Bryan and Barbara Ritter stand in front of the renovated area of the Broiler Room Brewhaus on Jan. 9.
Barbara Ritter, owner of Boiler Room Brewhaus at 2 S. National, has been extra busy since the new year began.
Her sister, Peggy, is a co-owner with Barbara and her husband, Bryan is the brewer.
Bryan and Barbara were doing the final touches of a recent reno last week.
Fort Scott’s first microbrewery is located on the busy corner of Wall Street and National Ave. The Ritter’s feature beer tastings, by the glass and take out.
Since having the business rebranded in the fall, they realized they needed to take some time to do some new things in the microbrewery.
They have expanded their tap selection.
“We are going to have six of our brews on at a time,” Barbara said. “We have been canning our beer since fall.”
They have been doing some decorative changes as well.
“Basically, we did a lot of painting,” Barbara said. “Walls, doors, vanities, tables…in nostalgic colors.”
Nostalgic colors were added to fit with the mid-century design of the building.The restroom vanity was painted.
Since the building was built in 1960, “we have added some elements from that time period,” to the decor, she said.
The Ritters are looking for vintage photos of the Downtowner Hotel, which now houses the microbrewery.
“If anyone has any vintage photos of the Downtowner or people, that they would be willing to share…to purchase or display,” Ritter said, please contact them at 913.636.4892 or 620-644-5032.
“This building was completed in February 1960,” she said.
A vintage photo of the Downtowner in the 1970s. Paul Milks found the photo and one of the Goodlander Hotel in the Bourbon County Genealogical Society library.The Boiler Room Brewhaus, 2 South National Avenue, Jan. 9, 2020.The Goodlander Hotel was the original building on the site. It was demolished for the construction of the Downtowner Hotel, Ritter said.
The Ritter’s moved their business to the new site at the corner of National Avenue and Wall Street on June 1, 2018.
The old logo is gone and has been replaced with nostalgic ones:
Barbara Ritter displays some of the new logos on the glasses, etc.
Taco night is each Thursday at the Boiler Room Brewhaus, catered by Crooner’s Lounge.Snacks and drinks are served each time the microbrewery is open.
Though the microbrewery doesn’t serve meals, they have menus from restaurants where people can order food and have it delivered or can bring it into the Brewhaus, she said.
“There is also a $5 taco bar catered by Crooner’s Lounge on Thursdays, $5 and you can eat all the tacos you want,” Barabara said.
They will also be offering some new appetizers.
Each Friday is karaoke from 7-9 p.m., and Sundays there are team trivia games from 5-7 p.m.
“We are looking to add a music bingo game, possibly on Saturday evenings,” she said. “We will try it once to see how it goes.”
“We are hoping to have musicians coming once a month,” she said. “There are three in the works so far for the next couple of months.”
Heather Fink did the lettering on the doors of the Boiler Room Brewhaus.
Currently, they have four part-time employees and two full-time.
“We are looking for one more part-time, one day a week,” she said. “Possibly an older employee with a good work ethic, who is looking for something to do.”
“We’ve had a really good year,” Barbara said. “Almost one-half of customers are new to Fort Scott. Fifty-one percent are local people.. We have a variety of people of all ages.”
“People say this is a cool little town,” she said. “This town has a lot to offer.”
Florene Helen Wilborn, 82, of Fort Scott, formerly of Batesville, Texas, passed away, Monday evening, January 13, 2020 at the Medicalodge Nursing Home.
She was born, May 20, 1937 in Batesville, Texas, the daughter of Clifford and Jamie Lily (Baxter) Jones. She married Paul Wilborn, June 2, 1955 in Batesville, Texas, he survives of the home (Cavalry Crossing).
In addition to her husband, Paul, she is survived by two daughters, Lisa Shank and her husband, Mark of Redfield, Kansas, and Jeannie Witty and her husband Robert of Wichita Falls, Texas, a sister, Barbara Wilborn of San Antonio, Texas, four grandsons and one granddaughter.
She was preceded in death by her parents.
Following cremation, the family will plan memorial services in Batesville, Texas, at a later date. Konantz-Cheney Funeral Home has charge of local arrangements.
THANK YOU to those businesses and individuals who have already committed to volunteering or donating items.
Please click here to emailDiana with times you can work or items you can donate. Monetary donations also welcome, made payable to the Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce, and we can purchase items needed.
Physical items or monetary donations may be dropped off at the Chamber through 5 pm Thursday.
Contact Lindsay Madison at the Chamber with any questions, 620-223-3566, or [email protected].
Fort Scott Community College has been a part of the community for over 100 years and it is looking to help future generations find their career path.
“Even though we are in an era of declining enrollment in Kansas colleges and universities; I am very positive about the future of FSCC due to the fact we have great faculty and staff that make student learning and student success their mission,” FSCC President Alysia Johnston said. “We are also extremely fortunate to have an incredibly supportive community and Board of Trustees, which is greatly appreciated.”
