Free Friday Evening Concert: David Prickett

Ralph Carlson introduces the Friday Night Concert musicians May 18. This evening it was the St. Martin’s Academy Boys Choir.
The Chamber of Commerce sponsored program at The Heritage Park Pavilion, First and Main Streets will feature David Prickett on guitar and vocals.
“David performs gospel, classic country and traditional music,” Ralph Carlson, event coordinator. “He is a regular contributor to our Pavilion music.  I am quite pleased to get him back. Also performing will be Marilyn Adcock and other musicians.”
 The concert starts at 7 p.m. In the event of foul weather, the concert will move indoors at the Common Grounds Coffee Shop.
Come early and bring your lawn chairs as seating is limited.

Bourbon County Leadership Class Graduates

Chamber Celebrates LEAD Bourbon County Class with Graduation

The 2018-2019 LEAD Bourbon County group wrapped up their training with a graduation ceremony at Liberty Theatre Thursday, May 9 at 5:30 p.m. The group consisted of individuals nominated by their employers to participate in the leadership training program called “LEAD Bourbon County.” They have been meeting every month, starting back in September of 2018.

Trainers/Facilitators for the Lead Bourbon County Training were:

Lindsay Madison, Executive Director, Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce

Deb Needleman, SPHR, IPMA-SCP, Director of Human Resources, City of Fort Scott
Robert Uhler, IOM, CAE, Community Development Director, City of Fort Scott

Participants in the LEAD Bourbon County Program included –

  • Zach Adams, Marketing and Customer Service Manager, Craw-Kan Telephone
  • Kellye Barrows, Culture and Customer Experience Officer, AVP, Marketing, Landmark Bank
  • Thomas Cook, Production Scheduler, Timken
  • Lewis Dunkeson, Site Coordinator, Fort Scott High School (Communities in Schools)
  • Scott Flater, Superintendent, Water Production, City of Fort Scott
  • Daniel Koppa, USD 234 Facilities Director
  • Dustin McClure, Vice President of IT, Union State Bank
  • Virgil Peck, Pastor, Fort Scott Nazarene
  • Allyson Turvey CVB, Group & Convention Sales, City of Fort Scott
  • Hope Workman, SAP Data Clerk, Timken
  • Russ Souza, Director of Advising and Retention, Fort Scott Community College

During each monthly session the LEAD Bourbon County group learned new techniques and models of leadership, that leadership is not a position but an attitude, and that everyone can lead. The purpose of the curriculum was to stretch the boundaries of thought regarding leadership and to help each individual learn how to get the most out of meetings, individuals, resources, and circumstances.

The past few months the group has also been working on a community project collecting donations towards purchasing park benches for key locations in the area. The group collected a total of $2,687.50, which was enough to purchase 5 park benches for the following locations: three benches in Fort Scott at Riverfront Park and two benches in Uniontown at the Walking Trail.

The LEAD Bourbon County group would like to thank the following businesses and organizations for their most generous donations towards the purchase of these benches –

  • City of Fort Scott
  • Cheney Witt Funeral Home
  • CrawKan
  • Kiwanis
  • Modern Woodmen Fraternal Financial Chapter 514
  • Timken

The plan is to have the installation of the new benches completed by the end of June.

 

Paint Creek Realty Welcomed by Uniontown Ruritan

Uniontown Ruritan welcomes Paint Creek Realty Owner Linda Wilson, during a ribbon cutting May 11. From left: Luke George, Ruriteen; Joe, Lawrence and Raymond George, Ruritan, Linda Wilson, Paint Creek Realty; Henry Homan and Mark Warren, Ruritan.

Paint Creek Realty owner Linda Wilson was welcomed to the community by Uniontown Ruritan on May 11.

Wilson specializes in agricultural listings and offers client support, financial assistance, market analysis, drone aerial photos, and has been in the business since 2005.

“The market is very strong at the present time,” she said. “We have a demand for sellers with a home on a small acreage outside city limits.”

