Tag Archives: featured

USD 234 Retirements

May 20, 2021 Loretta George Leave a comment

USD 234 Board of Education Building, 424 S. Main

USD 234 has a slate of personnel retirements this school year which ended May 13, an unprecedented year in education because of the COVID-19 Pandemic.

The following teachers responded to an email request to feature them on fortscott.biz.

Kyle Parks was the Fort Scott High School Agriculture Instructor
from 1983-2021.

“My entire career was at FSHS,” Parks said. “I truly enjoyed working with youth that had ties or interest in the agriculture field. They are more mature, responsible and just a blast to be with compared to the non-ag students. I also enjoyed the teachers and admins at the high school. They are a great bunch to work with.”

For Parks, the last year with the COVID-19 Pandemic has been a challenge.
“The Covid and Zoom (classes) and other newer technology was a struggle for me,” he said.

RoAnn Blake has been a third-grade classroom teacher at both Winfield Scott and Eugene Ware Elementary Schools in Fort Scott from 2008 until 2021.

“The best part of teaching was seeing the students every day and sharing with them in their successes,” she said.

*The most challenging was making sure each student’s needs were met, even with all the bumps in their paths.”

Sondra Ruhl taught Special Education at Eugene Ware Elementary School from 2012-2021.

“In 1987, I worked as a paraeducator at Winfield Scott Elementary School for 12 years,” she said. “Then I moved to the high school where I worked for three years. I then went back to college and earned my Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education. I was hired in Missouri and taught Special Education for eight years while getting my Masters Degree in Special Education Teaching. In 2012, I was hired to teach Special Education at Eugene Ware where I have been for the last 9 years.”

“The best part of teaching is seeing my students have that ‘Aha’ moment when they were finally able to understand a concept that used to be hard for them,” Ruhl said.

“The most challenging part of teaching is all of the paperwork that goes with teaching special education,” she said. “This year has been the biggest struggle with Zoom meetings and the challenges that came with COVID teaching.”

Donna Davis has been a special educator at Winfield Scott Elementary School from 1995 to 2021.

“I graduated with my bachelor’s degree from Missouri Southern State University in psychology/special education in 1982,” she said. “I began teaching special education grades K-2 in Missouri from 1982 to 1995. I received my master’s degree in early childhood special education from Pittsburg State University in 1994. I came to Fort Scott in 1995 to teach the special education preschool and finished my teaching career as the first-grade special education teacher at the end of this 2020-21 school year.”

For Wilson, the best part of teaching has always been the children. “Watching them learn and grow has given me great joy throughout the years. I have always loved my job and I will truly miss it!”

A challenge has been teaching during the pandemic, she said.

“Missing out on the end of the 2019-20 school year was very difficult for both the students and teachers.”

Martha Clements was the 7th Grade Social Studies Teacher

from 1989-2021.

“I have taught all 32 years as an FSMS 7th-grade social studies teacher,” she said.

“The best part of teaching for me was being able to share with my students a subject I had been excited about since I was their age,” Clements said.

“Teaching was the challenge I pursued and I have truly enjoyed that challenge.”

Ronda Peterson has taught for 36 years.

She taught eighth-grade math for 19 years (2002-2021),

5th grade for three years (1998-2002), and 4th grade for 14 years (1985-1998).

“The best part of teaching was being around kids,” she said. “They are so full of energy! I loved it when I saw student’s eyes light up when they realized they grasped the concept. I also enjoyed watching students helping their friends understand different concepts.”

“Teaching is a profession where students learn but those working with children also learn. I have a greater appreciation for the saying, ‘You learn something new every day.’ I hope I continue to learn something new every day in my retirement. My colleagues also made going to work one of the best parts of teaching!”

This school year has been a challenge for many teachers.

Not only did teachers have to learn to teach distance learners through Zoom meetings and the troubles that go along with loss of internet or connections to students, we were also to continue to have live in-class learning. There was a lot of struggling with this type of learning and we had to adapt sometimes several times a day.”

