Business, Fort Scott, Government

Price Chopper: No Taxpayer Dollars

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The marquee at Price Chopper on South Main Street Wednesday afternoon, announcing the closure of the store.

Price Chopper announced January 7 that they would close the Fort Scott store on South Main Street.

In addition to Price Chopper closing, Dunkin’ Donuts store and Fort Scott Pharmacy, both located in the main Price Chopper building are closing.

The closure of Price Chopper effects 85 employees, said Mike Massey, store manager.

A sign on the doors of Price Chopper Jan. 9.

“Forty full-time employees, some of whom will be going to other Price Choppers,” Massey said.

“It’s a beautiful store, Fort Scott will miss it,” Massey said with a glum face.

There was a full parking lot on January 9, the first day of the closeout sale of Price Chopper.

Dunkin’ Donuts last day open is Friday, January 11, said employee Franklin Dorres. He said they had eight full-time and four part-time employees.

Fort Scott Pharmacy is closing no later than Jan. 18, said Pharmacist Julie Pellett. “Three out of the five employees will go to Iola. The Iola group offers to provide much of the services we provided to our Fort Scott customers. Call 620-365-3176 for more information.”

The sign on the door of Fort Scott Pharmacy January 9, announcing the closure of the pharmacy.

Question about how the closure effects taxpayers

Fortscott.biz received a valid question from the public on how much local taxpayers have provided for the development of the Price Chopper grocery store.

The City of Fort Scott was given the question, which mentioned Industrial Revenue Bonds, and responded.

” There is no negative effect to the taxpayers regarding the closure,” said Rachel Pruitt, Fort Scott’s Economic Development Director. “Reimbursement is only on incremental tax revenue.  The incentive should motivate the developer (AWG)to recruit new business.  If there is no tax revenue the developer does not receive reimbursement on their investment.”

“The incentives were explained in several commission meetings prior to construction,” Pruitt said. “I found a few notes to further explain the city’s involvement.”

This image was provided by the City of Fort Scott Economic Development Director, Rachel Pruitt.

Pruitt added the following to clarify:

“Local Incentives for Price Chopper Development:

  • Developer-funded project costs  were $9.4MM
  • Reimbursement of up to $2.65MM
  • $1.9MM via Tax Increment Financing (TIF)
  • Incremental real property tax and city sales taxes
  • $750,000 via Community Improvement District
  • .05% sales tax

“The State incentive:  IRB state sales tax exemption on construction materials and labor.

“IRB (Industrial Revenue Bond) was a state tax exemption on construction materials and labor.

There was no federal government incentive involved in the property development by Price Chopper.

“The County incentive:  participation in TIF – incremental property tax revenue reimbursed to AWG (the developer).

“TIF (Tax Increment Financing) District pays the developer on the ‘incremental’ tax revenue.  There is no bond obligation to the taxpayers.”

“They were performance-based incentives.”

Price Chopper opened Dec. 13, 2017

At the Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce Coffee this morning, Jan. 10, Pruitt said even though Aldi’s has been mentioned as a replacement for Price Chopper, that decision is in the hand of the developer.

 

Government, Jobs, Kansas

Kansas Eco Devo Up in 2018

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Kansas Department of Commerce Releases Economic Development Statistics for 2018

Topeka, Kan. – Kansas has had much to celebrate in the area of economic development during 2018, according to statistics released today from the Kansas Department of Commerce. 2018 has been an exceptional year for the Kansas economy, with over 11,000 new jobs and $1.7 billion in capital investment added to the state’s economy.

The Department of Commerce reports it participated in 138 successful economic development projects across the state during 2018, yielding 11,548 new jobs and 9,116 retained jobs. The total capital investment on these projects was $1.7 billion and $1.17 billion in payroll.

“I’m proud of what we have accomplished with the economy during my time in office,” said Governor Jeff Colyer, M.D. “Unemployment is at record lows, we have more people working than ever before, and job creation is on the rise. Kansas has a brighter future because of the hard work done by so many over the past year.”

