Tag Archives: featured

Vehicles are reflected in the window of 5 S. National Ave. This space is the temporary home of My One Stop until the space next door to the south is renovated.

Rachel French is the president of My One Stop, which has had a office in Fort Scott’s Industrial Park since 2005.

The business offers marketing print and digital services, signage, labels, apparel and embroidery printing services and more.

“We are moving downtown to because we wanted to be a part of the revitalization of downtown,” French said. “We wanted to be more accessible to businesses in Fort Scott…We can help them in gaining business and traffic.”

“We were looking for the right space and found this place was available and were excited to make the move,” she said.

The storefront at 7 S. National, just north of E3 Ranch store, is currently being renovated to meet the needs of the business, she said.

The building at 7 S. National Ave. is in the renovation process by the owner, Jennifer LaRoche. Submitted photo.

In the meantime, French and her team of employees have moved into 5 S. National, sharing space with the Lillian Rose Foundation, until the renovation is completed.

Jennifer LaRoche, who owns the building and is doing the reno, told French the reno will most likely be completed in June.

“I wanted to be close to the construction,” French said.

Her My One Stop team is comprised of Ann Marie Buster-web and graphic designer, Rosemma Perry-sales representative, Tina Wilson-sales representative and Casie Yount-graphic design lead.

“We have hit the ground running,” French said. “Since we came, we saw the traffic downtown, and we are using our knowledge to help the downtown revitalization.”

The east side of 7 S. National Ave. looks out into the courtyard dining area of Common Ground Coffee Shop, whose storefront is around the corner on East Wall Street. Submitted photo.

The business just recently created a downtown loyalty program, to encourage businesses in that area.

“We want to bring pride into our downtown again,” she said. “And people to be excited and have a business here.”

Included in the loyalty program is a Downtown Fort Scott Loyalty Card.

Eleven businesses have come on board and the card will provide the purchasers $55 worth of discounts for just $10.

The cards can be purchased at the Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce, 231 E. Wall; or the My One Stop office currently at 5 S. National.

Ten percent of the sale of each card will be donated to the Fort Scott Downtown Chamber Committee to be used for future projects to benefit the downtown area.

That committee is in charge of the Downtown Clean-up Day April 22. “We are donating all the t-shirts for the clean-up,” she said.

French is a member of that committee and also she partners with Fort Scott High School and Pittsburg State University in a paid internship program. She also does the mentor program at FSHS with the Chamber.

“We think it’s important for youth to see what businesses do on a daily basis and see what Fort Scott has available,” she said.

French is looking forward to the move into 7 S. National, she said.

“Then you’ll be able to have a custom-designed t-shirt before you leave,” she said. “We would love to do more t-shirts for organizations. and businesses.”

Bourbon County, Entertainment, Fort Scott

Watch Fun in the Mud April 23-24 at Bo Co Fairgrounds

April 8, 2022 Loretta George Leave a comment

A Fort Scott 4×4 Mud Run to benefit a local recreation center is coming to town on April 23-24 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. each day.

Spectator’s cost is $5 person, or $10 for carload (6 and under free).

Participating Mud Run entries are $20.

All proceeds are being donated to the Fort Scott Recreation Center, according to the event organizer Michael Hayden.

“We really appreciate him doing this, the additional funds really help out,” Tom Robertson, director of Fort Scott Recreation Center, said. “This assistance will help with scholarships for kids and families that can’t afford to sign up for a program such as baseball, swim lessons or cooking class, anything with a fee attached.”

Bourbon County was chosen to have the event because leadership was welcoming, Hayden said.

“We wanted to have a mud run somewhere in the southeastern Kansas area to give our members a larger event to attend in a part of the state that is often overlooked for bigger cities,” said Hayden. “After contacting a few different counties, the leaders in Bourbon County and the City of Fort Scott seemed most open and welcoming to the idea.”

The event will be at the Bourbon County Fairgrounds, located on South Horton in Fort Scott, just across from the community college.

“Mud Runs involve a mud pit dug to a specific depth and length in which a vehicle attempts to power through and reach the other side in the shortest time possible,” Hayden said. “Heavy equipment is standing by to pull out those that get stuck before reaching the end.”

