Beginning Monday, August 4, 2025, the K-7 highway will be closed from US-69 to the K-39 Jct.

Sideroads will remain open at this time. Barricades will be set on K-7 at each sideroad.

Accommodation will be made for residents and landowners to have access to their properties via access from the nearest sideroad.

K-7 from the K-39 Jct South to Girard will remain open to local traffic only, according to the Fort Scott/Bourbon County Dispatch Post on Facebook.

Bourbon County, Fort Scott

Local Granting Foundation Is Accepting Funding Applications

August 1, 2025 Submitted Story Leave a comment

FSACF Launches 2025 Grant Cycle

The Fort Scott Area Community Foundation (FSACF) is now accepting applications for the 2025 General Funds Grant program. Applications will be accepted through August 31^st, 2025.

Since 2009, the Fort Scott Area Community Foundation (FSACF) has hosted their annual FSACF grant cycle supporting a variety of projects in Bourbon County. Since inception, the foundation has awarded over $464,000 to a variety of projects across Bourbon County.

“The Community Foundation and its donors literally change lives of area residents for the better,” said Gregg Motley, FSACF Board Member and Granting Committee Chairman. “It is a joy to be a part of it.”

Applications for the 2025 FSACF grant cycle are available at FSACF.com/Grant-App and are open until midnight on August 31^st.

Information about the FSACF grant cycle, and a list of previous recipients are available at FSACF.com/nonprofits/grants.

Questions regarding the grant applications should be directed to CFSEK Program Coordinator Kara Mishmash at SoutheastKansas.org/Contact/Kara.

***

Government, Health Care

Canadian Wildfire Smoke Is Affecting Eastern KS Air Quality

August 1, 2025 Submitted Story Leave a comment

Taken from the AirNow Fire and Smoke website.

KDHE Issues Air Quality Health Advisory due to Smoke

TOPEKA – Light northeast to east winds is bringing Canadian wildfire smoke into the state, particularly central and eastern Kansas. These conditions are likely to persist today and tomorrow. The Air Quality Index (AQI) will likely range from Moderate to Unhealthy at times. You can view the current air quality, AQI and fire activity for your area on https://fire.airnow.gov.

Steps to protect your health on days when smoke is present in your community include:

Healthy people should limit or avoid strenuous outdoor exercise.
More vulnerable people should remain indoors.
Help keep indoor air clean by closing doors and windows and running air conditioners with air filters.
Stay hydrated by drinking lots of water.
Contact your doctor if you have symptoms such as chest pain, chest tightness, shortness of breath or severe fatigue.

###

Government, Kansas

Breastfeeding Importance For Health and Well-Being

August 1, 2025 Submitted Story Leave a comment

Governor Kelly Proclaims August “Kansas Breastfeeding Month”
In support of World Breastfeeding Week and National Breastfeeding Month

TOPEKA –

Governor Laura Kelly recently signed a proclamation recognizing August as “Kansas Breastfeeding Month.” This proclamation recognizes the importance of breastfeeding for the health and well-being of Kansans.

“We are extremely pleased with Governor Kelly’s proclamation, which highlights the importance of breastfeeding support for families in Kansas. This proclamation supports their decision and provides a foundation to build a landscape of breastfeeding support in our state,” Brenda Bandy, IBCLC, Executive Director of the Kansas Breastfeeding Coalition (KBC), said.

“Breastfeeding is a public health priority in Kansas,” Dereck Totten, MD, KDHE Chief Medical Officer, said. “Improving breastfeeding rates reflects the strength of our statewide partnerships and community collaboration. Breastfeeding is a vital step in safeguarding the health of both parents and infants that we remain committed to promoting and supporting.”

Nearly 90 percent of families in Kansas choose to breastfeed. Kansas is ranked fourth in the nation for exclusively breastfeeding at three months, and fifth in the nation at six months. However, only around one in three Kansas infants are exclusively breastfed through the critical first six months of life. Lack of support and barriers in the workplace can often be obstacles for parents who choose to breastfeed.

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) provides guidance on breastfeeding which calls for policy changes to address obstacles for parents who choose to breastfeed, including universal paid maternity leave and insurance coverage for lactation support. Establishing better breastfeeding support will improve both baby and mother’s future health and reduce reliance on infant formula.

Today’s proclamation stresses the role of every Kansan to make breastfeeding easier in our state. The KBC State of Breastfeeding in Kansas 2024 report has action items and resources for individuals, employers, child care providers, healthcare professionals, and others to support breastfeeding.

Bourbon County Sheriff's Office

The Bourbon County Sheriff’s Office Daily Reports Aug. 1

August 1, 2025 Submitted Story Leave a comment

8-1-25 A

8-1-25 R

Fort Scott, Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce

What’s Happening in Fort Scott August 1 Edition

August 1, 2025 Submitted Story Leave a comment

What’s Happening in Fort Scott! August 1st Weekly Newsletter

SAVE THE DATE!

Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce Chamber Coffees

Every Thursday at 8am

UPCOMING CALENDAR OF EVENTS

________________

Fort Scott National Historic Site

Visit your National Park! Visitor Center and historic buildings are open Friday through Tuesday, 8:30 am – 4:30 pm. The grounds continue to be open daily from ½ hour before sunrise until ½ hour after sunset

** Guided tours Saturday & Sunday 10am & 1pm! **

Click HERE to visit the website.

Click here to see all the FUN classes at The Artificers, classes for ALL ages!

Fort Scott Farmers Market

Saturdays | 8am-noon & Tuesdays | 4-6pm

Gathering Square Pavilion, 111 N. National

BINGO hosted by the American Legion Post 25 every 1st and 3rd Thursday of each month unless it falls on a holiday. Doors open at 6pm and Bingo starts at 7pm at Memorial Hall. (Taking the month of August off for BINGO & will start again in September)

KANSASWORKS in Fort Scott

Every Tuesday 9am-4pm

Office located at the Healthy Bourbon County Action Team, 104 N. National Ave.

620-231-4250

FS Public Library

*Wednesday Writers every Wed. @ 1:30-3pm

*Summer Reading June 3rd – July 29th!

201 S. National Ave.

Kansas Small Business Development Center

at the Chamber, 231 E. Wall St.

Every 2nd and 4th Thursday of the month from 9am-4pm.

Dolly Trolley Historic 50-min narrated tours!

Adults $6 | Children 12&under $4

Call 620-223-3566 or stop in the Chamber at

231 E. Wall St. to book your ride!

Fort Scott Aquatic Center

Opens Memorial Day, May 26th

Monday – Saturday

Public Swim: 1-5:15pm

Adult/Family Swim :5:30-7pm

*Lifeguard Breaks: 3pm & 5:15pm

Sunday

Public Swim: 1-6pm

Adult/Family Swim: 4:45-6pm

*Lifeguard Breaks: 3 & 4:30pm

with The Artificers

Multiple dates & times available

Click HERE to sign up!

Early-Bird Pricing until 8/8.

Regular registration pricing until 9/5.

$3 Tuesdays at Fort Cinema!

Follow their Facebook Page HERE for updates!

UPCOMING EVENTS

8/1 ~ There will be no

~~Friday Night Concert In The Park~~ this week. Please enjoy other scheduled LIVE music happening in Fort Scott!

8/1-15 ~ | Back to School Appreciation Party

by Sunshine Boutique

Deals & Mark Downs

3 Back to School/Work Basket Giveaways

Hidden Sales – Find the faux apples!

Bring your faculty or student ID for an

extra 15% off

8/1-2 ~ | Kids Church

New Life Pentecostal

1330 215 St. Fort Scott, KS

August 1st | 7pm

August 2nd | 2pm

8/1 ~ 5-9pm | The Empty Bowl Fundraiser & First Friday at The Artificers

Experience Ceramic Artists throw & hand build bowls on the potter’s wheel!

8/1 ~ 6-9pm | Mi Ranchito Live Music

with Royce Hyer

8/1-3 Sales Tax Holiday Weekend

Tax Free Shopping Event Downtown & Around

Get ready to save 9.65%

Shop participating stores to save!

110 South Main Mercantile

Angie Dawn’s

Barbed Wire & Roses

Be the Light

Bids & Dibs

Care to Share Gift Shop

Laree + Co

Main St. Vintage & Co.

Papa Don’s Pizza

Ruddick’s Furniture

Shirt Shack

Sunshine Boutique

Spend $5+ more in 3 or more stores for a chance to win $ 5️⃣ 0️⃣ ($50) in Chamber Bucks!

In conjunction with the Sales Tax Holiday Shopping Event, will be Laree + Co’s, Lillian’s 9th Birthday Celebration.

8/2 ~ 9am-5pm | Lillian’s 9th Birthday Celebration at Laree + Co & participating locations

Enjoy Special Storefront Hours 9am-5pm!