Linda Wilson, Paint Creek Realty.
Linda Wilson’s business card.
“My goal is helping dreams become reality,” Wilson said. “I want to give a very special thank you to all sellers and buyers for their support.”
Some of her properties for sale:
Imagination Station – 678 Maple Rd Uniontown – 40 Child Care Capacity.
Uniontown Car Wash & Storage  – 111 3rd Street – 2 Bay Car Wash – 20 Unit Storage
Horseman Dream Property – 1000 N Main St. Mapleton – Home, Barn/6 Stalls. Arena, Acreage
Nice Large Victorian Home on 40 M/L Acres – Uniontown Area
Very Well Maintained 160 Acre Pasture/Ponds/Corral/Work Chute/Water Meter
142 Acre Ag Property, Possible 80 Ac to be Tilled/Balance Pasture
Totally Renovated Home in Uniontown – 2 Bed/1Bath
Nice Brick Home in Ft. Scott – Great Location. Updated Recently, 3 Bed/1 Bath
Awesome Ranch Home in Ft. Scott – Very Large Yard
14 Ac Home, Extra Large Shop, Several smaller buildings, On Pavement. Uniontown
Well Established Restaurant in Garnett, Tastefully Renovated – 5,880 Sq. Ft. Bldg in 2009 – Turn Key Operation, 125 Capacity Venue Facility, Area Catering in Place, Living Quarters
View Listings & Other Buyer Information at her website: http://PaintCreekRealtyks.com
Contact her at 620 654 7413.

Presbyterian Village Raises $28,000 For Community Seniors

Presbyterian Village thankful for volunteers, bidders who raised more than $28,000 for community seniors

By Presbyterian Village Executive Director Ginger Nance

While I drove to work this morning reflecting on the many people who helped to make this event possible, my mind quickly went to a story in the Bible (paraphrased to my own understanding) of the three men who were each given a financial gift/s (a talent) and were told to use it to their best ability. After some time, their master returned and asked them what they had done to multiply the gifts (talents and resources) they were given. The story goes on to explain that the men who had used his money and resources to multiply and help the most number of others were blessed beyond measure.

I feel like, in reflection, that is what our community came together to do. We all had small amounts of different gifts & talents that we had been given and we worked together as a community to multiply those small things and we turned them into something great that will help many in need!

A huge thank you goes to the dozens and dozens of volunteers who donated their time baking, boxing and serving delicious cakes, the many who helped set up and be ready for the auction, those who sold tickets, who were live on the radio to tell their story, who donated water, pop, the vacation and items for the auction, those who sponsored, who shared our posts with friends and hung fliers to help with advertising, who boxed dinners, who ran their legs off during the event to get more than 565 meals where they needed to be in the drive-through and lobby spaces, those who auctioneered and caught bids, who directed the flow of traffic and parking, who purchased tickets and bought items at the auction, and the list goes on and on…. without you the success to help our seniors in need would not be possible!

Each task (talent) of those who helped with the Good Samaritan fundraising event, though they may have individually viewed at the time as small and insignificant, made a great impact to our seniors and your gift will multiply beyond what you can see.

Everything seemed to align perfectly for the event. The rain finally broke a few days prior and the weather couldn’t have been more perfect for a nice evening to come together.

A record number of meals were served this year, along with ticket sales for the seven-day vacation to beautiful Santa Fe, New Mexico.

More than $28,000 was raised and will remain in this community to help “bridge the gap” of a financial need that exists today among some of our seniors who reside at the Presbyterian Village.

Thank you” are not sufficient words to express the deep gratitude felt by the outpouring of love and support we witnessed at this event at the Fort Scott Presbyterian Village. Being a part of this community is a blessing that I could only hope others in our world could experience. What an amazing town we live and work in! Thank you to all of you, who together worked to multiply small portions (talents) into something powerful to help others in need.

 

Niece Hosts Chamber Coffee May 23

WEEKLY CHAMBER COFFEE REMINDER
Join us for Chamber Coffee

Hosted by:

Niece Products

Location:

3904 Liberty Bell Rd.
Thursday, May 23, 2019  at 8:00 a.m.
Visit Niece Products’

web page by clicking HERE.

 

Chamber members and guests are encouraged to attend for networking, community announcements, and to learn about the hosting business or organization.
Members may pay $1 to make an announcement about an upcoming event, special/sale/discount, or news of any kind.
Upcoming Coffees:
May 30 – Good Ol’ Days Committee (at Skubitz Plaza)
June 6 – Lowell Milken Center (D-Day 75th Anniversary)
June 13 – Accent Dental
June 20 – Bourbon County Garden Club

Tiger Send-Off Today, May 22 at 9:30 a.m.

