Noble Health Corporation announced yesterday that in the near future they will be deciding whether it is feasible to reopen a hospital at the former Mercy Hospital facility, according to Rob Harrington, Director of Bourbon County Regional Economic Development Inc.
“There will be two more meetings with the (Bourbon County) Commission and then they will begin talking with the public about the outcome of the feasibility study,” Harrington said.
“Today was a good day for Bourbon County and we are excited to see the process continue,” he said.
“The next phases will be dedicated to renovation costs and I believe labor,” he said.
“The study has been completed, however, it contains information that at this time needs to remain confidential until after the property is transferred to Noble by the county,” Harrington said. “We are hopeful that this will happen in January and February when they begin doing their town hall meetings.”
Noble Health Corp. announced in June 2021 that it would explore the possibility of reopening the acute care hospital facility in Fort Scott, according to a previous press release from the corporation.
The corporation, a Kansas City company, engaged in a cooperative agreement with Bourbon County to conduct a feasibility study that could lead to the reopening of the former Mercy Hospital building, located at 401 Woodland Hills Blvd., according to the press release.
The building is located just off Hwy. 69 on Fort Scott’s south side.
Mercy Hospital Fort Scott closed in December of 2018.
Mercy Hospital before it closed in December 2018.
Since that time Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas has leased a portion of the building, and Ascension Via Christi Hospital, Pittsburg, has leased the emergency department. Those leases end in December 2022. Fort Scott Community College has leased the western part of the building for student housing.
To view the prior features on Nobel Health in Fort Scott:
Mayra and Jose Montanez, have started a helping ministry in Fort Scott. Submitted photo.
As You Are Ministries is a ministry started by Mayra and Jose Montanez, owners of the Fort Scott Barber Shop.
“We were led by God to not only bring this ministry here but also to move here along with our kids and grandkids as well as our barbershop,” Mayra said. The family came to Fort Scott earlier this year from the Kansas City area.
The ministry will provide faith-based community services such as clothing, shoes, hygiene products, food, and hot/cold beverages to those in need.
And they have much bigger plans for those people who are down and out.
“We will also be building two bathrooms with showers for anyone in need of one,” Mayra said.
The ministry is headquartered above their family business, Fort Scott Barbershop, 118 E. Wall.
The next step will be to create a healthy-food pantry, in collaboration with local farmers, she said.
Then they plan to build four family bedrooms for anyone needing a place to sleep or stay until they can be placed in a more permanent situation or program, Mayra said.
The ministry started at the beginning of the COVID-19 Pandemic in 2020.
“We quickly realized that people were desperate for hope and encouragement,” she said.
They started on social media.
“Every Sunday at 7 p.m., we would log in to our Facebook page ‘As You Are Ministries’ and give a word of encouragement to all that would log in.”
“Through our online videos, so far we have reached 15 countries,” she said.
They began to give out Bibles.
“Quickly noticing many people didn’t have Bibles, we started offering free Bibles, of their choosing, and would mail them to them,” she said. “We’ve currently given out close to 100, (with the) price ranging from $40-$100. It’s always what the person chooses, as long as it is Christian-based so that we can be in one accord.”
“Our Facebook page is public, anyone can see it and our goal is to reach all those in need of encouragement,” Jose said. “But the faith-based community service is for Fort Scott.”
The Montanez’s attend Faith Church and go to Bible studies with one of their groups on Mondays, he said.
The family had a setback when money was stolen from them recently.
“Our funds were stolen from our home about two months ago and we are currently in the process of saving up money to put in the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system and bathrooms,” he said. “The community has donated randomly so far $1,075 to help with the money stolen, we are so appreciative of that”
The ministry is headquartered above the Montanez family’s barbershop at 118 E. Wall, on the second floor.
To view the story on the barbershop they opened in May 2021:
The new swing is provided for handicapped individuals by the Kiwanis Club of Fort Scott Pioneers. Photo taken on Nov. 6.
