One of the 18 sewing machines that Marie Wiley has in her husbands shop.
Dale Wiley loved to tinker.
Dale Wiley. Submitted.
“He was handy and clever,” said his wife of 60 years said. “And he was pretty talented.”
Marie Wiley.
For over 23 years, Dale served on the Fort Scott Fire Department as a firefighter. But in his spare time, he began repairing sewing machines. Marie Wiley, his wife is a talented seamstress, who worked at Country Cupboard for several decades.
Before working at Country Cupboard, Marie worked for Helen Carson, owner of Helen’s Fabric, and Helen asked Dale to repair sewing machines.
“He went to Bernina School in K.C. and also to training in Las Vegas for training,” Marie said. At first he repaired only Bernina’s, but began to tinker with other brands.
TWo of the Wiley sewing machines.
“Sometimes he would spend a couple of hours and sometimes a couple of weeks on a machine,” she said. “Sometimes he had to make machine parts. It had to be done right or he wasn’t going to do it.”
When Dale died on August 23, 2022, there remained 18 sewing machines in his shop that people had given him and he took on to repair.
A Brother Sewing Machine that Dale repaired.
“It was just a hobby for him to tinker around with,” she said.
Besides Bernina machines in the Wiley garage there are Singer, including two antiques, Brother, J.C. Penney, Montgomery Wards, Sears Kenmore, and Husquana Brands, along with two Singers for leather work and two sergers. A serger trims the seam and encloses the seam allowance or edge of the fabric, inside a thread casing, all in one step, according to thesprucecrafts.com.
A serger that Dale Wiley repaired.
“He repaired no computerized sewing machines, just the heavier old ones with no nylon gears,” Marie said.
One of the sewing machines that sews on leather.
Marie also has eight sewing machines in her sewing room in the house and continues to create cloth heirlooms for her family.
As with her husband, small appliance repair options are dying.
“Small appliance repair is a dying art,” Marie said. “Everything is made to be thrown away when it doesn’t work.”
For more information about the machines, contact Marie at 620.215.2014.
John and Pat Neff lived in Fort Scott decades ago, but were impacted by the Sisters of Mercy and decided to give back to the community.
“I was told that John grew up in the area and then they lived here early in their marriage…and adopted two children from Mercy Hospital,” Carla Farmer, Fort Scott Area Community Foundation (FSACF) member said. “Pat reached out in the 1990s and wanted to give back to the local Sisters of Mercy, who helped them adopt two children. That’s the basis of them wanting to give back to the community. This was a couple that was touched by our community decades ago. This was where they raised there children.”
“The Neff’s created an annuity that paid them until they passed away,” FSACF Chairman Craig Campbell said.
John Valentine Neff and Patricia Renfro Neff were married 69 years until his death, according to Pat’s Neff’s obituary. Pat died in July 2022.
Upon her death the annuity money went to the Mercy foundation, and now to the FSACF for distribution into the community for future health care funds.
“When Mercy Hospital closed their doors in Fort Scott (in December 2018), the foundation voted to stay intact in order to be able to accept the Neff’s gift following the death of Mrs. Neff,” Jared Leek, president of the Fort Scott Mercy Hospital Foundation Board said. “We voted for the board to go from a 12-16 member board to a board comprised of just three members; Jared Leek, President, Bryan Holt, Treasurer, and Darcy Smith, Secretary. The three board members setup an account with the Fort Scott Area Community Foundation for health care needs in Bourbon County.”
“As of September 30, 2022, the account with the FSACF was valued at $243,985.41,” Leek said. “At the Chamber After Hours (on Oct. 26, 2022) hosted by FSACF, the board presented a check in the amount of $299,446.17 which included the Neff gift and the remainder of our checking account.”
“On that date, the total in the FSACF account for health care needs would be valued at $543,431.58,” Leek said. “Obviously, accounts invested fluctuate with the market.”
Leek said the Mercy foundation board will be dissolving at the end of this year.
The Fort Scott Band earned a 1-rating this past weekend, marching in the Neewollah Parade in Independence, KS.
“Thirty-four students were in the parade,” Justin Robinson, FSHS Band Director said. “And two middle school students were carrying the banner.
