Weekend full of fishing, marketing

Tuesday, May 8, 2012
The Master Gardeners Club plant swap meet was part of a successful opening day for the Fort Scott Farmers' Market on Skubitz Plaza Saturday. Proceeds from the sale will help the organization beautify the town. The market also included a multitude of fresh produce, crafts and music from members of the Fort Scott High School Orchestra.(Ruth Campbell/Tribune)

With sunny weather warming Fort Scott this weekend, opening day at the Farmers' Market and the Elks Fishing Derby attracted numerous participants.

The Bourbon County Master Gardeners Club and Garden Club had its annual swap meet at the market as well. All manner of vegetables, pastries, jams and crafts were featured. For a little culture, four members of the Fort Scott High School Orchestra played.

Master Gardeners Vice President Martha Scott said more than 300 plants were merchandised and by mid-morning, many were gone. "I think it's gone really well. We've really sold a lot," Scott said.

Grandmother Penny Bailey holds Billy Nuzum, 3, while he casts a line at Saturday's Elks Fishing Derby held at Fort Scott Lake on the Fort Scott Community College campus. Banks of the lake were lined with youngsters angling for a bite.(Ruth Campbell/Tribune)

Friends of the Fort Scott National Historic Site provided water. Josh Woosley's family and friends held a fundrasier for his upcoming European trip with "Sounds of America."

Kathy Wallace of Maryville, Mo., her sister and a friend came to town to see each other, but wound up visiting the farmers' market. "I think it's really cool," Wallace said. She added there is a farmers' market where she lives, but "nothing like this."

"With the music, it's really nice," Wallace said.

Fort Scott High School Orchestra members Hannah Fredericksen, Sophia Martin, Preston Church and Taylor Lemmon serenade those attending opening day of the Fort Scott Farmers' Market on Saturday on Skubitz Plaza. (Ruth Campbell/Tribune)

The banks of the lake at Fort Scott Community College were lined with kids hoping to snag the big one in the fishing derby. Sixty people had registered as of about 10:30 a.m. Saturday and more were calling in hoping for a spot.

Millie Lipscomb, an Elks spokeswoman, said the Elks Lodge and VFW Men's Auxiliary sponsor the derby. The VFW men also prepare lunch. This year, $550 in prizes were up for grabs.

Sarah Cotter, who brought her 8-year-old son Drake, was pleased with the event. "I think it's great they do something like this for the community and the kids," she said.

The Fort Scott Christian Heights Country Store, a fundraiser for the private school, had a successful Saturday as well taking in $22,500 from its walk/run, bakery, concessions, supper and auction, Secretary Jan Beltran said.

What the proceeds will be used for has not yet been determined. In the past, the funds have gone to put a new roof on the school, buy new computers, install new windows in the school building and smaller projects like putting cabinets in the office. Possible projects could be putting new tile in the school and doing some landscaping around the grounds.

"We couldn't be more pleased. I think our record was a couple of years ago. We made ... a little over $26,000," Beltran said. Last year, profits were down because of the sluggish economy, but this year proceeds were back up.

"I think when we can raise that much money in one day ... that's pretty fantastic," Beltran said.