There are typically several different classes of vehicles to keep competition fair, he said.

“We will have two different mud pit depths and three different classes, based on tire size,” Hayden said. “The vehicles need to be registered and street legal, with the exceptions of a few minor modifications. The intent is to allow the average person to be able to come out and have fun! We we have trophies and door prizes in all classes.”

The mud run is organized by the Kansas Ram Club.

“Our major sponsors are Ron’s Tire and Service in Fort Scott, Simon’s Dirt Work in Fort Scott and Buddy’s Home Furnishings in Pittsburg,” he said.

“Also, we have added an additional exhibition night for Friday night at 6 P.M. in which the Kansas Gambler 500 vehicles are going to be coming through the mud pit as part of their annual cruise,” Hayden said. “They plan to have somewhere around 100 eccentric vehicles and should be an exciting time!”

Entertainment, Fort Scott

Easter Egg Hunt This Saturday April 9 at 11 a.m.

April 7, 2022 Loretta George Leave a comment

The Easter bunny, in 2018 portrayed by Carmen Flater, gets a little help before appearing to the children from her husband, Scott.

The Kiwanis Club Easter Egg Hunt has been going on for about 50 years, John Crain, president, said.

The tradition continues when the Kiwanians will be in Gunn Park this Saturday, April 9 distributing the eggs and getting the hunt areas set up before the hunters are released to search for their eggs.

The hunt starts at 11 a.m. sharp, on that day, and at11:05 a.m., “It’s all over,” chuckled Bob Eckles, who is the chairman of the annual hunt.

“We hope everybody brings their kids and enjoys the morning,” Crain said.

Each child needs to bring their own basket to collect the eggs, which will have coupons from area businesses or candy in them.

Preschool children should go to the area below #2 Shelter House, kindergarten through second grade children will meet south of the #2 Shelter House and third, fourth and fifth grade children will meet on the north side of the entrance road to the park, Crain said.

Parking is by #1, #2 and #3 Shelter houses.

The Easter Bunny will be there and photos can be taken with the bunny by parents, Eckles said.

Fort Scott High School Key Club and the Mud Turtle Softball Team helped stuff the eggs with coupons and candy, Eckles said.

Some Key Club students will help the morning of the hunt as well, he said.

The annual event is funded by donations from the community that includes cash from Diehl, Banwart and Bolton CPA, R & R Equipment, Heidrick’s Hardware, Big Sugar Lumber, Don’s Spirits, Iron Star Antiques and Such, Merle Humphrey Insurance and Photography, Max’s Way Station.

Coupons for the eggs are provided by the following businesses:

Fort Cinema, Marsha’s Deli, Leanna’s Flowers, Nu Grille, McDonald’s Restaurant, Dairy Queen, Papa Don’s Restaurant, Bids and Dibs Resale Shop, and HedgehogInk Bookstore.

Bourbon County Sheriff's Office

Learn About Human Trafficking On April 19 at FSCC

April 5, 2022 Loretta George Leave a comment

Ellis Fine Arts Center on the campus of Fort Scott Community College, 2401 S. Horton.

The Bourbon County Sheriff’s Office is hosting a seminar on human trafficking at 6 p.m. on April 19 at Fort Scott Community College, 2108 S. Horton. The event is open to the public.

“Does human trafficking only occur in larger cities or small rural areas?

What demographics make up a human trafficking?

“These questions will be answered by attending the seminar,” Bourbon County Sheriff Bill Martin said in an interview.

Bourbon County Sheriff Bill Martin. Submitted photo.

The presentation will by the chairwoman of the Kansas Human Trafficking Advisory Board, Jennifer Montgomery. The board advises the Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt’s office on the issues of human trafficking.

The following is from the attorney generals website:

“Human trafficking is the criminal activity of holding another person for the purposes of exploitation through forced labor and sex trafficking. Many experts view human trafficking as the second greatest criminal enterprise in the world, second only to the illegal sale of drugs. Even here in Kansas, men, women, and children are forced to work for long hours under deplorable conditions for little or no pay without the freedom to leave.

