Penny’s Diner is located in the lobby of Travelodge Hotel, 2505 S. Main.
At the Travel Lodge Hotel in Fort Scott, meals are available to the public 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
“Even Christmas, Thanksgiving, the 4th of July,” said Rhonda Walker, general manager of the hotel.
“We have a full menu, all day, every day,” she said. “If you want a hamburger at 3 a.m. you can get it, if you want breakfast at 2 p.m. you can get it. We get some late-nighters.”
A malt made in Penny’s Diner. The diner has a 50s motif.
Penny’s Diner is located in the lobby of the hotel at 2505 S. Main and has been there for six years.
The whiteboard in the diner tells of the special meals of the day.
“People can order online and pay there, or can call in an order, or can come in,” Walker said. “Go to http://pennysdiner.com/ and it will bring up the menu.”
One can also use the barcode at Penny’s Diner to order.
“We’ve got some really good cooks,” she said.
Cindy Sue McDowell, cook and front desk agent at Penny’s Diner.There is a room for a small group at Penny’s Diner.
Penny’s Diner is located in the lobby of Travelodge Hotel, 2505 S. Main.
“Our hotel is a BNSF Railroad Hotel, and we also house regular guests,” Walker said. “We have 70 rooms, with nine of them extended stay.”
The Uniontown area had several utility poles down in a storm on June 11. Pictured is one on the main street of Uniontown.
Bourbon County suffered damage from high winds in a storm that rolled through the area on the evening of June 11.
Two electric companies serve this area.
HRC Update
Heartland Rural Electric’s first outage report was around 5:30 p.m., according to Doug Graham, communications specialist. “At that time six of our substations were off due to transmission line outages from our power supplier.”
At the peak of the outage, around 4,500 Heartland members were out of power, he said.
“Crews worked through the night on Friday to restore power,” Graham said. “By Saturday morning, the number of outages had been reduced to around 800. By the end of Saturday, we were down to around 50.”
“Most of the damage to Heartland’s system was caused by high winds, trees, and debris,” he said. “In total, we had around 20 pole breaks and 25 line breaks. Some lightning damage was evident as well. Our heaviest damage was concentrated in rural Bourbon County around Devon, Uniontown, and Bronson.”
“Heartland dispatched every available line worker to address the outages, and called in mutual aid from Twin Valley Electric Cooperative in Altamont in order to restore power as quickly as possible,” Graham said.
To be ready for a power outage, Graham recommended the following link:
“I would also mention that Heartland has a number of preventive programs in place to minimize the damage from storms such as the one we experienced on Friday,” Graham said. “For example, we have a pole inspection program wherein we identify poles with rot or structural weakness and replace them as needed, and we have an extensive vegetation management program to keep trees from getting too close to lines. Without these preventive measures, the damage could have been much worse.”
Evergy’s Update
Evergy reported that around 7:30 PM on Friday evening is when they received notice the power went out in the area.
“It is difficult to give an exact time on when the last outages were restored because they all came back on at different times in those areas,” Andrew Baker, Evergy Senior Communications Manager, said.
“Our crews were working widespread to make sure the power came back on as quickly and safely as possible for our customers,” he said.
About 2,000 customers were affected between Pittsburg, Ft. Scott and Humboldt, Baker said.
“The cause of most of the outages in the area was due to severe storms, wind, lightning, hail and heavy rain,” he said.
“We had around 50 crew members working in the area along with multiple contract crews as well,” Baker said. “We also had multiple personnel in the Wichita, Leavenworth, Atchison, and Hiawatha.”
“You want to make sure that your cell phone is fully charged and you have a battery-operated radio ready to go to check for weather updates,” Baker said. “You also want to make sure to create a communications plan in the event of a storm. Have a family plan that includes an emergency meeting space and related information. This way you can make sure your friends and family members are accounted for if severe weather should occur.”
On June 1, Kenneth Epperson assumed the pastorate of the Fort Scott First Southern Baptist Church.
Epperson has over 20 years of experience, following his education at Slidell Baptist Theological Seminary, Louisiana.
“That includes camps, evangelism work, and a singing ministry,” he said. “This is the closest I have been to my hometown, Butler, MO.’
The best part of pastoring is getting to encourage and give people hope, he said.
