as usual, according to a spokesman for I Am Rehab.

Bourbon County Regional Economic Development Inc.

Bourbon County REDI moved its office in February from the Landmark Bank building to the administration wing of the former Mercy Hospital on the north side of the building, in Suite 100.

The banking hours and holidays did not fit the needs of the staff of REDI, according to Rob Harrington, Director, although “We loved being at that location.”

“I am now able to be in the office early and stay late, and there is a conference room available,” Harrington said.

REDI employees are Suzette Torres, marketing and program assistant; Emily Wiebolt, grant manager and Tayton Majors, intern from Lead For America.

The Fort Scott Tourism Department, which was housed with REDI at the bank office, is now at city hall, Harrington said.

 

 

 

 

Business, Food, Fort Scott

A Commercial Kitchen/Event Space/Retail Space Coming to Downtown Fort Scott

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The Kitchen facade was being stripped of old paint in preparation for new on March 8.

A community kitchen is on the horizon for downtown Fort Scott.

Angela Simon. From her Facebook page.

Rachel French, Angela Simon, and Bailey Lyons are collaborating to open The Kitchen Collective + Collaborative, a not-for-profit business.

Bailey Lyons from Lyons Realty Group Facebook page.
Rachel French. Submitted photo.

The building will have a commercial kitchen, a small event space and a retail area, with specialty kitchen supplies.

The event space will also be available for private rentals.

In addition, cooking classes for children and adults will be offered.

The Kitchen Collection + Collaborative business recently received a $5,000 Women, Minority or Start Up Business grant from the Healthy Bourbon County Action Team.

The Kitchen’s mission statement:

“The Kitchen is to be an innovative collaborative that enhances the local food system, increases access to regionally made and sourced goods, and supports area culinary businesses and entrepreneurs by reducing or removing risk and barriers to success. 

Our concept is centered on merging the integral pieces required for a thriving food economy – producers, creators, marketers, and consumers. 

We will also foster connections and serve as a community gathering place, a training hub, a meeting spot, an educational center, and a social venue. 

In doing all of this, we expect The Kitchen will have a significant, multi-faceted impact on our community.

Afterall, everything happens in The Kitchen.”

Bailey and Nate Lyons own the building, located at 10 and 12 S. Main.

 

 

Bourbon County, Fort Scott, History

Looking for Your Roots?

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The Old Fort Genealogy Society office is located in the basement of Fort Scott’s Memorial Hall, at Third and National Avenue. From its Facebook page.

Want to learn more about ancestors that have lived or died in our community?

For those who would like to learn more about their roots in Bourbon County, there is a place to start: the Old Fort Genealogy Society, located in the basement of Memorial Hall, Third and National Avenue.

Recently, the staff has started a Facebook page.

“We started at the end of February, the Old Fort Genealogy and History at Fort Scott, Kansas Facebook page,” Ann Rawlins, librarian at the society said.

A recent post shows the Herrman Lumber Company at 10 State Street, Fort Scott, in the 1930s. From the Facebook page.

“We wanted to post stories and and pictures and answer questions,” she said. “We wanted a site for genealogy questions. and have an internet presence.”

People are invited to post pictures, stories, or ask questions on the Facebook page.

The Old Fort Genealogical Society researches people’s ancestors who have lived in Bourbon County.

They can be reached at 620.223.3300 or the website is ksgenweb/society/ft.scott.

Hours of operation are Monday through Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

The following is a recent humorous post on the Facebook page.

A recent post from the Facebook page.

 

Bourbon County, Entertainment, Fort Scott

Advance Bourbon County: New Non-Profit

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Josh Jones.

Local businessman, Josh Jones, has started a non-profit foundation that will provide funding for projects in the community.

“This community has meant a lot to me and my family and we wanted to find a way to give back,” Jones said. “We felt like this was a good way to make a long term impact.”

“The purpose of Advance Bourbon County is to find ways to make our community better through charitable contributions and work,” Jones said.

“I have asked Bailey Lyons and Katie Hueston to come on board and help me with this adventure, as they have been just amazing and have put so much time, effort, and passion into the splash pad and sensory park project,” he said.

Bailey Lyons from Lyons Realty Group Facebook page.
Katie Hueston. Credit photo: Facebook page of Lyons Realty Group.
“We are a 100% volunteer foundation with 100% of all proceeds going back to the community,” according to the Advance Bourbon County Facebook page. “Our fundraising tactics will be through events, grants, and grass root donations from citizens with a vested interest in seeing our community thrive.”
The Fort Scott Splash Pad and Sensory Park will be located on Skubitz Plaza, just off of North National Avenue. The project will be completed this year. From the project’s Facebook page.

The splash pad and sensory park will be put in place in 2023, following the fundraising efforts of Jones, Lyons and Hueston and others.

“My goal is a core of us handle the majority of day to day things and we work with other groups/people on different projects as a team, as the need arises,” he said. “We really want this to be a grass roots foundation that involves all.”

In the past few months, this group has bought a comedy show and an illusionist to town to help fund the splash pad/sensory park that will be located in the downtown area of Fort Scott.

They have many events they are collaborating with others in town to make happen for 2023.

The following are those projects:

On April 1, the group is helping to organize the Blue Collar Awards, that will be honoring the manual workers in the community.

“We are working together with Aaron Judy on this,” Jones said.

On April 15, they are organizing the Greg Morton Comedy Show for the community, comedian Andrew Rose will be opening for Morton.

