Vision Committee honors volunteers, workers

Judy Renard, owner of the Country Cupboard, 12 N. Main St., accepts an Investors' Award from Fort Scott Economic Development Director Dale Bunn Tuesday at a luncheon at the Scottish Rite Temple, honoring companies, organizations and individuals who have been instrumental, through donations and or volunteering, in moving the local community revitalization program forward.

By Robin Hixson

Herald-Tribune

FORT SCOTT, Kan. -- More than 100 community businesspeople, volunteers and residents came together at noon Tuesday in the Scottish Rite Temple to honor those among them who have worked the hardest and given the most toward realization of their collective dream to strengthen and revitalize Fort Scott.

Community Visioning Steering Committee co-convenor Dale Bunn served as master of ceremonies for the event and spoke to those attending about the purpose of the gathering.

"We've just passed the one-year anniversary of the implementation of the Community Visioning Program in Fort Scott," he said. "The Community Visioning Steering Com-mittee; the city of Fort Scott and its management, Richard Nienstedt, the commissioners and mayor; the Fort Scott (Area) Chamber of Commerce, Gary Emry, Bob Marshall and the other directors, wanted to take this important moment to show our appreciation to the people of Fort Scott who are doing the right thing. They are supporting the efforts to heal and build. They are reaching out ... to enable understanding and are finding ways to work together and to work with others through the Community Visioning program."

After his opening address, Community Visioning Steering Committee co-convenor Julie Righter introduced the representatives of each of the six action teams -- Develop the River as an Asset, Outside-In Economic Development, Neighborhood Revitalization, Aqua Vision, Heritage Park, and Youth and Recreation -- who delivered updates on the progress each of their teams has made in the year since the program was first implemented.

The Youth and Recreation team has not been in existence for the entire year. It was recently added to the original five.

After the audience heard reports from all of the action teams, Righter read off the names of honorees who have been especially instrumental in furthering the goals of the Community Visioning program.

As she read the names of the honorees, Bunn delivered the framed Investors' Awards to the following: Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce, Downtown Division and Office of Tourism -- Gary Emry and Cindy Bowman; Fort Scott Community College -- President Jim Miesner; UMB Bank -- President Ken Anderson; Mercy Health Center-- President and CEO John Woodrich; Citizens Bank -- Chairman of the Board Dean Mann; City of Fort Scott -- City Manager Richard Nienstedt; Liberty Savings -- President David Lewis; Cleveland Lithichrome -- Mike Carnes; Fort Scott Tribune -- Publisher Julie Righter; ValuMerchandisers -- Manager Dave Martin; Jamie and Jeff Armstrong -- Jamie Armstrong; Country Cupboard -- owner Judy Renard; Shepherd Team Auto Plaza -- Dave Shepherd; and Wal-Mart -- Manager Terry Files.

Not present to accept their certificates were the following honorees: Bourbon County, Great West Healthcare, Smith & Chambers, Hill Development, Stewart Realty, and KMDO-AM &KOMB-FM.