On January 13, the spring semester at the college began.
A recent 2019 Annual Report Centennial Edition gave glimpses of events throughout the years and named current offerings as well.
Thirty-seven fields of study are available to students: agriculture, art, biological science, business, certified medication aide, certified nurse aid, chemistry, computer science, construction trades, cosmetology, criminal justice, education, emergency medical technician, engineering, English, environmental water technology, farm and ranch management, Harley-Davidson Motorcycle Technology, heating-ventilation-air conditioning, history, home health aide, John Deere Technology, mathematics, manicuring, masonry, music, nursing, phlebotomy, physical education, physical science, physics, political science, psychology, sociology, speech, theater, and welding.
FSCC’s John Deere Progam has been recognized as a College of Tomorrow awardee by John Deere, Inc. The honor was earned because of program excellence, instructor development, internships, and facilities, according to the annual report.
The college marked 15 years in partnership with Harley-Davidson Motor Company. FSCC offers technician training in a hands-on Harley Davidson approved environment, equipping students with both knowledge and soft skills.
FSCC’s Nursing Program was ranked 2nd in Kansas because of its overall affordability and exemplary NCLEX pass rates after evaluating 36 nursing programs in the state.
In the college’s annual report, much has been accomplished in just the last year.
In 2019 FSCC initiated its eSports program, joining in a nation-wide growing collegiate sport: competitive video gaming. The FSCC eSports team helps students improve their gaming performance, social and leadership skills, according to the annual report.
Also, last year the college added onto the Burris Building, which gives FSCC agriculture program room for future growth.
Burris Hall on the campus of FSCC was expanded and the old section updated in 2019.
FSCC welcomed the new director of the Gordon Parks Museum,Kirk Sharp, after being a part of the Gordon Parks committee for over a decade. Kirk will work to advance the legacy and memory of visionary artist Gordon Parks.
Gordon Parks Museum Executive Director Kirk Sharp, center, looks over donated photos of the film “The Learning Tree” with onlookers during the Gordon Parks Celebration in Oct. 2019.
Sports Added
Women’s golf and track and field programs were added to the college in 2019.
New Board of Trustees Members
Two new board of trustees were elected in Nov. 2019: Dave Elliott and Kirk Hart. A third trustee Bill Meyer was selected to fill the vacancy of his wife, Liz, who died at the end of 2019.
2020
“The expectation for 2020 is to continue to meet the needs of our students, community, faculty, and staff, as well as all of our stakeholders,” FSCC President Alysia Johnston said.
FSCC retiree Carolyn Sinn, from left, and FSCC Centennial speaker Gina Shelton, help FSCC Class of 1941 graduate Esther Sewell cut the Centennial Celebration cake while President Alysia Johnston, along with centennial speakers Mark Muller, Marcel Normand and Jim Barrows watch in the background, in September 2019.
Some of the events in 2020 include:
Bailey Hall
The fundraising for the renovation of Bailey Hall at the college continues.
“We have a plan for Bailey Hall renovation with a price tag of around one million dollars,” Johnston said. “However, until we have more money we will not begin the project and we have no timeline for now. We hope to use the money donated by Mr. and Mrs. Bailey as seed money to receive more dollars.”
“All gifts would be greatly appreciated and people can contact our Chief Development Officer, Jeff Tadtman, 620 223-2700 ext. 5830 [email protected]”
Men’s Golf
The college will start a men’s golf program in August 2020.
Accreditation
“Accreditation is critical to the college as it allows us not only to ensure we are Title IV eligible (federal student financial aid), but we maintain high quality and transferable courses and programs,” Johnston said. “Accreditation is a peer-review, self-regulatory process by which non-governmental associations recognize educational institutions or programs that have been found to meet or exceed standards and criteria for educational quality. ”
“Accreditation also assists in the further improvement of the institutions or programs as related to resources invested, processes followed, and results achieved.”
” We will have our first Assurance Argument due this June under the Higher Learning Commissions (HLC) Open Pathway accreditation, and we have a committee that has been working on documentation and narrative for the Assurance Argument for at least a year.”
“We were fortunate to be placed in the Open Pathway accreditation model when we received our 10-year accreditation from HLC in 2016. The Open Pathway is a less prescriptive model for accreditation and allows us to determine our own path of continuous improvement.”
Nursing Program Evaluation
“The Nursing Program is scheduled for a comprehensive evaluation from the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN),” Johnston said. “ACEN is recognized by the United States Department of Education (USDE) as a specialized accrediting agency for nursing education programs located in the United States and its territories.”
Photo from L to R: Logan Geiger, Maddie Ard, Clay Brillhart, Braden Griffiths and Coach Scott Sutton.
