Tuesday 4-30-2024 Update from the Bourbon County Emergency Management Director Brian Allen.
The following roads are still closed due to high water:
218th from Native to 235th
Xavier east to the state line
205th from Maple to 54 highway
155th & Limestone is closed in all 4 directions.
Limestone Rd from 145th to 175th
155th from Kansas to Maple.
Highway 31 from Fulton to Mapleton is now open per KDOT.
215th & 54 highway is also now open.
The following roads are closed at this time and will be for a longer period of time.
100th & Soldier (culvert washout)
215th Xavier to Yale (asphalt washout)
North Crawford (road west of Pete’s north store going south towards Walnut Hill. (Asphalt & Culvert)
Hackberry 95th to 112th (culvert washout)
60th from Grand to Hackberry (2 bridges out)
215th from Indian to Hackberry (culvert and road surface)
Express 160th to 170th (bridge out)
115th Xavier to Yale (bridge out)
Graphic from the National Weather Service, Springfield, MO, which monitors Bourbon, Cherokee, and Crawford Counties in Southeast Kansas. The Bourbon County flood warning is on the left in the graphic.
Storms this weekend included a tornado and major flooding in Bourbon County.
Because of almost 10 inches of rain, area rivers have gone out of their banks.
The Marmaton River crested at 47 feet on April 28, and is predicted to go back down to 30 feet by Tuesday afternoon, according to Peyton Camden, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service at Springfield, Mo, which monitors conditions in Bourbon, Cherokee, and Crawford Counties in Kansas.
Rain is in the forecast for the rest of the week.
“Depending on how much rain we get, there could be a second crest,” she said.
County roads and city streets in low-lying areas were flooded, but as of today, almost all are passable.
Tornado
A tornado touched down in rural Bourbon County on the evening of Friday, April 26.
“It touched down at about 85th and Poplar Roads on Friday evening,” Bourbon County Emergency Management Director Brian Allen said. One home near Quail Road was also affected, he said.
The Clare George property on Poplar Road. Damage to the roof and windows of the house, left, and several outbuildings, middle and right, in the photo, were affected by the tornado. Photo by Susan George.
Clare George’s home, northeast of Uniontown, had the windows blown out on three sides and some roof damage, plus outbuildings damaged.
Flood damage
Brad Matkin, Fort Scott City Manager said most city streets are reopened following the floods this weekend.
“20th Street from Hwy. 69 to Cooper Street is still closed because of road destruction,” Matkin said on the city’s Facebook page. Clark Street from Wall Street to Third Street is still closed until the manhole flooding stops, and the Fort Scott Lake road by the spillway is still closed, he said. Fort Scott Lake homeowners can access via Hwy. 69 to Hackberry Road.
The city crews are out working to get things back to normal, Matkin said.
This is a drone photo of Gunn Park as of this morning.
Eric Bailey, Bourbon County Public Works Director, referred road condition questions to Fort Scott/Bourbon County Dispatch.
The dispatcher said all roads in the county are open now, but people should be aware there is some damage to the roads.
Local Ponds Were Built to Help With Floods
Dams were built in the 1980s for helping to alleviate the excess water from floods.
Frank Young, the contracting officer for both the Marmaton and Mill Creek Watershed Districts, stated “the watershed dams aren’t constructed with the capacity to totally control runoff from extremely large rainfall events covering the drainage areas above each structure (pond). They will totally control the runoff from a 25 year storm which is around 4.8 inches of rainfall in a 6-hour period. The rest of the runoff from a larger rainfall event than 4.8 inches in 6 hours, will pass through the dam’s emergency spillway with some, but not total, control of that extra runoff”.
” Marmaton WSD has 28 completed structures that control roughly 25% of the total drainage area of the Marmaton River above Mill Creek. Mill Creel WSD has 14 completed dams that control roughly 28% of the Mill Creek drainage area. The two districts together control roughly 27% of the total drainage area above Ft. Scott,” Young said.
“When a huge rainfall event occurs over the entire river drainage area of just over 240,000 acres, over 70% of this area is uncontrolled,” he said. “The combined districts have plans to build structures that would control around a total of 60% of this area when completed.”
