There will be a work session of the Fort Scott City Commission held on Tuesday, May 1st, 2018 at 5:00 p.m. in the City Commission meeting room at 123 S. Main Street. This work session will be held to discuss the updated Comprehensive Plan. No action will be taken at this work session. This meeting is open to the public.
Art Festival Closes By Encouraging Artists
Jared Witt spoke to a group of young artists and community members Saturday evening of the importance of doing and trying artistic activities, “not just doing it in your head.”
This describes the concept of the 2nd Story Festival of Art and Ideas which took place in venues in Fort Scott Friday through Sunday afternoon.
The evening finale included hors-d’oeuvres, drinks and an art display of the Young Visual Artists Art Show.
Art vendors were invited to sell their art as well.
Witt, who was the coordinator for the festival, addressed the group and thanked the contributors
The festival was to support creative endeavors in the community, Witt said.
The festival event was hosted by the Bourbon County Arts Council with grant funding provided by the Fort Scott Area Community Foundation.
Encompassing the weekend were art, comedy improvisation and literary workshops plus crafted beer tastings.
Marc Willson, a retail strategist from Virginia who focuses on small to medium size towns, spoke at two sessions on Saturday. One topic was Art As A Business and the other Creative Placemaking: Building the Artist Community in Fort Scott.
Sponsors of the weekend event: Boiler Room Brewhaus, Bourbon County Arts Council, Charles and Martha Jane Gentry, The City of Fort Scott, Common Ground Coffee Co., The Empress Event Center, Kate and Jeff Sweetser, First Presbyterian Church, Fort Scott Public Library, Fort Scott Area Community Foundation, Lowell Milken Center of Unsung Heroes, Nate’s Place at the Lyons Twin Mansions and Sleep Inn and Suites Hotel.
“Our mission is to promote Fort Scott as a regional hub for arts and innovation, as well as an attractive place for artists, creators, and innovators to live,” Witt said.
The annual festival is part of an initiative to improve the appeal of Fort Scott to those considering relocating and to improve the quality of life for those who live in Southeast Kansas. Fort Scott has resources in the areas of arts and innovation. The festival aims to inspire and encourage entrepreneurship in the region.
For more information: www.2ndstoryartfestival.com
Young artists were encouraged this year by a grant funded by the Fort Scott Area Community Foundation.
Coordinators for the Young Visual Artists Art Show were Laura Agee and Bre Martin.
“There were 60 participants with 80 pieces of art submitted from six area schools,” Martin said.
The top winners of the art show attended the finale with their parents at Nate’s Place of the Lyons Twin Mansions.
Each winner received a $5 gift certificate from Common Grounds Coffee Co. and each school that participated received $25 for their art program.
Jacey Bowen, an art student of Chris Woods at Uniontown High School, received first place in three categories and took home $175.
The Uniontown High School Art Program received $100 as a result of the win of Bowen in three categories.
“We will buy something for the students that we haven’t tried before,” Woods said following the presentation.
Additionally, there were three workshops on Saturday for children offered in mediums of clay, metal, and fabric.
Martin said approximately 23 children combined, participated in the three workshops.
Pictured below are some of the first and second place winners who were honored at the art show.
Fort Scott Preschool Enrollment May 4
Fort Scott Preschool Center will have preschool enrollment at the center located at 409 S. Judson from 10 a.m. to 2 .pm. Friday, May 4.
For more information call 620-223-8965
Children who attend early learning programs are more likely to
appropriately develop literacy, numeracy, and social skills that
will help them in their educational career.
Click here to view the event flyer, then click to enlarge the image:
Art Festival Starts Today
What started as a group composed of artists and city officials in 2015 has grown each year into an art festival that encourages innovation and entrepreneurship.
This year the 2nd Story Festival of Arts and Ideas will be April 27-29.
All the events are located in or near the downtown area.
“Our inaugural festival in 2016 was held mostly in a couple of locations,” Jared Witt, spokesman for the group said. “This year we have expanded our offerings and events and so have utilized multiple spaces in the downtown area. The festival schedule lists where each event will be held.”
Anyone in the community, child and adult alike, who would enjoy expressing themselves creatively is welcome to come, he said.
Tickets can be purchased online at www.2ndstoryartfestival.com or at Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce, 231 E Wall St.
For children artists the following activities are provided by Breann Martin and Laura Agee:
2nd Story Young Artist Visual Arts Show is for Kindergarten through 12th Grade.
“We currently have 64 participants, from schools in Nevada, Fort Scott, Uniontown, and Girard,” Breann Martin said.