The Uniontown FFA Meat Evaluation team recently brought home 4th place honors at the National Western Roundup Meat Evaluation contest held in Fort Collins, Colorado. Uniontown earned the opportunity to represent the state of Kansas in the contest with their state runner-up finish this past May.
The contest consisted of placing classes, beef grading, retail identification, questions, meat formulation problems and a written exam. After completing all of the above on Saturday, January 11th on the campus of Colorado State University, the team ranked 3rd in Beef Grading, 4th in Placings, 6th in Retail Identification and 4th overall.
Clay Brillhart led the team individually with a 7th place finish overall. He also ranked 8th in the placing category and 8th in the retail identification division. Maddie Ard finished 17th overall, Braden Griffiths was 5th in Beef Grading and ranked 21st overall, and Logan Geiger ranked 24th in Retail Identification. The team is coached by Uniontown FFA Advisor Scott Sutton.
The Fort Scott Housing Authority has available or will be coming available shortly apartments listed below.
1 – efficiency
7 – one-bedroom units
3 – two-bedroom units
4 – three-bedroom units
If you know of anyone needing affordable housing please feel free to give them my contact information. We have an application process and we can mail them out or it may be picked up at our office location.
Anita Felipa Lee, age 68, a resident of Ft. Scott, Kansas, passed away unexpectedly Sunday, January 12, 2020, at her home.
She was born May 11, 1951, in St. Joseph, Missouri, the daughter of Andrew James Henderson and Ida Jones Henderson. She was united in marriage to Earnest L. Lee, Sr.
In earlier years, Anita had been employed by Coleman Company. She later worked at Aerosol in Neodesha, Kansas for thirteen years. She moved to Ft. Scott in 2013 to be near her family. She was a member of the Ft. Scott Church of the Nazarene. Anita did her best to live a life that showed love to others. Fishing was one of her favorite hobbies.
Survivors include her son, James Leroy Lee (Tonya), of Ft. Scott and a daughter, Shenia Maria Wolf (Eric), of Joplin, Missouri; three grandchildren and a great-grandson. Also surviving is a sister, Illana Turner, of Savannah, Missouri. Her husband, Earnest, preceded her in death in 1993.
She was also preceded in death by four brothers, James, Leonard, Lloyd and Archie Henderson and five sisters, Daisy Cress, Dixie Miller, Maudie Shelton, Lottie Floydia and Thelma Schneider.
Rev. Virgil Peck will conduct a memorial service at 1:30 P.M. Friday, January 17th at the Cheney Witt Chapel. Memorials are suggested to the Ft. Scott Church of the Nazarene 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.
Jerry Colleen Malone, age 76, resident of Ft. Scott, KS, died Sunday, January 12, 2020, at Ascension Via Christi Hospital in Pittsburg, KS. There was cremation. Arrangements are under the direction of the Cheney Witt Chapel, 201 S. Main. Words of remembrance may be submitted to the online guestbook at cheneywitt.com.
(TOPEKA, KS) – Legislators have been working to find solutions in addressing ever-increasing high property taxes. They spent much of 2019 on the issue and are prepared to introduce legislation that will improve transparency and truth in taxation.
Senator Caryn Tyson, Linn County, Chair of the Senate Tax Committee, released the following statement today:
“One of the main complaints legislators hear from their constituents is that property taxes are too high. After studying the issue, it is apparent there is a need for more transparency and truth in taxation. Other legislators are working with me to change that – by increasing transparency and improving the process to appeal real estate property taxes.”
Senator Tyson is leading this effort along with Senator Bud Estes, Ford County, Senator Larry Alley, Cowley County, Representative Ron Highland, Wabaunsee County, and Representative Ken Corbet, Shawnee County. They are working with others throughout the state to understand the process and find solutions in addressing high property taxes. The initial step was hearing from county officials, appraisers, taxpayers, and tax experts. As this process continues there will be other legislators involved who will be instrumental in completing this process.
Tyson said, “Most property taxpayers aren’t as concerned about the valuation or mil levy as they are about the increasing dollar amount of their property taxes. By changing the process, this will require transparency in property tax increases and keep the public informed of proposed property tax changes before an increase occurs.”
“A change we are proposing will require the mil levy to be recalculated so the same dollar amount would be collected as of the previous year. To increase the property tax dollar amount, the governing body would be required to announce a meeting where the public officials would vote on the increase.” She went on to say, “this will require public officials to vote on a property tax increase rather than increasing valuations that automatically raise property taxes.”
The changes are modeled after other states, such as Utah and Tennessee. By using proven methodologies Kansas is not reinventing the wheel.
There are other proposed changes to help, such as allowing an option for an arbitrator to oversee the first step in the appeals process; putting an estimated dollar amount for your property tax on the valuation sheet; and excluding maintenance from increasing the valuation of your property. These are just some of the changes that will improve the process and truth in Kansas taxation laws.