By utilizing a four pronged approach of Prevention, Protection, Prosecution and Partnership, the Kansas Human Trafficking Advisory Board is exploring:

Development of a public awareness campaign focusing on the hidden issue of human trafficking;

Identification of victims of trafficking;

Provision of comprehensive and culturally competent services to victims of human trafficking;

Appropriately addressing the needs of domestic victims of human trafficking;

Securing adequate resources and support needed to develop a task force to effectively investigate cases of human trafficking;

Development of a statewide structure for collaborative efforts across disciplines and jurisdictions to ensure prosecution of human traffickers.”

Bourbon County, Schools

Seventeen New Teachers, 3 New Administrators in Bourbon County Schools Next Year

April 4, 2022 Loretta George Leave a comment

There will be many new faces in school districts in Bourbon County for the upcoming school year.

For St. Mary’s Catholic Elementary School there are no resignations, according to Principal Josh Regan.

USD 234 Board of Education Building, 424 S. Main

USD 234 has received 10 resignations thus far.

Connie Billionis, U234 Board Clerk sent the following:

From Fort Scott High School:

Math Teacher – William Hall

Math Teacher – Jeff Armstrong

Social Science Teacher – Tami Campbell and the district has hired Jonathon Barnes to fill the position.

English Teacher – Jennifer Hartman

From Fort Scott Middle School:

Science Teacher – Kelly Toll

Special Education Teacher – Shelly Sanborn

From Eugene Ware Elementary School:

5th Grade Teacher – Mary Mauer

Music Teacher – Mary Jo Harper

5th Grade Teacher – Kristin Duffy

3rd Grade Teacher – Carrie Southwell

“We have hired an elementary Instructional Coach, Suzan Durnell,” Billionis said . “This position was vacant this year.”

USD 235 2021–22 Resignations and New Hires for 2022–23

Three administrative positions will have new people in the Uniontown School District, U235, according to the school superintendent. In addition there will be five teachers for current vacancies and two more added because of COVID-19 funding.

Bret Howard resigned as Superintendent and will be replaced by Vance Eden, who is currently the elementary school principal.

Eden, West Bourbon Elementary Principal, resigned and will be replaced by Tema Gilion.

Jim Lambert, UJH/HS Principal, resigned and will be replaced by Dalaina Smith

Five teachers have resigned in this school district.

Neva Rowland, Uniontown High School Band and Choir teacher will be replaced by Morgan Egidy.

Johnathan Stark, Uniontown Junior High and UHS Physical Education Teacher will be replaced by Zach Mason. Mason will also be the new head high school football coach.

Andrew Ables, UHS Science, resigned and the district is taking applications.

Mike Durnell, UJH/UHS Math, resigned and the district is taking applications.

Linda Rogers resigned from first/second grade and the ESSER 2 Funded position will not be refilled.

There are two newly created teaching positions, funded by ESSER Funds.

The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act was enacted on March 27, 2020, and included Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) Funds for K-12 schools, according to the Kansas Department of Education website: https://www.ksde.org/Agency/Division-of-Learning-Services/Special-Education-and-Title-Services/Federal-Disaster-and-Pandemic-Relief

These ESSER grants provide school districts with emergency relief funds to address the impact COVID-19 has had elementary and secondary schools.

A UJH/UHS Language Arts Teacher position is filled by Brianna (Hampton) Taylor. This is a new position using ESSER 3 Funding.

In 4th/5th Grade, Kaitlyn Bradbury is a new 4th/5th grade teacher, using ESSER 3 Funding.

Bourbon County, Clothing, Food, Fort Scott

Bourbon County Angels Group Rents Building to House Donations

April 1, 2022 Loretta George 2 Comments

Bourbon County Angels new building is located at 111 W. Third, Fort Scott. Submitted photo.

Bourbon County Angels started because some local women saw that there are local families having a difficult financial time in their lives.

“We have seen a severe need in our community when we were doing Christmas (lists) for (area) children and a lot of them had clothing items on their wish list that was sent to us,” Lisa Thurston, Fort Scott, one of the three organizers, said. “We want to be able to provide the clothing items and household items and even food to those that are having a hard time.”

“We have clothing, hygiene items, household items, and food,” she said. “It is hard to say exactly what we have as it changes with every donation we receive.”