” The scale is 1-5, with top indicating a superior rating, ” he said. They will receive a plaque for this rating.
FSHS Band participated in the Neewollah Grand Parade on Saturday, October 29th. “This is the first parade, we will plan on doing the Fort Scott Christmas Parade”(on Dec. 1), he said.
“There were a total of 32 bands that participated in the parade this year and a total of 123 entries in the parade, Robinson said.
The band works approximately fours hours a week on playing their musical instruments and marching.
“We meet 45 minutes a day,” he said. “We go to the auxiliary gym if it’s raining. But we go out and hit the streets of Fort Scott when we can.”
The band also plays all the high school home games.
This is Justin Robinson’s second year as the band director.
Justin Robison and wife Angela Robinson, who helps out with the drumline. Submitted photo.
Jan Hedges, owner of Hedghog INK, opened the bookstore in October 2018, with her husband Dick, at 16 S. Main.
“Both Dick and I loved books,” Jan said. “Anytime we traveled we always went to a bookstore. I thought it would be neat to work in one. We had a lot of books at home we needed to do something with.”
“Dick was very supportive of Fort Scott and was sad to see the downtown with hardly any businesses,” she said. “We started talking and, well, instead of someone else doing something, maybe we needed to do something.”
“We started looking at storefronts downtown,” she said. “I talked with the city staff and found that Jared Leek was looking for someone to rent this building.”
“Dick and I had both retired three times, and then we opened this bookstore,” Jan said. “We took the leap.”
And so the business venture began in October 2018.
Jan and Dick Hedges, owners of Hedgehog.INK, stand in front of the store when it opened in October 2018.Dick Hedges, was a co-owner of Hedgehog.INK, and the unofficial greeter to the store until his death this year.
“Dick died March 11, 2022,” Jan said. “He was the official greeter.”
The Business Has Grown
In the four years since opening, Jan has doubled the size of the store, finding space to rent behind 14 S. Main and a doorway entry to the space opened up.
“The added space we call the Great Room, we rent out, after hours to local groups,” she said. “PEO, the Garden Club, a magazine club have used the space.”
In this space also is a mezzanine type area.
“The reading loft is good for small groups,” she said. “High school, college kids study there, moms and their children sometimes go to read books.”
Coffee and tea are available for free, for those who want to sit a spell.
Employees
Currently there are four part-time employees at Hedgehog INK.
Sheryl Bloomfield has worked at the store since its opening and her specialty is decorating the windows at the front of the store.
Lynn Pallaske is in charge of their social media marketing.
Rylan Mason is a high school student and Casey Lewis was a customer who was “here all the time, so we asked her if she’d help us out.”
They all do the work of the store, processing donated books, shelving, working as cashier, etc.
People can call to see if the store has a certain book in stock.
“If we don’t have a book, we can try to order for people,” she said.
Book Offerings
Children’s books and history books are the store’s best sellers.
Lynn Pallaske, left and Jan Hedges stand in front of the mural that directs children to a reading room just for them.
There is a section for local authors in all genres.
Hedgehog INK has a local authors section.
The list of local authors: Cathy Werling, Evelyn Kalvelage, Carol Russell, Sally Freeman Jadlow, Joyce Love, Rick Mayhew, Bourbon County Historical Preservation Association Books, Ann Miesner, Martie Wells-Smith, Jane Tucker, Mary Barbara McKay, Gerri Hilger, Kay Large, J. Speer, Rogena McPherson, Nanette Holloway, R.J. Thesman, Sally Smith, Barbara Ramsey, Marvin Ramsey, George Proctor and Ann Joyner.
“We have Writers Wednesday, a group that meets from 1 to 3 p.m. every week and recently hosted a writers seminar,” Jan said.
Story time at the store is starting again after a hiatus because of the COVID 19 Pandemic.
“It’s the first Saturday of each month in the reading loft area,” she said.
Fort Scott has been so generous in donating books to the book store, that during November and December they are not accepting donations.
They have over 30,000 books.
Other Products Are For Sale
In addition, the store sells local products such as goat milk lotions and lavender products, handmade handbags, photo cards, arts and crafts materials, games and puzzles, journals, chocolates and more.