“There was a lot of new technology we were forced into mastering, whether we wanted to or not. Wearing masks 100% of the time was difficult at best. Many times, we had to remind students to pull their masks up, even though we did not want to wear masks either. Trying to socially distance 14-year-olds is a task many people would find impossible to do.”

“I am sure I will miss teaching….the students, the colleagues, the field trips, the good times. But I am thinking I am going to enjoy retirement….time with family and time to relax.”

Patty Giltner was the 7th grade English Language Arts teacher 6th-8th grade English as a Second Language teacher at Fort Scott Middle School from 1995 until 2021.

” I have been teaching in Fort Scott for 26 years,” Giltner said. “Prior to that, I was employed by Tri-County Special Education and worked as a para-educator in Fredonia schools for 13 years.”

“One of the best things about teaching was having the opportunity to spend my days teaching and building relationships with all of my students over the years,” she said.

“One challenge of teaching was making sure I provided the best possible learning experiences for all of my students while meeting their individual needs.”

Continue reading USD 234 Retirements →

Fort Scott, Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce

Campbell Receives Mayor’s Citizenship Award

May 19, 2021 Loretta George 1 Comment

At the Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce Annual Awards Dinner on April 29, the City of Fort Scott honored Craig Campbell with the Mayor’s Citizenship Award.

Mayor Josh Jones thanked Campbell for the many volunteer hours he has given the community and his willingness to help others, in presenting the award to Campbell.

“Fort Scott is a better place to live, work and play because of you,” Jones said. “You are the definition of what a public servant is!”

Campbell is a Fort Scott native and has worked for Mercy Health Systems for 21 years, according to a press release from Jones. The first 15 years he served as the director of the hospital pharmacy. The last six years as the Mercy Pharmacy Performance Improvement Director for 35 hospitals and 27 retail pharmacies. He will retire from Mercy on June 30^th, 2021.

Campbell has been involved with the Good Neighbor Action Team for about ten years, which has helped improve over 200 local properties, according to the press release.

“During the East Wall Street Blitz, there were close to 300 volunteers who worked on 32 properties painting, repairing porches, install energy-efficient windows and doors, and hauling over 30 loads of yard debris,” Jones said in the press release.

“In 2021 they are focusing on grants for older citizens who meet income guidelines to be used for bigger projects and working with the Codes Department when issues arise where they can assist,” Jones said.

Campbell and his wife, Jane, have four children: Ryan, Brett, Trevor, and Jenna.

Campbell is a graduate of Southwest Oklahoma State University School of Pharmacy.

He is a board member of the Healthy Bourbon County Action Team, a board member of Bourbon County C.A.S.A., and a board member of the Fort Scott Area Community Foundation.

He also serves as an Elder on the Session at the First Presbyterian Church.

Art, Entertainment, Fort Scott

New Mural at Gunn Park by Artist Stephen Toal

May 18, 2021 Loretta George 3 Comments

Stephen Toal in front of the mural he created at Gunn Park for the public to enjoy. Submitted photo.

Stephen Toal saw some graffiti on the wall of the lower level under the No. 1 Shelter House at Gunn Park and decided to use his artistic abilities and do something about it.

“Someone had written some hate graffiti on the wall and I felt the need to cover it with something positive,” Toal said.

“I had spoken with Josh Jones (Mayor of Fort Scott) about doing the project,” Toal said.

One can have a picnic and feed the ducks while enjoying the new mural under the largest rock shelter house in the park, Shelter House #1.

He used his own art materials and spent about 10 hours on the project, he said.

Stephen Toal described himself as ” a long time resident of Fort Scott, a husband, father of three and three step-children.”

Steven Toal and his wife, Stacy, Submitted photos.

Toal also said he is a “recovering addict/alcoholic, who has been clean and sober three years”

“Art is a way to express myself and helps me stay clean,” he said.

The colorful mural is a depiction of springtime, Toal said.