The group recently attained a building at 111 W. Third, Fort Scott, to house all the donations and allow for people to come and choose what they need.

“Mayor Kevin Allen gave it to us to use monthly, he is donating the building until grant money comes in,” Thurston said. “We have Melissa Guns writing grants for us.”

“We started the actual building adventure this January, but the ‘angels’ actually started just for Christmas two years ago,” she said.

The other organizers are Sara Roufs, Redfield and Erin Thurston, Lisa’s daughter, Fort Scott.

Bourbon County Angels. Submitted photo. From left: Ronni Clayton, Sara Roufs, Lisa Thurston, Sadie Thurston, Erin Thurston, and Angie Clemens.

“Sara started Bourbon County Angels to provide Christmas presents for children,” she said. “People started volunteering so we started getting lists from about 75 families…this year we got 121 families. On their lists the kids were asking for shoes or coats or blankets. That’s when we decided to open a building and offer them all year long. So children could ask for toys instead of everyday items.”

“Living in a small town, we see a lot and we knew that there was a major need for people to be able to come get the items that we use in our everyday lives without having the worry of, (for example) if they got new shoes, how they could pay a bill or feed their families, and we want to be able to help with that. No one should have to stress over being able to get the stuff that they need. With everything going on right now, a lot of people have been left without jobs or just don’t make enough to be able to provide everything that is needed in our everyday lives.”

During the COVID-19 Pandemic, the group received calls from people saying they needed food to make it through a few days.

“We would gather meals and deliver to their doorstep,” Thurston said. “We probably did 20 families when COVID was rough in our town. We have also been providing food for a homeless gentleman in our town.”

The group is planning several upcoming events:

Saturday, April 2 at the facility at 111 W. Third, the Easter Bunny will be there to hand out candy and have pictures taken with children, for free, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Saturday, April 9 at Lake Fort Scott’s handicapped dock, there will be a fishing tournament, sponsored by Backroads Bait. The fundraiser starts at 5:45 a.m. with a check-in and has a 2 p.m. weigh in. Proceeds will help the Bourbon County Angels with rent.

For more information contact Thurston at 620.644.8291.

See the latest information on the groups Facebook page.

Hours the facility is open are Wednesdays from noon to 6 p.m. and Saturday from 8 a.m. to noon.

Saturdays are a donation exchange, she said. “Say kids clothes don’t fit anymore, you can leave those and take what you need. But some people just leave donations and some people just take what they need.”

Bourbon County, Business, Fort Scott

Free Seminar Targets Women Starting/Growing Their Business

March 31, 2022 Loretta George Leave a comment

Healthy Bourbon County Action Team staff have organized a fourth seminar targeting women who are seeking information on starting/growing a business.

The event is Wednesday, April 6 from 5 to 9 p.m. at the HBCAT office, 104 N. National Avenue.

“This will help local women entrepreneurs know their resources and learn from local women leaders on how to create a sustainable business,” said Rachel Carpenter, program director. “This is an opportunity for women to network and create relationships to help their businesses take the next professional step.”

For this Dare to Dream seminar, the time has been scheduled for table-talk discussion with past keynote speakers and panelists.

“This is the fourth part of the Dare to Dream series,” Carpenter said. “We will have some of the past keynote speakers and panelists available for table discussion. This will be a time for any questions to be answered from the audience.”

“Any questions you may have you will be able to ask some of the women leaders of Bourbon County. We want you to be SUCCESSFUL! There will be more time for social networking and building relationships,” according to its Facebook page.

Past speakers who will be available for a round table open discussion are Erin Vann, Hwy. 3; Dacia Clark, PSU Small Business Development Center; Katie Casper, Union State Bank; Angela Simon, Bids and Dibs; Rebecca Williams, The Butcher Block; Kelly Perry, Perry’s Pork Rinds; Lindsay Madison, The Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce and Rachel Carpenter and Jody Hoener of the HBCAT.

Please note there is one registration per person to help us with registration.

Melissa Wise, the keynote speaker, is the owner of Wise Tax and Accounting and has over 20 years of experience with accounting, payroll, and taxes.

Registration is required for childcare.