Hours are Monday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. They are open by appointment at other times.
Dave Gillen is the director for the Beacon. Submitted photo.
They are paying $500 to $600 more per month on the food they give away, but the Beacon, a local food pantry, is not low on food, said Director Dave Gillen.
The cost of adding perishables to the food pantry has risen.
“With inflation and the number of people we are getting, 10 new families a month…we are spending over our budget,” Gillen said.
“I used to give out eggs with the food basket, but I had to cut them out,” he said. “At one time just buying bread and eggs was eating 1/3 of our budget.”
Gillen said donations of food are “doing well.”
“Schools, organizations, businesses and others, we can count on them to help,” he said.
The staff started on October 24 taking appointments for the 2023 sign up for the food pantry.
Other days they will be taking the appointments for the sign up are October 28th and 31st. November 1st, 2nd, 4th, 7th, 8th, 9th and 11th.
Sign-ups must be done by November 11, with no exceptions.
One must call in advance to make an appointment for one of these days.
The phone number is 620.223.6869.
Hours the Beacon is open are 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday. The agency is closed Thursday, Saturday and Sunday.
If one is a member, bring a current Kansas Department of Children and Families (DCF) letter and proof of residency, along with a photo ID for all adults in the household, a Social Security card for all in the household and birth dates for all in the household.
All dependent children with different names must show full time parental custody, adoption papers, and must live with you.
Proof of income, pension, retirement, social security disability, VA benefits, unemployment, child support/alimony and any other income is required.
If DCF services are received, please bring the verification letter.
Adopt-A-Child
Also at this time, the Beacon will be doing sign-up for the Adopt-a -Child program and food baskets.
One family member should come for the whole family.
These will be picked up on Dec. 16 at Community Christian Church from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. in a drive-through operation.
Elk’s Christmas Basket
The Elk’s organization baskets will be delivered the Sunday before Christmas, December 18th.
Dave Gillen, director, and Patty Mowen, co-director, of The Beacon Food Pantry of Bourbon County. Submitted photo.
Fort Scott Assistant Manager Brad Matkin would like to try something new in dealing with infrastructure issues.
“If you see a problem… a street issue, pothole, sign damage, water leak, general question, or whatever else please send me an email at [email protected] or call me at City Hall 620-223-0550, ext 210. Email is the best way to communicate,” he said. “Please include a picture of the issue if you can with your email.”
“We are currently working with the Information Technology Department for a solution, so people can report,” Matkin said. “We want to document, to see if there are patterns, such as water, street, or code issues.”
In the meantime, though, Matkin is encouraging citizens to email him, rather than put it on the internet.
“If I don’t respond within 48 hours then feel free to post it on Facebook but please give us a chance first to take a look at the problem,” he said.
“Either myself or one of the staff will email you with either a solution, a plan, or just an update of what we can do,” he said. “We don’t see what people post on Facebook, so we won’t know about the issue and won’t have the chance to fix the issue or at least communicate back to you.”
Like all public entities, they do not have enough staff to drive around looking for problems and need help from citizens to let them know issues seen.
“It is better to work together with good communication, he said. “We really feel this is a proactive and positive way to handle business.”
Matkin said there is no need to call about the Cooper Street project, “We are working on it currently. The first segment will be done in approximately a month.”
Fort Scott street map, taken from the Bourbon County website.
The general election will be November 8, but those who wish to, may vote earlier.
Early voting will begin Wednesday, October 26th and will be open Monday through Saturday from 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. and will end on Monday, November 7th at noon.
People may vote at the Bourbon County Courthouse, 210 S. National Ave. in the commission room.
“We provide early voting to allow everyone the opportunity to vote, which is why we started offering Saturday voting,” said Ashley Shelton, Bourbon County Clerk. “We had a good turnout in the primary for early voting and a lot of positive comments regarding Saturday voting. We will continue to offer Saturday voting as an option if people continue to utilize it.”
Ashley Shelton. Submitted photo.
In addition to selecting candidates, there will be two questions on this ballot, one about the election of sheriffs and one about Kansas legislative oversight.