“Both Districts have planned structures awaiting permits to construct more dams from the Corps of Engineers,” Young said. Ever since Hurricane Katrina.. permits to construct dams have become increasingly difficult to obtain from these federal agencies. The last major dam construction ended for the Marmaton District in 2015. Since then no permits have been issued by the Corps to allow these Districts to continue their flood protection program.”
“The existing dams were constructed with state of Kansas grant money along with local cost share money raised from mill levies and landowner participation,” he said. “The districts both inspect their dams annually for damage caused by natural and or man-made events and conduct repairs and maintenance as needed to keep them in shape for service during flood events. The districts will again have to inspect the existing structures soon for damage caused by this flood with repairs, if needed, conducted throughout the coming months,” Young said.
Tetanus Shots For Flood/Tornado Workers
Brian Allen said he is working on getting tetanus vaccines from the State of Kansas for any workers who have worked in the flood waters that have inundated the county.
SEK Multi-County Health Department is offering free tetanus shots for individuals affected by the recent flooding. Tetanus shots will be available to impacted residents as well as first responders, volunteers, or any others who have been or will be assisting with recovery and cleanup efforts.
Free tetanus shots will be available by appointment at the SEK Multi-County Health Department in Iola, Garnett, and Fort Scott while flood response continues.
Bourbon County (Fort Scott): 524 S. Lowman, Fort Scott, KS 66701
Tetanus vaccines are recommended for people of all ages. Adults need a tetanus booster shot every 10 years, but health care providers may recommend a booster sooner due to an injury or other health concerns.
Tetanus bacteria are everywhere in the environment, including soil, dust, and manure. Tetanus is most commonly caused by the bacteria getting into the body through broken skin, usually through injuries from dirty objects. During evacuation and flood cleanup, residents affected by flooding, emergency responders, cleanup workers, or volunteers may be at increased risk for these injuries. For this reason, these people should be sure that they are up to date with tetanus vaccination. This can be done by talking with your health care provider or reviewing your vaccination record.
Tetanus is commonly known as “lockjaw,” and is a serious disease that affects the nervous system and causes painful muscle contractions, particularly of your jaw and neck muscles. Tetanus can cause severe breathing problems and in serious cases, lead to death. There is no cure for tetanus.
This is the east entrance to the lake, below the spillway. The road has broken out and there’s a lot of traffic, submitted by Jason Tourtillott.
Bourbon County experienced flooding rain on Saturday evening, 10 Inches, said Brad Matkin.
This is the view towards Wall Street from Hwy.. 69 bypass, in front of Fort Scott Munitions.
In a Facebook post on the city’s page, he said the north end of town is flooded. He contacted fortscott.biz and asked to make this known.
“It’s a bad situation,” he said. “Water rescues are going on,” he said.
Please don’t be out unless absolutely necessary, Matkin said.
Third Street, at the Hwy. 69 bypass, by the railway, is flooded.
The safety of the residents and the public safety personnel is of utmost importance. Sightseeing is not encouraged.
The Marmaton River, which is located on North National Avenue, one of the city’s main thoroughfares, is expected to crest at 45 feet, possible tomorrow.
“That’s one of the highest in history,” he said.
Looking south on NATIONAL Avenue towards the bridge over the Marmaton River.
In addition, the forecast is for more rain this week.
Clint Lawrence, owner of 4C Lawn Care, Fort Scott. Submitted photo.
Clint Lawrence started mowing lawns at age 15 for extra gas money during high school. He is a 2008 Fort Scott High School graduate and a Fort Scott Community College graduate.
Lawrence owns and operates 4C Lawn Care company.
“I offer all of your lawn needs, mowing, weed eating, edging, leaf and limb removal,” he said.
“Family means everything to me so I branded my company name after our family as all of our names begin with C,” he said. “My wife is Chelsea; son is Cole, 8 years old; and son, Chase, 7 years old.”
“After college, I joined the Fort Scott Fire Department,” he said. “Given the shift schedule, I always juggled multiple part-time jobs alongside running my business.”
