A new ranch and farm supply store opened on April 1, two miles south on Hwy.69 at 2187 Hackberry Road.
Producers Cooperative Association, of Girard, is the owner of the store.
Inside the new PCA Store on Hackberry Road, just south of Fort Scott, off of Hwy. 69. Submitted photo.
“All of your farm and ranch retail supplies, along with livestock feed, vaccines, pet food, fencing supplies, livestock equipment, and more,” will be offered at the store,” said Manager Kaylee Johnson.
Submitted photos of the Producers Cooperative Association’s new store in Bourbon County.
“There was a soft store opening on April 1st with a Grand Opening to follow on May 8th,” she said.
Left to right: Brock Howser and Will Wunderly, two of the employees at the PCA Store in Bourbon County. Submitted photo.
The Location Supervisor is Will Wunderly, with three other employees.
In August 2024, the Producers Cooperative Association leadership began the process of expanding into Bourbon County, Wunderly said.
He said that the building was previously a tractor dealership.
Submitted photo of the PCA store.
Why a store in rural Bourbon County?
“With our main office being located just to the south, in Girard Kansas, we chose to expand with our growth into Bourbon County,” Johnson said. ” We have multiple customers in Bourbon County and saw it as an opportunity to expand our services for our customers.”
For more information: 1-800-442-2809 (option 8 for Fort Scott) or
Larry Rogers said he “always figured that they would be taking me from my shop to the undertakers”, and that he would continue the auto repair shop work he had done for 37 years until he died.
But he couldn’t find workers to do the jobs that needed to be done.
“With what we do, put vehicles back to pre-crash conditions, we have to have people that can follow directions and come to work,” Rogers said. “Getting people to show up was a problem, more for younger applicants.”
“It wasn’t something we planned on doing, it was the turn of events,” he said.
“There should be five workers in the building, it ended up just Ryan and I,” he said.
“We had hired and trained workers, but not for over one year.”
His son, Ryan, has worked with him for 17 years.
“He was going to take over, but decided he’d go to work for someone else and let them have the headaches (of not having enough workers).”
Rogers quit taking on more auto body repair work at the end of October 2024 and had enough work on the books until the end of January 2025.
“I’ve talked to plumbers, mechanics, electricians, and they also couldn’t find anyone willing,” he said. “Things were tough before COVID-19. After COVID-19 we didn’t have many applicants. It used to be you’d have people stopping in to ask if we were hiring.”
“There used to be tech schools to train people on auto body repair…a lot of them have closed down.”
Nationwide
It is a nationwide problem, according to an article from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.
Employers are facing unprecedented challenges trying to find enough workers to fill open jobs. Right now, the latest data shows that there are 8 million job openings in the U.S. but only 6.8 million unemployed workers.
If every unemployed person in the country found a job, we would still have millions of open jobs.
Some of the factors for this, according to the article are:
Early retirements and an aging workforce
Net international migration to the U.S. is at its lowest level in decades
Lack of access to child care.
Some opened their own businesses.
Increase in savings: higher-income and savings bolstered people’s economic stability.
Future for Rogers
“I’m not retired, said Rogers, who is 63. “I still own the Alignment Service, east of this building.”
Ryan went to work for a car dealership in Olathe in March, doing bodywork.
“I am basically trying to get ready for an auction, probably in June,” he said. “Trying to sort out and clean out the building. After 37 years in the business, there is a lot of stuff. The building will be for sale.”
“I don’t know what I’ll do after that,” he said.
Rogers bought the business from Frank Burchett in 1987 on East Wall Street. The building isn’t there now because of the new Highway 54 route. He built the current building at 120 W. 19th and opened his business in July 2003.
As high schools around the country look for ways to help students meet the two-year foreign language requirement, Fort Scott and Uniontown have come up with an innovative way to offer a new exciting option by pooling their resources to hire a new teacher for “pirate talk” classes at both highschools.
“It was really hard to find a teacher qualified to teach pirate speak,” said a school administrator who was hard to identify on this particular date. “Especially because most people who are good at speaking pirate, are usually looking for watery waves and less amber grain. But we are proud to announce that we’ve managed to procure the services of Captain Barnaby Blackwater as a teacher for the 2025 to 2026 school year.”
When asked about the compensation package offered Mr. Blackwater, the administrator seemed a big hesitant and mumbled something that sounded like “rum, doubloons, and more rum…” but it wasn’t clear exactly what they were trying to say.
Mr. Blackwater agreed to a short interview to answer some questions.
Captian Barnaby Blackwater, what convinced you to give up the high seas to come teach our high school students how to speak like a pirate?
