Entertainment, Fort Scott, Gordon Parks Museum

Parks Celebration to feature Contemporary Jazz and R&B Violinist

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The 2021 Gordon Parks Celebration to feature Contemporary Jazz and R&B Violinist, Dominique Hammons.

Fort Scott-The Gordon Parks Celebration, scheduled for October 7 – 9, 2021, at Fort Scott Community College, will feature Contemporary Jazz and R&B violinist, Dominique Hammons in a music performance at 7:30 p.m. at the River Room in Fort Scott, KS on Friday, October 8th. The doors will open at 6:30 p.m. and a cash bar will be available.

This performance event was supported in part by Peerless Products, INC. in Fort Scott, KS.

“We are very excited that we were able to bring Dominique Hammons back to Fort Scott once again for another electrifying performance.” This provides another great opportunity for anyone that was not able to attend Dominique’s last performance here to a packed house at the Liberty Theater.” said Kirk Sharp, Gordon Parks Museum Director.

Dominique Hammons is a young, energetic, Contemporary/Jazz and R&B Violinist from Houston, TX and started playing classical violin at the age of eight.

Hammons attended the High School for the Performing and Visual Arts in Houston and was a member of the school orchestra program for four years.  After high school, Dominique attended the University of Oklahoma in Norman, Oklahoma, and graduated in 2017 with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Music Performance with an emphasis in Jazz.

During the early part of middle and high school years, Hammons performed for four years with the Houston Youth Symphony Orchestra, receiving high accolades for excellence. Dominique also performed with other orchestra and chamber groups such as Virtuosi of Houston and TMEA All-State Orchestra. He was also chosen to study and perform with the Diaz Music Institute’s Youth Latin Jazz group, “Caliente”.

According from his biography, his ‘God given’ talent has been recognized with many awards and among them, the Houston Symphony’s “Young Artist Competition”, where he won the opportunity to play a solo on stage with the Houston Symphony. He also competed and won medals and recognitions while participating in NAACP “Actso” competitions.

Since graduation, Dominique has gravitated to teaching classical violin lessons to the youth who desire to follow in his footsteps; and continues to perform in the Houston and surrounding cities as a solo artist. His popularity has risen in high demand to perform at many venues and performs various genres of music such as classical, pop, gospel, jazz, hip hop and R&B.  His unique blend of music and style has granted him to perform across the nation such as Alabama, Georgia, Florida, Illinois, and Washington State.*(2020)

Hammon’s Musical career has led him to perform at the following events:

  • Selected to play the National Anthem during the pre-game show at the Houston Rockets game in November of 2018.

  • He was selected to audition for the ‘2019 America’s Got Talent’ competition.

  • Opening act for Johnathan Butler at the 2018 Martini Blue Jazz Festival. (Which Dominique received a standing ovation of a crowd of (3,000.)

  • Headliner for City of College Park & 7Flavors of Smooth Jazz Festival, Atlanta, GA.

Tickets are $30 each or $35 at the door. Tickets will be available at the Gordon Parks Museum located on the campus at Fort Scott Community College or over the phone (620)-223-2700 ext. 5850.

For more information about the Celebration, see the website at gordonparkscenter.org or email [email protected] or by phone call 223-2700, ext. 5850.

Business, Fort Scott, Government

Coon Rentals Purchases 17 S. Main

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17 S. Main, January 2021.

The building known for years as the Kress Building has been sold to Coon Rentals LLC.

History

The building at 17 S. Main most recently housed a grocery store that had been a recipient of SPARK money, which was federal money given to the state who gave the money to local governments to help businesses during the pandemic.

BAJA Investments had purchased the building, remodeled it, purchased supplies and equipment, and opened a grocery store called The  Star Emporium Downtown General Store in January 2021 and closed in May 2021, citing not enough business.

BAJA Investments had received a $450,000 grant from SPARK to provide a downtown grocery store.

To learn more about the SPARK program: https://covid.ks.gov/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/SPARK-Overview-06.16.20.pdf

“They (BAJA) did give it an effort,” he said. “And if the traffic would have been there…but it wasn’t. He had all the receipts, there was accountability for this.”

Coon Rentals LLC paid $158,000 for the building in an auction last week.

“When that business failed, the county had two options,” Bourbon County Commissioner Lynne Oharah said. “Let the business go into bankruptcy, which would have taken over a year. Or sell the property and it goes back on the county tax rolls.”

“We are in the process of closing on the property,” he said.

To see prior stories on the business:

Star Emporium Downtown General Store to Open Next Week

Star Emporium Closes in Downtown Fort Scott

Robert and Kimberly Coon. Submitted photo.

New Owners

“Coon Rentals LLC will manage and maintain the building for its new tenants, soon to come,” Robert Coon said. Coon who with his wife, Kimberly, owns the business.

“There have been so many negative vibes regarding the grant the previous business there had, but I don’t think anyone thought of the greatness of it: federal money came to Kansas, to Bourbon County,” Coon said. “Then the grant was used partly to revitalize a building. In the process, lots of small local businesses received some of those funds to work on the building. That’s economic development at its finest.”