The artwork will be displayed at Common Ground,116 South Main on April 27-28 during business hours.
Winners will be announced at 2nd Story Arts Festival Finale, which is Saturday, April 28, 6:30 pm at Nate’s Place.
Art Workshops for Young People are as follows:
9:30-10:20 a.m. Saturday – Oogly Monsters with Myrna Minnis: Unique and personalized clay creatures will be a make and take for $5 per person for ages 6-11and is limited to 20 people.
10:30-11:20 a.m. Saturday – Oogly Monsters with Myrna Minnis: Unique and personalized clay creatures ($5pp): Ages 12-18: limited to 20 people.
Myrna Minnis, a.k.a. “the oogly lady” is passionate about working with people and clay, according to information provided by Martin.
In 1989, she created the OOGLY kit as a simple tool to help students and adults transform feelings into a form using non-hardening clay.
In Myrna’s workshops, students learn to create a basic oogly, then Myrna gives them free reign to embellish and customize their very own unique oogly creature.
Myrna loves to watch people’s faces light up when they get their hands on clay. Myrna comes from the Overland Park area and is well known by many Fort Scott residents for her famous one-of-a-kind witches.
12:30-1:20 p.m. Saturday: On the Fence with Allison Dey: stitching with metals and fabrics is another make-it and take-it event for $5 per person for ages 6-18 with a limit of 20 children.
Allison Dey is a modern day fiber artist, according to information provided by Martin.
Her sewing designs and embroidery patterns have been featured in magazines in the U.S. and Australia.
Allison’s artwork is inspired by found objects combined with her love for needle and thread.
In her workshop, students will bring old time skills together with unusual materials by cross stitching fabric strips onto a grid of fencing material to create a piece of mixed media textile art that fuses modern with traditional.
All workshops will be held in the event room at the Fort Scott Public Library, 201 South National.
These workshops are geared toward young artists ages 6-18.
“Thanks to a grant we received from the Fort Scott Area Community Foundation we were able to include activities for young artists in this year’s Art Festival,” Martin said. “Our hope is to inspire young artists to create, give them a platform to display their artwork and expand their artistic skills. “
The festival as a whole is to encourage the importance of arts and innovation for the community and economic development, Witt said.
The goals of the festival are to promote Fort Scott as a place where creative people and creative businesses want to be located, Witt said. ” So that means we want to encourage creativity among those already here. But it also means that we want to persuade artists and entrepreneurs to consider relocating here.”
The keynote speaker is Marc Willson, who will be speaking at 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. Saturday at the Empress Event Center.
“From 9:00 to 10:30 Mr. Willson will present a workshop on Art as a Business,” according to Charles Gentry, a festival committee member. “This address targets professional and amateur artists with practical business advice to grow an art related business.
Private 15-minute sessions with Willson will be offered between 11 a.m. and noon, focusing on any specific questions and issues.
2 to 3:30 p.m. Willson will on Creative Placemaking.
“This will explore the following: Does Fort Scott have an interest in incubating, nurturing and expanding artistic businesses in our town?” Gentry said. ” How could this best be accomplished? Are there places which have successfully developed artistic activity and what can we learn from them?”
Retail business owners and artists can signup for a Willson half-hour onsite visit between 4 to 6 p.m. for ideas on display, marketing, and promotional setup.
“Marc Willson is an entrepreneur and nationally known speaker, who presents programs on art, business and community involvement,” Gentry said.
All sessions and consultations are free of charge.
Here is the festival schedule:
Schedule of Events
Friday
2-4pm Art of Brewing, Tour and Tasting of Beer Flight $10 per person (must be over 21, ID required), non-alcoholic
tour & tasting $5 per person.
3-4: 30 pm Trolley Tour of Public Art in Fort Scott ($8pp), leaves from the Chamber, 231 E. Wall St. – limited to 22 people.
7 pm Improv Comedy at Common Ground Coffee Co. 116 S. Main, $5 suggested donation. Join for a night of laughs as the Fort Scott High School Thespian Improv Troupe performs comedy sketches created on the spot using audience suggestions.
Saturday
9-10: 30 am Trolley Tour of Public Art in Fort Scott, $8pp, leaves from the Chamber, 231 E. Wall St. – limited to 22 people.
9-11am Mimosas and Painting Workshop with Brittany Morris, Boiler Room Brewhaus, 102 S. National Ave. -south back entrance, $30pp, includes one beverage – limited to 25 people south back entrance, $30pp, includes one beverage – limited to 25 people.