There will be a taco bar catered by La Hacienda, and Margaritas available for purchase.

Dinner and networking from 5-5:30 p.m. with the program starting at 5:30 p.m.

Funding for this event is being provided by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas as part of Bourbon County Pathways to a Healthy Kansas grant and the USDA Rural Business Development Grant, according to its Facebook page.

“Through this grant, we are partnered with Pittsburg State University Small Business Development Center to organize this event,” she said.

“We will be giving away a PSU gift basket and a tablet as door prizes,” Carpenter said.

Business, Food, Fort Scott

Moe’s Is Moving: Will Reopen April 4

March 30, 2022 Loretta George Leave a comment

Moe’s Bread is moving to the old Boiler Room Brewhaus at Wall and National Avenue.

Moe and David McCurry are the owners of Moe’s Bread, 20 W. Wall and have been selling many kinds of breakfast, lunch, and snacks at this site for three years.

Moe’s Bread is moving from this site on Wall Street to around the corner east on National Avenue.

But on April 4 they are opening their business in a new location on National Avenue to be able to offer more.

“Moe’s Bread will be closed March 31st to April 3rd to move to 2 South National,” Moe said on the business Facebook page. “We hope to see you on Monday, April 4th.”

Moe McCurdy with grandson Keeghan Bishop in Moe’s Bread Store on March 29.

Today, Wednesday, March 30 from 10 a.m. until they run out of food, everything in the current storefront will be sold for half off the original price.

2 S. National Avenue is at the corner of Wall and National Avenue, the former Downtowner Hotel, and most recently the Boiler Room Brew Haus.

“The reason we’re moving is … to add a soup and salad bar and we needed more room in the kitchen,” she said in an interview.

A peak in the front windows of the new Moe’s Bread, shows the salad bars.

“We have hot breakfasts in the morning, including biscuits and gravy sausage rolls, breakfast burritos, breakfast sandwiches, croissants, cinnamon rolls, muffins of all flavors and we have muffin top donuts,” Moe said.

For lunch they offer deli sandwiches “and you can call in and have those delivered or you can pick them up any time of the day that we’re open,” she said.

They also offer all kinds of bread: wheat bread, white bread, French bread, Italian bread, sourdough, and fruit bread: pumpkin, banana, apple, cinnamon, chocolate chip, and muffins: blueberry and raspberry.

“We make pies, we make any kind of dessert you’d like,” she said. “Unfortunately, we do not decorate cakes at this moment but we look forward to doing that in the future at our new address.”

Contact info for the store number is 620-768-8009.

“They’re welcome to leave a message,” she said. “We do check our phone every morning.”

Hours of operation currently are 4:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Monday through Friday and Saturday 7:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

“When we move on April 4th we will be open 4:30 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. Monday through Friday 7:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. on Saturday, those are subject to change,” she said.

Bourbon County, Business

Pre-owned Appliances New Venture for Bronson Business

March 29, 2022 Loretta George 1 Comment

Amber Ericson holds her granddaughter Journee Ericson in front of some of the pre-owned appliances THRAMS sells in Bronson. At right is Helen Bolling, Amber’s mom, and a business partner.

THRAMS Antiques has ventured into providing pre-owned appliances from a source in the Kansas City area.

While owner, Amber Ericson, was in K.C. purchasing antiques and unique furniture, she ran into an appliance repairman at the marketplace, she said.

Some of the pre-owned appliances offered at THRAMS from their Facebook page.

“He buys from apartment complexes when they redo the apartments,” she said. “That’s what we are buying.”

“He refurbishes them and sells them,” Ericson said. “I go up to K.C. once a month and get more. I’ve already sold 40. If they don’t work you can bring them back.”

Clothes washers including top, front, stackable units, gas stoves and dryers, refrigerators, air conditioners, and deep freezers are sole at the store.

“We thought we would try it,” Ericson said. She started the venture in August 2021.

Ericson opened THRAMS next door to her parent’s business Bronson Locker, a butcher store, at 504 Clay Street in the small town 20 miles west of Fort Scott just off Highway 54.

THRAMS Antiques, 504 Clay Street, Bronson. March 2022.