FSHS Tiger Baseball
Sendoff to State!
Join along the route!
Decorate your home or business!
See information below.
Sendoff Details
Wednesday, May 22nd, 9:30am
Celebrate the successful season and wish the Tiger Baseball team good luck at the State Tournament! Join us on Main Street between
3rd St. and Wall St. this Wednesday, May 22nd.
The bus will leave the LaRoche Complex
at 9:30am and travel 69 Highway to 3rd St.,
down Main St. to Wall St. and then take Wall St. back to the highway.
This team will be representing our community, so let’s send them off in style!
NOTE:
A limited number of signs and noisemakers will be available at the Heritage Park Pavilion @ 1st & Main St. starting at 9am. We encourage any businesses along the route to show their Tiger Pride as well by decorating their windows, hanging a FS Tiger flag, etc.
Click here for Facebook event.
Click here for FSHS Tiger Baseball FB page.
Game/Tournament Details
Thursday, May 23rd, 11am
The 4A State Baseball Tournament
will be held May 23rd and 24th in Salina.
The Fort Scott Tigers are the #1 seed
and will open the tournament vs. Piper at
11am on Thursday, May 23rd.
Click here for a link to the bracket.
Go Tigers!
Visit www.kombfm.com and click Fort Scott TV to watch the game live or tune in by radio to KOMB FM 103.9.

Westar Energy Recognized as 2019 Best Employer

Westar Energy was recently recognized as one of America’s Best Employers for 2019 by Forbes.

In partnership with market research group, Statisa, Forbes surveyed 50,000 Americans working for companies with 1,000 or more employees. Participants rated how likely they’d be to recommend their employer to other job seekers. Participants also nominated other employers in their industry. Forbes used this information to create a list of the best large and midsize companies. Westar was recognized in the midsize category.

We work every day to create a culture of engagement and inclusion, where our employees can grow and succeed. We’re grateful to be recognized by Forbes as a top employer,” said Jerl Banning, senior vice president and chief people officer.

Career opportunities can be found at www.westarenergy.com/careers-overview.

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About KCP&L and Westar Energy:

Serving approximately 1.6 million customers in Kansas and Missouri, Kansas City Power & Light Company (KCP&L), KCP&L Greater Missouri Operations Company and Westar Energy are the electric utilities of Evergy, Inc. (NYSE: EVRG). Together we generate nearly half the power we provide to homes and businesses with emission-free sources. We support our local communities where we live and work, and strive to meet the needs of customers through energy savings and innovative solutions.

 

Young Entrepreneur: Brian Griffin

A wall inside Brian Griffin’s bike repair facility, Brian’s Backyard Bike Shop, located on Judson Street. Submitted photo.

This is the first in a series featuring young people who found a need and are seeking to fill it with a business venture.

To nominate local young entrepreneurs, send name, phone number/email to [email protected].

Brian Griffin: Bike Fixer

Fort Scott High School Student Brian Griffin, 16, loves all things bicycles.

Brian Griffin works on repairing a bike at his shop. Submitted photo.

” I began fixing bikes because I love bikes, I love to ride, build trails, tinker with bikes, ” Griffin said.  “I’ve even built three bikes from the frame up! It helps me relax in such a stressful world.”

“My training/ experience started at a young age of around eight, fixing chains, airing up tires and other basic stuff,” he said. “I didn’t really get into the hard depths of the hundreds of small parts and how to fix, replace, and maintain them until late 2017, thanks to the help of Frank Halsey and other bicycle enthusiasts!”

 

A business idea came from Halsey.

 “The idea first came to mind by a good friend and mentor Frank Halsey,” Griffin said. “He and I were talking back in the summer of 2017, about an operation to get small kid’s bikes going to make sure kids are on their bikes having fun, instead of finding trouble. I started to buy tools and extra parts and advertising that I’ll fix kid’s bikes for free, which is still in effect.”
Brian Griffin works on a repair with a youth. Submitted photo.
“Last year I came up with the name,” Griffin said. “Brian’s Back yard Bike shop or the Triple B. I chose this name because I started in my back yard. I have since upgraded to my own section of the building.”
Brian’s Backyard Bike Shop
“There are several ways that people can get in contact with me if they wish to do so,” Brian said. “My phone number is (620)215-2247. Or my Facebook page Brian’s Backyard Bike Shop. I’ll also have an Instagram for the shop soon!”
“Thankfully I’m conveniently placed only a few blocks (on Judson Street) away from some of the finest mountain bike trails in Kansas, at Gunn Park,” he said. “So if any anyone has trouble, I could even bring some of my bike shop to them!”
Editor’s note: I recently needed my bike repaired and Brian Griffin did an excellent job-Loretta George

Bourbon County Local News