9 am Enameling w/Kris Bohanon, First Presbyterian Church Zimmerman Hall, 308 S. Crawford$, 25pp – limited to 10 people.
9-10: 30 am Comedy Improv – Improvised Theatre Techniques And Games – FSHS Thespians and Director Angie Bin
will provide a 1.5-hour class. Have fun getting an introduction to creating comedic theatre on the fly! No experience necessary, Sleep Inn Conference Room. This is FREE but donations are welcome to FSHS Thespians.
9-10: 30 am “Art as a Business” by Marc Willson, Empress Event Center, FREE.
9 am Block Printing workshop with Ripp Harrison, Papa Don’s Celebration Room, 10 N. Main St., $15pp -limited to 15 people
9:30 am Art Workshops for Young People Ages 6-11, FS Public Library. Oogly Monsters with Clay with Myrna Minnis: unique and personalized clay creatures,$5pp – limited to20 people
10 am Scratchboard with Chris Woods, Lowell Milken Center, 1 S. Main St., $25pp – limited to 15 people
10 am Literary Workshop: Writing and Publishing Children’s Literature with Lori Baker Martin, Common
Ground Coffee Co., FREE
10:30 am Art Workshops for Young People Ages 12-18, FS Public Library
Oogly Monsters with Clay with Myrna Minnis: unique & personalized clay creatures, $5pp – limited to 20 people
11 am Block Printing workshop with Ripp Harrison, Papa Don’s Celebration Room, 10 N. Main St., $15pp -limited to 15 people
11:30 am Literary Workshop: Writing for Tabletop RPG’s (Role Playing Games) with Bartholomew Kick, Common Ground Coffee Co., FREE
12:30 am Art Workshops for Young People Ages 6-18, FS Public Library. On the Fence: Stitching with Metals & Fabric w/Allison Dey, $5pp – limited to 20 people
1 pm Enameling with Kris Bohanon, First Presbyterian Church Zimmerman Hall, $25pp – limited to 10 people
1 pm Scratchboard with Chris Woods, Lowell Milken Center, 1 S. Main St., $25pp – limited to 15 people
1 pm Literary Workshop: Romance Writing as an Exploration of Healthy Relationships with Lynn Caldwell, Common Ground Coffee Co., FREE
2-3:30 pm Comedy Improv – Improvised Theatre Techniques and Games – FSHS Thespians and Director Angie Bin, 1.5-hour class. Have fun getting an introduction to creating comedic theatre on the fly! No experience necessary, Sleep Inn Conference Room. FREE – donations welcome to FSHS Thespians.
2-3: 30 pm “Creative Placemaking: Building the Artist Community in Fort Scott” by Marc Willson, Empress Event Center, FREE
2-4pm Art of Brewing, Tour and Tasting of Beer Flight $10pp (must be over 21, ID required), non-alcoholic tour and tasting $5pp.
6:30-8: 30 pm Festival Finale Event and Fundraiser at Nate’s Place, 750 S. National Ave., $25pp, includes heavy appetizers, dessert, and a liquor cash bar. This event will feature the awards for the Student Art Competition and art for sale by the artists participating in the 2nd Story Festival of Arts & Ideas.
Sunday
2-4 pm Art of Brewing, Tour and Tasting of Beer Flight $10pp (must be over 21, ID required), non-alcoholic tour and tasting $5pp.
The event is being hosted by the Fort Scott Festival of Arts.
Grant funding provided by the Fort Scott Area Community Foundation.
Event Sponsors
Boiler Room Brewhaus | Bourbon County Arts Council | Citizens Bank | City of Fort Scott
Common Ground Coffee Co. | Empress Event Center | First Presbyterian Church | Fort Scott Public Library
Fort Scott Area Community Foundation | Charles and Martha Jane Gentry
Lowell Milken Center for Unsung Heroes | Nate’s Place at the Lyons Twin Mansions
Sleep Inn & Suites Hotel | Jeff and Kate Sweetser
Visit the following websites for community information:
Chamber:www.fortscott.com CVB: www.visitfortscott.com City of Fort Scott: www.fscity.org
Questions or need more information, contact the Chamber at 620-223-3566 or[email protected].
The 2nd Story Festival Planning committee serves as a sub-group of the Bourbon County Arts Council, according to Witt.
“The BCAC has provided guidance and advice along the way, Witt said. The committee this year included Deb Anderson, Charles Gentry, Breann Martin, Dr. Randy Nichols, Jason Reid, Kathryn Salsbury, Kate Sweetser, Clayton Whitson, Lindsay Madison, Laura Agee, and Witt.