The Kiwanis Club of Fort Scott Pioneers’ donation of a handicapped swing placement in Gunn Park is nearly completed.
Gunn Park is the largest public park in Fort Scott and is located on the west side of the city, off of Park Avenue.
“The one-size-fits-most swing offers a unique opportunity for area children and families to engage in healthy outdoor play together and help youth to develop a variety of physical and social skills,” Kellye Collins, spokeswoman for the club said.
The location is north of Shelter House No. 3 near the big lake, she said.
The name of the project is the Joyce True Memorial Project for Children, and sponsoring in addition to the club, were the City of Fort Scott, the Fort Scott Area Community Foundation, the Kansas Kiwanis Foundation, along with the friends and family of Joyce True.
“The project began with the passing of longtime Pioneers club member, Joyce True in July 2019,” Collins said.
“There will be a dedication of the swing in the spring of 2022,” she said. “We hope the city will have completed the landscaping by then.
Kiwanis is a global organization of volunteers dedicated to improving the world, one child and one community at a time.
“This project honors Joyce while fulfilling the Kiwanis mission to serve children and the community,” Collins said.
All representatives of the grants awarded, pause for a group photo on Nov. 4 following the presentations.
The Fort Scott Area Community Foundation (FSACF) was launched in August 2007 and serves all of Bourbon County as a partner and resource to non-profit organizations whose goal is to improve the quality of life in our area.
The foundation presented the yearly awards at an After-Hours Chamber of Commerce event, hosted by Landmark Bank on November 4.
Thanks to the generosity of area donors, this year the foundation presented awards to 15 organizations totaling $40,345.
Gregg Motley tells about the Fort Scott Area Community Foundation before the awarding of the grants. FSCAF Chairperson Carla Farmer listens, at right.
The foundation received 24 qualifying applications requesting over $89,000, Greg Motley, a member of the board of directors, said.
The following is a photo of representatives of the recipients receiving their awards.
Gregg Motley, an FSACF board member; Dave Gillen and Patty Mowen, Beacon representatives; along with Carla Farmer, FSACF Chairperson.
The Beacon received $3,000 to upgrade and expand nutritional food items.
Special Olympic Kansas representatives Steve Anthony, 2nd from left, and Erin Fletcher, far-right accept an award from Motley and Farmer.
Special Olympics of Kansas recognizes the accomplishments of those with intellectual disabilities and received $500 toward that effort.
Uniontown Saddle Club representatives Wayne Hall and Rachel Carpenter receive a check from Motley and Farmer.
The Uniontown Saddle Club was approved a $4,000 grant to bring electricity to the recreational vehicle area to facilitate overnight camping at the club’s arena.
Receiving the grant for the Gordon Parks Museum is Jane Campbell, center.
The Gordon Parks Museum received $3,000 to bring a professional dance group from Kansas City, the Kansas City Friends of Alvin Alley, to the museum’s planned Martin Luther King Day.
Craig Hubbard, Kansas Food Bank representative, center, received the check from the foundation.
The Food For Kids program provides weekend meals for chronically hungry school children and the foundation presented a $3,000 check to the Kansas Food Bank Warehouse.
Mert Barrows, center, receives a foundation check representing the Presbyterian Church.
The First Presbyterian Church Ramp Pack received $2,500 to build wheelchair ramps to homes of needy Fort Scottians.
Fort Scott City Manager Mark McCoy received a foundation check on behalf of the city and the Fort Scott Kiwanis club.
The City of Fort Scott and the Kiwanis Club of Fort Scott received a grant to plant new trees in the community, in the amount of $1,000.
CASA representative Jane Campbell, center, received the grant award for the organization.
Bourbon County Court Appointed Special Advocates received $4,500 to facilitate training for new volunteers and ongoing education for staff.
Melissa Guns, center, representing the Christmas in the Park organization, received the grant from the foundation.
The Christmas in the Park event will be in Gunn Park this year, thanks to the foundation’s $1,000 grant award.