COVID-19, Fort Scott, Schools

USD 234 Extends School Year To Get Jump Start on Next Year

May 17, 2021 Submitted Story Leave a comment

Selected Fort Scott students will be offered extra learning opportunities this summer. Transportation will be provided free of charge to students and additionally, food service will be provided free of charge to students, according to USD 234 Superintendent Ted Hessong.

“We will have Extended School Year (ESY) for special education students (Pre-K – 11), Extended Learning Opportunities for general education students (Pre-K-11), and JumpStart for preschool students,” Hessong said.

“ESY is a program we have offered in the summer for several years for special education students,” he said. “Special education staff work with students based on their individual learning needs.”

“This summer will be the first time in a few years, we have offered extended learning opportunities for general education students,” Hessong said. “With the use of ESSER II funds provided by the federal government, we will be providing summer learning opportunities to get a jump start to next school year.”

ESSER Funds were established by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act,(CARES) the core purpose of the ESSER II Fund is to provide direct money to states and districts to address the areas most impacted by the disruption and closure of schools caused by COVID-19, according to the website https://www.nj.gov/education/ESSER

Students will focus on academic target areas based on academic data collected during the school year, Hessong said.

“This academic data comes from the MAP assessments our district utilizes as well as state assessment data from this current school year,” he said. “The ESSER II funds allow us to provide these learning opportunities to address academic gaps identified for individual students to help them be more prepared for promotion to their next grade level.”

” Each building will have general education staff provide the learning opportunities for identified students,” Hessong said. “This is not mandatory for identified students, but we hope parents and students understand our goal is to strengthen their child’s academic progress going into the next school year.”

“For several years USD 234 has provided a JumpStart summer program for preschool students going into Kindergarten,” he said. “The preschool receives a grant that provides funding for the JumpStart program. Identified preschool students are provided an opportunity to get a head start going into kindergarten, which will help them to be better prepared to be successful in kindergarten.”

Summer offering schedule:

Dates: July 20 – August 6

Location: Middle School (except for JumpStart)

Days: Monday – Friday

Time: 8 a.m. – noon.

Format:

Preschool – 8 – 11 a.m. at the preschool.
Jumpstart – at Winfield Scott Elementary from 8 to 11 a.m.
Primary (K-2) – 8 to 10 a.m.
Intermediate (3-5) – 10 a.m. to noon.
Middle School – 8 a.m. to noon.
High School – 8 a.m. to noon. (credit recovery)

Business, Fort Scott

New Fort Scott Business: Spyder, Inc.

May 14, 2021 Loretta George 2 Comments

Nedra Barr started her insurance career at age 16 in Fort Scott, and this week announces that she is bringing her new business home.

“I started my insurance career in Fort Scott while in high school,” Barr said. “After a great career in the insurance industry, I started developing software that served this market. I’ve designed various software products serving this industry. It’s very exciting to develop the Spyder (her new company) product. It will help producers and home offices modernize, digitize, standardize and simplify their business.”

She is the Cheif Executive Officer of Spyder, Inc., and Sharon Ross, Charlotte, SC, is the Chief Operating Officer, with Bob Peacock, Denver, CO the Chief Technology Officer of the business.

Sharon Ross from the Spyder, Inc. website.

Bob Peacock, from the Spyder, Inc. website.

“All three of us are software executives in the insuretech/fintech industry,” Barr said. “I am an award-winning software executive. I have won a Top 50 Tech Visionary award in 2019, a Top 50 Tech Leaders award in 2021, and last week named one of the most impactful women in technology,” she said.

See the feature of her award here: https://www.analyticsinsight.net/The-10-Most-Impactful-Women-in-Technology-2021-Volume-5/#page=1

“Once our offices are ready, I will be spending lots of time in Fort Scott as well Sharon and Bob,” Barr said.

The office is located at 102 W 2^ndSt, Fort Scott, with hours of 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Contact Barr at 620-531-0368.

“The first two Spyder products will be released in June,” she said. “The first two products will be cybersecurity device certifications and a document storage solution that is purpose-built for the insurance industry. Additional products will be coming in the fall timeframe as well.”