The storefront next to Bronson Locker was unused space, and owned by the Bollings, Amber’s parents.

“It was a pile-up room,” Helen Bolling, Ericson’s mom and part-owner of the store said. “Amber started picking up a few things and it grew.”

The space is now packed with unique furniture and antiques.

“Antique hall trees and wardrobes are our best sellers,” Bolling said.

“Divans, appliances, wardrobes, hall trees we sell as quickly as we can get them,” Ericson said.

A large divan offered at THRAMS, Bronson, from their Facebook page.

The store is open Mondays from

8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Tuesday-8 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Wednesday-8 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Thursday-8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Friday 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Saturday and Sunday call or text for an appointment at 620-363-1159.

Area News, Bourbon County, Business

New Concept to Provide Staff for Local Businesses: MyShift

March 28, 2022 Loretta George Leave a comment

Cole Bowman, 37, Fort Scott, and Scott Morris, 47, Parsons, have launched a new computer application called MyShift in the Apple Appstore.

Since the beginning of the COVID-19 Pandemic, businesses have been struggling to fill staff vacancies and operate at their full capacity because of illness, quarantine and other measures taken during the pandemic.

Nine months ago, Bowman began to think of a way to help this situation.

“I came up with the idea on May 24, 2021 while waiting for one of my sales reps at a hotel in Tulsa to go have dinner,” Bowman said. “He was late, so I was looking through the food delivery apps and overheard a hotel worker talking to a customer about how none of the employees they had before the shutdown would come back to work, or had found other jobs, and she must have been the first person on their list that was willing to come back to work for the pay they were offering.”

Bowman said he thought to himself that surely there is an app for that.

“A situation where businesses could look through available workers that they could bring them in to cover a shift, but there wasn’t,” he said.

Bowman enlisted help from Scott Morris.

“I talked to Scott about the idea for the app and he liked it,” he said. “We searched and searched for something that worked like our app and never found anything, so we began our path of figuring out how to build an app in late June. Finally, our app is complete and went live in the Google PlayStore and iOS Appstore this last week,” Bowman said.

New Ways To Work

“Businesses were unable to operate at full capacity after reopening from the pandemic, and people have evolved to find new ways to work without the traditional employment requiring them to commit to a schedule,” Bowman said.

MyShift is starting in Kansas, Missouri, Oklahoma, and Texas, then within the next few weeks expanding to four more states.

Their plan then is to release nationwide by October 1, 2022, Bowman said.

“This is a web/ mobile app-based platform for businesses to connect with workers to fill shifts on-demand with the transaction being as simple as using a ride-share app,” Bowman said.

How It Works

MyShift allows businesses and workers to connect anywhere, anytime, to fill shifts and have the entire payment transaction handled through the app, according to a press release.

Businesses can list open shifts including details about when, where, description of work, and the amount they will pay for the shift.

“Shifters” will then be able to see the open shifts in their area and can select which one they would like to work.

After a Shifter has requested the posted shift, the business is able to review the applied Shifter’s ratings in their profiles and click on the one they would like to work their shift. Then the Shifter shows up to the business at the agreed-upon time and works the shift; upon completion of the shift, the business will then rate the Shifter between 1-5 stars and confirm the payment triggering Myshift to deposit the payment in the Shifter’s account.

Myshift is free for everyone to download, and the business will only pay a fee once they agree to accept the Shifter to work a shift they have posted.

There are no fees to the Shifters, and there are no commitments beyond the shifts they choose to work.

For the business, it allows them to find help on-demand to fill shifts hassle-free.

Business owners will now have a pool of vetted professionals ready to fill their shifts, all without the hassle of recruiting and onboarding, according to the press release.

Shifters have the freedom to work as often as they’d like and get paid each time they complete a shift, allowing the flexibility to earn money without the commitment of traditional employment.

The first target markets for MyShift will be Kansas, Missouri, Oklahoma & Texas for the initial startup.

About the Creators

Bowman is a 2003 Fort Scott High School Graduate and 2007, Pittsburg State University Graduate with a Bachelor in Plastics Engineering.

He has 15 years of professional experience in plastics engineering and is currently the regional sales manager for Sepro Group, a robotics and automation manufacturer based in France.