Contractors and Individuals: Job Opp in Uniontown
The Bourbon County Sheriff’s Office Daily Reports April 27
Rummage Sale To Benefit Animal Shelter April 28
Lee’s Paws and Claws Animal Shelter Rummage Sale is Saturday, April 28 starting at 8 a.m. at the 4-H Building at the Bourbon County Fairgrounds on South Horton Street.
The non-profit animal shelter was the recipient of a publishing and printing company inventory sale in Missouri, Kate Sweetser, a board member told the Chamber of Commerce coffee Thursday morning.
“There are office supplies, equipment, and office furniture, ” that will be sold to benefit the shelter, Sweetser said.
The City of Fort Scott will be available to provide dog tag renewal during the rummage sale from 8 a.m. to noon. The cost per dog is $3 for neutered animals and $5 for un-neutered animals.
Proof of rabies shots is required.
Animals can be microchipped for $20.
Cats need to be brought in in a crate, dogs must be on a leash.
There will be a concession stand for breakfast and lunch.
Sweetser said only dogs and cats are taken into the shelter, and when they are adopted out the animals have all their shots, have flea treatment, have been de-wormed and have been spayed or neutered.
Adoption fees range from $10 to $100, depending on the animal, with the average between $60-80.
She said the Shirley Yeager Animal Friends Foundation has received two generous bequeaths from Yeager and also Lee Weast but interest only is available to use for the budget.
“That’s not enough to meet our yearly budget,” Sweetser said.
In addition to donations, volunteers are needed at the animal shelter, she said.
“Volunteers are needed to help with the animals, for socialization,” Sweetser said. “Some come once a week, some come as a project such as a scout troop.”
The shelter is located at 721 240th Street and the phone number is 620-223-2888.
Lee’s Paws and Claws is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The shelter manager is Kiersten Poole, and there are four part-time employees.
Members of the shelter board are Jim Adams, Randy Shannon, Cathy Dancer, Rhonda Dunn, Mary Ann Crain, Barb Ritter, Sweetser, Rob Shaw, Bob Taylor and Matt Messer.
“We are trying to create a board of members who love animals but have a strong background in organization, marketing, and business,” Sweetser said. “To create a sustainable business model that will ensure the future of the organization.”
Don’t Take Yourself Too Seriously by Patty LaRoche
Eighty-three-year-old Howard, a tennis partner of Dave and mine in Mexico, commented about Carolyn, a Canadian friend who also winters in Mazatlan. Carolyn had been ailing for several months and had lost so much weight, she offered me all of her “big-sized clothes” because she no longer could wear them.
(Good friends do that, you know.)
Both men and I were discussing Carolyn’s weight loss. Howard said she looked feeble. It was an opening I could not resist.
“Howard, do you think I’m feeble?”
He took no time to respond. “I think you’re a tank.”
The cannonball had been shot. It was too late to reload.
I responded, as together as my personality would allow. “A tank? I’M A TANK?”
Backpedaling out of this potential war zone, Howard attempted to take a different aim. “A tank, in a good sense. Like a formidable force, an arsenal to be reckoned with.”
It was a nice save, I’ll admit, even if it was too desperate and too late.
For Howard, that is. It was the perfect time for Dave to defend me.
And he would have, I’m sure, had he been able to stop laughing.
Howard would live to regret that remark. Everyone who knows Howard—who, not coincidentally, headed the lab that worked on the first nuclear bomb and frequently uses military metaphors– soon learned of his verbal faux pas, which, of course, I couldn’t wait to share. His size-two wife was mortified, and our other friends at first were shocked by his directness. Then it became funny, the word spread and tank jokes became the norm.
To everyone’s—except Howard’s delight, I must add.
Was I offended? Absolutely not. I know Howard. I know his intent. As a military man, he honestly thought he was paying me a compliment.
And no, my head is not stuck in a turret. I am well aware that there are others whose “tank” comment would be anything but funny. The truth is, we are all concerned about Carolyn’s weight loss (which, I must admit, I have found.) Add to that the fact that when I play the net in tennis and the men try to break my nose with their shot, I say “Bring it on!” instead of acting wimpy. Howard knows I am tough, a trait I wear like a badge of honor.
No one likes to be around thin-skinned people who don’t take laughter seriously. In medieval times, those who viewed themselves with such self-importance that they acted with extreme seriousness were labeled “accidy,” which just “happens” to be one of the seven deadly sins. People like the Pharisees were viewed in this light. They poked fun at nothing, especially themselves. B-O-R-I-N-G!