Allen Warren, center, receives the grant award for the Pioneer Harvest Fiesta Association and 4-H Clubs.
The Pioneer Harvest Fiesta organization and the Bourbon County 4-H Clubs partnered to receive a $2,500 grant to spruce up the Cloverleaf Event Center at the Bourbon County Fairgrounds and buy some picnic tables.
Fort Scott Compassionate Ministries Director Allen Schellack, center, receives the grant from the foundation.
Fort Scott Compassionate Ministries received a $2,000 grant to fund transportation services, identification documentation, shelter during extreme weather, and space heaters for those in need.
Care to Share Board Members Lavetta Simmons and Sidney Zimmermann, center, receive a grant.
Care to Share, a support organization for those with cancer, received a $3,000 award to ease the financial burden for patients and their caregivers by providing transportation, house cleaning, yard work, meals, and any other personal needs while the patient is focused on the cancer battle.
USD 234 school personnel Robin Webb, Missy Miller, and Martin Alteri, all in the center, receive the grant.
Winfield Scott Elementary School first grade teachers will use their $2,500 grant awarded to familiarize students with local resources through trips to businesses, non-profits, and government locations to build backgrounds in science, technology, engineering, and math and also help students become community-oriented.
Angela Simon, Bailey Lyons, and Lindsay Madison receive the grant for the Chamber.
The Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce received a $4,000 grant to upgrade the Christmas decorations for the downtown area.
USD 234 music teacher Whitley Chesney receives the grant.
Fort Scott High School Choir Director Whitley Chesney received $3,845 to purchase appropriate attire for performances at concerts, no matter what the student’s economic status.
Ed and Susan Townley with their daughters from left Cheyanne Griffin, Dani Townley, and Ella Townley. They are pictured in the storefront before the task of decorating the space for the holidays.
Ed Townley, Olathe, has purchased the former Books and Grannies store at 11 N. Main, in Fort Scott’s Historic Downtown.
“I bought it with ideas in mind, but that is ever-changing,” Townley said. “At the current moment, I may finish remodeling and rent it out for a few years.”
Local realtor, Barb Albright with H and H Agency, handled the sale of the building to the family.
“I bought rental houses and recently sold those and I always wanted a business downtown,” he said.
“I have lifelong friends from Fort Scott,” he said. “Jerome Mitzner and Brian Love, along with Al Metcalf.”
He and his wife, Susan, own an independent insurance adjuster business, he said.
“We have a side business of antiques in Johnson County,” Townley said.
They are looking forward to moving to Fort Scott, although at this point it won’t be until his youngest daughter graduates, and she is currently in the eighth grade, he said.
The overwhelming amount of books in the former bookstore were consolidated and sold to a company.
“The fastest and easiest way to liquidate the books was to have a company do it,” he said.
Then he had a clean slate to see what he purchased.
What he purchased at 11 N. Main was 1700 square feet with doors to both Main Street and Skubitiz Plaza.
“The front and back doors are appealing,” he said.
Townley has repainted the original ceiling tiles, is working on new flooring and a restroom will be added.
The family worked on a Christmas display on November 6 to spruce up the storefront for the upcoming annual holiday shopping event on November 11-13, sponsored by the Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce and businesses.
The storefront at 11 N. Main has been decorated for Christmas by the Townley family.The storefront that the Townley family created includes a fireplace with Christmas stockings and a Christmas tree with presents.
“We did a vintage Christmas display, to give (the storefront) a little personality,” Townley said.
Following the completion of work on the first floor, the family has the upstairs to renovate.
There is an apartment on the second floor that is the whole length of the store and the family has a goal of making that into a living space, he said.
Townley shows off a working jukebox purchased from Fort Scottian Bill Michaud, which was at the former Kress Building down the street on Main.
The butterfly garden is located just before the entrance to Gunn Park on the south side of Park Avenue. This view is from behind the entrance signs looking southeast to the garden spot.
A butterfly habitat pollination garden is being established in Gunn Park by some residents.