Barr has led teams and guided technology firms for many companies, including SunGard Insurance Systems, Insurance Technologies, Experian, and Docupace Technologies. Most recently, Nedra was Chief Revenue Officer for Skience,

See the business website: www.spyderloop.com

The Spyder logo, taken from the website.

” We are excited to get our software company going strong to contribute to the economic growth and employment of Fort Scott,” Barr said. ” We believe we will be hiring employees in the fall timeframe. We will work closely with the Healthy Bourbon County initiative and the Chamber of Commerce to contribute to the well-being and beautification of Fort Scott.”

Bourbon County, Business, Food

New Venture For the Shead Family: Organic Homestead Festival

May 13, 2021 Loretta George 2 Comments

The Shead family, minus three grandchildren who hadn’t been born yet. Submitted photo.

Larry and Vickie Shead are opening their farm next week for the community to view the organic homestead they have created.

All the Sheads will be helping on the day of the Organic Homestead Festival, including themselves, their adult children and their spouses, along with their 20 grandchildren.

The Organic Homestead Festival has several purposes.

“To share our family farm’s story-touring the farm, which will be laced with the history….to show our gardens, orchards, high tunnel, animals, bees and others, to supply ideas and information from what we learned in 43 years, to stir up interest in sustainable organic lifestyle, to sell products: produce, plants, kittens and poultry, to serve lunch for hungry people, to strengthen the community with other like-minded people and to sign-up for future classes,” Vickie said.

The event is scheduled for Saturday, May 22 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. with single tickets-$5 or a family, $20.

A walking taco meal will be available for an additional $5.

Vickie Shead inside the high tunnel greenhouse on their farm.

To view a Shead YouTube on spring planting:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1dk-j18Ox5Y

Education is an important part of the Shead farm. Pictured is a graphic depicting all parts of a carrot, with the plant featured below the graphic.

Part of organic farming is natural pesticides. Pictured is a praying mantis nest.

This old turkey was roaming free on the farm on May 7.

There will be a SheadStead Market Store with fresh produce picked that day, veggie powders-which add nutrients to any meal, Guatemala sun hats, egg-gathering aprons, and herbal salves.

Vickie Shead demonstrates the egg apron’s usefulness. The aprons will be for sale on the day of the festival.

In addition, they will be selling some of their animals: peacocks, turkeys, chicks, ducklings, and kittens.

Poultry will be for sale at the Organic Homestead Festival.

“We have always been a farm where people would come to learn and help,” she said. “Now, we have seen an increase in people asking us for information on how to grow their own organic fruits and vegetables.”

Rows of vegetables on the Shead farm on May 7.

“Gardening and homestead-type living off the land are becoming very appealing to many because of the uncertainty of our future and the number of chemicals farmers are using,” Vickie said. “Many are asking if we will teach them…to plant, harvest and preserve, which includes canning, dehydrating, and freezing, as well as have one’s own meat and eggs.”

“There will be lots of fun for the whole family,” she said. “Questions and answers session on sustainable organic lifestyle..for adults.”

“In the children’s areas, they can…milk a cow and learn how to churn cream into butter, pet the animals in the petting yard, take pictures in photo cut-outs, hear a story about working on a farm, gather eggs…play educational games and meet Kernal Corn himself!” Vickie said.

The Shead farm is located at 2468 Cavalry, Garland, south of Fort Scott.

For more information:http://sheadfarm.com or 620.224.4149.

Bourbon County, Business, Fort Scott, Jobs

Center for Economic Growth: Focus on Health and Economic Stability

May 12, 2021 Loretta George Leave a comment

The group that set up an office on the second floor, above the Star Emporium Downtown General Store, 17 S. Main, has changed the name, but not services.

“The partners that made up the Bourbon County Workforce and Entrepreneur Resource Center (BWERC) have decided to name ourselves The Center for Economic Growth,” Jody Hoener, director of the center, said. “We have the same space, model, operations, and services that were provided before.” The one exception is the Bourbon County Commission is not a part of the partnership, she said.

