CASA Christmas Dec. 10

“Change a Child’s Story”
This year’s Bourbon County CASA Christmas Celebration will be held on
Friday, December 10th, 2021 from 7-9pm
*RSVP by December 3rd
Click here to RSVP by email.
Mail your selected giving level to:
Bourbon County CASA
PO Box 146
Fort Scott, KS 66701
Contact CASA Director Christa Horn with any questions or for more information at 620-215-2769.
Click on picture below to view the invite in a larger format.

New Clothing Pop-Up Shop Opens in the Liberty Theatre Lobby

Rachel Pruitt. Submitted photo.

Rachel Pruitt has opened a new Christmas pop-up shop in the lobby of the Liberty Theatre, 113 S. Main in downtown Fort Scott. She has named the pop-up Better in Bourbon.

“We will be open the remainder of the year,  with new product arriving weekly,” she said.

Her products are women’s and tween girl clothing, gift items, and accessories.  For those who don’t know: a tween is no longer a little child, but not quite a teenager.

Pruitt is following a lifelong ambition, after many years spent in the apparel business.

“During college, I was the first Kansas State student to intern at the Atlanta Apparel Mart,” she said.  “Upon graduation, I worked for fifteen years in wholesale apparel based in Kansas City which involved traveling to several cities supporting NCAA Division I sports and later relocated to Nashville.”

“My next chapter lasted over 20 years in corporate marketing which included another relocation to Chicago,” she said. “After having the opportunity to live in several other cities, I found a sense of ease returning to Fort Scott. Life is simpler in a rural community, and I consider myself fortunate to have the perspective to realize life is ‘better in Bourbon’.”

“It seems there is so much focus on what is wrong today, a rapid spread of negativity,” she said. “Over the last year, I’ve attempted to refocus my energy on what is right, on things which are positive. With unwavering support from friends and family, I am returning to a lifelong passion.”

“This pop-up boutique is in the lobby of the beautiful Liberty Theatre due to the generosity of the owner, Jared Leek,” she said. “It will be open through the end of the year, Wednesday through Saturday from noon until 7 p.m., adjusting hours to coincide with special events. I am optimistic the pop-up will justify the need to look for a permanent space.”

She opened the shop on November 27.

Contact Pruitt on the following:

Facebook:  Better In Bourbon

Instagram:  @better_in_bourbon

Website:  betterinbourbon.com

AD: FSCC Community Read Discussion Today, Dec. 1 at 2:30 p.m.

You are invited to the Campus & Community Common Read Discussion Event to be held on Wednesday, Dec. 1 at 2:30 p.m. in the Fort Scott Community College Library in Bailey Hall, 2108 S. Horton.

This event is brought to the students, staff, and local community of Fort Scott Community College by a Humanities Kansas grant which offered opportunities to discuss two books, A Choice of Weapons by Gordon Parks and The Other Wes Moore by Wes Moore.

Both are books related to culture and diversity.

The event is scheduled to be approximately 30-45 minutes long.
Description of event:
  • The FSCC Campus and Community Read is a semester-long book club that first read and discussed Gordon Parks’ A Choice of Weapons.  This reading ended with guest speakers during the Gordon Parks Celebration.  Topics discussed were culture and diversity topics faced by Gordon Parks.
  • The second book read and discussed was The Other Wes Moore by Wes Moore.  Dr. Jason Kegler spoke about culture and diversity related to the book as well as his experiences in southeast Kansas.

A wrap-up and discussions of future community read events will happen.

Chamber Coffee hosted by Fort Scott National Historic Site on Dec. 2

The Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce invites members and guests to a Chamber Coffee this Thursday, December 2nd at 8 a.m. hosted by Fort Scott National Historic Site, located at 1 Old Fort Blvd.

The Chamber Coffee will be in the park’s theater on the second floor of the Infantry Barracks just west, to the left, of the Visitor Center.

Coffee, juice, and light refreshments will be provided by The Friends of Fort Scott.

This year will be the 40th annual Candlelight Tour. The tour centers around peace on the frontier with five stops around the site.

The entire tour is outside this year, so they encourage visitors to dress for the weather.

Also, a reminder that masks are required in all federal buildings and anywhere social distancing cannot be maintained.

The only exception will be at the Chamber Coffee event while people are eating and drinking.

Contact the Chamber of Commerce at (620) 223-3566 for more information.

Emergency Water Assistance Program Starts Today

$9 million available to qualifying Kansas households

Kansans may apply for the program beginning Dec. 1

TOPEKA – Kansas households adversely impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic may benefit from a new program to help restore or prevent disconnection of drinking water and wastewater services.

The Kansas Department for Children and Families (DCF) is the administrating agency for the Emergency Water Assistance Program (EWAP), a new temporary federal program authorized by the American Rescue Plan of 2021 and the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021.

“The program’s sole focus is to restore or prevent disconnection of water to Kansas households,” DCF Secretary Laura Howard said. “Kansas was awarded $9 million to support hardworking Kansas households who have gotten behind on their water bills because of the pandemic.”

Once the funding is exhausted, the program will end. Households may apply only once for the program and it is separate from other DCF assistance programs such as the Low-Income Energy Assistance Program (LIEAP).

Applications for EWAP will be available on Dec. 1. Kansans are encouraged to visit www.dcf.ks.gov/EWAP for information about qualifying and applying for the program. They may also contact their local DCF Service Center, Office Locator Map – Services (ks.gov).

