April is National Safe Digging Month, and Kansas Gas Service wants residents to know the easiest way to stay safe while excavating is by contacting 8-1-1 before starting any digging project.
This year, we’ll give out 50 trees to those who take the Safe Digging Pledge at BeADigHeroKansas.com.
The tree giveaway will kick off on April 1, 2023, and close on April 16, 2023.
Winners will be announced on Arbor Day – April 28.
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Influx Services, which was started by Fort Scottian Jake Province last year, now offers roof, gutter, and window cleaning services, in addition to house washing and roof cleaning services.
His pressure washing and exterior cleaning service serves Fort Scott KS, Nevada MO, Miami OK, and surrounding areas
He has also been serving businesses in Fort Scott: the local Travelodge and Don’s Spirits and Wines.
Bartelsmeyer Jewelry staff have had approximately 12 people bring in gold items to be appraised, and they are not gold, all with a similar story.
John Bartelsmeyer said he wanted to inform the public.
“I wanted to get the word out that people are getting scammed,” Bartelsmeyer said. “People have told us they are buying supposed gold at gas stations. Several local people have brought in items to be appraised in this manner since last fall.”
Bartelsmeyer did not know if they were local gas stations where the scammers were.
“They say, “This person was at a gas station and needed gas and told me they would sell me their gold ring( for money)’,” Krystal Hulbert, an employee of the jewelry store said.
The fraudulent gold pieces have included necklaces and bracelets too, but mostly gold rings.
Often they have been stamped 18KT to indicate that they are real, which can really fool people, Bartelsmeyer said.
“The gold looks nice,” Hulbert said. “But someone like John who has been working on real gold for 50 years knows it’s not real.”
There is also a chemical test to provide proof that the article isn’t real, Bartselmeyer said.
“If people are wanting to help them out, that is one thing, but thinking they will get a bargain in gold, no,” Hulbert said.
Sgt. Tim Harper, Fort Scott Police Department, said there have been no people turn in a report to the department about this.
Mirna and Jose Santana started their downtown restaurant in 2010 at 22 South Main, and moved to 24 N. Main in 2015.
Theirs is a family business that includes their sons Allen and Roger and Mirna’s brother, Melvin as employees.
They currently have 11 employees.
The restaurant does catering, has curbside pick-up and delivery service (within Fort Scott) and one can order online on their website at https://lahaciendaoffortscott.menufy.com/order
This year they created a new menu, with the La Prima (rice/chicken/cheese dip) the crowd favorite, Mirna said.
Restaurant hours are Monday-Wednesday from 11 a.m .to 8 p.m.; Thursday through Saturday, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
The phone number is 620.223.4400.
They Received A HBCAT Grant Recently
The business couple applied for and received the Healthy Bourbon County Action Team grant for restaurants in the amount of $7,000.
“We applied because the walk-in cooler was down and needed repairs,” she said. They got those repairs and are also ordering a new fryer for the restaurant, she said.
Giving Back To Their Community
The Santanas are involved in the community and have danced in the “Dancing With The Stars” fundraising event to raise funds for United Way, which distributes to many other entities, she said.
“I (also) try to help the organizations that come to us,” Mirna said. “Especially the schools.”
Mirna is originally from El Salvadore, Jose from Mexico.
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Mike, 56, and Lori Hueston, 57, received a $10,000 grant to start up a greenhouse business from the Healthy Bourbon County Action Team in the farm/ranch division.
The name of the business is Little Osage Greenhouse LLC.
Contact Lori Hueston at 620-363-1383 or email: litttleosagegreenhousellc@
Armstrong Pressure Washing LLC offers exterior residential and commercial pressure washing and soft washing in Fort Scott and the surrounding area. Owner, Jeff Armstrong, started the business in 2020.
Services include house washing, roof washing, concrete
surface cleaning, fence and deck washing, and other surfaces such as stone, brick, and metal.
“Exterior washing is much more than throwing pressure on something,” Armstrong, said. “There is a science behind professionally cleaning different surfaces”.
Armstrong Pressure Washing uses not only professional equipment and cleaning solutions but also professional techniques to safely wash.
“A big part of the business is studying to learn how to improve your craft and to be able to educate clients about the process, so they are confident their property will be taken care of,” he said.
Contact Armstrong to set up an appointment at:
Phone: 620-224-3036
Email: [email protected]
Facebook: @armstrongpressurewash
Web: www.armstrongpressurewash.com
Fort Scott Livestock Market has been a Martin family business since 1994, and marketed over 104,000 animals a year for Kansas and Missouri producers. They are the third largest agricultural auction in Kansas.
Located at 2131 Maple Road, the auction service sells agricultural livestock each weekend.
The auction features clear, fast-talking auctioneers, and includes multiple televisions throughout the facility for participants to keep an eye on the action in the ring.
Jim Martin, 89, one of the owners, still is an auctioneer.
The auction is often a family event for the buyers and sellers as well.
“Cattle buyers and sellers are often joined by a spouse, child or grandchild who enjoy a clear view of each animal coming through the ring,” according to the press release.