“This year, I’ve decided to focus solely on expanding my business to spend more time with my wife and kids,” he said.
Clint Lawrence, owner of 4C Lawn Care. Submitted photo.
“With 13 years of experience, I’ve served a wide range of clients in various counties, including commercial, residential, city, and county entities,” he said. “After three previous years of a busy schedule, this year I’m looking to expand my client base.”
“My goal is to grow my business into a reputable company known for exceptional service,” Lawrence said. “I am fully insured and no job is too big or too small. Feel free to reach out to me by phone or text at 620-215-4045 or find me on Facebook at 4C Lawn Care”
Bailey Lyons greets volunteers for the downtown clean-up in front of her Lyons Realty Group office on East Wall. Submitted photo.
The Fort Scott community came out in large numbers for the common good this year, with approximately 160 volunteers to help with the downtown cleanup. The day was a perfect, sunny April day in Kansas, with temps in the upper 60s.
“The community morale and camaraderie among those who have been paired to work together is always wonderful to see,” Bailey Lyons, of the Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce Downtown Committee said. “People working towards a common good is a beautiful thing!”
Some of the volunteers are waiting for instructions. Submitted photo.
Lyons said that two months planning went into pulling off so many projects, with so many volunteers, all in one day.
The day of the clean-up is exhausting, rewarding and humbling at the same time, she said. “Everyone who volunteers has a different background and a different reason for being there, but they have one thing in common – a love for our community, and that always shines through on the day of the event.”
A team of volunteers cleaning the street. Submitted photo.
Workers teamed up to get debris and trash off the streets and out of the alleys. Submitted photos.
A group of Fort Scott Church of the Nazarene Youth, some city workers, and a representative from Walmart with her small daughter weeded the parking lot on National Avenue in the back of the Fort Scott Lofts Apartment buildings.
She said approximately 90 community members- individuals, families, businesses, and organizations- and 70 students from area schools volunteered.
Volunteers clean Main Street. Submitted photos.
“This year brought out the largest number of community volunteers of the clean-up events so far, with representatives from many local businesses, and organizations such as Southwind Extension District 4H Clubs, Fort Scott Nazarene Youth, Pride Club, Kiwanis, Bourbon County Garden Club, and Good Neighbor Action Team. The volunteers also included students from USD-234, USD-235, Fort Scott Community College, and St. Martin’s Academy,” she said. My One Stop provided the t-shirts for the event.
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Judy and Jerry Witt paint benches with a group at Skubitz Plaza. Submitted photo.
One driving down Main Street, National Avenue, Scott Avenue, Skubitz Plaza, and other downtown locations, could see people painting light poles, trash cans, picnic tables, and benches.
Clean-up work at Heritage Park at First and Main Street. Submitted photo.
There were clean-up teams at Skubitz Plaza, Heritage Park, The Splash Pad, the Gathering Square, the Chamber Visitor Center, the parking lot on National, and other downtown areas with people weeding, planting, and mulching.
Neice Products crafted the new sign at the just-finished Pavilion on North National Avenue, and Ron Hurd Constriction installed it.. Submitted photo.
“There were new signs put up for the Gathering Square Pavilion and Farmer’s Market,” she said.
A new sign at the Gathering Square on North National Avenue. Submitted photo.
She said this year there was a large focus on street and alley clean-up, as well.
Volunteers paint a light pole on Main Street. Submitted. photo.
With the addition of the new mural across from the Chamber Office at 231 E. Wall, six downtown murals were completed during the last three years’ clean-up day efforts, she said.
The new mural was painted by from left: Kadra Nevitt, Hayden Travis, Bre Eden, Katie Hueston and Kate Freeman.
Bourbon County Garden Club members oversaw and worked with other volunteers to plant new flowers around the downtown area. Submitted photo.
“This was the third clean-up that the Downtown Committee has put on, and they have grown more each year,” Lyons said. “To date, the cleanups have brought together approximately 450 volunteers who volunteered about 1,350 working hours.”
” I think people have seen that many hands make light work, and it’s an opportunity to be involved in something positive, and people have jumped at the chance to help make a difference,” she said.