Arrr, that be a fine question, matey! Truth be told, sailin’ the high seas be grand, but when the good folk o’ Bourbon County waved doubloons and barrels o’ their finest rum under me nose, ol’ Barnaby couldn’t resist!
Mind ye, I’m still scratchin’ me beard ’bout the notable absence o’ oceans ’round Kansas—makes sailin’ me ship, the Salty Grammar, mighty tricky—but the thought o’ teachin’ landlocked lads and lasses the sweet tongue o’ piracy warmed me black heart. And between you an’ me, I’ve a notion to recruit a few sturdy seniors to crew me ship once their diplomas be in hand! Harrr-harr-harr!
Some people say that learning pirate speak isn’t comparable to learning a foreign language and students should be required to learn more traditional languages. What do you think of those claims?
Arrrr, poppycock and bilgewater, says I! Pirate speak be as foreign as any tongue sailed across the seven seas. Why, me hearties, Pirate speak is brimmin’ with culture, tradition, and adventure—enough to put French or Spanish to shame!
Besides, when was the last time ye heard o’ French helpin’ ye find buried treasure, or Spanish teachin’ ye how to properly swing a cutlass and shout fearsome insults at yer foes, eh?
Will Pirate Speak help students get positions in the job market?
Arrr! A wise query indeed, matey! O’ course Pirate speak be useful in the job market—more useful than a parrot that can recite poetry, I’ll wager!
Think o’ the skills these young buccaneers’ll master: assertive communication (“Hand over the doubloons, ye scallywag!”), leadership (“Hoist the mainsail and ready the cannons!”), negotiation (“Five barrels o’ rum or I be walkin’ away!”), an’ teamwork (“All hands on deck, ye salty seadogs!”).
Plus, should traditional jobs fail ’em, there’s always plenty o’ room aboard me ship, the Salty Grammar. Ol’ Captain Blackwater always be lookin’ for hearty new recruits with a flair fer proper Pirate speak! Harrr-harr!
Painting of Captain Blackwater’s ship, the Salty Grammar
Lori Bolton Fleming. Taken from the kscourts.gov website.
Governor Laura Kelly announced on March 4 the appointment of Judge Lori Bolton Fleming to fill the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Henry Green on the Kansas Court of Appeals, according to a press release from the governor.
That is the second of four steps in the process of filling the vacancy.
The next step was for the Senate Judicial to pick her for that role and the final step is for approval from the Kansas Senate, sometime in the next few weeks, Fleming said in an interview.
Fleming is a Fort Scott High School graduate and also taught there for a year, she said.
She was inspired to attend law school by some of her students who were in the foster care system.
“They were involved in the juvenile justice system, and I hoped to advocate, be a good voice for kids,” she said.
Bolton Fleming lives in Pittsburg, Kansas, and is the Chief Judge for the 11th Judicial District, which includes Cherokee, Labette, and Crawford counties.
“I am confident Judge Bolton Fleming will be an exceptional addition to the Kansas Court of Appeals,”Governor Laura Kelly said in the press release. “Her extensive legal career, commitment to public service, and strong reputation will make her an excellent Court of Appeals Judge.”
Fleming’s Background
Governor Sam Brownback appointed Bolton Fleming as a district court judge in 2012. As a district court judge, she handles a wide variety of cases including felony criminal, child in need of care, Chapter 60 civil, and domestic cases. She has conducted jury trials for high-level criminal and civil cases as well as bench trials and has frequently been invited to sit with the Kansas Court of Appeals and the Kansas Supreme Court to hear and assist in deciding cases. In total, she has rendered opinions in 38 cases as an assigned appellate judge.
Bolton Fleming was appointed as chief judge by the Kansas Supreme Court in 2021. In this role, she oversees the operations of the 11th Judicial District, which covers five courthouses in southeast Kansas. As chief judge, she is responsible for the creation of the 11th Judicial District’s first recovery court and serves as the administrator of the program.
“It is my honor to be selected by Governor Kelly to serve on the Kansas Court of Appeals,” said Fleming. “I intend to work hard every day to be the best possible appellate judge for all Kansans.”
She has spent her entire legal career in southeast Kansas and would be one of the few rural voices on the Kansas Court of Appeals. The majority of the justices come from Wichita, Topeka or Kansas City.
“I feel it’s important to have rural representation on the Court of Appeals,” she said.
Prior to her judicial appointment, Bolton Fleming served as an assistant county attorney in Crawford County before specializing in legal research and writing for Spigarelli Law Firm. She then practiced with Wilbert and Towner law firm, working on criminal, civil, juvenile, business, adoption, and probate cases.