For those people who want home raised beef for their family freezer, the auction will have five butcher steers that start selling today, March 24, according to their Facebook page.
The business also sell paddles and flag whips for working with cattle on farms and also have apparel for sale: tee shirts, hoodies and vests.
Sale Times and Options
They start receiving cattle on Thursdays, according to their website,http://www.fslivestock.com/
The Friday sale is for cows, pairs, baby calves and big bulls, the Saturday sale, which starts at 10 a.m., starts with feeder and stocker calves and ends with cows and big bulls that came to the sale later.
Their cattle buyers are in person, or send a representative to help get “top-dollar” for the sellers livestock, according to a press release from FSLM.
In February 2023 they have added online purchasing of cattle on Fridays to the list of services. Fridays at 10 a.m.the sale features cows and bulls and Saturdays at 10 a.m. feature mostly calves, but also some cows and bulls. In 2012, the Saturday sale was put online.
Saturdays are the biggest sales.
“We are now broadcasting our sales real-time, the cattle auction is live on the internet …at WWW.DVAUCTION.COM,” according to the press release. “You must be registered through DV Auction and be approved through our office to bid. If you have not been approved through our office, please have your DV Auction # ready when you call us. 620-223-4600.”
For the latest information go to Facebook, at Fort Scott Livestock Market.
Family Owned
The market is owned and operated by four generations of the Martin family.
“Whether you’re selling one cow or a trailer load, they strive to give you the same quality enjoyable experience,” according to a press release. “Jim, Larry, Kyle and Tyler Martin are happy to discuss your cattle with you. Their phones light up all day, every day and each call gets a response.”
The fourth generation of Martins works as yard help.
Jim, Larry’s dad, Larry Martin, along with Tyler and Kyle, Larry’s sons, are the owners and managers of the business.
They regularly give back to various community clubs and organizations through various county fairs, FFA organizations, the Hepler Rodeo, the Vernon County Cattleman’s Association and various schools, churches and clubs.
The business employs over one hundred “hard-working individuals, from check-in to load-out, it’s a hands on, one-on-one experience,” according to the press release. “Behind the scenes there is a quality crew, in the front and back that are experts at sorting the cattle, joined by cowboys on horses penning the animals.”
The cafe at the livestock market is also a multi-generational family business. Bobbi Miller and her daughter Thabena Bower run the cafe.
“With fresh mouthwatering Friday and Saturday specials and homemade blue-ribbon quality pies,” it is a great place to eat, according to the press release.
They regularly give back to various community clubs and organizations through county fairs, FFA organizations, the Hepler Rodeo, the Vernon County Cattleman’s Association, schools, churches and clubs.
Teri, 49, and Michael Hamilton, 47, own The Hamilton’s Artisan Bakery.
Their bakery focuses on slow fermented sourdough products using only high quality ingredients, Teri said.
“This process takes up to 72 hours and increases the body’s absorption of nutrients and is a healthier food option for our community,” she said.
They offer a variety of sourdough breads, including original, roasted garlic and rosemary, jalapeno cheese, and even a triple chocolate sourdough loaf. They plan to add new items such as cinnamon rolls, scones, seeded wheat loaves, focaccia, bagels and pretzels, all made from sourdough.
The Hamiltons started their bakery in April 2022 with just a few loaves at a time and have grown their business in the last year, selling up to 100 items each week, she said.
The Hamilton’s Artisan Bakery is a cottage bakery without a storefront located in Fort Scott.
Future Plans
Within the next year, they plan to expand to surrounding counties’ farmers markets and craft fair events. Eventually, they would like to open a storefront in Fort Scott, she said.
Recent Healthy Bourbon County Action Team Grant Recipient
The Hamiltons feel honored to receive the $5,000 business start up grant from HBCAT, Teri said.
“They have been an invaluable resource from the very beginning, helping set up an LLC, bringing focus to our goals for the future and helping articulate a sustainable business plan,” she said. “HBCAT is a phenomenal support to small businesses in South East Kansas.”
The Hamiltons plan to use the grant money to purchase a specialty oven, designed for use in a cottage bakery setting. Their production will increase 300% by utilizing this new oven, Teri said.
They also plan to invest in printed banners to increase their advertising at local farmers markets.
These two main investments will enable The Hamilton”s Artisan Bakery to serve the Fort Scott area more efficiently and increase their ability to provide healthy, handmade breads to surrounding communities, she said
About The Hamiltons
Michael ran a few businesses in Arizona and Teri grew up in a bakery in Northern California, she said.
After moving to Fort Scott in 2020, they were inspired to put those experiences to use and started selling bread at the Fort Scott Farmers Market.
The Hamiltons quickly saw a need for healthy, handmade breads that are an alternative to those available at mainstream groceries. Because of that need, they decided “to dedicate their creativity, energy, and resources” to slowly building a bakery that could sustain itself without any debt.
They love to create “unique, delicious products that are a special addition to family tables” in their community, she said.
“We are especially excited to develop relationships with community members that they get to see weekly at the farmers markets, she said..
They can be found online at:
https://thehamiltonsbakery.
https://www.facebook.com/
https://www.instagram.com/
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