Volunteers clean up streets during the event. Submitted photo.
“As a spin-off of this event, I now regularly have volunteer groups reach out asking if I can pair them with a project that could use some extra hands,” Lyons said. “The clean-ups have put on display a variety of different groups that do good in our community, many projects that need continued efforts throughout the year, and a spirit of volunteerism. These three clean-up days have turned into much more than just a few hours on 3 singular days.”
Craig Campbell, Cathy Bishop, Bailey Lyons, Lindsay Madison, and John Crain were part of the committee facilitating the downtown clean-up. Not pictured is Kate Freeman and Katie Hueston who was still working on the mural. Submitted photo.
The downtown clean-up committee is comprised of Lyons,
John Crain, Cathy Bishop, Katie Hueston, Kate Freeman, Craig Campbell, and Lindsay Madison. It is led by the Chamber’s Downtown Division and Good Neighbor Action Team.
Lyons said the committee wants to express sincere gratitude to all the volunteers, businesses, and organizations that make this annual event possible.
For the past two years, a grant from the Elks Lodge primarily funds the clean-up, and one from the Good Neighbor Action Team. They also received a donation from the Bourbon County Arts Council to pay for the mural costs.
Volunteers were fed after the clean-up at the new Pavilion on North National Ave. Submitted photo.
“ The meal that was served to the volunteers at the conclusion of the event was a combined effort from some downtown restaurants Brickstreet BBQ, Sharky’s, Holmtown, Papa Don’s, and Common Ground – the hungry volunteers enjoyed the food after their hard work!” she said.
Local artists who spent several days in the production of this mural on Wall Street, across from the Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce office at 231 E. Wall Street. From left, Kadra Nevitt, Hayden Travis, Bre Eden, Katie Hueston, and Kate Freeman.
For their part, five local artists worked on a mural to beautify downtown Fort Scott, during the Fort Scott Clean-up Day on April 22.
The five artists began working on Friday, April 19, work continued until Monday evening.
“This specific mural was designed to not only showcase the Bourbon County landscape, but be a beautiful backdrop and photo op next to the new arch welcoming visitors into Downtown Fort Scott.,” Kate Freeman, a member of the Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce Downtown Division, said.
“It took about a month, to locate a space, talk to all parties involved, create a design, and execute a plan,” she said. “I would like to thank the Bourbon County Arts Council for donating funds to purchase paint and supplies for the mural.”
The three sections of the mural are from actual photos from Bourbon County. “I used these photos as references for the sketch,” Freeman said.
“We worked on the mural for four days,” she said. “Each of us worked off and on taking as much time as we could spare on the days scheduled. This is a list of painters: Kate Freeman, Katie Hueston,
Kadra Nevitt, Bre Eden, Hayden Travis, Macie Hueston and Kenlee Eden.
“It is always a great experience working with like-minded people who love doing their part to see Fort Scott flourish,” Freeman said. “It was wonderful to see what each artist brought to the table, you can definitely see a little bit of each person in the painting.”
The new Bourbon County landscape mural is located on Wall Street, across the street from the Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce office at 231 E. Wall and just at the base of the welcome arch.
Bre Eden is an art teacher at Winfield Scott Elementary School and Hayden Travis is an art teacher at Eugene Ware Elementary School in Fort Scott. Travis said the school district let them off their teaching duties to do this community service project.
Katie Hueston and Kadra Nevitt are semi-professional artists and Kate Freeman is one of the owners of the local art gallery, The Artificers, and is an artist.
Artists work on a mural on Wall Street during the 2024 Fort Scott Downtown Clean-up Day, The mural is across the street from the Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce at 231 E. Wall.
“This is my first year on the Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce Board, and part of the Downtown Division, along with John Crain, Bailey Lyons & Cathy Bishop,” she said.
Jody Love and Rachel Carpenter, Health Bourbon County Action Team (facing camera) helped with cutting the ribbon for the new arch.
The ribbon cutting for the new Welcome to Fort Scott downtown arch kicked off the Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce Downtown Clean-up project on April 22 at 3 p.m.