Alison Leach and Krisi Bowman had an idea to create pollination habitats, and have been working to see the idea come to fruition.
Alison Leach, left, and Krisi Bowman clears more space at the butterfly garden site just before the entrance sign to Gunn Park on November 6. In the background is the tilled soil that is the prepared site for the planting of seeds to attract pollinators.
The two presented pollination habitat information to the Fort Scott City Commission in August 2020.
They requested permission to seek a site, resources, and establish a team of volunteers.
“The Covid Pandemic became a barrier as there were limited people able to gather for meetings to consider the vision,” Bowman said.
This did not deter the two and they spent hours seeking a site that provides adequate sun and space, she said.
Fort Scott Parks Director Doug Guns has experience in utilizing pollinator plants on golf courses, Bowman said.
“He was very supportive of the butterfly habitat and realized the benefits,” she said.
At a Fort Scott Parks Advisory Board meeting, Guns gave information on developing a small-scale butterfly habitat project near the Gunn Park entrance.
“He provided some guidelines of signs and warnings of bees that the public may need to be aware of, if allergic, to mitigate any injury,” Bowman said.
The tilled area is waiting for seed. Submitted by Alison Leach.
“Native plants are best since that is what supports pollinators in their natural habitat,” Bowman said. “They are much lower maintenance due to their long roots and require less water than non-natives and thrive in less than ideal conditions. Each species of butterfly has a specific host plant as well. Monarch’s host plant is milkweed which serves as the only food source for Monarch caterpillars. It is important to have diversity in nectar plants for different bloom times so pollinators will have nectar throughout the entire season.”
Gardening is something Bowman enjoys.
“The best part about gardening is that it is for everyone,” she said. “If there is otherwise useless space it can become something beautiful and beneficial for native wildlife even in small spaces.”
“When we started this project the main goal was to create more natural habitat space free of pesticides in otherwise unused space to support pollinators and encourage more native plantings in our community,” she said. “Native (plant) gardens are not only beautiful- they also serve a purpose.”
For Bowman, a Monarch Butterfly garden is something she has been enjoying for some time.
She has been growing milkweed and other native plants on her property for years, she said.
Photo of a Monarch Butterfly taken by Kris Bowman this summer.
She has established a connection with Monarchs on the Move out of Kansas City, Missouri.
A Monarch Butterfly caterpillar. Submitted by Bowman.
“April with Monarchs on the Move has had a 501c3 (non-profit status) for seven-plus years and was gracious to hold a teleconference with Alison and I,” Bowman said. “April provided clear step-by-step recommendations to prepare the site. April offered to share her harvested seed for our initial project this fall.”
A Monarch Butterfly in Bowman’s garden.
Leach appeared once again before the Fort Scott City Commission and asked for permission to begin the project to the left side of Gunn Park entrance and it was granted, she said.
Leach and Bowman met with Doug Guns and he advised of a few resources (grants) to review, she said.
“Doug has been an instrumental part of this project coming to fruition,” Leach said. “City park employees have been accessible and helpful during the preparation of soil and area. Norman Mackey had recently tilled the area and it’s now prepared for the seeding process.”
“The group welcomes volunteers this spring and will announce any opportunities, on our Facebook page: Bourbon County Monarch,” Leach said.
A Monarch Butterfly caterpillar, taken in Krisi Bowm’s garden last summer.
Stephen Toal stands in front of his latest mural, entitled, United We Stand, Divided We Fall, on the Riverfront Loop Road, under the Hwy. 69 underpass on Wednesday afternoon.
On November 8, local artist Stephen Toal was finishing up a new mural he has painted in the tunnel of the Hwy. 69 underpass on the Riverfront Loop Road in Riverfront Park.
He was inspired to create some patriotic themes featuring the Statue of Liberty along with the skyline of New York and the symbol of America, the Bald Eagle.
He said the name of the mural is United We Stand, Divided We Fall, which he felt was fitting for this time in America. The pandemic, social justice issues, and political divides are the news of the day in the last year and a half since the pandemic began.