 

Of the 138 successful projects in 2018, the following are among the largest:

o    GEICO announced a new service center in Lenexa, with a $9,800,456 capital investment and 500 new jobs.

o    Great Plains Manufacturing, Inc. is expanding its manufacturing facility in Abilene, with a $10,841,000 capital investment and 200 new jobs.

o    Hospira, Inc., a Pfizer company, is expanding its pharmaceutical plant in McPherson with a $156,000,000 capital investment and 325 jobs added.

o    New Directions Behavioral Health announced it will move its headquarters to the Sprint campus in Overland Park with a $15,500,000 capital investment and 566 jobs added.

o    Orizon Aerostructures, LLC announced it would relocate a manufacturing operation to Olathe, with a $127,285,001 capital investment and 400 new jobs.

o    Palmer Manufacturing & Tank, Inc. announced a $16,642,000 capital investment in its Garden City plant, adding 201 jobs.

o    Shamrock Trading Corporation will build an office tower in Overland Park with a $248,000,000 capital investment and the company will add 1,500 jobs.

o    Spirit Aerosystems announced another major expansion, with plans for adding 1,400 new jobs.

 

“This has been an extraordinary year for economic development in Kansas,” said Robert North, Interim Secretary for the Kansas Department of Commerce. “The businesses that have made the wise choice to open or expand in the state of Kansas are making substantial contributions to the health of our economy and overall quality of life.”

 

Fort Scott, Schools

FSHS Thespians Qualify for International Thespian Festival

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Fort Scott Thespians. Submitted photo. Front row L to R: Mesa Jones, Hunter Adamson, Karina Kantilal, Mary Gladbach, Alyx Brooks 2nd row: Taillyn Harding, Sierra Long, Amber Russo, Mersadie Roof, Christina King, Alexis Williams, Jasamine Thron, Mackenzie Peoples 3rd row: Brian Stumfoll, Lexy Bailey, Brandy Stafford, Avery Dorsey, Daniel Belcuore, Zaria Byrd, Christina Ramirez, Harmony Brown, Angie Bin, Wyntter Snyder 4th row: Mark Bergmann, Levi Bin, Abi Deloera, Jacob Ham, Dominic Cannon, Jo Goodbody, Olivia Wilterding 5th row: Kathelra Murray, Jade Bailey, Carlee Studyvin, Addy Labbe, Ashanti Green, Sage Hill, Mason Moore, Wendy Monahan

The Fort Scott High School Thespian Troupe #7365 has students performing at the International Thespian Festival for the first time in history. After attending the KS State Thespian Festival in Wichita on Jan. 3-5, the troupe brought home a number of significant awards.

Senior Hunter Adamson qualified for Nationals in Monologue (where she performed both a humorous and dramatic script selection) and junior Mesa Jones qualified for Nationals in Musical Solo (performing Breathe from “Into the Heights”). Jones will also perform in the all-state musical production of “Bring It On” that qualified to be showcased on the main stage at Nationals. They compete at the International Thespian Festival at the University of Nebraska in June.

2018 State Thespian Officer Hunter Adamson and 2019 State Thespian Officer Mesa Jones

FSHS also won the Gold Honor Troupe Award (the highest troupe honor) through the presentation of the Honor Troupe Notebook by senior Karina Kantilal. Senior Alyx Brooks auditioned for colleges and received call-backs from eleven schools for her acting audition and from twenty-eight different schools for her lighting design audition.

Hunter Adamson, Mesa Jones, Karina Kantilal, Mary Gladbach, and Alyx Brooks; FSHS Thespians Officers with the Gold Honor Troupe trophy.