From left are Brad Matkin with grandson, Jody Love, Rachel Carpenter and Lindsay Madison. In the background is the new mural going up on East Wall in back of the Ellis Foundation building. The mural was a part of the Downtown Clean-up.
The new arch is near the Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce office at 231 E Wall.
Citizens gather for the ribbon-cutting ceremony of the new welcome arch in downtown Fort Scott.
The welcome arch was grant-funded, with a total cost of $150,000, Rachel Carpenter said in an interview.
Citizens line up for a group photo of the ribbon cutting in the middle of Wall Street beneath the new arch. Hwy.54 traffic (Wall Street) was diverted briefly for the event.
“The Chamber envisioned a downtown welcome sign,” she said. The HBCAT “Involved citizens throughout the process, with public forums, a survey, and was guided by a steering committee.”
Local tradesmen were used for the project when possible, “except for the steel component which was TL Steele of Burrton, KS,” Carpenter said.
The Patterson family and Pathways ended their grant period to the HBCAT with the finalization of this welcome arch project, Carpenter said.
The final stage of the arch project is side-column lighting and lighting of the sign letters, which HBCAT is seeking another grant to finish.
Virginia Barnes, director of Blue Health Initiative, Topeka, speaks to the group..
During the public ribbon cutting, there were several speakers: Chamber CEO Lindsay Madison, Fort Scott City Manager Brad Matkin, Jody Love and Rachel Carpenter with HBCAT and Blue Cross Blue Shield Pathways Director of the Blue Health Initiative, Virginia Barnes of Topeka.
Some of Common Ground Coffee Company’s employees from left to right: Sutton Shelden, Heidi Shrakes, Suzanne Griffin, Sam Burenheide, and Ellen Maher.
Suzanne Griffen, former owner of Twigs and Berries Catering, became a part of the Common Ground Coffee Co. team on March 25
as a baker.
Suzanne Griffin. Submitted photo.
“Suzanne will help keep our pastry cabinet full, along with doing any catering and special events,” according to Stacy Racy, a Common Ground volunteer. “We are excited to fill our calendar with fun events for our community.”
A creation of Griffin, cookie butter cake. I submitted photo.
“You’re welcome to contact Suzanne directly for any of your catering needs or contact Common Grounds at 620-223-2499, according to Racy. “We are excited to see what God has in store for Common Ground over the next year.”
A creation of Griffin, a circus animal cake. Submitted photo.
“I do not have any set hours, but find myself going in almost daily,” Griffin said. “We are combining each of our specialties to work together.”
A dessert by Griffin, ham and cheddar quiche. Submitted photo.
She said her beginning at the coffee shop is bad news/good news story.
She had been working in her catering business from home and wasn’t licensed to do so.
” I knew I was taking a risk, but I really just wanted to be home,” she said. ” I’ve always been a stay-at-home mom. On March 12th, we were served a notice to cease from the Kansas Department of Agriculture. It was disheartening because it was part of the income we relied upon. It was frustrating that whoever felt strong enough to report us, did so and anonymously. It was confusing because everyone who picked up food from me, knew I was working from my home kitchen and didn’t care.”
A chocolate dessert by Griffin., chocolate bundt cake with a shot of expresso. Submitted photo.
Some of her clients in that business were widows who didn’t want to go out to eat alone, families fighting cancer, older couples who didn’t want to cook for just two people, moms who worked and wanted home-cooked meals but were exhausted after working all day, according to Griffin.
“It felt like we were doing more than feeding,” she said. “We were helping fill a gap, building friendships, caring in a way I know how. I really didn’t know what I would do next. Take a job? But I didn’t want to be gone all day. We have two kids homeschooling. Convert the house next door? But then we have additional overhead also.”
” The very next day, Stacy Racy and Heidi Shrakes (the manager)from Common Ground and I chatted,” she said.
“We attend church together at Fort Scott Church of the Nazarene which owns Common Ground and our hearts for the coffee shop align to have a place of ministry and outreach by way of serving our customers and providing a peaceful and encouraging environment to others to gather, study, hang out. For me, to hug as many necks as possible in a day. To put prayers on the prayer wall, to serve delicious food.”