Taken from the ballot:
County Sheriff Question
This amendment would preserve the right of citizens of each county that elected a county sheriff to continue electing the county sheriff. The amendment would also provide that a county sheriff only may be involuntarily removed from office pursuant to either a recall election or a writ of quo warranto initiated by the attorney general.
A yes vote for this proposition would preserve the right of citizens of each county, to continue electing the county sheriff via popular vote. The amendment would also direct that a county sheriff only may be involuntarily removed from office pursuant to either a recall election or a writ of quo warranto initiated by the attorney general.
A no vote against this proposition would not make any changes to the constitution and would retain current law concerning the election of a sheriff and the procedures for involuntary removal of a sheriff from office.
The amendment states:
County and township officers.(a) Except as provided in subsection (b), each county shall elect a sheriff for a term of four years by a majority of the qualified electors of the county voting thereon at the time of voting designated for such office pursuant to law in effect on January 11, 2022, and every four years thereafter. (b) The provisions of subsection (a) shall not apply to a county that abolished the office of sheriff prior to January 11, 2022. Such county may restore the office of sheriff as provided by law and such restoration shall be irrevocable. A county that restores the office of sheriff shall elect a sheriff by a majority of the qualified electors of the county voting thereon for a term of four years. Such sheriff shall have such qualifications and duties as provided by law. The time of voting for the office of sheriff may be provided for by the legislature pursuant to section 18 of article 2 of this constitution. (c) The filling of vacancies and the qualifications and duties of the office of sheriff shall be as provided by law. (d)The legislature shall provide for suchothercounty and township officers as may be necessary. § 5. Removal of officers.(a) Except as provided in subsection (b),all county and township officers may be removed from office, in such manner and for such cause, as shall be prescribed by law. (b) A county sheriff only may be involuntarily removed from office by recall election pursuant to section 3 of article 4 of this constitution or a writ of quo warranto initiated by the attorney general.
From Bourbon County Counselor Justin Meeks,
“A yes vote would require counties to maintain a sheriff as an elected official,”
The Question of Legislative Oversight
The purpose of this amendment is to provide the legislature with oversight of state executive branch agencies and officials by providing the legislature authority to establish procedures to revoke or suspend rules and regulations.
A yes voteforthis proposition would allow the legislature to establish procedures to revoke or suspend rules and regulations that are adopted by state executive branch agencies and officials that have the force and effect of law.
A no voteagainstthis proposition would allow state executive branch agencies and officials to continue adopting rules and regulations that have the force and effect of law without any opportunity for the legislature to directly revoke or suspend such rules and regulations.
Legislative oversight of administrative rules and regulations.
Whenever the legislature by law has authorized any officer or agency within the executive branch of government to adopt rules and regulations that have the force and effect of law, the legislature may provide by law for the revocation or suspension of any such rule and regulation, or any portion thereof, upon a vote of a majority of the members then elected or appointed and qualified in each house.
From Bourbon County Counselor Justin Meeks,
“This will basically allow the legislature to overturn regulations created by agencies, environmental agency for example,” Meeks said. “It would take away some of the governor’s administrative powers.”
Justin Meeks, Bourbon County Counselor. Submitted photo.
The second property tax sale this year added over $86,000 to Bourbon County treasurer’s funds, with the unsold properties deeded over to the Fort Scott Land Bank.
The Bourbon County treasurer collects and distributes all real and personal property taxes. The tax districts that receive this are the City of Fort Scott, the Bourbon County government, and the county’s two school districts- USD 234 and USD 235.
“There were 35 properties that sold at the October 13, 2022 tax sale for a total of $86,514.09,” said Patty Love, Bourbon County Treasurer. “The 36 properties that did not receive a bid are all properties inside Fort Scott that have City special assessments on them. These properties are being deeded over to the Fort Scott Land Bank. The money collected from the tax sale will be distributed to the various tax districts just like the regular tax collections.”
“Once the property has been sold and Register of Deeds issues the new deed they become like any other property of the tax roll and the new owners will be responsible for the 2022 taxes,” Love said.
The function of the Fort Scott Land Bank Board is as an independent agency with the City of Fort Scott that acquires, holds, manages, transforms, and conveys surplus city properties and other abandoned, tax foreclosed, or otherwise underutilized or distressed properties in order to convey these properties for productive use, according to a prior city press release.