“Our mission is to increase access to physical activity and healthy food, promote tobacco cessation, enhance the quality of life and encourage economic growth,” she said. “We wanted our program and name to tie directly to our mission.”

“The Healthy Bourbon County Action Team Board and our partners re-branded our collaborative efforts,” Hoener said. “Our work to build healthy communities and address the social determinants continues, with health and economic stability as the focus of the center.”

“Specifically, we are working with community members and our partners on economic stability,” she said.

“Priority is given to those businesses owned by low-income, minority, female, or veteran,” she said. “Pittsburg State University Small Business Development Center uses the U.S. Small Business Administration small business definition…typically 500 employees or less with less than $5m in profit in a two-year period.”

Jody Hoener at her desk at the Center For Economic Growth, 17 S. Main, second floor.

“Poverty and low income are drivers of poor health,” Hoener said. ” Bourbon County is a rural community… with higher rates of poverty. Our community has seen low investment and low upward mobility in employment. We are working to create economic opportunities to generate wealth and income for Bourbon County residents.”

The partner organizations are the Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce, Fort Scott Community College, Kansas Works, Pittsburg State University’s Small Business Development Center, and BAJA Investments.

Hoener’s work as the Bourbon County Economic Director ended in March

Continue reading Center for Economic Growth: Focus on Health and Economic Stability →

Church news, Food, Fort Scott

10 Years of Ministry: Feeding Families in His Name

May 11, 2021 Loretta George Leave a comment

First United Methodist Church at Third Street and National Avenue,

Feeding Families in His Name celebrates 10 years of ministry on May 11, 2021.

“We started the ministry because of a seen need of school children being food insecure,” Jean Tucker, coordinator of the weekly meal, said.

“Tom Braker had the idea ten years ago and gathered a group of people who started the program on May 11, 2011,” she said. “The administrative board of the First United Methodist Church voted unanimously to start the program.”

The meal is offered each Wednesday evening at 301 S. National, the Fort Scott First United Methodist Church from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m.

“From May 11, 2011, until March of last year we served the meal in the basement Fellowship Hall,” she said. “This allowed us to visit with the families and get to know them and their needs other than a hot-home cooked meal. Now we must visit with them as they drive through.”

Feeding Families in His Name offers a meal to Fort Scottians each Wednesday evening.

“Since the beginning of COVID-19 restrictions, we have served to-go-meals only,” Tucker said.

“The ministry has extended past the serving of a meal,” she said. “Some of our dinner guests have become our valued weekly volunteers. We believe that the meal is a delivery system for God’s love!”

Currently helping weekly are Tom Braker, Steve and Susan Cole, Tom Coyan, Joey Beerbower, Linda and Leroy Cox, Betty and Pat Galan, Koyle Link, Lisa Robertson, Phyllis Colthart, and Don and Jean Tucker, plus a group of 15-20 dessert bakers who bake one or two desserts every week, Tucker said.

St. Martin’s Academy students clean up after preparing and serving the meals for Feeding Families in His Name on May 5 . From left to right: Oliver Stover, Jack Costanzo, Deneys Lategan, and Aidean Harris. In the background is volunteer Tom Coyan, who is responsible for FFiHN food inventory and kitchen. Submitted photo by Steve Cole.

A different group helps with the entrée and serving every week.

“The first Wednesday (of each month) is St. Martin’s Schoolboys; the second Wednesday during the school year, the Community Christian Church, under the direction of Gail Sackett, alternates with the First United Methodist Church; the third Wednesday is the Nazarene Church Small Group, under the direction of Gretchen Goodyear; the fourth Wednesday is the First Presbyterian Church under the direction of Alesha Martin and Sandra Cowan, and the fifth Wednesday is Pioneer Kiwanis under the direction of Kelly Collins,” she said.

The amount of meals served has grown.