He and his wife, Wendy Bowman, have four kids Luke, Lily, Nora, and Gage. His parents are John and Cindy Bowman, who own the NuGrille Restaurant.

His contact info: Phone 620-215-5250, Email [email protected]

Scott Morris is a 1993 Labette County High School graduate and earned a BBA in accounting for Pittsburg State University in 2002 and an MBA in 2009 from Friends University.

He has 20 years of experience in plastics manufacturing as vice president and chief financial officer of Charloma, Inc.

His wife, Jeanna Morris, and he have four children: Grant, Hallie, Mason, and Brady.

In his community Morris coaches multiple youth sports, he said.

For more info:

Google Play-https://play.google.com/store/apps/details…

iOS-https://apps.apple.com/app/id1602791238

Web- https://web.myshiftapp.com/

Bourbon County, Exercise, K-State Extension

Walk To A Healthier Lifestyle: Walk Kansas Starts March 26

March 25, 2022 Loretta George Leave a comment

This is Clara Wikoff’s first Walk Kansas event as a Nutrition, Food, and Health Kansas State University Extension Agent.

This year K-State Southwind District, which includes Bourbon County, is hosting the annual walk-team event in conjunction with Wildcat District, she said.

“We hope you’ll join us at the Wild Wind Fun Walk/Run Walk Kansas Kick-off,” she said. “It will be at Chanute, which is more central to each district.”

“Anyone can participate and those 18 and younger, can for free,” Wikoff said.

Adult registration is $25 which includes the event entry, T-shirt and Walk Kansas registration. If one just wants to participate, the program is free, she said.

If already registered for Walk Kansas, then pay $15 for the event and T-shirt.

The kick-off fun run starts at 9 a.m. this Saturday, March 26, in the Neosho County Community College Student Union at 800 W. 14th in Chanute.

There will be a closed Walk Kansas Facebook support group page, she said. “To help people reach their goals. If a state of Kansas employee, you are eligible for Health Quest Credit.”

There will be a weekly newsletter, recipes, and a youth newsletter to all who participate, she said.

Walk Kansas is a team-based program that will help you and others lead a healthier life, according to a K-State press release.

Join this program and

Learn how eating a certain way can help protect brain function and reduce your risk of developing dementia and Alzheimer’s disease
Be more active with friends and family
Make better nutrition choices
Walk away your stress

You can register online at https://www.walkkansasonline.org

Print resources to get started are listed below:

For Team Captains: Captain Guide, Team Registration

For Participants: Participant Guide, Individual Registration, Daily Log

For Everyone: Walk Kansas Activity Guide

Guess what? There’s an app for that! You’ll need to register online first, then you can use it to log minutes, chat with your team, and more! Please note that the app is for iOS systems. An app for Android systems is in the works, and you’ll see it here when it becomes available.

If you have questions about Walk Kansas, please call Clara Wicoff: 620-365-2242, or email: [email protected]

Fort Scott, Schools, Sports

Stepps Named SEK Girls Basketball Coach of the Year

March 24, 2022 Loretta George Leave a comment

Submitted photo. Pechone Stepps coaches the Fort Scott High School Lady Tigers Basketball Team.

Pechone Stepps is a Credit Recovery Teacher Aide at

Fort Scott High School and also a girls basketball coach.

This week, Coach Stepps was named the Southeast Kansas Girls Basketball Coach of the Year for the 21-22 season.

“The seven head coaches in the league vote for who they think deserves the award for that season,” Fort Scott High School Activities Director Jeff DeLatorre said. “The coach with the most votes is named Coach of the Year.”

FSHS Activities Director Jeff DeLaTorre.

With Stepps as a coach, the Lady Tigers finished the season with a record of 17-5 and finished as SEK League champions.

“There is a coach of the year selected for each sport in the SEK League each season,” DeLaTorre said.

“Through the years, Fort Scott High School has had several recipients of this award including Tracey Bogina for Boys Cross Country in the fall last year,” he said. “Last school year (20-21) we had Bo Graham, football coach Tracey Bogina, girls cross country coach, Clint Heffern, boys basketball coach, and Josh Regan, baseball coach were recipients.

Fort Scott Biz