“I also think the current (Bourbon County) commissioners should be applauded for salvaging the situation with the building,” Coon said. “Commissioners had a decision to make regarding acquiring the building and redistribution to avoid lots of issues.”

A1 Towing and Moving, Fort Scott, move shelving into the new grocery store, at 17  S. Main on November 4, 2020.

“We have three businesses, A1 Towing, A1 Bill Bonds, and Coon Rentals LLC, ” Coon said. “None require a storefront.”

“We are going to lease that building to a business,” He said. “That agreement is in process. They will operate in the whole downstairs portion of the building.”

“We are going to remodel the upstairs and have more professional businesses there,” he said.

 

Fort Scott, Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce

Fort Scott Town-Wide Garage Sale Sept. 10-11

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Mark your calendars for the Fall Town-wide Garage Sale on Friday and Saturday, September 10th and 11th. Now is the time to get your garage sale on the map.

The Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce encourages residents in Fort Scott to do your Fall cleaning and make room for something new. Garage sales may be registered through the Chamber by 1 pm, Tuesday, September 7th for only $10. The registration fee lists your sale on the official garage sale map, two colorful balloons and enables the Chamber to advertise the sale throughout the region on the radio, newspaper, social media and the Chamber website.

Businesses are encouraged to advertise on the official garage sale map, which will be distributed to shoppers the week of the Town-wide Garage Sale. The maps will be distributed from local stores and the Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce. The cost to place a business ad or coupon is $25 for small ad and $35 for larger ad. The garage sale maps will be available and printed on Thursday, September 9th by 1 pm at 5-Corners Mini-Mart, Bids & Dibs, Casey’s, Don’s Smoke Shop, all Pete’s locations, and The Fort Scott Chamber.

Garage sales may be registered in person at the Chamber office, 8am-5pm Mon-Fri, located at 231 E. Wall Street or by phone using debit or credit card by calling (620) 223-3566.

Bourbon County, Government, Kansas

K-31 section closed west of Fulton on Wednesday

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Wednesday, Aug. 25, the Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT) plans to close K-31 west of Fulton to replace a crossroad pipe. The closure is between reference points 131 and 132 and will be in effect from 7:15 a.m. until 6 p.m.

 

Traffic should use alternate routes. Check KDOT’s updated traveler information website, www.Kandrive.org, for more road condition and construction details. Persons with questions may call KDOT Area Superintendent Derrick Shannon at (620) 901-6550 or Public Affairs Manager Priscilla Petersen at (620) 902-6433.

 

Bourbon County, Entertainment, Fort Scott, Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce

Friday Night Free Concert: Scarborough, Lundeen, Tucker, Carlson

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Free Friday Night Concerts are sponsored by the Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce and coordinated by Ralph Carlson. The event is usually at First and Main Streets, Fort Scott. In case of inclement weather, the event is moved to indoor venues.

The first half of this week’s Friday Night Concert will be presented by local area musicians Doug Scarborough and Michael Lundeen.

Scarborough sings and plays guitar and Lundeen plays keyboard. The duo will feature country, folk, and gospel music. A self-taught guitarist at age 14, Scarborough will perform two of his original songs, “Dust on the Bible” and “You’re the One.” Lundeen began studying piano at the age of six and has a vast repertoire of hymns, gospel, 1930s music, and songs from his youth.

The second half of the show will feature Carolyn Tucker on vocals and keyboard, and Ralph Carlson on guitar. Both of these musician friends began playing at the age of nine; between the two of them they have 132 years of musicianship. Their set will include Latin guitar classics, gospel instrumental and vocal favorites, and some 1940s tunes.

“Come out and join us for a special opportunity to see friends and support the gift of music in our area. We are happy to offer a show with such a wide variety of songs in the downtown park pavilion,“ concert series organizer Ralph Carlson said.

The concert begins at 7 p.m. at the Heritage Park Pavilion at First and Main streets. The shows, sponsored by the Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce, are free and open to the public. Dave Oas of Parsons serves as sound technician each week. Due to limited seating, attendees are encouraged to bring lawn chairs.

In the event of inclement weather, the concert will be moved to the Common Ground Coffee Co., 12 E. Wall Street.

Opinion

Rocks, Locks, and Cops by Carolyn Tucker

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Carolyn Tucker. Submitted photo.

Keys to the Kingdom

 

Well, it happened again. While driving down a Missouri country road, I met a truck and a rock hit my windshield with a loud clink. The next day I made an appointment at D & J Glass to see what could be done. Dan promptly started the windshield chip-repair process and I was impressed with his expertise. John, whom Dan good-naturedly described as a loiterer, was sitting on a shop stool so I began shooting the breeze with him like my Dad would have done. I watched Dan get in and out of the passenger side of the Chrysler a few times, and things were going quite well. I could tell the repair was about finished, so I offered to just go ahead and pay. When I tried to open the driver’s door to retrieve my purse, it was locked. I quickly checked the rest of the doors and they were locked too…including the tailgate. I looked at Dan and said, “The doors are locked with both keys inside.” Dan’s calm response was, “I guess I did that,” and I softly replied, “Yep.”