In March 2011, the ministry served 44 meals, on March 10, 2021, they served 281 people a meal, Tucker said.

“The most we have served is 422 meals on a Wednesday last November,” Tucker said.

” I just did some math and the number of meals served since we began May 11, 2011, is over 98,000 and we have averaged 1,233 meals each month for the past year,” she said.

The ministry receives funding from the Fort Scott Area Community Foundation.

For more information, contact Jean Tucker, Coordinator of FFiHN at 620-223-4617 or church office at 620-223-1950

Bourbon County, Schools

West Bourbon Elementary: A Music Program Following COVID-19 Protocols

May 8, 2021 Loretta George Leave a comment

West Bourbon Elementary School Principal Vance Eden worked the soundboard, while WBE Music Teacher Rhonda Allen welcomes the audience to the spring program of kindergarten through third-grade students on May 3.

Rhonda Allen has taught music for 39 years, with 30 of those at West Bourbon Elementary School in Uniontown.

“I teach pre-k through 6th-grade general music and junior high choir,” she said. “I also accompany the high school choir.”

Second-grade students enjoy their teachers Sheryl Fry and Brenda Gleason hamming it up during a performance.

But Monday’s kindergarten through third-grade spring music concert was not the normal spring concert at WBE.

It was held outside on the front porch of the school, with parents and the community invited to bring blankets or lawn chairs to enjoy the performances, because of the COVID 19 pandemic restrictions.

The audience brought lawn chairs and blankets to watch the performances.

The idea was born out of some recommendations and some experiences, Allen said.

“There were recommendations by the National Association of Music Education, that outside is a safer place to make music,” she said.

Last fall the district had outside performances in the local park.

“We had an event held last fall in Uniontown City Park by the 4th and 5th grades, and the junior high and high school music and art students called Art in the Park,” Allen said. “It was very successful.”

“And we knew, an outdoor venue would not require us to limit the audience for these young performers,” she said. “An indoor program would be limited to four audience members per participant.”

At the end of each class performance, parents came to retrieve their students. They could then leave or stay for the entire concert.

So plans were made for the annual spring concert with fingers crossed and prayers to God for good weather.

“It was a delight to be able to have a spring program this year,” Allen said. ” At the beginning of the school year, performances seemed unlikely. We were very thankful that the rain held off!”

Third-grade students performed on the kazoo.

“I feel the outdoor venue was a success,” she said. “Many seemed to enjoy the relaxed atmosphere as they watched the kids perform.”

Allen feels performing music is important.

“Performance skills are an important part of the elementary music curriculum,” she said. “I was grateful to be able to teach those skills in this unprecedented year.”

Covid impact on Music Education

“A study done in the summer of 2020 revealed the amount of aerosol, how Covid is spread, created while singing or playing an instrument was significantly higher,” Allen said. “Music education was deeply impacted by this discovery. Social distancing, masks, and bell covers on the ends of instruments were some of the protocols followed.”

“Until late February, I traveled to each classroom, teaching from a cart,” she said. “This changed my curriculum and the activities I normally used to teach music concepts. It was different, but it was doable. Though it was challenging, I learned new skills and had the opportunity to discover new, and sometimes better, ways to teach music skills.”

Bourbon County, Health Care

Uniontown Medical Clinic Open For Patients

May 7, 2021 Loretta George Leave a comment

Lori Reith, left, medical assistant, and Stephanie Hallacy, nurse practitioner, stand in front of the newly opened Girard Medical Center of Uniontown Clinic.

Uniontown’s new medical clinic is open for patients as of May 4.

The staff has been in the building for a month, working on the accreditation process which was completed.

The clinic staff received accreditation this week.

“There was a soft opening for four weeks,” Medical Assitant Lori Reith said. “We have seen 20 patients.”

The official title of the facility is the Girard Medical Center of Uniontown Clinic.

The building is located south of the USD 235 football field, at 401 Fifth Street. The phone number is 620-756-4111.