Birthday Treats

Charm Bar

Lils Scavenger Hunt + Bubbles at participating Businesses

8/2 ~ 9am | Waypoint Coins Hide & Seek Event

7 S. National (Waypoint HQ)

A real-world treasure hunt where coins are hidden around town

8/2 ~ 7pm | First Friday Free Concert by The City Of Fort Scott feat. Los Swamp Monsters

Gathering Square Pavilion

8/2 ~ Kansas Rocks Newbie Women Wheelers Basic Recovery Course

8/2 ~ 9am | 4 Spurs Rodeo

Bourbon County Fairgrounds

8/2 ~ Coffee & Clay at The Artificers

~~SOLD OUT~~

8/4-6 ~ 12-2pm | FSHS Tiger Debate Novice Camp

Room 100 (Enter thru East Doorway by the Gym)

8/7 ~ 8am | Chamber Coffee

hosted by Kannarr Eye Care

1711 S. National Ave. Ste. E

8/8 ~ 7-8pm | Friday Night Concerts

In The Park

Heritage Park Pavilion, 1st & Main

Downtown Fort Scott

8/9 ~ 10-12:30pm | Fort Scott

Stamp Club Meeting

FS Public Library – Lower Level Conf. Room

201 S. National Ave.

8/9 ~ 10:30am-3pm | Paint Your Pet with Anita

at The Artificers

$45/class

Two Classes:

10:30am – 12:30pm | 1-3pm

Click HERE to register!

8/9 ~ 11am-2pm | Back to School Bash/Backpack Giveaway by Fort Scott Rec Dept at Buck Run Community Center

735 S. Scott St.

Bring the whole family & enjoy free activities:

– Mini golf

– Laser tag

– Cookies & lemonade

– Face painting

– Inflatables

8/9 ~ 12pm | Back to School Giveaway by

United Missionary Baptist Church

16 North Ransom (Behind Sherwin-Williams)

SHOPPING ~ SUPPORT LOCAL!

Boutiques-Antiques-Flea Markets & more!

Click here for Chamber member

specialty shopping & other retail in

Downtown & other areas of the community.

Fort Scott Area

Chamber of Commerce

620-223-3566

[email protected]

fortscott.com

In This Issue

Calendar of Events

Special Event Features

THANK YOU Chamber Champion members!!

Chamber Highlights

Click here for our

Membership Directory.

We THANK our members for their support! Interested in joining the Chamber?

Click here for info.

Thinking of doing business in or relocating to Fort Scott?

Seeking a job/career?

We post a Job of the Day daily on our Facebook page, distribute a monthly job openings flyer, and post jobs on our website.

Many opportunities available!

Housing needs?

Click here for a listing of our Chamber member realtors.

Click here for our rental listing.

Upcoming Movie Schedule @ Fort Cinema

THANK YOU TO OUR CHAMBER CHAMPION MEMBERS!

Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce

231 E. Wall Street

Fort Scott, KS 66701

Obituary

Obituary of William Leslie Ross

August 1, 2025 Submitted Story Leave a comment

William Leslie Ross, age 96, a resident of Ft. Scott, Kansas, passed away Tuesday, July 29, 2025, at his home. He was born October 25, 1928, in Warrensburg, Missouri, the son of John F. Ross and Goldie Andrews Ross. Bill married Harriet Ann Jamieson on May 14, 1955. He had worked for many years as an air traffic control specialist for the Federal Aviation Administration. While working for the FAA, the Ross family made their home in Milwaukee, Nashville and Wichita as well as Puerto Rico and Panama. Following retirement, they moved to Ocala, Florida where they resided at On Top of the World retirement community. Bill enjoyed playing tennis and traveling. They later relocated to Ft. Scott to be near family.

Survivors include a son, Mike Ross (Mimi) of Ft. Scott, two grandchildren, Krista Park (Matt) and Luke Ross and four great-grandchildren, Jovie, Kenley, Noble and Kansas Park. Also surviving is a daughter-in-law, Willow Ross of Wichita, Kansas. Bill was preceded in death by his wife, Harriet, on May 16, 2023. He was also preceded in death by his son, Steven Ross, two sisters, Laverne McNamara and Winnie Danaldson and four brothers, Gene, Jack, L.T., Ralph and Bob Ross.

There was cremation. Burial will take place at a later date in the Liberty Cemetery, Warrensburg, Missouri. Arrangements are under the direction of Cheney Witt Chapel 201 S. Main, Ft. Scott, KS 66701. Words of remembrance may be submitted to the online guestbook at cheneywitt.com.

Art, Business

The Artificers offers a school year art curriculum!

July 31, 2025 Submitted Story Leave a comment

We are offering 2025-2026 year

Supplemental Art Classes!

For Students who are in 1st grade – 12th grade,

who are in private school or homeschooled students!

We are offering a school year art curriculum!

Classes are held on Fridays

12-2pm or 3:30-5:30pm

15 seats limited in each class!

Art History, Hands-on Projects,

Critiques, New & evolved techniques

with assessments.

Taught by Trent Freeman,

Art Instructor, Mixed Media Sculptor & Ceramic Artist as well as Gallery owner.

Sign your children up here

We are offering an Early-Bird Price

now until August 8th!

Regular Prices will be applied

August 9th!