An EWAP qualifying Kansas household:

  • Currently disconnected from drinking water and/or wastewater services or have received a disconnection notice.
  • At least one adult household member must be responsible for drinking water and/or wastewater costs incurred at the primary residence payable to either the landlord or to the water utility vendor.
  • At least one household member must be a US citizen or meet the lawful residency requirements.
  • Combined gross income equal to or less than 150% of Federal Poverty Level (FPL).

An important partner for the successful distribution of the funding are water utilities companies in Kansas.

“Public water utility partnership is vital to the success of the water assistance program,” said Howard. “DCF is required to pay the public water utility provider, not the household. The sooner the utility company is in the system, the faster payment will be made on behalf of the household by DCF.”

Water partners are asked to submit a signed water vendor agreement and tax documents that can be found on www.dcf.ks.gov/EWAP.

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 Madison Completes Third Year at Institute for Organization Management

Lindsay Madison, submitted photo.

A Leadership Training Program Produced by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation


WASHINGTON, D.C.
— Institute for Organization Management, the professional development program of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation, is pleased to announce that Lindsay Madison, President & CEO, of the Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce, has recently completed her third year at Institute for Organization Management, a four-year nonprofit leadership training program at Athens, Georgia.

Third Year Group at the Institute for Organization Management. Submitted photo.

Institute graduates are recognized across the country as leaders in their industries and organizations,” said Raymond P. Towle, IOM, CAE, the U.S. Chamber Foundation’s vice president of Institute for Organization Management. “These individuals have the knowledge, skills, and dedication necessary to achieve professional and organizational success in the dynamic association and chamber industries.”

Since its commencement in 1921, the Institute program has been educating tens of thousands of association, chamber, and other nonprofit leaders on how to build stronger organizations, better serve their members and become strong business advocates. Institute’s curriculum consists of four weeklong sessions at four different university locations throughout the country. Through a combination of required courses and electives in areas such as leadership, advocacy, marketing, finance, and membership, Institute participants are able to enhance their own organizational management skills and add new fuel to their organizations, making them run more efficiently and effectively.

Institute for Organization Management is the professional development program of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation. It is the premier nonprofit professional development program for association and chamber professionals, fostering individual growth through interactive learning and networking opportunities.

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation (USCCF) is a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit affiliate of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce dedicated to strengthening America’s long-term competitiveness. We educate the public on the conditions necessary for businesses and communities to thrive, how business positively impacts communities and emerging issues and creative solutions that will shape the future.

institute.uschamber.com           @IOMeducates

Mary Bell (Isabel) Tallman

Mary Bell (Isabel) Tallman, 93, formerly of Fort Scott, passed away November 24, 2021, at her home in Scottsdale,

Arizona. She was born April 9, 1928, in St. Paul, Kansas. She married Harry “Charles” Tallman October 13, 1946, in Fort Scott, Kansas and he preceded her in death February 10, 1991.

She is survived by a daughter, Nancy Ann Burns of Scottsdale, Arizona, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.

In addition to her husband, she was also preceded in death by her parents, and a daughter, Mary Kathleen Laven.

Rev. Ken Ansel will conduct graveside services at 1:00 p.m. Thursday, December 2, 2021, at the Evergreen Cemetery under the direction of the Konantz-Cheney Funeral Home. Condolences may be submitted to the online guestbook at konantz-cheney.com.

Obituary of Marita Bigelow

Marita Lynne Bigelow, 79, of Fort Scott, Kansas, passed away Tuesday morning November 30, 2021, at her home. She was born July 20, 1942, in Fort Scott, Kansas the daughter of Preston “Pete” Lafayette and Dorothy Lavella (Pottorff) Barr.

She married Galen C. Bigelow, Sr. on June 7, 1960, in Fort Scott, and he preceded her in death October 8, 2020.

Marita graduated from Fort Scott High School with the Class of 1960 and stayed in Fort Scott until 1970 when they moved to Dodge City, Kansas.

The family lived in Mt. Vernon, Missouri, from 1975 until 1978, moving back to Fort Scott, and then moved to Moran, Kansas in 1981. She and Galen owned and operated Bigelow’s Dairy Spot Restaurant in Moran until 1990 when they moved back to Fort Scott.

Marita worked at Mercy Hospital for seventeen years in the business office as a cashier, retiring in 2008.

She attended Bethel Community Church.

Marita is survived by her children, Michelle McKay and husband Eric, Teresa Fly and husband David, both of Fort Scott, Galen C. Bigelow, Jr. and wife Trena of Elsmore, Kansas, and William “Bill” Bigelow and wife Michelle, of Moran, Kansas; a brother, Joe Barr and wife Rita, of Fort Scott; two sisters, Charlotte Stewart and husband Alan, of Iola, Kansas, and Charlene Keating and husband John, of Fort Scott; a sister-in-law, Janice Barr; eleven grandchildren, twenty-six great-grandchildren, and two great-great-grandchildren.

In addition to her husband Galen, she was also preceded in death by her parents, and a brother, Darrel Barr.

Pastor Ben Heffernan will conduct graveside services at 1:00 p.m. on Friday, December 3, 2021, at the Evergreen Cemetery in Fort Scott, under the direction of the Konantz-Cheney Funeral Home.

Memorial contributions may be made to the National Kidney Foundation and may be left in the care of the Konantz-Cheney Funeral Home, 15 W. Wall Street, P.O. Box 309, Fort Scott, Kansas, 66701. Condolences may be submitted to the online guestbook at konantz-cheney.com.

Bourbon County Local News