On June 9, they are working together with Cory Bryars and Brad Matkin to make a Live Band Karaoke happen.

On July 1, in collaboration with Bill Michaud, they are bringing the  Game Show Road Show to the community.

On August 26,  another comedian, Todd Royce, will be coming to town.

On November 18  in collaboration with Cory Bryars and Brad Matkin the Almost Kiss Tribute Band will be in town.

On December 1-2 there will be Christmas on the Bricks
There are working with another group,  Elevate Fort Scott, which includes Diane Striler, Kirk Sharp, Cory Bryars, Lindsey Madison, and Brad Matkin.

  • Fundraising to help purchase AED units for the Fort Scott Fire Department.

An automated external defibrillator (AED) is a medical device designed to analyze the heart rhythm and deliver an electric shock to victims of sudden cardiac arrest, to restore the heart rhythm to normal, according to https://www.osha.gov/aed

  • Fund raising that will go towards updating Memorial Hall.
  •  Rehabbing and refurbishing the caboose at Fisher Park and possibly moving it to a focal point at the entrance of Fort Scott.
  •  Continuing to bring in more events for the community to enjoy, according to the ABC Facebook page.

 

For those interested in donating:

“Getting a foothold as a new non profit is challenging,” according to the ABC Facebook page. “In just a few short months we have already raised over $20,000 through events and fundraisers. However raising awareness for our cause is crucial if we are truly going to make any long term impact.
We would love if you would consider making a donation to our cause of making Bourbon County an even better place for us to live and helping us with our charitable projects.”

“They can follow and message us on Facebook at Advance Bourbon County 501C3,” he said.  “They can bring donations by Bourbon County Cars (where Jones is the general sales manager), send donations through Venmo, or take donations to Citizens Bank in Fort Scott and deposit into our charity account”

 

Fort Scott, Government

Improvements to Highway 69 Nearing Completion

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The KDOT building located on Hwy. 69.

Progress is being made on the section of highway that slices through Fort Scott from north to south. Improvements are also on the horizon for several other Southeast Kansas highway projects.

In March 2022,  U.S. Hwy. 69 in Bourbon County was approved a bid for improvement to the intersections of 3rd, 6th, 12th and 25th Streets in Fort Scott,  including traffic signals.

The two miles of highway improvement inside the city limits of Fort Scott was awarded to LaForge & Budd Construction Company Inc., Parsons, Kansas, for a price tag of $2,645,573.03.

The improvement work began on Sept. 6, 2022.

“The project on US 69 is for intersection improvements for both pedestrians and vehicle traffic,” KDOT Iola Area Office Engineer Troy Howard, said. “Several intersections are getting signal updates. Both 6th St. and 12th St. are getting turning lanes added to improve traffic flows. At this point they are working on the turning lanes.”

“According to the contractors schedule they are supposed to be completed around the first of June,” Howard said.

 

Hwy. 69 Near Arma Is Nearing Completion

Travelers may have noticed that there is work on Hwy. 69, around Arma, as well.

“By late May, work should be completed on the U.S. 69 expansion project at Arma, weather permiting,” KDOT’s Priscilla Petersen,  said. “The highway will be four lanes between Pittsburg and Kansas City.”

 

Four-Lane Corridor?

At one point there was work towards a four-lane highway corridor down U.S. 69 Highway from Kansas City to past Pittsburg.

“The goal for U.S. 69 is debatable, depending on who you ask,” Wayne Gudmonson, KDOT Dist. IV Engineer, Chanute, said. “There is a group and a large number of supporters that want to construct U.S. 69  four-lane  (all the way) to I-44.There is another group who do not want this… so, at this time, U.S.69 will be four-lane from Kansas City to Pittsburg, once the work around Arma is completed.”

 

Baxter Springs

“We are also currently constructing a four- lane piece of U.S. 166 down around Baxter Springs (south of Pittsburg),” Gudmonson said. “This work begins on U.S. 400 just north east of Baxter Springs.  It angles down and … reconstructs U.S. 166 to a four-lane with an interchange just east of Baxter and a second interchange at the junction of K 26 and U.S. 166. From this interchange we diagonal down to the south east with a two lane section that ties back into U.S. 166 just west of the Kansas-Missouri line.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Business, Food, Fort Scott

New BBQ Restaurant Coming to Fort Scott in May

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Carissa and Alex Bowman with their children, Gracie and Campbell.. Submitted photo.
Carissa, 34, and Alex Bowman, 33, have plans to open a bbq restaurant at 3 W. Oak Street, called Brickstreet BBQ.
Brickstreet BBQ is located at the corner of Oak Street and National Avenue on Fort Scott’s north side. The River Room Event Center is located on the second floor.
“We  plan to open hopefully in May, 2023,” Carissa said. “We felt that Fort Scott residents and ourselves missed being able to get good barbecue in town and thought since we’ve been able to manage and maintain a local restaurant that we have the know-how and the will power to make it happen!”
Alex is the manager and cook at Nu Grille Restaurant. just across the street from Brickstreet BBQ.
Carissa is the Family and Consumer Science teacher at Fort Scott High School.
Carissa Bowman, gives a thumbs up on a new banner at Brickstreet BBQ, from the restaurant’s Facebook page.

They have started some social media to help the public get to see their progress:

The Bowman’s plan on employing about 40 full-time and part-time people. The employment application can be accessed on their Facebook page.
Contact info: One can contact Carissa at her email: [email protected]