New Tri-Valley house hosts 70 for weekly Chamber coffee

Tri-Valley Developmental Services Executive Director Tim Cunningham talks about the features of the new home for clients, which hosted the weekly Chamber of Commerce coffee Thursday. (Ruth Campbell/Tribune)

The new Tri-Valley Developmental Services home was the site of an open house and Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce Coffee Thursday attended by some 70 community members.

The residence in the 1400 block of East First Street features five bedrooms, including a separate two-bedroom apartment, two bathrooms, two kitchens, two common areas, three laundry rooms and a storm shelter, Tri-Valley Director of Public Relations and Grants Anna Methvin said. Everything is wheelchair accessible.

The house on East First is valued at $250,000 and was built in sections by Advanced Systems Homes of Chanute. Staff helped design it and it is Tri-Valley's most expensive project to date, she said. It is staffed by three Tri-Valley employees.

The homes are built solely through donations and fundraisers. Some of these include the Advanced Systems Homes Charitable Golf Tournament, the annual RV and truck drawing and the Friends of Tri-Valley Foundation Gala.

Tri-Valley Executive Director Tim Cunningham welcomed everyone to the home and thanked them for their support.

"It's amazing the support Fort Scott has given the foundation to be able to build two houses in less than three years," Methvin said.

During the coffee, other announcements were made:

* Craig Campbell of the Good Neighbor Action Team said the organization will be doing projects on a more frequent.

To this end, new committees for publicity, manpower, finance and projects. Campbell said the publicity committee will help the finance committee come up with fundraising ideas and try to educate the populace about their responsibilities as homeowners, such as increasing the curb appeal of their residences. The publicity committee will also get the word out when the GNAT is coming to their area so they can help out.

Those interested in helping out can call Campbell at 224-0167.

Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Lindsay Madison said an after-hours event with the Nevada Vernon County Chamber of Commerce is scheduled for 5:15 p.m.-7 p.m. Sept. 13 at the Buffalo Grill, 3 W. Oak St.

Madison mentioned several events going on Sept. 17 such as the downtown festival, scarecrow design contest and city-wide garage sale.