She prays daily for the prayer requests left on the wall in the coffee shop and , “for our foods to stretch, for the calendar to fill up with activites, that God will meet each of our customer’s needs and they will feel loved as they come and go.”
A Griffin charcuterie tray. Submitted photo.
Hours the shop is open: Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. – 7 p.m., and Saturday from 8 a.m. – 4 p.m.
The shop serves coffee, teas, lemonade, drinks, smoothies, and dozens of different syrups which makes the flavor options unlimited, she said.
“You could try something different every day,” she said. “We also have amazing cookies, breakfast sandwiches, wraps, salad, chicken salad, and a mixture of pastries and desserts.”
There are approximately nine employees.
“There are also several that completely volunteer their time,” Griffin said.
Shawn Vincent will start as the new City of Uniontown Clerk on April 29.
Vincent, 50, lives near Uniontown and operates a small cow/calf farm.
He graduated from high school in Manhattan, KS, and is currently working on a bachelor’s degree.
Vincent said he has 23 years of military experience (retired) with over 10 years in human resources. and over three years as a liaison with the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
He was a motor grader operator for Bourbon County for over two years, before that.
He has three children Joshua, Allison (“A.J.”) and Arwin (who passed away in 2018), and has lived in Bourbon County for seven years.
“I am retired military and have enjoyed the peace of living in the country, I moved here from Austin, TX,” he said.
The transition to a new clerk.
Sally Johnson is retiring as Uniontown’s City Clerk.
Sally Johnson, who has been the clerk for 11 years will be training Vincent full-time until the week of May 20, then will continue training part-time “and do other things that have been put on the back burner until the end of the year,” she said.
The city clerk position is complex, she said.
“Per the League of Kansas Municipalities City Officials Manual: The city clerk’s list of responsibilities can also vary dramatically from city to city. In most cities, city clerks are expected to administer records management, assist the governing body in complying with the Kansas Open Meetings Act, assist the city’s records custodian with complying with the Kansa Open Records Act, provide the official correspondence for the city, provide an accurate and complete account of the city’s financial position, and act as a public relations officer on behalf of the City.”
Johnson said there are more duties: “K.S.A. 13-518 established the following as the duties of the city clerk in cities of the first class: attend all meetings of the council; keep a record of the proceedings; record all official acts of the clerk and attest them when necessary; keep and preserve the official records of the city; keep and preserve the corporate seal of the city; keep and preserve all public records, papers, and documents not belonging to any other office; administer oaths; and keep a correct account of the financial affairs of the city treasurer.”
“We are a city of the third class, so as city clerk here you do all of the above and utility clerk, court clerk, human resources, public information officer, oversee animal control and custodial employees, and anything else that is deemed necessary,” she said.
Johnson was hired May 14, 2013 and this will be her retirement as city clerk, she said.
“I am not retiring completely,” she said. ” I will continue working part-time somewhere. I plan on getting my substitute teacher certificate and work when I want and enjoy time off when I don’t want to work.”
Since the pandemic, many people have been looking at a lifestyle that includes purchasing local products and growing their food, or at the least, knowing nearby local producers.
The fourth annual Shead Farm Homestead Festival event will happen on May 18, southeast of Fort Scott. This educational and family-fun event has attempted to help those people.
Photo opportunities will be available at the festival. Submitted photo.
Homesteading is moving towards food security by means of producing one’s own animals and gardens.
Larry and Vickie Shead and their extended family have provided people with an event where people can gather tips on gardening, homesteading, grafting fruit trees, beekeeping, orchard care, and soap-making, and many others.
Vickie and Larry Shead, 2020, from her Facebook page.
This year over 50 vendors related to homesteading, along with family activities are scheduled.
Besides new vendors and activities, there will be a speakers’ tent where people can listen to a question and answer time on various homestead topics.
“A chapel is provided for those who may need prayer or just want some Biblical insight,” Vickie said.
Over 150 volunteers have been working to create a memorable time, on Saturday, May 18, from 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. Tickets are $5.00 each or $25.00 for a family of five or more.