For Toal, the project was set back a bit by stolen paint left at the site last week.
“Somebody stole my paint,” Toal said. “But it’s pretty cool that people came together and purchased more paint for me.”
“I’m going to open an account for community projects,” he said. “I don’t like messing with money,”
He has done six community murals in Fort Scott parks and has had three paid mural jobs recently, he said.
His first mural was at Gunn Park under the big rock shelter house No. 1, which he completed in spring 2020.
Ryan Edgecomb, 46, is a new real estate agent for Lyons Realty Group.
Lyons’ Realty Group office, 8 E. Wall, taken from its Facebook page.
“I will assist clients with buying and selling real estate,” he said. “I plan to use my agriculture background to specialize in hunting and agriculture properties.”
“I have been involved in ag-related careers my entire life including livestock feed and equipment sales as well as agriculture education,” he said.
He started this month.
He pursued this career because he has a strong interest in property and land values, he said.
“After Kylie and I got married, we started watching real estate and looking for a house to buy,” he said. ” We also kept our eyes open for some small acreage suitable to build a house. We successfully found 20 acres and built our dream home. Furthermore, I have always been intrigued by the real estate and land trends in our area. This has prompted me to pursue this position.”
Edgecomb has been involved in the agricultural community.
“I am very active in Kansas Farm Bureau by serving a leadership role on the county level and representing District 3 on the state beef advisory committee,” he said. “I have also served on many local ag advisory boards, extension boards, and participated in numerous community service projects.”
Edgecomb attended Kansas State University for both his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees.
“My wife, Kylie, and I live on a small farm in rural Crawford County. We raise a small herd of commercial Angus and balancer cattle,” he said.
Once an anchor store in Fort Scott Historic Downtown, Country Cupboard staff is opening the store at 12 N. Main on Saturdays only until the end of the year in a liquidation sale, according to employees.
Home decor, jewelry, clothing, cards, old fashion candy were among the offerings of the store, as well as Kansas State University accessories.
“Judy (Renard, the owner) was a true K-State fan,” a 20-year employee Sheila Blubaugh, said.
Judy Renard was the owner of the County Cupboard.
“We had the latest trends in merchandise,” Blubaugh, said. “Judy had a good ability to pick out something that was going to be popular. People came from lots of places, to shop here.”
“Judy was good at, if somebody wanted something we didn’t have, she would try to get it for them,” Marie Wiley, an almost 30-year employee, said. “She was a good boss, as well.”
Judy’s husband, John, had a shoe repair business inside the shop.
John died in December 2019, and Judy died this year in September.
In the last few years, the shop has been opened only rarely, as Judy had been ill.
Since the Good Ol Days Event this year in June, the shop has been open on Saturdays, Wiley said.
Now until the end of the year, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturdays, shoppers can purchase antiques, store displays, former consignment items, and store merchandise that is for sale.
All are included in the liquidation sale.
“We have boxes of old consignment items,” Wiley said. “Some are being given away.”
The Renard family has listed the business property with real estate agent, Crystal Mason, Blubaugh said.
The family is comprised of Renard’s four children, Jim, Dallas, TX; Ron, Marshall, MO; David, Mapleton, and Dee Anne Miller, Fort Scott.
The building has two stories and a basement, Wiley said.
History of the business
Judy Renard started her business as the Calico Cottage, in a different building on Main Street, Blubaugh said.
“The shop featured handmade items, sold on consignment,” Blubaugh said.
Then Judy and John purchased the current location at 12 N. Main, about 40 years ago, Wiley said.
The building was originally a men’s clothing store, then A & P Grocery Store and then a men’s Western shop-when the Renard’s bought it, Wiley said.
Kate and Trent Freeman, Edwardsville, purchased a building at 8 North National Avenue, Fort Scott, on October 2, 2020, and will soon open their new business there, called The Artificers.