Bolton Fleming is active in her local community through many volunteer efforts, including partnering with Pittsburg State University to create a pre-law internship program to help address the rural attorney shortage. She has also served on several Kansas Supreme Court committees, including the Rural Justice Initiative, the Pretrial Justice Task Force, the Kansas Digital Evidence Advisory Group, the COVID Jury Trial Advisory Group, and the Cybersecurity Committee.
Prior to joining the legal profession, Bolton Fleming served as an elementary music and English teacher at Fort Scott High School and Leavenworth Public Schools.
Bolton Fleming graduated from the Washburn University School of Law in 2001, where she served as the editor-in-chief of the Washburn Law Journal. She earned a bachelor’s degree in music education from Pittsburg State University in 1996.
When two wrestlers wrestle each other, both wrestlers must weigh within one weight class of each other. You win a match by pinning your opponent, by scoring more match points than your opponent, or by disqualification if your opponent breaks certain rules. according to the website.
According to her dad, Mike Miles, Luci Miles, a 6th grader at Fort Scott Middle School, folk wrestles for Paola Panthers Wrestling Club, a kids’ youth wrestling club. She has been wrestling since she was five years old.
She was coached by Brett Martin, Darvin Willard, and Travis Allen.
Kids Folkstyle Wrestling season is from late October to March. They compete on weekends throughout those months at various tournaments in the states of Kansas, Missouri, and Oklahoma, according to https://usawrestlingevents.com/event/2500013602
The Kids State Wrestling competition is always a couple of weeks after Kansas High School State contests, with a tournament every year in Topeka.
“You have to qualify from your district and place top four to make it to the state tournament,” Miles said. “Luci has won District 1 five times in a row. She has been in the state finals for the past five years. She has been runner-up for the past 4 years. This year she finally broke through and won the under 90 lb. girls division.”
The 2025 Kansas Kids Folkstyle Wrestling State Championship Tournament was March 14-16 in Topeka.
The tournament features wrestlers in four age divisions, boys and girls: 8 and under (8U), 10 and under (10U), 12 and under (12U), and 14 and under (14U). This tournament aims to provide a platform for showcasing boys and girls in age groups wrestling talents. As young wrestlers from around the country gather, they will compete with the top competition around the country with hopes to becoming National Champions, according to the website.
Regi Casner is back to teaching fitness classes in Fort Scott once again, after a hiatus during the pandemic.
Her classes are at the Buck Run Community Center and also in Mound City, where she lives.
“I am teaching at Buck Run on Mondays and Fridays. I teach a 10:15 a.m. stretch class and a 12:15 p.m. Align/Pilates class.
“The stretch class moves slow and the Align/Pilates class flows through yoga poses with some strength work and Pilates blended in,” she said.
“The target audience age is 40-60s. I have a couple in the 30’s. I was hoping the noon class would be helpful for gals still working, and taking a lunch break.”
She will offer a free introductory class in April and early May.
About the Instructor
Casner “has taught fitness classes for a long time, completed a ton of training over the years, and wellness is my career and lifestyle,” she said.
“I first fell in love with group fitness when I took a step class in college(Pittsburg State University). It was love at the first step and downbeat.”
“The Fitness Nook was started because I believe small towns also deserve great fitness classes and the opportunity to sculpt, stretch and sweat together! “
“I love teaching group classes for many reasons. My top three are: 1. seeing people show up for themselves, and then realize than can do more than they think they can… and then doing it. And doing it again. It’s more than the mountain climber or plank. It is about showing up. 2. Sweating together is just downright awesome, especially when the music and company is good. 3. Helping people feel better in their bodies.”
“I’ve been married to Mat for almost 30 years, we have four grown adult children and one granddaughter (all of the above are my favorites). Besides the studio in Mound City, I work as the Wellness Coordinator at Johnson County Community College in Overland Park, and teach fitness in Fort Scott.”
“My own personal fav workouts are: a strong yoga class, and a Pilates/Barre class-with some decent weight work included—and a great playlist. “
“I really do enjoy burpees, I don’t like mountain climbers (even though we almost always do mountain climbers). I love jumping jacks and backbends, I don’t enjoy twists, esp. twists in chair pose.”
If interested in classes, please send her a message
“And if you were interested until you read the words: burpees, mountain climbers, and/or jumping jacks, come to stretch class. Those words and actions are never mentioned there.”
Matthew Wells, president of the Friends of the Fort Scott National Historic Site, told the Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce about the consequences of the recent cuts to the National Parks Service by President Donald Trump at the weekly coffee on March 13.