Currently serving on the Land Bank Advisory Board are Craig Campbell (Chairperson), Gregg Motley, Bailey Lyons, Tim VanHoecke, Robert Coon, Patrick Wood and Jim Harris.
Lake Fort Scott is located southwest of Fort Scott on Indian Road.
Drought conditions continue in parts of the nation, including Bourbon County, with no helpful rainfall here since June.
In response to the drought condition, theCity ofFort Scott Water Production anticipates releasing water from Lake Fort Scott beginning next week, according to a press release from the City of Fort Scott. This will help to supplement the water already being released from both Cedar Creek and Rock Creek lakes to the Marmaton River.
“The water from Lake Fort Scott goes to Rock Creek, then to the Marmaton River, then to the water treatment plant,” Brad Matkin, assistant city manager said. “The river needs to maintain 10 foot of depth. We have taken water out of Cedar Creek. We are trying to spread it so we don’t put the three reservoirs at levels to damage something.”
The Fort Scott Water Treatment Plant treats an average of 2.6 million gallons of drinking water a day, for not only city residents, but also most of Bourbon County, according to https://www.fscity.org/199/Water-Treatment-Plant.
Brad Matkin. Submitted photo.
There is precipitation forecast on Oct. 24 and 25, but just a chance showers, according to the National Weather Service.
It is impossible to know when precipitation will relieve current drought conditions, or how much water will be required from the three available reservoirs, “but several days of rain are needed,” Matkin said.
“There is not an exact date when we are going to start lowering the water in Lake Fort Scott, possibly Oct. 25, we just wanted to give notice,” Matkin said.
Lake Fort Scott residents are encouraged to secure docks as needed in anticipation of possible lowering oflake levels.
“The water release will lower lake levels,” Matkin said. “If lake residents have a floating dock, they need to tie them up.”
It’s important that the City of Fort Scott keeps the Marmaton River at adequate levels so treatment systems can continue to deliver drinking water, according to the press release.
The city is fortunate tohave theses water sources and infrastructure available, according to the press release.
The city staff ask for patience and understanding of this process, according to the press release.
“At this time, the water lowering of Lake Fort Scott will not affect city residents,” Matkin said.
Fort Scottsupplies water for the majority of Bourbon County, as well as parts of Crawford, Allen, and Vernon Counties, according to the press release.
Third Street Park on Fort Scott’s east side is seeing some improvements thanks to a few local organizations.
Kiwanian Ralph Reed prepares to put another sheet of siding in place on the bathrooms. Submitted photo.
The project was taken on by Fort Scott Kiwanis and started a few weeks ago, President John Crain said.
“We divided up into groups of 3-4 people to work on a project,” Crain said. “They could get together whenever they could.”
Bathrooms were painted inside and out, and siding replaced.
“We have all the lights fixed in the bathrooms, the city will do work after that,” he said. Sinks are to be put in the bathrooms, which have just had toilets in the past.
Kiwanians John Crain and Josh Jones paint the bathroom at Third Street Park. Submitted photo.The Third Street Park bathroom before improvements. Submitted photo.The bathroom after. Submitted photo.
On the basketball court the backboard was repainted, the goal and net replaced and the lane repainted.
The basketball court before the improvements. Submitted photo.The basketball court after the improvements. Submitted photo.
The park’s swing set was repainted, the jungle gym was power washed and sealed.
Kiwanian Dave Bruner paints the swing set. Submitted photo.The swing set before the repainting. Submitted photo.The swing set after the improvements. Submitted photo.Kiwanian Brad Blubaugh paints the swing set. Submitted photo.The jungle gym before improvements. Submitted photo.The jungle gym after improvements. Submitted photo.
The park benches and picnic tables were power washed and the pavilion repainted.
Picnic tables before. Submitted photo.Picnic tables after. Submitted photo.Kiwanian Bob Eckles prepares to paint a pavilion column. Submitted photo.The pavilion before. Submitted photo.The park pavilion after. Submitted photo.Kiwanian Mark McCoy painting a pavilion column. Submitted photo.