“The definition of artificers is fine artists and craftsmen,” Kate said.
The business will be an art gallery, a teaching studio workshop space, and a studio space for both Kate and Trent, who are artists by profession.
“We have a network of artists that we will pull from to come in and display and teach watercolor, collage, airbrush artists… from all over the country,” she said.
There will be classes and workshops.
A possible opening will be late winter, 2021, or early spring, 2022, Trent said.
“Artificers is a group, including Trent and I and anyone we invite in,” she said. “You can expect quality work.”
Trent received a degree in fine art from Emporia State University; Kate “just does art”, she said, and added, “I do the marketing for the business.”
The business will take commissioned art and have art for sale.
Trent works to create art in mixed media: clay, glass, wood, metal; Kate works in clay and acrylic painting.
“We had our studio in Kansas City for 22 years,” Trent said. “I’ve been a professional for 28 years. We’ve done everything from gallery to commission to art festivals all over the country. Most of our work is commission now.”
Trent said when Kansas City shut down businesses during the COVID-19 Pandemic, they began coming to their farm, west of Fort Scott.
Trent’s parents, Ed and Jackie Freeman built a house near Bronson and retired there, and so Trent and Kate have been coming here for 20 years, he said. “And we loved the town.”
“We love the atmosphere here,” Kate said. “It feels like home here. I feel there is a revival about to happen in the town and it feels good.”
The artists had a setback in July 2021, when the building next door to the north, between The Artificers and Sharkey’s Pub & Grub Restaurant, collapsed.
“That set us back three months,” Trent said.
Also, the pandemic has kept contractors busy and the Freemans are in line for plumbing, electrical, etc.
Trent is doing most of the repurposing of the inside of the former Hammond Real Estate building himself, and last Saturday was framing up some rooms on the inside.
“The front one-third of the building will be a gallery space,” Kate said. “The next one-third will have a small kitchenette and be a teaching studio workshop and have classes in all art genres. The back one-third will be our studio space for creating.”
“The City of Fort Scott is contracting Mid Continental Restoration for some facia and the entire north side (of the building) will be cleaned and sealed,” Trent said. “They have been good to us.”
The Freeman’s will eventually live on the second floor of the building when the business’s first floor is complete, Kate said.
They are not in a hurry, because their daughter is a senior in high school and they don’t want to move until she leaves for the University of Arkansas next fall.
Accompanying them in the move will be their Red Healer dog, Ivy, Kate said, and Ivy was enjoying the sun from a south-facing window in the gallery on Saturday. There will be many more days in that spot.
Kate Freeman. Submitted photo.Trent Freeman. Submitted photo.Kate Freeman. Submitted photo.Trent Freeman. Submitted photo.The sign on the business reflects National Avenue.
Fort Scott Police Chief Travis Shelton reached a milestone of 25 years with the department. Submitted photo.
Travis Shelton, Chief of Police of the Fort Scott Police Department, has reached a milestone, 25 years with the department.
Shelton has held positions of officer, K9 Handler, sergeant, lieutenant, and chief of police.
He earned an associate of science degree from Fort Scott Community College, and a bachelor of science in criminal justice administration from Missouri Southern State University.
Shelton is involved in the community as well.
“I am currently on the Fort Scott Area Community Foundation Board of Directors, a member of the Kiwanis Club, former board member at the Key Hole (Youth Center), former adjunct instructor at Fort Scott Community College, and former little league football coach,” he said.
For Shelton, the best part of his career has been the people in the community, he said.
“Unlike other parts of our country in today’s world, we have a lot of support from our community,” Shelton said. “Fort Scott is a great place to live and work with people who genuinely want what is best for our city.”
Shelton said the greatest challenge as chief of police is recruiting and retaining qualified police applicants and officers.
“This is one of the biggest challenges police departments across the country have at this point in time,” he said.
His wife, Gina Shelton, is the USD 234 Business Manager / Board Clerk. He has a son, Nick, 21, and a daughter Maci,16 years old.