The FSHS Thespian President, Adamson, also served as a State Thespian Officer, planning and leading the entire Festival. Jones served as a State Board Member this year and was elected by troupe directors from all over the state to lead as one of 5 officers in charge of next year’s State Thespian Festival. She will attend training at the International Thespian Festival this summer and work throughout the next year to plan. 

Also competing at the State Festival this year were juniors Mackenzie Peoples and Addy Labbe in Musical Solo, Brooks in Lighting Design, and sophomores Amber Russo and Ivy Bailey in the Monologue category.

In all, thirty-five students attended Festival from FSHS and competed in improvised acting, charades, or costuming events at night. Throughout the day, the students attended workshops, met with college representatives, and watched award-winning full-length and one-act performances.

FSHS Drama Director Angie Bin, English teacher Mark Bergmann, and Drama Student-Teacher Wynnter Snyder accompanied the students. Bin presented a workshop on Children’s Theatre as part of the Festival.

 

 

 

 

Business, Fort Scott, Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce

Chamber Coffee at 500 Sunset Drive Jan. 10

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WEEKLY CHAMBER COFFEE REMINDER

Join us for Chamber Coffee

Hosted by:
Crystal Mason and Jared Leek of
Front Door Real Estate

Location:
500 Sunset Dr., Fort Scott
Thursday, January 10, 2019

Click here for Front Door Real Estate’s website.

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:
January 17 – USD 234 – Fort Scott High School
January 24 – Sharky’s Pub & Grub
January 31 – Southwind Extension District
February 7 – City State Bank

Obituary

Obituary of Forrest Hall

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Forrest E. “Slim” Hall, age 86, a resident of Ft. Scott, passed away Tuesday, January 8, 2019, at the Via Christi Hospital in Pittsburg.  He was born April 4, 1932, in Dadeville, Missouri, the son of Forrest L. Hall and Ada Vance Hall.  At age 16, he moved from Dadeville to Ft. Scott, Kansas, where he was employed by Lyons Cleaners and later for Woodard Cleaners.  He married Betty Wratchford in 1953.   Slim and Betty moved to Ft. Benning, Georgia where Slim was serving with the United States Army.  They returned to Ft. Scott in 1955.  Slim operated a maintainer for Bourbon County for twenty-five years.  In earlier years, he enjoyed hunting and fishing as well as playing pool.

Survivors include his wife, Betty and his son, Danny, both of the home; two brothers, Norwood Hall of Dadeville, Missouri and Cletis Hall of Ft. Scott and a sister, Wilma Wilson, also of Ft. Scott as well as several nieces and nephews.  He was preceded in death by his parents and a brother, Hershel Hall.

Rev. Paul Rooks will conduct funeral services at 1:30 P.M. Friday, January 11th at the Cheney Witt Chapel.  Burial with military honors will follow in the Evergreen Cemetery.  Memorials are suggested to the American Heart Association and may be left in care of the Cheney Witt Chapel, 201 S. Main, P.O. Box 347, Ft. Scott, KS 66701.  Words of remembrance may be submitted to the online guestbook at cheneywitt.com.

 

Obituary

Obituary of Fred Wright

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Fred L. Wright, age 73, a resident of rural Ft. Scott, Kansas, passed away Tuesday, January 8, 2019, at his home.

He was born April 12, 1945, in Ft. Scott, the son of Johnnie A. Wright and Thelma Pyle Wright.  Fred graduated from the Arcadia High School with the Class of 1963.  He married Eloise Lamb on August 31, 1968, in Ft. Scott.

In earlier years, Fred worked for Midwest Auto and then for Ward-Kraft.  He also served several years with the Kansas Army National Guard.  He later worked as a carrier for the Ft. Scott Post Office.  Fred retired after thirty-one years with the postal service.

  He enjoyed hunting and fishing.  Fred was also an avid motorcycle enthusiast.  He and Eloise enjoyed taking motorcycle trips throughout the United States and had been members of the Gold Wing Road Riders Association and the ROMEO Riders.