Clinic hours are 8 a.m to 5 p.m. Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday. The clinic is closed each day between noon and 1 p.m.

On the front door of the clinic is a list of the summer holiday schedule.

Reith is in the clinic on Tuesdays doing bookkeeping, she said. “I can schedule appointments, answer questions and fill out new patient forms.”

Stephanie Hallacy is the nurse practitioner and Reith is the medical assistant of the clinic. Candi Adams is the director of clinic operations, with Dr. Adam Paoni the medical director.

Hallacy is a family practice nurse practitioner, who will be offering primary care to the community in western Bourbon County.

Hallacy has worked for Girard Medical Center since 2013 as a nurse practitioner in their clinics as well as its walk-in clinic, she said in a prior interview.

From 2006-2014 she was a flight nurse for EagleMed.

Prior to that, she worked as a registered nurse in an intensive care unit in Oklahoma from 1994 – 2006.

Nurse Practitioner Stephanie Hallacy works on charting at her desk in the Uniontown Clinic.

Hallacy received her 1994 associate degree in nursing from Grayson County College in Denison, TX, her bachelor of science in nursing from the University of Oklahoma, and her master of science in nursing from Pittsburg State University in 2012.

To see a prior story on Hallacy, click below.

Stephanie Hallacy: New Nurse Practioner At Uniontown Clinic

Medical Assitant Lori Reith works at the front desk at the Uniontown Clinic.

Reith’s education was as an emergency medical technician but was cross-trained in the lab and as a medical assistant. She was a phlebotomist for 15 years and recently worked for the Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas in Iola.

Reith is married to Uniontown Junior High/Senior High Principal Mike Reith.

Medical Assistant Lori Reith stands in the laboratory of Uniontown Clinic.

A sign on the door of the clinic states a mask must be worn.

“It is a walk-in clinic, but also primary care,” Reith said.

Other services:

rapid testing for strep, flu, COVID-19

urinalysis, urinalysis for pregnancy,

hemoglobin tests,

tetanus shots,

blood draw,

monitor of blood pressure,

steroid shots,

stitches and

referral of patients.

“We are also able to do sports physicals free for the month of May, Reith said. “We can do pre-school physicals. We offer immunizations, but those need to be scheduled.”

A patient exam room at the Uniontown Clinic.

Business, Fort Scott

Star Emporium Closes in Downtown Fort Scott

May 6, 2021 Loretta George 4 Comments

Star Emporium Downtown General Store owner Bill Michaud announced the closing of the store after four months on a May 5 post on its Facebook page.

The store is located at 17 S. Main and featured grocery store items and a deli.

The Star Emporium’ was formerly the Kress Store in Downtown Fort Scott. Submitted photo.

Starting today all items in the store will be 20 percent off, then Friday and Saturday-40 % off, then Monday-60 % off.

“It’s an awful feeling for something that I had such high hopes to make a difference in the elevation of the retail climate downtown to be shut down so quickly,” Michaud told fortscott.biz. “The perishable inventory and low sales level pushed us to this.”

Michaud is working on a new chapter of the storefront in downtown Fort Scott, though.

“We certainly hope that Fort Scott comes out and helps us liquidate our inventory this Friday and Saturday,” Michaud said. “We will be closed on Mother’s Day and most of what’s left will be offered for sale at 60% off on Monday.”

“We are very hopeful that all perishable and frozen items are purchased so that we can shut down the refrigeration equipment,” he said. “IF our sale is successful, Monday will be our last day open.”

“We will open the deli and sell sandwiches on Monday to utilize as much deli meat and cheese as possible but the salad bar will not be open.”

“We will keep our regular hours during the sale – 10 a.m. – 7 p.m.,” he said.

What is on the horizon for you at this storefront?

“Since its inception, this project has been about aiding the growth of our downtown, addressing the limited food access in this part of the community, and giving local producers a place to sell products,” Michaud said. ” We’ve done all those things, but we have unfortunately learned that our business model was not financially sustainable.”