I am the opposite. I laugh at myself. As a Christian, I must, if I am to obey God and love my neighbors. In 1 Corinthians 13:5, we learn that “loving” means we are not to be easily provoked or stirred to anger. When the fuse of offense is lit, I must check the intent and ask God to guard my heart and help my reaction.
I have watched marriages dissolve and friendships implode because one (or both) of the parties are hyper-sensitive. Innocent comments offend those who are so preoccupied with “self” that they fail to understand that we all are sinners, we all make mistakes, we all say things without thinking them through.
Please don’t misunderstand me. This column is not about comments intended to wound or destroy. This is about not taking ourselves so seriously. There is a huge difference, much like a tank to a pistol. To make it clear…Howard’s a pistol.
I’m a tank.
Buy and Eat-Meet and Greet May 3
Local gardeners and sellers of food will soon have a chance to meet and begin partnerships.
On Thursday, May 3 there will be a ” Buy and Eat-Meet and Greet” event hosted byThe Healthy Bourbon County Action Team and Live Local BB.
It will be from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at Memorial Hall, 1 East First.
The purpose of this meeting is to introduce buyers and sellers of food and start a directory to benefit both, according to Jody Hoener, chair of The Healthy Bourbon County Action Team.
Consumers, retailers, restaurants, businesses, and food service providers can have access to locally grown food, and also strengthen the communities local food system and economy, Hoener said.
The meeting is open to the public and is free.
Specifically, the following are listed by Hoener as people who might benefit from the “Buy and Eat-Meet and Greet,” Hoener said.
- A food service director, chef, restaurant owner or other professional willing to learn/ share expertise with peers and implement best practices to buy and use local foods.
- A local grower interested in selling to restaurants, institutions, food retail and other producers.
- A caterer or restaurant owner, to showcase a food item from a menu item, which includes locally produced food in its ingredients.
- An insurance provider willing to provide information to help protect our local farmers and producers to sell and buy local produce.
About the meet and greet hosts:
The Healthy Bourbon County Action Team has a vision of a community where people feel safe, earn a living wage, find healthy food, have access to sidewalks, ride safe bike routes and have opportunities for recreation, among other opportunities.
Live Local BB is a group of locally owned businesses that want to bring awareness to the importance of buying locally in the community where we live.
Boots and Bling Gala April 28 To Benefit Catholic School
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Obituary Of Rodney Paul Morter
Rodney Paul Morter, age 85, a resident of Ft. Scott, Kansas, passed away early Thursday, April 26, 2018, at the Pittsburg Care and Rehab Center in Pittsburg, Kansas.
He was born February 21, 1933, in Ainsworth, Nebraska, the son of Paul Frederick Morter and Lila Thompson Morter.
At an early age, Rod enlisted in the United States Army. He faithfully served his country for twenty-two years. While with the Army he was stationed in Japan, Korea, and Vietnam as well as bases in the United States.
Following his retirement from the military, Rod settled in Newberg, Oregon. He worked as a truck driver for various trucking companies for the next six years.
In 2008, he relocated to Ft. Scott, Kansas. He enjoyed basketball and was a great fan of the Portland Trail Blazers. He also enjoyed being outdoors spending time fishing and horseback riding. He also liked to attend flea markets and auctions.
Survivors include his four children, Roderick Morter and wife, Janice, of Ft. Scott, Debra Morter-Womelsdorf and husband, Kevin, of Ft. Scott, Linh Sue Cady, of Vancouver, Washington and Joni Morter, of Lawrence, Kansas; twelve grandchildren, twenty-two great-grandchildren and his former wife, Teresa Munroe, of Lawrence, Kansas. Also surviving are two sisters, Ramona and Eldoris.
He was preceded in death by a great-grandson, Elijah Doherty, a brother, Harry and a sister, Joann.
Rev. Kevin Moyers will conduct graveside services at 1:30 P.M. Monday, April 30th at the U. S. National Cemetery.
Full military honors will be conducted by the U. S. Army Honor Guard. Friends and family will meet at the cemetery. Arrangements are under the direction of the Cheney Witt Chapel, 201 S. Main, Ft. Scott, Kansas. Words of remembrance may be submitted to the online guestbook at cheneywitt.com.
Sprucing Up Downtown
Todd Farrell and Mike Durossette, Fort Scott Parks Department, prepare the hanging planters on Main Street. The new potting soil is in preparation for the Bourbon County Garden Club, who will be planting flowers next week, weather permitting, Farrell said.