“There will be good old fashion and exciting, memory-making events that young and old will not want to miss,” Vickie said. “There are plenty of places to sit down and relax for a good visit with old friends and neighbors while watching the exciting activities taking place.”
Historical demonstrations to view: blacksmithing, broom making, butter making, wooden spoon making, leather working, rock wall building, and a weaver who demonstrates on an 1864 old barn wood loom, as well as showing how to spin. There will be a Model T Ford and a Model A Ford for viewing with early 1900s music playing on a Victrola nearby.
Educational vendors will share information on growing microgreens, making butter, washing clothes without electricity, creating with macrame, making goat milk soap, milking a cow, making jams and jellies, and creating pictures with pastels. One can also learn about making pottery, sourdough bread, and how to harvest maple syrup. And many beautiful quilts will be on display, she said.
“Children can enjoy the Children’s Center’s huge tent full of new, fun, educational, and exciting activities,” Vickie said. “The little children can gather bugs in their bag and turn them in for a prize. Face painting and a Story Station give a moment of rest for children. New this year will be a huge sand pile with treasures to find. New, also a Kids’ Corner Store with many farm and educational toys.”
An Animal Arena displays donkeys, goats, dogs, cows, sheep, and a pig. Poultry will be roaming the area with peacocks, chickens, guineas, ducks, turkeys, and quail. Children and adults can learn the techniques of roping along with other fun animal activities, and additionally, there will be kittens, rabbits, and quail.
The Food Court has expanded to include pulled pork sandwiches, as well as the festival’s famous Walking Tacos, she said. Snacks are in abundance with kettle corn and homemade potato chips, cotton candy, and bakery bargains. Snack Shack items are dried candy fruits, and many other snacks.
“A variety of refreshing drinks will be available such as hot and cold coffees, cocoa; lemonade, and homemade refreshing root beer,” she said.
“Hope to see you all for this wonderful family and friend’s event,” she said.
An aerial view of the Shead Farm Homestead Festival. Submitted photo.
The powerline was near the Taco Bell restaurant in Fort Scott.
Seventy-two customers and many townspeople were affected by a power outage that started with a downed power line in Fort Scott on April 16, according to customer service at Evergy, the electrical utility.
The power is fully restored to Fort Scott from yesterday’s outage which happened about 12:15 p.m., according to Fort Scott City Manager Brad Matkin.
The wind blew down a power pole on the north side of Landmark Bank across from McDonald’s Restaurant at the corner of Hwy. 69 and 23rd Street, according to Matkin.
Helping with the problem were the Fort Scott Police Department, Fort Scott Fire Department, and Evergy, the utility company, he said.
The estimated restoration time was delayed because of strong winds, the Evergy Customer Servicewoman said.
Typically outages don’t last more than a few hours, but when there are several outages around the state, they could take longer, she said.
Hwy. 69 was shut down and 23rd Street going eastbound was closed, according to the Fort Scott Fire Department Facebook page, yesterday,
U.S. 69 was for a time closed to through traffic between K-7 and U.S. 54 at Fort Scott, according to a Kansas Department of Transportation Facebook page. KDOT was flagging motorists through the scene
William Billings has been mowing yards since he was a child growing up, and started with a push mower as a kid.
Now he has a truck, trailer, and a zero-turn mower, with chainsaws and weed eaters to tackle any job.
Will’s Gutter Service provides weed eater service. Submitted photo.
He has over 15 years of experience mowing and worked for LACO Seamless Gutters for four years as a gutter specialist until the company shut down, he said.
Billings started Will’s Gutter Service last year in Fort Scott.
“The services I provide for the community are mowing yards, gutter cleanouts, gutter inspections and maintenance, tree trimming, leaf and debris clean up,” he said.
William Billings, the owner of Will’s Gutter Service, mows a yard. Submitted photo.
To contact Billings call 620-418-3491.
Billings started the business last year to make extra money for his family, he said.
He is a Turner High School graduate from K.C., Kansas.
William Billings is the owner of Will’s Gutter Service and has four years of experience in gutter clean-outs, inspections, and maintenance. Submitted photo.