Fred was also a member of the Ft. Scott Chapters of the United Postal Workers Union and the National Association of Retired Federal Employees.

He enjoyed attending his grandchildren’s sporting events.

Survivors include his wife, Eloise, of the home and his children Lea Kay Karleskint and husband, Chris, and Brad Wright and wife, Stacey, all of Ft. Scott; four grandchildren, Lake and Lute Karleskint and Jakob and Karli Wright; three bonus grandchildren, Chelsey Barnes and husband, Tyler, Caleb Lovan and wife, Caddy and Blake Lovan; and three bonus great-grandchildren, Jaylin and Declan Lovan and Noah Barnes.  Also surviving are five sisters, Jo Ann Johnson and husband, Harold, of Edwards, Missouri; Faye Phillips, of Tulsa, Oklahoma; Jane Fisher and husband, Larry, of Nevada, Missouri; Joanna Page and husband, Tom, of Mountain Home, Idaho and Rosemary Sherman, of Chanute, Kansas; a sister-in-law, Patty Morris and husband, Steve, of Arcadia, Kansas and a dear family friend Maurine McCalment, of Ft. Scott.

He was preceded in death by his parents and a brother, Lee Roy Wright.

There was cremation.

A memorial service will be held at 2:00 P.M. Monday, January 14 at the Cheney Witt Chapel.

The family will receive friends from 2 to 4 P.M. Sunday afternoon at the Cheney Witt Chapel.

Memorials are suggested to Care to Share and may be left in care of the Cheney Witt Chapel, 201 S. Main, P.O. Box 347, Ft. Scott, KS 66701.  Words of remembrance may be submitted to the online guestbook at cheneywitt.com.

Fort Scott Community College, Jobs

New Faces at FSCC

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Fort Scott Community College staff came back from Christmas break on January 3, teacher in-service is today, January 9, with classes resuming on January 14.

Several new staff have been added this semester, with final approval to be given at the FSCC Board of Trustees meeting on January 28, said Juley McDaniel, director of human resources.

Kirk Sharp has been hired as the new Gordon Parks Museum Director, Jentry Page as the High School Equivalency Instructional Coordinator, Cody Crim as the assistant rodeo coach who will double as a Resident Assistant at the Greyhound Lodge at 701 N. National Avenue, Jared Kaylon as a maintenance technician, Jamal Robinson as the athletic trainer, Vanessa Matlock as the assistant women’s basketball coach and Resident Assistant, and Jay Wilson and Scott Mitchell as assistant football coaches.

There are still positions open, McDaniel said and noted two: a web developer and a cashier.

To view all positions go tohttp://fortscott.edu/jobs

In addition to new staff and students arriving this semester, there is a vacancy on the FSCC Board of Trustees.

Trustee Tina Rockhold, who was the communications director at Mercy Hospital before it closed Dec. 31, has moved and the board will be following their policy for replacing her, McDaniel said.

“They will pass a resolution at their January (28) meeting which will allow us to post the vacancy and provide direction to those interested in filling the position, ” McDaniel said.

 

 

 

Fort Scott, Schools

State Education Commissioner to Speak to USD 234 Staff and Board

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Kansas Commissioner of Education Dr. Randy Watson will be speaking to USD 234 staff starting at 8 a.m. at the Fort Scott Community College Ellis Fine Arts Center, Friday, Jan. 11.

“We have to meet at FSCC because the high school is hosting the 4A-1A State Debate Tournament,” said Ted Hessong, superintendent of USD 234.  “Dr. Watson will be speaking to the staff about the Kansas State Board of Educations Vision for Kansas schools.

“When Dr. Watson is done speaking, I will take him on a tour of the district. At 10:45 we will go to the district office for Dr. Watson to speak to some of our school board members and some members of the Chamber of Commerce. Dr. Watson and I will need to be at the high school by 11:40 a.m. for the General Assembly of the State Debate Tournament.”

Bourbon County Local News