“Everybody needs encouragement,” he said. “We work hard at that. That’s my joy. God loves them and they will make it.”
When asked what one of the biggest challenges for a pastor is, he responded “Bringing people together. Bringing a people into unity and moving them forward in the kingdom.”
Tracy and Kenneth Epperson. Submitted photo.
Epperson and his wife, Tracy, have two married sons, two grandsons, with “one on the way,” he said.
Epperson said God called him at 14 years old to be a pastor.
“We had a guest speaker at our church,” he said. “I remember where I was sitting, when I heard the Lord say ‘You are going to do that someday.'”
“When I was ordained, my Mom told me when she was rocking me when I was young, she felt that I was going to be a pastor one day,” Epperson said. “That was powerful to me.”
The church, located at 1818 S. Main has Sunday School at 9:30 a.m. and worship at 10:50 a.m.
An upcoming event at the church is Vacation Bible School, which is August 4-8 from 9 a.m.to noon at the church.
For more information contact the church at 620.223.2986.
Pictured is the Bodyworks and Wellness ribbon cutting on May 27, facilitated by Uniontown Ruritan Club. From left Ruritan Members Mark Warren, Kevin Gleason, Raymond George, Joe George, Mauriel Whisenhunt-the owner, Henry Homan, and Mike Mason, stand in front of the business at 104 Sherman, Uniontown.
Mauriel Whisenhunt helped her grandfather, Clyde Brooker, when he was homebound and had edema.
“I would massage his feet, arms, and back,” she said. “He was the first who said God has given me a gift.”
This prompted her to begin a career in massage therapy.
Whisenhunt’s massage therapy is pain management, she said.
“I do pain management,” she said. “Everybody is different, I work to accommodate what the body may need.”
Whisenhunt said she is grateful for her clients.
She said many in the business don’t make it.
“Longevity in massage is five years,” she said. “It’s hard work.”
“I have so much gratitude for the personal relationships with people, watching client’s kids grow up, working in hospice,” she said. ” I have so much overwhelming gratitude. Every place I have been, it’s God’s timing.”
She is constantly learning, even after 20 years.
Her diploma from White River School of Massage.
“There is so much new coming out about science and massage,” she said.
Her constant challenge is trying to help people get out of pain and helping them with pain management, she said.
Mauriel Whisenhunt stands in front of her continuing education certificates at her business, Bodyworks And Wellness.
Whisenhunt has been a massage therapist for 20 years.
Last year, she moved her business, Bodyworks and Wellness, to Uniontown, where she lives.
“COVID (the pandemic of the last year) prompted me to open shop in Uniontown,” Whisenhunt said. “I think all small businesses had to reshape their business plan.”
“We were told by the (Kansas) governor that we couldn’t work,” she said. “I was quarantined five times, two weeks each time from different places of contact.”
“When you can’t work, you have no income,” she said.
She and her husband, Rick, live in Uniontown and in addition, own a large building there.
“We revamped a small portion of his hobby space,” she said.
The building is located at 104 Sherman, just off Uniontown square. For an appointment call 620-224-7251.
Jayhawk Wind project staging area is located at the intersection of Hwy. 39 and Hwy.3, southwest of Fort Scott.
The Jayhawk Wind power project is progressing in Bourbon County.
The following is an update from Julianna Pianelli, development manager for Apex Clean Energy, based in Charlottesville, VA.
Q: Will you give an update on the progress of the wind power farm in Bourbon County, KS?
A: “Construction is underway; we are currently installing access roads and recently completed the laydown yard (located off Highway 39, west of Highway 3), where our core project staff and job trailers will be located. We are now beginning to excavate the foundations for the wind turbines.”
The laydown yard of the Jayhawk Wind farm project is located at the Hwy. 3 and Hwy. 39 in southwestern Bourbon County.
Q: Who is the contact on the ground here in Bourbon County?
A: “The construction site manager for Apex is Tharon Anderson.”
Q: Are there still jobs available and what is the contact?
A: “IEA, the project’s contractor, would have information about job openings and other construction-related information. Please come to the construction office at the laydown yard located near the Highway 39 and Highway 3 junction for more information.”
Q: When will we start to see them going up?
A: “The turbine components will begin arriving on-site at the end of July, and the erection will begin shortly after that.”