Fort Scott Kiwanis Club furnished the man-power, and a few philanthropy groups funded the materials.
“Funding for the 3rd Street Park improvements and Placemaking Project is being provided by The Patterson Family Foundation and Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas as a part of The Healthy Bourbon County Action Team’s Pathways to a Healthy Kansas grant,” according to a HBCAT press release.
The Kiwanis men are not finished yet.
“We still have to get the electric meter pulled away from the bathrooms south wall to install it’s siding, and paint it,” John Crain, president of Kiwanis said. “We need to do some touch up painting on the bathrooms, finish painting the pavilion and cut down and remove a dead tree and low hanging branches over some of the buildings.”
Dr. Katrina Burke opened her medical practice with Ascension Via Christi on Jan. 13, 2020. The office is located at 109 S. Main. As of November 21, 2022, she will be under the auspices of Girard Medical Center at the same office space.
On November 21, Dr. Katrina Burke will be under the auspices of Girard Medical Center of Fort Scott and will begin seeing patients at the same office in downtown Fort Scott where she has been located for two years.
Dr. Katrina Burke. Submitted photo.
“All of Dr. Burke’s staff will be staying on, including nurse practitioner, Kristi Harbit,” said Ruth Duling, Chief Executive Officer of Girard Medical Center.
Kristi Harbit. Submitted photo.
“We really want to emphasize that the clinic is in the same location!” she said. ” Dr. Burke is not leaving the Fort Scott medical community. She loves her patient population there and she and her staff will continue to provide the same great service they always have.”
Ruth Duling, CEO of Girard Medical Center. Submitted photo.
“There will be a few days between the last day for Ascension Via Christi and the first day for us, as we will need a few days to reset and get computers in place, etc,” Duling said.
“Patients can call the office to ask that their records be transferred from the Via Christi Clinic to the GMC Clinic,” she said. “It’s just a matter of getting their records from the Via Christi electronic health record system to ours, but patients do have to request for that transfer to be made.”
The office number is 620-223-7008.
Hours of operation will be 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Monday through Thursday and 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. on Friday.
“We are extremely happy to have the opportunity to bring Dr. Burke and her staff into the Girard Medical Center family,” Duling said. “It’s no secret that Dr. Burke is well respected by her patients, her colleagues, and the medical community.”
“Girard Medical Center is fortunate to have family practice clinics in Girard, Frontenac, Arma, Cherokee, and in another Bourbon County community, Uniontown,” she said. “We do family practice well! We’re excited to have a physical presence in Fort Scott and we’re equally excited to have Dr Burke’s patients become more familiar with Girard Medical Center.”
“Rest assured, we are doing everything we can to make a smooth transition and to ensure that Dr. Burke, Kristi and the staff are able to continue to provide the same great service they always have and it’s an added plus to be in the exact same location,” Duling said.
Travis and Jennifer Sawyer and some of their friends came up with a Halloween event that will take place starting this evening at Riverfront Park on Fort Scott’s North National Avenue.
The two-evening event is called the Haunting of Belltown.
“Travis and I and our friends thought up this idea for the community,” Jennifer said. “We did a small hayride last year with our kids and they enjoyed it so we did a haunted hayride last year for the community and was a big hit. Unfortunately insurance for our dealership to host it was going to cost too much so we decided to do it in town.”
Left-right: John Willis, Jerica Roberts, Jennifer Sawyer, Travis Sawyer, Mary Binford, and Josh Binford (not pictured) are the creators of the Haunting of Belltown. Submitted photo.
A haunted walking trail, hayride and Halloween movies await those who come to the Haunting of Belltown.
“The hayride I would say is for all ages and the haunted trail I would say 6th grade and up, but will be best based on parents preference,” Jennifer said.
The event is Oct. 14 and 15 from 7 to 11 p.m. , on the southside of the Marmaton River on North National Avenue.
“It will be the road where Stephen Toal did all the murals under the Hwy. 69 bypass,” Jennifer said. “There will be a hayride, haunted walking trail, Halloween movies will be playing, and we will be selling hot dogs, hot cocoa and other beverages.”
To enter is free but they will be accepting donations.