“Because this project was funded in large part by the SPARK grant (A COVID-19 relief grant) funding that we received, we have always viewed this as investment in the community, so we have an obligation to figure out a different business model that is sustainable and still helps us with the objectives set forth by that grant program.”

Food Producers Co-Op

“The new model we are working to put together will be more of a producer’s co-op type format,” he said. “We are looking for people who produce products of all types in our region that are looking for a marketplace.”

“We will begin hosting producer meetings soon and form a co-op model together to create that marketplace at the store,” Michaud said. ” There are still more questions than answers on how this will come together but we will navigate the questions together with the producers to create a model that the group feels will be sustainable and beneficial for all involved.”

“We’re getting more community involvement in hopes that we can attract more broad-based support and offer more products that people will go out of their way to buy than was offered in the previous grocery store model.”

Licensed Commercial Kitchen

“Our current deli will become available as a licensed commercial kitchen in which space may be reserved for co-op members, as well as others, to rent in order to produce products that are able to be sold to retailers.”

“Currently there is no licensed commercial kitchen available for use in our community for small quantity producers or that can be used as a food-based business incubator,” Michaud said. “This opportunity will allow someone to start small and develop a base business prior to expanding into a larger space such as a restaurant, bakery, or other food production facility.”

“With great resources in our community such as the Center for Economic Growth on the second floor of the (Star Emporium) store and the Chamber of Commerce E-Community loan program, we hope to continue to pursue the economic impact goal that was one of the purposes of the SPARK program.”

Bourbon County, Business, Fort Scott

New Bourbon County Eco Devo Director: Rob Harrington

May 5, 2021 Loretta George 2 Comments

Robert Harrington. Submitted photo.

On Monday, May 10, Rob Harrington will begin as the newly created position of Bourbon County Economic Director.

Harrington, 40, has 13 years of experience in economic development and civil investment.

Currently living in Houston, MO, Harrington is the economic director there. He has a wife and four children.

The Harrington family. Submitted photo.From left: Ostin, his wife Kathryn, Rob, Braley, Hunter, and Avery.

“His office will be in the Landmark building,” Gregg Motley, chairman of Bourbon County Economic Development Council, said. “That may be temporary, but we would like him to take ownership of a final domicile.”

Harrington has a bachelor’s of science degree from the University of Phoenix in business and has been a retail company business manager and in politics, he said.

He has a master’s degree in economic development practicum and certification from the Advanced Economic Development Leadership Program sponsored by the University of Clemson, Texas Christian U., Southern Mississippi U., and New Mexico U.

He is currently finishing a master’s degree in public administration from Park University, based in Parkville, Mo.

“I am facilitating a rural economic development class in the Kansas City portion, for the Advanced Economic Development Leadership Program.”

For Harrington, the best part of his job is “Knowing if I do my job right, the person with no job, can get a job and provide for their family.”

Challenges of Economic Development

The number of members in a family has decreased, which for this generation means fewer workers, Harrington said.

People his parent’s age are retiring, and there are not as many people in the working-age group, he said.

“Also in rural areas, is ‘brain drain’ in the 1990s and early 2000s,” Harrington said. This is where young people left their rural areas to find higher-level wages.

That is changing because of quality of life issues like cost of living and crime, and many in urban areas are seeking smaller towns, he said.

“And in my opinion, the COVID-19 Pandemic has changed the way people look at being in densely populated areas,” he said.

Work ethic also comes into play.

There is a work ethic problem when you can stay at home and receive money, he said.

“There will still be some who would live off the system,” he said.

Harrington has been president of the University of Missouri Extension Board and treasurer for the Houston Community Foundation, along with several other groups in his community, he said.

“My kids are active in our school, where we live,” he said.

In his spare time, he likes to hunt and fish and is a Kansas City Chiefs and St. Louis Cardinals fan.

Harrington will have a forty-hour workweek, Motley said

“We are not disclosing salary, as we are a private entity,” Motley said. “Funding is from a budget from the county (Bourbon County Commission).

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