Art Show offered at the end of

School Year, April 24th!

Be amazed on what your kids can learn,

experience, and take forth with them!

We offer 3 classes per session of medium and offer makeup classes for those who may miss a day.

Contact us for questions!

Call Us!

Email Us!

Our mailing address is:
T.E.Freeman Studio 8 North National Avenue Fort Scott, KS 66701 USA

Entertainment, Fort Scott, Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce

FS Free First Friday Concert Aug. 1 at 7 p.m.

July 31, 2025 Submitted Story Leave a comment

FREE CONCERT!

The City of Fort Scott invites you to enjoy their First Fridays Free Concert Event featuring

Los Swamp Monsters.

Friday

August 1st, 2025

7 pm

Gathering Square Pavilion

(next to the Splash Pad)

Click HERE for the City of Fort Scott webpage!

Click HERE for the City of Fort Scott Facebook page!

A special thank you to our Chamber Champion members..

Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce | 231 E. Wall Street | Fort Scott, KS 66701 US

Entertainment, Fort Scott

Waypoint Coins Hide and Seek is August 2

July 31, 2025 Submitted Story Leave a comment

Hide & Seek Event!

Mark your calendars for the

Waypoint Coins Hide & Seek Event, in the heart of downtown Fort Scott! Get ready to embark on a modern-day treasure hunt that’s perfect for adventurers of all ages.

August 2nd, 2025

9am

7 S. National Ave.

(Waypoint HQ)

What to Expect:

Hidden coins to discover around town

Giveaways and surprise prizes

A chance to earn a Team Waypoint Coin (rare & exclusive!)

Fun for all ages

Get Ready Before the Hunt

Download the free Waypoint Coins app to track your finds, earn points, and join the community. Get familiar with it ahead of time so you’re ready to go!

Click HERE to download the app!

Waypoint coins can also be customized for business

branding, personal gifts, and community events designed to tell your story!

Click HERE to learn more about Waypoint Coins!

Click HERE for Waypoint Coin’s official Facebook page!

A special thank you to our Chamber Champion members..

Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce | 231 E. Wall Street | Fort Scott, KS 66701 US

Lowell Milken Center for Unsung Heroes

Lowell Milken Center Newsletter July 30 Edition

July 31, 2025 Submitted Story Leave a comment

View this email in your browser

July 30, 2025

Vol. 7

Coming August 15: 2025 Discovery Award

Semi-Finalists Revealed!

Big News is Coming!

The 2025 Discovery Award Semi-Finalists will be announced

on August 15!

These student-created projects spotlight Unsung Heroes who changed the world—and we can’t wait to share the powerful stories they’ve uncovered.

Stay tuned!

Spotlight on 2024’s Grand Prize Winner
Harmony Yan-Li of Irvine, CA, earned the 2024 Discovery Award Grand Prize for her powerful documentary on Dr. Frances Kelsey, the FDA scientist who stood firm against thalidomide and protected countless families.
Discover how one student brought this Unsung Hero’s legacy to life.

“By encouraging students to explore unsung heroes, the Lowell Milken Center for Unsung Heroes calls for communities as a whole to recognize and appreciate those who have made positive change in our society. The Discovery Award program prompted me to develop both personal values and historical research skills, which helps me create and think better each day. The application process could not be simpler, which makes this program one of the most accessible out there.”

– Harmony Yan-Li

2024 Discovery Award Grand-Prize Winner

Your Story Could Change the World.
Learn how students use the Discovery Award to highlight Unsung Heroes who inspire positive change.

The beginning of a new school year is the perfect time to start discussing potential topics for the 2026 Discovery Award competition. This unique opportunity invites students in grades 4–12 to use their creative talents to research primary sources and develop outstanding projects (documentary, website, or performance), that shine a light on Unsung Heroes. These remarkable individuals serve as powerful role models and inspire others to create change.

Staff Spotlight: Meet Ronda & Ty!
We’re shining a light on two fantastic members of the LMC team!

Ronda Hassig wears two important hats, she leads our Funding Development efforts and serves as a dedicated docent. Whether she’s writing grant proposals or guiding visitors through powerful Unsung Hero stories, Ronda helps bring our mission to life every day.

Ty Covey, our Technology Coordinator, is the creative force behind the interactive tech in our exhibits. From digital displays to engaging multimedia features, Ty is always finding innovative ways to enhance the LMC experience.

We are fortunate to have them both on the team!

Summer Adventure Awaits at the Lowell Milken Center!

Looking for a fun and meaningful summer activity? Discover incredible Unsung Hero stories through interactive exhibits, guided tours, and our beautiful

Lowell Milken Park.

Location: 1 S. Main St., Fort Scott, KS
Perfect for families, friends, and history lovers!