Q: When will it be completed?
A: “ The anticipated completion date is in Q4 (fall) 2021.”
This graphic pinpoints the turbine placement. Submitted graphic.
SEK Muliti-County Health Department, located at 6th and Lowman Streets, Fort Scott.
SEK Multi-County Health Department lead nurse, Alice Maffett BSN, RN, is retiring after 20 plus years.
“I have worked in public health for over 21 years besides working as a clinical nurse in different settings such as obstetrics and gynecology, ophthalmology, orthopedic and psychiatric medicine,” she said.
Alice Maffett. Submitted photo.
“I have always enjoyed the aspect of public health even when I was in nursing school,” she said. “Public health allowed me the opportunity to work with my community partners and to further good health practices in this county.”
She did this through immunization clinics, teaching health-related subjects in schools, disease investigations, and public speaking to community groups.
“The best part of working in public health was the people in our community I got to help every day,” she said.
” I can honestly say that the most challenging issue that I’ve had to face with my job has been the COVID outbreak,” Maffett said. “At one point I was working seven days a week from early morning until the evening. This virus has just been relentless. I believe it has wearied all of us.”
Maffett’s last day officially with the SEK Multi-County Health Department will be June 26.
“I will start a new chapter in my life from that point and I’m excited to see where God will lead me,” she said.
“Thank you to all the many, many community members and organizations that I have had the privilege of working with during my time in public health. I will miss them all,” Maffett said.
Bartelsmeyer Jewelry is moving from1519 South National Avenue to 22 North Main Street in downtown Fort Scott, on June 18.
Bartelsmeyer Jewelry, 22 N. Main Street.
“In February 2014, my wife Cindy and I purchased 22 North Main in downtown Fort Scott,” owner John Bartelsmeyer said. “Cindy had a dream of renovating the upstairs into a loft apartment that we could enjoy as we move towards our retirement years.”
“Now that we are moved into our apartment, we have enjoyed watching the new growth and life these past few years have brought to Fort Scott’s historic downtown area,” he said. “We are so excited to help continue this revitalization as we move our storefront back to Main street. We hope that the Fort Scott community is as excited as we are and will continue to be supportive of all our downtown business!”
“We are planning for our first day open at the new store to be June 18, 2021,” he said.
A sign on the door of the newly renovated space at 22 N. Main, the site of the new Bartelsmeyer Jewelry store.
“We are planning to sell the store at 1519 S. National after we have moved to the new 22 North Main location,” he said. “We hope that the new business owners will enjoy this building as much as we have!”
A History of the Jewelry Store
“Our jewelry store has been in business operating under the name Bartelsmeyer Jewelry since 1963,” John Bartelsmeyer said. “However, our store was first opened under the name ‘F Whiles Jewelry & Watches’ in 1904. The store was later purchased by Ova Newberry who grew up with my father, M. H ‘Bart’ Bartelsmeyer. “
“They learned the watchmaking trade together as young men,” Bartelsmeyer said. “Mr. Newberry asked my father to come and help him get caught up in 1939. My dad was on his way to go to work in Denver. He came to Fort Scott to help Ova, but they never got caught up. My father stayed and worked with Ova until he died in 1963.”
“Ova’s wife sold my dad the business and it became Bartelsmeyer Jewelry,” he said.
John Bartelsmeyer is the owner and bench jeweler of Bartelsmeyer Jewelry. Submitted photo.Cindy Bartelsmeyer, and her husband John, are the owners of the business. Submitted photo.Krysta Hulbert is the store manager. Submitted photo.Jenna Bond is a sales associate. Submitted photo.Emily Farrington is a sales associate. Submitted photo.Anna Laubenstein is a sales associate. Submitted photo.
Employees currently are John Bartelsmeyer-owner and bench jeweler, Cindy Bartelsmeyer-owner, Krysta Hulbert-store manager,
Jenna Bond-sales associate, Emily Farrington-sales associate, Anna Laubenstein-sales associate, and Julie Kibble-sales associate.
THRAM’s Antiques and Collectables is located next door to Bronson Locker in Bronson, KS. Photo credit: Facebook
In a collaboration with local business owners, the Bronson Locker has started a Saturday shop day and is inviting local vendors and the public.