Wells encouraged the community to call their elected representatives to tell them how important the fort is to the city of Fort Scott, with the historic site averaging 25,000 tourists a year.
In a later interview, Wells said that currently, Fort Scott National Historic Site is operating with less than 50% of its normal staffing levels.
“This has led to multiple-day closures of the park, a drastic cancellation of all interpretive programs, and a significant reduction in staff-led tours and educational events, that have historically been at the heart of this site’s appeal,” he said. “All of the activities that the Fort personnel do every year have been cancelled. But they are still trying, as staffing will allow, on a case-by-case scenario, to find educational opportunities with educators. With this loss of staffing, the essential public services and programs that are critical to the park’s mission have been disrupted, resulting in a diminished visitor experience.”
Wells said the reduction in staffing and closures have far-reaching consequences.
“As a gateway community, Fort Scott relies heavily on tourism dollars and taxes, with Fort Scott National Historic Site being one of the primary attractions drawing visitors. These cuts not only harm the park but also undermine the economy of the entire region, negatively affecting local businesses, hotels, restaurants, and other tourism-related services. The loss of visitors directly impacts local revenues, jeopardizing the livelihoods of residents and business owners who depend on tourism as a vital part of their income.”
“This ongoing situation is causing irreparable harm to Fort Scott National Historic Site and our community. With all Government credit cards being limited to $1, vital repairs can no longer be accomplished. Even the purchases of everyday items such as toilet paper are not possible, and trash services have been disrupted as payments cannot be made. We fear that if these issues are not addressed promptly, the future of the park could be in jeopardy, as could the economic and cultural vibrancy of our town. The historical significance of Fort Scott is irreplaceable, and we cannot afford to lose this essential part of our heritage, nor can we afford the continued erosion of the tourism-based economy that sustains our community.”
“Right now, two of our Friends (of Fort Scott National Historic Site organization ) board members are volunteering to keep the visitor center open,” Wells said. “Friends members are working multiple days a week. Both of them have taken the specialized training required by the federal government in order to be volunteers in that capacity. Others are volunteering as living historians to roam the grounds and to keep the smallest amount of interpretive program growing. Friends of the Fort is active and helping the fort in any way that we can.”
Carl Brenner, FSNHS Program Manager said the fort will be open to the public Friday through Tuesday from 1/2 hour before sunrise to 1/2 hour after sunset. On Wednesdays and Thursdays, the fort will be closed because of a staffing shortage, like last summer. During these times, the buildings will be closed but the public can walk the walking trails in the park.
Brenner referred this reporter to the Midwest communication contact person, who referred to the news media contact at the National Park Service. There has been no response to questions that were sent as of the time of this publication.
To contact the representatives(taken from the Bourbon County Kansas website:
U.S. Senators for Kansas
Roger Marshall – (Republican)
PO Box 1588
Great Bend, KS 67530
(202) 224-4774
Jerry Moran – (Republican)
PO Box 1372
Pittsburg, KS 66762
(620-232-2286
A crack repair project on U.S. 69 in Fort Scott is underway this week. The 2.1-mile project area starts at 23rd Street and continues north to U.S. 54. Traffic is reduced to one lane at the work zone, according to a press release from KDOT.
“They are moving pretty fast on it,” said Priscilla Petersen, public relations officer with the Kansas Dept. of Transportation in Southeast Kansas. “It is a crack repair with asphalt.”
“There are alternating lane closures for U.S. 69 traffic at the work zone. There should be no significant delays to traffic. The work should take one week, weather permitting,” she said.
Pavement Pro’s of McPherson is the contractor. The cost of construction is $81,593.
The Healthy Bourbon County Action Team office located at 104 N. National.
The first meeting of the year for the Fort Scott Farmers Market is on March 11 from 6-8 p.m. in the Healthy Bourbon County office at 104 N. National, directly across from the pavilion where the farmers market occurs.
“This is a business meeting for returning vendors only,” said Teri Hamilton, spokesman for the group. “We’ll be discussing finances and voting on leadership. One can pay for the season and put in location requests.”
On April 17, from 6 to 8 p.m., there will be a vendor welcome meeting.
“This meeting is for new and returning vendors,” she said. “We’ll go over market guidelines, talk about the SNAP program and accept applications and fees for the season.”
Fees remain the same from last year:
$5 registration fee, $5 per week booth rental, or $108 for the full season from May until October.
The Downtown Pavilion is at the corner of National Avenue and Old Fort Boulevard. The pavilion houses the Farmers Market on Saturdays from 8 a.m. to noon, and Tuesdays from 4 to 6 p.m.
The farmer’s market moved to the new Downtown Pavilion in 2024.
