Fort Scott bar closed due to nearby unstable buildings

FORT SCOTT, Kan. – Sharky’s Pub and Grub in Fort Scott, Kansas is closing for at least 30 days. That’s because a building near Sharky’s, the Eagle Block Building, has been deteriorating and officials warn it could collapse.

The city council hosted a meeting Tuesday to discuss the building. They agreed to demolish it and the nearby CDL building that has collapsed.

“As much as I am in favor of trying to save the integrity of a historic site, it is beyond that. Especially when in fact my dog is in this fight,” said Sharky’s owner David Lipe. “I’ve got a business that’s creating quite a bit of revenue for our county and our city. We should of saved it years ago.”

The City of Fort Scott says it’ll look at grants to help the businesses effected by the issues while they have to remain closed.

Area closed after partial collapse of vacant Missouri hotel

EXCELSIOR SPRINGS, Mo. (AP) – The partial collapse of a vacant hotel in suburban Kansas City has led authorities to evacuate nearby businesses and apartments and close roads and sidewalks in the area.

Officials say a corner section of the former Royal Hotel in downtown Excelsior Springs collapsed onto the sidewalk around 3 p.m. Wednesday. No one was injured in the collapse. The building is more than 120 years old and has been abandoned for about 20 years. Police say the building was scheduled to be demolished when the partial collapse happened.

City officials say years of water leaking into the building from the roof likely led to the collapse.

Barton County Jail to close for repairs

LAMAR, Mo. – The Barton County Jail will temporarily close July 2, 2021 as it repairs a number of issues with the jail building. Most of the detainees will be housed at the Cedar County Jail in Stockton, Missouri. Depending on their population at the time some may need to be housed at another surrounding jail.

Repairs:

  • Replacing small portions of some of the walls that have rusted away
  • Glass that has been broken causing safety concerns allowing detainees to reach out of their cells and allowing them to be able to throw items at staff
  • Malfunctioning doors that do not allow staff to lock down detainees in certain situations
  • Several of the lights have quit working in the cell area; all lights will be fixed or replaced with newer lights
  • Plumbing in the cell areas is also deteriorating, causing water to leak from the cell area to the office area of the building
  • Fixing/replacing security cameras in the cell areas are not working.

Officials will also be addressing problems with staffing. The jail will hire additional staff to maintain constant supervision of detainees. The Sheriff’s Office will also be raising the salary of detention officers to be more competitive in hiring and retaining personnel.

(Previous Story: Barton County Sheriff working to put tax question before voters for new jail)

Broadway blocked-off as Pittsburg crews battle apartment fire

PITTSBURG, Kan. – The City of Pittsburg says the fire at a downtown apartment building is under control.

Heavy smoke billowed out of the Smith Clinic Apartments on 8th and Broadway this morning. Emergency responders blocked off part of the road while battling the fire. Frontenac and Baker Township fire departments are helping. KOAM has not heard of any injuries. Authorities say all residents were safely evacuated.

One resident who lives in the apartment said the fire broke out early in the morning.

The Pittsburg Fire Department is currently responding to a fire at the SE corner of 9th & Broadway in downtown…

Posted by City of Pittsburg, Kansas on Friday, March 19, 2021

“I woke up, and I was napping pretty good,” said Chris who lives in the Smith Clinic Apartments. “All I hear is someone yell ‘water’ and I was like ‘bud pay your water bill if you ain’t got water.’ It wasn’t water, it was fire! Someone was yelling fire. We come to the door and the firemen are yelling ‘you need to get out!’ We’re like screaming, just running down the hallway, can’t breathe for nothing. We get to the stairs. We’re just choking on the smoke.”

There’s no word yet on whether there are any injuries. The Pittsburg Fire Department will release more information later today.

Joplin Council approves investment toward fire damaged Olivia Building

JOPLIN, Mo. – The Joplin City Council approved a $250,000 investment for a rehab of the historic Olivia Building.

The city is giving the money to a developer called Bykota R.E.I out of Colorado. The city will hold a lien against the Olivia that they’ll release when the project is finished, which the city says it must be by March 2023. The fire-damaged roof has to be repaired before June of this year.

The Olivia was damaged by fire in December. Many community members and leaders are emotionally invested in seeing it revived.

“This is a good thing for the city of Joplin,” said Joplin City Manager Nick Edwards. “We certainly hope and wish the developers all the success possible. And hope that this will be one of many projects that they can do.”

The developer expects construction to total around $6.5 million.

Previous articles:

City provides Olivia building update following fire

Original photographs of historic Olivia building arrived in Joplin just weeks before fire