I planted myself on the other shop stool and we all waited for Officer Burke to respond to Dan’s S.O.S. call. Within a few short minutes, the friendly cop arrived and brought in his burglary equipment. As soon as he stepped into the shop, I was shocked to hear Dan tell him, “I didn’t do it.“ I quickly said, “I didn’t do it!“ I really don’t think Dan did it, however, I don’t think I did it either. Both of us were simply relieved to be able to blame someone else for the pickle we were in. Honestly, I think the Chrysler got scared, freaked out, and locked itself. During this episode, I was especially grateful that no one cussed, kicked the tire, or cried.

As I prepared to leave, I told John, “I love funny life stories like this because I like to see what spiritual analogy I can get out of ‘em.” John simply replied, “I’ll be watching for it in The Tribune.“

One day, sooner than we think, you and I will stand flat-footed before Almighty God and give an account of our individual lives. There will be no blame game then. Jesus said, “I tell you this, you must give an account on judgment day for every idle word you speak. The words you say will either acquit you or condemn you” (Matthew 12:36,37 NLT).

Because Jesus wouldn’t soften His words nor make His message more acceptable to His followers, many of His disciples left Him (see John 6:66). Jesus told the Jewish people gathered in the Temple, “My message is not My own; it comes from God who sent Me“ (John 7:16 NLT).

By inspiration of Holy Spirit, John the Revelator tells what will happen to all of us. “I saw the dead, both great and small, standing before God’s throne. And the books were opened, including the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to what they had done, as recorded in the books. The sea gave up its dead, and death and the grave gave up their dead. And all were judged according to their deeds….anyone whose name was not found recorded in the Book of Life was thrown into the lake of fire” (Revelation 20:12,13,15 NLT). The Word of God is not just a philosophy of religion. It is the sobering truth that cannot be changed just because it‘s offensive to some.

The Key: There’s no one to blame but yourself if your name isn’t in the Book of Life.

Obituary

Obituary of Randell Gregg

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Randell Scott Gregg, age 62, a resident of rural Ft Scott, Kansas, passed away unexpectedly early Friday, August 20, 2021, at his home.

He was born March 21, 1959, in Odessa, Texas, the son of Charles L. Gregg and Joy R. Locke Gregg. Randy graduated from the Center High School in Kansas City, Missouri.

He married Barbara Diblasi on August 28, 1999.

In his younger years, Randy completed the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) in Lander, Wyoming. He loved the outdoors, camping, backpacking and being a mountaineer. He later worked for NOLS where he taught outdoor skills to the next generation. A lifelong learner, always teaching himself and others new skills such as woodworking, carpentry and photography.

Above all else, his favorite thing to do was explore the world with his beloved wife Barbara. They always shared a love for adventure. Randy and Barbara moved to Ft. Scott approximately twenty years ago to pursue a dream of organic farming. Randy enjoyed renovating their one hundred-year-old farmhouse. He was actively involved with the Ft. Scott Farmer’s Market.

Survivors include his wife, Barbara, of the home; his mother, Joy Gregg of Kansas City, Missouri; two sisters, Barbi Wood of Overland Park, Kansas and Drenda Hall of Lee’s Summit, Missouri; a brother, Mark Gregg, of Kansas City, Missouri and eight nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his father.

Randy Gregg, a devoted son, brother and friend, always willing to lend a helping hand to those in need. A father figure and role model to many. His passing is a great loss to all those who

Bourbon County, Government

Agenda of Bourbon County Commission Budget Work Session

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Agenda

Bourbon County Commission Room

1st Floor, County Courthouse

210 S. National Avenue

Fort Scott, KS 66701

Tuesdays starting at 9:00

 

Date: August 24, 2021

1st District-Lynne Oharah                                                                Minutes: Approved: _______________

2nd District-Jim Harris                                                                      Corrected: _______________________

3rd District-Clifton Beth                                                                              Adjourned at: _______________

County Clerk-Kendell Mason

 

   

MEETING HELD IN THE COMMISSION ROOM WITH NO PUBLIC.  MEETING WILL BE             AVAILABLE FOR VIEWING ON YOUTUBE.

 

Call to Order

 

  • Flag Salute
  • 2022 Budget Work Session

 

Justifications for Executive Session:

          KSA 75-4319(b)(1) To discuss personnel matters of individual nonelected personnel to protect their privacy

          KSA 75-4319(b)(2) For consultation with an attorney for the public body or agency which would be deemed privileged in the attorney-client relationship

          KSA 75-4319(b)(3) To discuss matters relating to employer-employee negotiations whether or not in consultation with the representative(s) of the body or agency

          KSA 75-4319(b)(4) To discuss data relating to financial affairs or trade secrets of corporations, partnerships, trust, and individual proprietorships

          KSA 75-4319(b)(6) For the preliminary discussion of the acquisition of real property

          KSA 75-4319(b)(12) To discuss matters relating to security measures, if the discussion of such matters at an open meeting would jeopardize such security measures.

Bourbon County Local News