“The first year under the pavilion was great,” Hamilton said. “All of our vendors saw an increase in our sales. It didn’t matter what the weather was like, people came to shop and visit. We are so thankful for it.”
New this year is the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.
SNAP provides food benefits to low-income families to supplement their grocery budget so they can afford the nutritious food essential to health and well-being, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture website.
“This is for people who qualify for Food Stamps,” Hamilton said. “Any who has SNAP can use it at the Fort Scott Farmers Market.”
Venors interested in joining the 2025 Fort Scott Farmer’s Market season are welcome to the April 17 meeting.
The farmers market is open on Saturdays from 8 a.m. to noon and Tuesdays from 4-6 p.m. at the Downtown Pavilion at North National and Old Fort Boulevard starting the first Saturday in May, this year it’s May 3, and ending on the last Saturday in October, this year it’s October 25.
Voters yesterday approved an improvement plan for USD 235.
In 2021, Uniontown’s school district board of education had an engineering study in which they identified needs to be addressed, Superintendent Vance Eden said.
In November 2023 there was a bond issue put before the patrons of the district. That bond proposal failed, but the board felt that they still needed to address the issues pointed out in the 2021 study.
“The board came up with the money in the capital outlay fund to improve the agriculture department at the high school,” Eden said. “That took the majority of what they had in capital outlay.”
“The board didn’t have the cash to take on the other needs,” he said.
All graphics are from the Uniontown School District Facebook page.
Yesterday, March 4, another bond issue was presented to the patrons for approval, that has a $1,250,000 price tag with no annual tax rate increases for property owners.
It passed, with 67 percent of “yes” votes
“I’m glad the community had some consensus,” Eden said.
The next step in the process is that the finance team works with the Kansas Department of Education, with engineering and architectural work being approved, he said. Then contractors are sought for the construction and bids are let.
There are three components to the project: a new preschool building, a new fire alarm system at the high school, and a new front door area at West Bourbon Elementary School that is ADA and security compliant.
The fire system and front door areas should be completed by the start of the 2025-26 school year, Eden said.
The build of the preschool will take from 6-12 months and will likely start in the fall 2025.
The preschool program will continue in temporary accommodations until the new building is completed, he said.
Graphic of the unofficial results from yesterday’s voting on the bond issue. 211 patrons voted yes, 104 voted no. Graphic provided by the Bourbon County Clerk.
Uniontown High School houses the district’s school superintendent and board office.
The Preschool Building
The current modular preschool building, which is nearing the end of its usable life, will be replaced with an on-site built facility that will house the preschool and two offices.
Kansas law requires the district to provide special education services for children ages 3 and 4. Slots not filled by special education students are funded by Kansas law for at-risk children.
“After that, we fill with other students, most commonly referred to as model students,” he said.
Up to twenty students for the morning session and twenty more in the afternoon can be served in the district.
Also housed in the new building will be the speech therapist and the school psychologist, “who spend the majority of their time in that classroom,” he said.
The High School New Fire Alarm System
The new high school fire alarm system will replace the outdated one that operates by manual pull stations, which does not notify the fire department should a fire occur while no one is in the building. The new fire alarm system will have heat and smoke detectors and notify the fire department immediately.
The New Entrance Doors At the Elementary School
The current doors do not always close and latch, in spite of frequent repairs, and are a security risk. In addition, they are not in compliance with Standards for Accessible Designs.
19 South Gathering Place Event Venue will be open for family gatherings and more at the end of March, if all goes as planned.
The 2,200 sq. ft. is located at 19 S. Main, adjacent to Main Street Vintage and Co, at 23 S. Main. The owner of both the businesses is Rechelle McClellan.
Rechelle McClellan is the owner of 19 South Event Venue. Submitted photo.
Available with the space are tables, chairs, wifi, and a kitchen for private use that includes a fridge and sink.
Kitchen area. Submitted photos.
The restroom of 19 South. Submitted photo.
“This can be used for baby showers, photography, birthday parties, reunions, family gatherings, and bridal showers,” McClellan said.
We have lots of exciting things that are happening at both locations.
The 2.200 event venue will be ready to rent by the end of March. Submitted photo.
Rentals are available for 4 hours Monday through Thursday for $75 and on Friday-Sunday for $100. For an 8-hour rental Monday-Thursday: $150 and Friday-Sunday: $200.
The venue can also be rented for a minimum of 2 hours for $25 on Monday-Thursday and $35 Friday through Sunday.
For more information, contact Rechelle McClellan at (417) 391-6153
Rechelle McClellan stands in front of 19 South Gathering Place. Submitted photo.