The street in front of the locker at 504 Clay Street, Bronson, is the venue and the dates are every other weekend: June 5th and 19th, July 3rd and 17th, and 31st, and Augusta 14th and 28th.
“The purpose of the sale is to bring local vendors and the community together to shop and support local,” Mandie Ericson, one of the sponsors of the event. “And It’s a way to bring the community together in general.”
“What this last year has taught us is that we are a strong country and small business in America is vital and the backbone of America,” she said. ” We want to keep pushing local vendors and small businesses.”
“For some people, (the COVID-19 Pandemic) negatively impacted them with a lack of farmer’s markets or events to sell at, so we want to attract more people into Bronson as well as help other vendors in need.”
“We are looking for more vendors to make this grow,” Erickson said. “We plan on continuing this every year!”
“Bronson is centrally located so we are trying to bring people in from Allen and Bourbon county to take advantage of our location being surrounded by small towns,” she said.
“So far we have the locker open for retail meats, the antique shop is open, Perry’s Pork Rinds, fresh farm honey, homemade pies, homemade jams, Super Poop and Highway 54 Buildings, and other vendors,” Ericson said.
“A local restaurant, The Chicken Shak offers a 10% discount for anyone that comes, and we match their discount if they have eaten at Chicken Shak,” she said.
According to court records, on May 5, 2021, the City of Fort Scott was presented with a waiver document.
“The waiver that you are referencing has nothing to do with the merits of Ms. Pruitt’s claims,” according to Forest Rhodes, a partner with Foulston Siefkin, Wichita, who was the referral to contact given from the City of Fort Scott. “It is simply a procedural tool that allows the plaintiff to avoid having to engage someone to formally serve the complaint on the City. In a nutshell, the City has agreed to voluntarily accept service of the Complaint, which also allows it to avoid the potential of having service costs imposed against it.”
“In terms of next steps, later this month the City will file an Answer that responds to the allegations in the Complaint,” Foulston said in an email. “Sometime after the Answer has been filed the Court will set a scheduling conference in order to establish a schedule for the case.”
Pruitt has requested a trial by jury, according to the March 21 document.
“It’s too early to know when a trial might be scheduled but the various litigation activities that occur prior to trial often take as much as a year or more, so it’s unlikely that any trial would be scheduled before Summer 2022, although that’s all subject to the court’s determination.”
Shawn O’Brien, president of the Good Ol’ Days Stearing Committee has some good news and some bad news.
“Bad news- our carnival had to cancel due to staffing issues,” he said. “We have been very fortunate to get bounce houses to place on the grassy area north of the blockhouse, east of Luther’s BBQ (at Oak and National Avenue). The bounce houses will be free for all kids. There is a wide variety for all ages. Come check them out.”
The 40th annual Fort Scott event continues on with a parade, foods galore, talent and baby contests, live music, vendors lining Main Street, displays, tournaments, a petting zoo, a zip line, balloonist, and Friday and Saturday street dances- something for everyone.
In addition, there are other freebies:
Vendors lined Main Street in 2017.
“We will have a movie night on Friday and Saturday around 8:30 p.m. at sunset at Skubitz plaza,” O’Brien said. “We will have a different movie each night and free popcorn.”
Movies chosen by a poll on the Good Ol’ Days Facebook page are “Twister” and “Grease,” he said.
Kids can get a free t-shirt.
“We will have tye die t-shirts for the first 150 kids,” O’Brien said. ” Thanks to Modern Woodmen Insurance, Highway3 and Shirt Shack for their generosity.”
“We will also have caricature drawings and balloon artist for free,’ he said.
W. Jackson Tough, 52, is the new Fort Scott Tourism Manager.
“I have some commitments related to my position as the El Dorado Springs, Missouri Chamber of Commerce CEO/Executive Director so I will be full-time as of Monday, June 21,” Tough said. “However, I do plan to attend some functions and meetings to immerse myself into the new position before the start date.”
“I’ve spent quite a bit of time around Fort Scott the past two and a half years since my wife, Michele Love Tough is a life-long resident,” he said. “We reside just south of town, adjacent to the family farm near her parents, Bob and Joyce Love.”
“I’ve spent many years in marketing and promotion, from broadcast media in Springfield to promoting businesses and communities in a rural area.,” Tough said.” I’m a native of El Dorado Springs, Missouri which is just about thirty-six miles east of Fort Scott.”
Tough has been the CEO / Executive Director at El Dorado Springs, MO Chamber of Commerce – from September 2012 to June 2021.
“As the El Dorado Springs Chamber of Commerce Executive Director, I was deeply involved in our community on many levels,” he said.” I participated on many boards and committees; Discover More on Route 54 which promotes the US Highway 54 corridor from Jefferson City to Nevada, the Opera House Theater board which is about maintaining the historic theater and promotion of the arts (especially for our youth), the El Dorado Springs R-2 Schools Capital Improvements Committee, the Spring City Revitalization Group as well as all of the committees through the chamber organization.
“I really look forward to taking an active role in Fort Scott as well!”
“I developed professional networks, created marketing plans for our organization and community, and united business and community leaders,” Tough said. “Along with our members and staff, I developed and coordinated community events including National Day of Prayer, Clean-Up El Do Campaign, Annual Excellence in El Dorado Springs Awards Gala and coordinated monthly chamber luncheons for 50-60 attendees.”
“I also developed and implemented tourism activities, attractions, and events including Patriot Parkway – forty-eight US flags (on 48 utility poles) along a one mile stretch of US Highway 54 in El Dorado Springs, Spring City-Wide Sale, Labor Day Weekend 100 Mile Sale from Camdenton to Nevada, Spring City Spooktacular is a Halloween event that draws hundreds to the community, Christmas Parade, Lighting Celebration, and our annual Holiday Expo among others.”
“I Initiated and coordinated community betterment projects, published a weekly e-newsletter, and I’m the primary administrator for our social media and press releases,” he said.
Before that, he was the marketing and events director for Spring City Revitalization Group (El Dorado Springs, MO) from October 2006 to August 2012.
In this job he developed and coordinated marketing and events for downtown revitalization including grants, an annual chili cook-off, summer concert series, and more, he said.
From 1999 to 2005 Tough was the station and sales manager for Clear Channel Communications (Springfield, MO).
In this position, he designed marketing strategies and promotional events with staff on behalf of clients to increase their business revenue and market share, as well as managed daily sales operations for US97 and ESPN 1400. He was also an on-air personality and voiceover production.
Tough attended El Dorado Springs, MO R-2 Schools, and Missouri State University.
Tough has a new bride, Michele Love Tough, two daughters in college, both studying in the medical field, two “bonus” daughters, one in El Dorado Springs and one in Frederick, Maryland and three grandsons.
“I see a lot of opportunities here and I believe Fort Scott has so much to offer visitors! ” Tough said. “I know quite a bit about the community but I also believe I bring “fresh eyes” to the community and to our tourism.”
Financial assistance and sliding fee discounts are available to eligible patients, as stated on the front door of the CHC/SEK Clinic in Fort Scott.
Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas, Fort Scott, is still in the planning stage of the new site they purchased, the old Price Chopper store at 2322 S. Main.
“Planning on the renovation of Price Chopper is going smoothly,” Krista Postai, CEO and president, said. “It will have walk-in care along with regular medical clinic space and diagnostic, including x-ray, CT-scanner and bone density diagnostic equipment, offices for behavioral health/addiction treatment staff and other support staff and a drive-through pharmacy.”
Krista Postai. Submitted photo.
“No start date for renovation, as of yet,” Postai said.
“To help offset the expense of renovation, CHC/SEK was the recipient of a $1.1 million federal grant through the American Rescue Plan,” she said. “A large portion of the diagnostic equipment will also be covered by an $11.3 million grant that CHC/SEK received through the American Rescue Plan for Health Centers program.”
New Family Physician Is Added
“Dr. Sarah Bradshaw, a board-certified family physician with additional training in treating allergies will be joining the Ft. Scott Medical Staff in June,” Postai said. “Dr. Bradshaw is a graduate of the University of Kansas School of Medicine and completed her residency in Family Medicine at the University of Missouri of Kansas City. She also has a Master’s degree in Public Health from the University of Kansas School of Public Health. She was formerly employed by Allen County Regional Hospital.”
“Her time will be initially split between Iola and Ft. Scott,” she said. ” Her schedule is now being finalized and more details will be available this week.”
